This was a frustrating read but this felt like the intention of Wambugu. Wambugu did a wonderful job showing how complex people are, the choices they make and how the choices are connected to people around them.

Loved this debut, even though I was over Ruth’s naïveté at about 75%. Not mad about it, since the author was that good at depicting the unbalance of the power dynamics in the friendship.

The RI setting was also a high point for me.

Read this!

Lonely Crowds explores multiple topics: childhood crushes, girls growing into women, being Black in locations that are predominantly white, making art, sexual identity. These are all topics I'm interested in, but there was bleakness to the novel that had me holding it figuratively at arm's length.

Lately I seem to be running into a lot of novels about people giving up on childhood dreams and then not really knowing where to head next, so they wind up in a vague territory that allows them to more-or-less make ends meet, but that doesn't allow the kind of satisfaction they thought their childhood dreams had promised.

Lonely Crowds is *not exactly* that book, but is has that same sense of resignation and confusion. The issues it's exploring are important, but I just can't embrace them in my reading at a time when so many of our real world values are being compromised, shredded, trampled underfoot.

A number of readers I respect have rated this novel highly. If you're feeling the way I am right now, this probably isn't a good time to pick Lonely Crowds, but there *will* be a good time to pick it up—and those five-star reviews will give you a taste of what you may experience.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.

Stephanie Wambugu's debut *Lonely Crowds* is an absolutely stunning exploration of female friendship that will leave you breathless, frustrated, and utterly captivated. The novel follows Ruth, the reserved daughter of recent immigrants, who becomes instantly mesmerized by Maria—a beautiful, charismatic orphan—when they meet at their Catholic school. What begins as childhood fascination evolves into a decades-long obsession that shapes both women's lives in profound and often destructive ways. Ruth finds herself perpetually orbiting Maria's incandescent presence, following her through adolescence, college, and into New York's competitive 1990s art scene, where Maria flourishes as an artist while Ruth struggles to find her own identity beyond her fixation with her magnetic friend.

Wambugu's writing possesses a rare magic that makes this psychologically complex narrative absolutely unputdownable. The author masterfully captures the intensity of female friendship without holding the reader's hand—she trusts us to understand the nuanced dynamics of obsession, jealousy, and deep admiration that can masquerade as love. The novel's structure seamlessly weaves between childhood and adulthood, showing rather than telling how these two Black women navigate spaces predominantly occupied by their white peers. The brilliance of *Lonely Crowds* lies in Wambugu's unflinching examination of how we can become trapped by our own devotions. Ruth's character development is particularly masterful—her journey from childhood fascination to adult obsession is both frustrating and deeply recognizable. The novel evokes comparisons to Elena Ferrante's *My Brilliant Friend* and Toni Morrison's *Sula* in its exploration of intense female bonds, but Wambugu brings her own distinct voice to this territory. The secondary characters, from Ruth's emotionally distant immigrant parents to the vibrant figures populating the New York art scene, are fully realized and add rich texture to the narrative. Several scenes land with devastating emotional impact, particularly in the final act, building to a conclusion that will leave readers stunned.

This is not a comfortable coming-of-age story about friendship—it's a raw exploration of mutual obsession, boundary-less relationships, and the cost of confusing toxic intensity for love. Both Ruth and Maria are emotionally damaged in ways that make them simultaneously maddening and sympathetic. Wambugu has crafted characters so psychologically complex that you'll find yourself wanting to shake them while also rooting for their healing. The novel's only flaw is that it ends too soon; this could have been twice as long and readers would eagerly follow these characters through every painful, beautiful moment. *Lonely Crowds* announces Wambugu as a major new talent whose future work demands attention.

3.5 rounded up. Ruth meets Maria in Catholic grammar school and is instantly obsessed with her, diving into a one-sided relationship that continues as such into their twenties. Throughout school, relationships, their art careers, social lives, Ruth constantly feels like less than Maria - and receives much less than she puts in. It's a frustrating but familiar dynamic, but one that's hard for me to sit with. The origins of Ruth's obsession are a little cloudy; it kind of just happens, because girls can get obsessive about friendships? I'm not sure Maria ever did anything to justify Ruth's continued fixation. And I'm not sure it was enough for that to be such a primary reason for Ruth's various social struggles. At some point, I think most of us would have said "you're just a bad friend" and found a way to have some boundaries. I enjoyed the setting and the description of their progressive life stages, though.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Ruth is an artist living in upstate New York who was raised in Rhode Island by parents from Kenya. Most of the book looks back at her friendship with Maria, a friend she met in third grade at her Catholic school, with whom Ruth spent most of her childhood and college years. There is a lot to like about the explorations and writing in this book. However, the first chapter was dense - even after I went back and reread it at the end.

