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Cover of Euphoria by Lily KingEuphoria
Modern · Fiction, Adventure, Romance

Euphoria

by Lily King
2014 · 256 pages · Fiction
Critics' pick · Lifetime bestseller
≈ 6 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

In 1930s New Guinea, English anthropologist Andrew Bankson, isolated, grieving his brothers and close to despair, meets a famous and controversial American couple, Nell Stone and her husband, Fen. The three become entangled in a love triangle that threatens their work, their bonds and their lives. It's inspired by the life of Margaret Mead.

Why it's worth reading

It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's short, intense and beautifully written.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It can be read in a weekend. It's fiction, loosely based on real people.

By the numbers

72.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz2 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2015
Shortlisted
NBCC Award (Fiction) finalist (2014)

Reads as

Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is Euphoria worth reading?

Yes. It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,047 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Euphoria about?

In 1930s New Guinea, English anthropologist Andrew Bankson, isolated, grieving his brothers and close to despair, meets a famous and controversial American couple, Nell Stone and her husband, Fen. The three become entangled in a love triangle that threatens their work, their bonds and their lives. It's inspired by the life of Margaret Mead.

How long does it take to read Euphoria?

About 6 hours (256 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Euphoria?

If you liked it, try State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver or Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen.