Review of Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu

The novel fans of My Brilliant Friends by Elena Ferrante should read! Set in Rhode Island and New York, Ruth is friendless and yearning for some companionship. Her home life is dull, her parents hardly pay attention to her, and when she sees Marie for the first time in line to buy their school uniform, she watches her with fascination and believes they will be the best of friends. It’s only a matter of time. Ruth can sense her loneliness is coming to an end and Marie is her ticket out of this desolation.

Throughout their years at a catholic school, the girls become inseperable, Marie often staying at Ruth’s house when her aunt is too sick to look after her. Ruth is there for Marie through all her tough times. But as the girls grow older, the brink of adulthood threatens to tip them in different directions. Marie, ever the rebellious one, is determined to find her people at university. She’s spikey and cool and wants to smoke and drink. Ruth, always the good girl, finds solace in painting, but feels Marie pulling away from her. Then the girls move to New York and they’re spat out into the real world.

New relationships take a stronger hold and Marie disentangles herself from Ruth. That deep-set loneliness rises in in Ruth once more.

A deeply moving and evocative debut of young Black women navigating their education and freedom. A coming of age story for the ages! A triumph of a novel.

Published on 09.04.2026 by Canongate

Reviewed by Victoria

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