Description

Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction
Selected as one of The New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
Now adapted into a major movie starring Naomi Watts

“A beautiful book…offering profound reflections on grief, loss, art, and love.” —Wall Street Journal

“A deeply thoughtful and captivating exploration of sorrow, solace, and memory…Nunez demonstrates sharp and insightful wit.” —NPR

“Dryly humorous, subtly layered, and irresistibly charming…filled with comedy that seems effortlessly authentic.” —The New York Times

In this bestselling novel praised by The New York Times, a powerful story unfolds about friendship, love, grief, and healing, centered on the extraordinary bond between a woman and her dog. After unexpectedly losing her closest friend and cherished mentor, a woman is left caring for the dog her departed friend has left behind—an enormous, grieving Great Dane, profoundly traumatized by the sudden and mysterious absence of his master. To complicate matters further, the woman’s apartment forbids dogs, putting her at risk of eviction.

As she struggles to manage her own powerful grief and loneliness, she becomes fiercely protective of the dog, refusing to be parted from him except under the most unavoidable circumstances. Isolated from others, increasingly obsessed with trying to comprehend what the dog feels and thinks, she begins drifting dangerously close to an emotional breaking point. Yet, even amid hardship and adversity, unexpected comfort and meaningful companionship await them both.

Poignant and reflective, The Friend eloquently examines the ways we mourn, yet it is also a moving celebration of loyalty, affection, and the uniquely powerful bond between human beings and their canine companions.