There’s something quietly magical about Wambugu’s writing. Lonely Crowds pulled me in from the first page, and though Ruth and I are quite different, I deeply connected with her childhood obsession with Maria. Their friendship—intense, complicated, and consuming—evoked echoes of Elena and Lila in My Brilliant Friend or Nel and Sula in Sula. It’s a dynamic that’s beautifully rendered and thoughtfully developed, especially in adulthood, where many moments struck a personal chord.

I found this novel hard to put down. I even wished we could linger longer in Ruth and Maria’s early years before the narrative leapt forward. The supporting cast—Ruth’s parents, Sheila, James—felt vivid and alive, each carrying their own quiet pull. A few scenes, especially near the end, hit like a gut punch, but always with emotional honesty. Wambugu is a writer to watch.

Stephanie Wambugu's debut, 'Lonely Crowds', is a sharp, quietly haunting exploration of friendship, envy, and the loneliness that hides inside connection.

Told through the eyes of Ruth - a quiet, observant daughter of Kenyan immigrants - the novel traces her friendship with Maria, a magnetic but deeply wounded girl from Panama. What begins in a Catholic girls' school in Rhode Island stretches through their time at Bard College and into the bruising New York art scene of the 1990s. Wambugu captures their bond with unflinching honesty: at once tender, toxic, obsessive, and heartbreaking.

Wambugu's writing is exquisite - layered with precise detail and emotional restraint. She's especially deft at revealing the quiet violences of class, race, and ambition. The novel's strongest moments come when Ruth, ever the outsider, watches Maria navigate a world that seems to consume them both in different ways. Some passages - especially those touching on friendship as both refuge and rivalry - stayed with me long after I finished reading.

If I had a small critique, it's that the story, told entirely from Ruth's perspective, sometimes leaves Maria feeling just out of reach. But maybe that's the point: how well do we ever really know the people we obsess over?

'Lonely Crowds' reminding me of the ache of 'My Brilliant Friend' and the sharp edges of 'Luster'.

Ruth's story made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions. We watch her go from being one of the only Black girls at her Catholic school, to going to college, and then pursuing the life of an artist in NYC. Throughout her coming of age, her relationship with Maria is all consuming. To me, her devotion often felt one-sided, which was frustrating yet understandable. I felt I got a full picture of both Ruth and Maria throughout the story, the choices they made and how they were affected by their identities and circumstances. Maria sometimes left me with questions, and I enjoyed analyzing their connection. It was interesting to grapple with Ruth's feelings of desire, jealousy, and frustration, leading to a compelling story. This is a very strong debut and I'm excited to see what else the author writes next! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Delighted to include this title in the July edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

I just finished this and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It wasn’t necessarily the most eventful book—most of the story is Ruth reflecting on her best friend Maria and how deeply entangled her life became with hers. I couldn't really grasp her motive behind why she was so enamored by Maria. I think I just chalked it up to her being in love with her and not really knowing until later on in life. At times, it felt like Ruth had no story outside of Maria, and yet, I couldn’t stop reading.

Maria often came across as selfish, but I still found myself feeling sorry for her. Their friendship is complicated, shaped by class, longing, obsession, and the quiet tensions that build over time.

I can’t say I loved this book, but it definitely left an impression. It’s one I’ll be thinking about every now and then, and maybe that’s the point.

The writing style hooked me, even if the plot took a moment to build. It’s a great window into diverse experiences like growing up as a child of immigrants in a marriage holding on by a thread, Catholic school, Bard College, and the NYC art world. What really stood out was the complex central friendship – maybe an obsession, maybe manipulation, maybe love. It's a compelling look at how friendships, childhood experiences, privilege, trauma and mental health intersect in various elite 'melting pot' settings. Really enjoyed how it explored these dynamics.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu.

