My Friend Leonard
My Friend Leonard
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2005
Book Brief
416
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
United States • 1990s
2005
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
My Friend Leonard by James Frey follows Frey's struggle to stay clean after his release from jail, navigating grief from his girlfriend Lilly's suicide, forming a father-son bond with Leonard, an Italian mob boss he met in rehab, working mysterious jobs, and gradually rebuilding his life while dealing with depression and addiction.
Emotional
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
47,757 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
My Friend Leonard by James Frey receives mixed reviews. Positively, readers praise its raw emotional depth and gripping storytelling, highlighting Frey's ability to depict addiction and friendship authentically. Critically, some find the narrative disjointed and question the factual accuracy. Overall, it's a compelling yet controversial memoir.
Who Should Read My Friend Leonard?
A reader who enjoys My Friend Leonard by James Frey likely appreciates deeply personal narratives of recovery and redemption. Ideal for fans of Frey's prior work, A Million Little Pieces and Mary Karr's The Liars' Club, this reader seeks raw, unflinching honesty and emotionally intense storytelling.
47,757 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
416
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
United States • 1990s
2005
Adult
18+ years
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