Say Hello to My Little Friend

By: Jennine Capó Crucet

Narrated by: Krizia Bajos

Finalist for the Kirkus Prize

Scarface meets Moby Dick in Say Hello to My Little Friend—“a masterclass in pace and precision…brilliant” (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, National Book Award Finalist of Chain Gang All Stars) about 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.

©2024 Jennine Capó Crucet (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

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.

Born and Raised in the County of Dade

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

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!

Greatest novel of Modern Miami

Fabulous funny penetrating authentic. It includes a magical realism of Lolita and a Elian story line.

Original hilarious and heartbreaking

Author and narrator a plus job. Unpredictable and very thought provoking. I will not get this one out of my head anytime soon

funny story

it had me cracking up but the middle did get a little slow...but then ends pretty good

Not my type of book

I didn’t like the way the story portrayed Miami. I’ve lived here for over 60 years. For several years, I lived near Hialeah and I never knew anyone that was even vaguely similar to the characters in the story.
I also thought the talk about the rising water issue in Miami was certainly not an issue back then.