New Books Network Stephanie Wambugu, "Lonely Crowds" (Little, Brown and Co., 2025)
Nov 15, 2025
Stephanie Wambugu, a Kenya-born novelist and editor at Joyland Magazine, delves into her debut novel, Lonely Crowds. She explores the intense friendship between Ruth and Maria, revealing how their lives intersect in the competitive New York art scene. Wambugu discusses the impact of class on artistic choices, the ethical limits of representation, and the complexities of desire shaped by cultural backgrounds. The conversation also touches on literary influences and the significance of friendship in shaping identities.
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Friendship As Driving Force
- Ruth and Maria's friendship becomes both life-saving and destructive, shaping every major decision in their lives.
- The novel uses their bond to examine intimacy, ambition, class, and the costs of artistic striving.
Characters Emerged From a Single Voice
- Stephanie heard Ruth's voice the week before starting grad school and Ruth arrived nearly fully formed on the page.
- Maria began as a smaller figure in a scene and expanded relationally as Stephanie wrote both characters as foils.
Art Careers Are Classed And Fraught
- The novel highlights class disparities in art: many artists come from middle/upper-middle backgrounds due to precarity.
- Both protagonists achieve markers of success yet remain dissatisfied and alienated from their origins.
