The Wilderness (Flournoy novel)
First edition cover | |
| Author | Angela Flournoy |
|---|---|
| Genre | Literary fiction |
| Publisher | Mariner Books |
Publication date | September 16, 2025 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-0-063-31877-9 |
The Wilderness is a 2025 novel by Angela Flournoy. It received positive reception from critics upon release.
Plot
The novel follows five Black women (Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique, and Nakia) over a period of twenty years. The women face a variety of challenges to their friendships and relationships as they navigate life as Black women in America.
Development
Publication history
The Wilderness was published on September 16, 2025, by Mariner Books.[1]
Reception
Kirkus Reviews described the book as "elegant and upsetting," noting that the structure of the novel made it read like a collection of short stories.[1] Publishers Weekly called the book "a knockout" and complimented Flournoy's character work in a starred review.[2] Library Journal also published a positive starred review, while Booklist praised Flournoy's prose.[3][4]
The Washington Post was positive, writing that the novel's characters were realistic and that Flournoy's choice of using a first-person narrative helped immerse the reader in their minds.[5] The New York Times positively compared the novel to Flournoy's debut, The Turner House.[6] A review in The Boston Globe complimented the book's structure and themes.[7] Furthermore, The New Republic wrote that the book had "broken with" the tropes found in previous novels about female friendship to great effect.[8]
The Wilderness has been longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction,[9] and placed on NPR's Books We Love 2025 guide.[10]
References
- ^ a b "The Wilderness". Kirkus Reviews. May 30, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ "The Wilderness". Publishers Weekly. May 23, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Shepherd, Leah (August 1, 2025). "The Wilderness". Library Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Escoto, Allison (August 1, 2025). "The Wilderness". Booklist. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Thomas-Kennedy, Jackie (September 24, 2025). "'The Wilderness' is a fascinating look at lasting friendships". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Orr, Niela (September 16, 2025). "Four Women, Navigating Friendship and Ambition in a World on Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ LeBlanc, Lauren (September 10, 2025). "Angela Flournoy's new novel shines its light on the power of friendship". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Bonhomee, Edna (October 6, 2025). "The Female Friendship Novel in the Era of the Group Chat". The New Republic. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ "The Wilderness". HarperCollins. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ "Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved November 25, 2025.