With the summer sun making its appearance, the heat of the day drawing out the fatigue from my bones, and the long invigilating hours making themselves known, I have found myself drifting to shorter reads to keep my brain stimulated. I don’t usually read literary fiction or women’s fiction, but The Days of Abandonment has been coming up on my Bookstagram feed thanks to several well trusted accounts. Taking this as a sign, I picked it up from the library a few days ago, and I have been shocked to find I ‘m actually enjoying it more than I expected.

A national bestseller for almost an entire year, The Days of Abandonment shocked and captivated its Italian public when first published. It is the gripping story of a woman’s descent into devastating emptiness after being abandoned by her husband with two young children to care for. When she finds herself literally trapped within the four walls of their high-rise apartment, she is forced to confront her ghosts, the potential loss of her own identity, and the possibility that life may never return to normal.

Part of the reason I don’t often read women’s fiction is because there are times I cannot relate to the behaviour and thought process of the characters. I feel bad for not reading more given I want to advocate for women’s voices and share awareness for marginalised voices. It is something I am hoping to find a solution for in 2026, but for now, I am hesitantly picking up recommendations from those I trust to give the full depths and themes of each read. The Days of Abandonment is also something I wasn’t sure about to start with given the protagonist’s married status; if there is a single thing I struggle with more than just women’s fiction it is married women’s fiction. But the emotion and themes explored were much different than what I expected, and I found myself drawn into the story and the sheer explosiveness of the character’s rage.

Elena Ferrante has such a gorgeous narrative style, with a language choice that is fluid and lush while still providing that shock that excites and sinks its claws into the reader. The prose is lyrical and emotive, painting a scene that is raw and unfiltered, unafraid to show the reality of the situation. This isn’t a story like you have read before, and if you are one of those readers looking for a ‘feminine rage’ story to fill your weekend, The Days of Abandonment is one for your list.

While I am not sure whether or not I can get through longer reads like this, I am not passing up the chance to read more of Elena Ferrante’s work. I have My Brilliant Friend awaiting pickup, so that may have me heading down the Neapolitan series route over the summer. I have heard so many good things about My Brilliant Friend, so I am crossing my fingers and toes.