Say Hello to My Little Friend

De: Jennine Capó Crucet

Narrado por: Krizia Bajos

Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize | Winner of the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize | Finalist for the Kirkus Prize

“A blistering, hilarious, tragic novel that is simultaneously absurd and painfully real.” —The Miami Herald

Scarface meets Moby Dick in Say Hello to My Little Friend following a young man’s attempt to capitalize on his mother’s murky legacy—a story steeped in Miami’s marvelous and sinister magic.

Failed Pitbull impersonator Ismael Reyes—you can call him Izzy—might not be the Scarface type, but why should that keep him from trying? Growing up in Miami has shaped him into someone who dreams of being the King of the 305, with the money, power, and respect he assumes comes with it. After finding himself at the mercy of a cease-and-desist letter from Pitbull’s legal team and living in his aunt’s garage, Izzy embarks on an absurd quest to turn himself into a modern-day Tony Montana.

When Izzy’s efforts lead him to the tank that houses Lolita, a captive orca at the Miami Seaquarium, she proves just how powerful she and the water surrounding her really are—permeating everything from Miami’s sinking streets to Izzy’s memories to the very heart of the novel itself. What begins as Izzy’s story turns into a super-saturated fever dream as sprawling and surreal as the Magic City, one as sharp as an iguana’s claws, and as menacing as a killer whale’s teeth. As the truth surrounding Izzy’s boyhood escape from Cuba surfaces, the novel reckons with the forces of nature, with the limits and absence of love, and with the dangers of pursuing a tragic inheritance. “Blistering, hilarious, [and] tragic” (The Miami Herald), Say Hello to My Little Friend is Jennine Capó Crucet’s most daring, heartbreaking, and fearless book yet.

Born and Raised in the County of Dade

Love this book! Great story line and amazing spot on details about Miami. So relatable!

Call me Izzy

If you like Gabriel García Márquez, then this book is for you.

We follow Ismael’s (“Call me Izzy”) journey to make an impression on the magical and sinking Miami as he attempts to become the new, modern Tony Montana of Scarface fame. Along the way we meet Lolita, who may or may not wind up being the white whale, an Orca in a too-small tank at the Miami Seaquarium; Izzy’s Manolo, Rudy; his ‘connection,’ Danny; and Julissa, Rudy’s sister and Izzy’s Michelle Pfieffer among a cast full of wonderfully-written characters. Water floods Cápo Crucet’s Miami and acts as the connective tissue that binds this story together.

I’m sad to leave Cápo Crucet’s Miami, sad to leave her characters. I will return to this book.

Solid weird book

Wild premise, very Miami, super unique, well written and oddly powerful. Was very sure where it was going the whole time.

Yes, the whale is a metaphor

So is the scar.

Audio is probably the best way to consume this book. Narrator Krizia Bajos gives a unique vibrance to each voice and turn of phrase of Jennine Capó Crucet’s characters, who are already incredibly compelling. I know I’ll be returning to this one again and again, as well as buying a print copy.

I will be looking for whatever is next from both Jennine Capó Crucet and Krizia Bajos.

Lolita

This story took me to unexpected places regarding climate change. It’s not about that though, it’s about so much more. I enjoyed it very much!