In this stunning literary debut novel, “Lonely Crowds” chronicles the decades-long relationship between two Catholic schoolgirls turned artistic rivals. When Ruth first spots Maria and her mother being publicly humiliated by a shopkeeper, it’s obsession at first sight. “I felt doomed,” Ruth thinks. As daughters of immigrants and two of the only girls of color in their class, Ruth can’t help but compare their lives with morbid fascination: “I was struck by two things: her dirtiness and her tremendous confidence.” While Ruth’s mother drills the values of quiet obedience, heavily manicured appearance, and “mind your business,” Maria shows Ruth a path of uninhibited freedom in personal and artistic life. From Pawtucket to college to New York City, author Stephanie Wambugu perfectly captures the intensity between two women as they navigate the tumultuous waves of friendship, sexuality and ambition. Wambugu grew up in Rhode Island.

There’s something magical about Wambugu’s writing. I was entranced as I journeyed through Lonely Crowds, and despite all the ways that Ruth and I are different, I felt such recognition in her childhood fascination with Maria. This friendship, the intensity, reminded me of the relationships between Elena and Lila in My Brilliant Friend or Sula and Nel in Sula. This dynamic was very well-written and developed so wonderfully, there were many parts of their adult friendship that really resonated with me.

This was a book that I truly found difficult to put down. When the narrative jumped from childhood to young adulthood, I found myself wishing that as a reader I were allowed to linger for longer in Ruth and Maria’s lives. The side characters who populate Lonely Crowds are vibrant and fully realized, with figures like Ruth’s parents, Sheila, and James who all command attention and evoke curiosity for their own reasons. Several scenes in this novel land like gut punches, particularly in the final act, but are never mined from an inauthentic space. Wambugu is an author to keep your eye on.

4.5. I seriously loved this. I love a heartbreaking story, sorry. Really shows how the passage of time no matter what changes people and changes relationships. As we get older we outgrow people and habits and sometimes it really hurts to let the things associated with old you go. Also shows how we cling to things out of comfortability at times. Really enjoyed seeing the characters in this change as they got older. What a gorgeous debut. Wished it was longer. As always, thank you Little, Brown and Company for the earc.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the DRC.

I'm incredibly impressed that this is Wambugu's debut novel. Her writing is assured and she's an excellent storyteller. Prose and pacing were both excellent for 95% of the book. I struggled a bit to really connect with the characters despite this being a first person POV from one of the main women we follow, Ruth. As much as I understood Ruth's intense relationship with Maria, I felt like I never quite understood any of Ruth's motivations for any other facet of her life. The ending of the book also felt a bit abrupt after what felt like several chapters of build up. However, based on the writing alone I do plan on checking out this author's next book.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

I thought this book was incredible, I loved it so so much and even when it frustrated me, I couldn't put it down. loved the blurred lines of the friendship between Ruth & Maria, the blurred lines between love and hate, and the way this story explored envy and the ceaseless pain of comparison. I loved Maria, low-key had a crush on her myself, or was fascinated to say the least, but also was so irritated with her through so much of the book - I found her selfish and inconsiderate and yet I rooted for her relationship with Ruth, the deep ties they had, and wanted them to just figure out their shit and treat each other better. similarly, Ruth got on my damn nerves, always moping about her life, but I also wanted her to be happy, truly happy. I really was rapt through this whole story and while the ending sort of irritated me, I still loved every second.

This was an interesting read, but it was also infuriating because the characters made such bad decisions, which I found so, so, so frustrating. I wanted a bit more about art school and the art world of the 90s, but it was mostly about Ruth and Maria's interpersonal drama and manipulations over the years. Aside from the fact that there were no cell phones in the book, it felt like it could have been set more recently.

Not really for me, but ymmv. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lonely Crowds is one of the strongest debut novels I have read in years. With echoes of My Brilliant Friend and Simone de Beauvoir’s Inseparable, Lonely Crowds follows two friends, Ruth and Maria, as they grow up, become artists, and occupy a space in each other’s lives that oscillates between friend, sister, and lover. Wambugu writes with clear, self-assured prose that is a pleasure to read. She executes such a mature and delicate character study of Ruth, a woman conflicted between her conventional, religious upbringing and her desires. I highly recommend this book and will be sure to pick up whatever Wambugu writes next.