Elif Batuman Standalone Novels books in order

Elif Batuman's standalone novels follow Selin, a Harvard freshman in the 1990s, through the confusing territory of language, email, and first love.
Series · Literary Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Humor

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Idiot 2017 Elif Batuman Buy
2 Either/Or 2022 Elif Batuman Buy

Elif Batuman’s two novels center on Selin, a Turkish-American freshman at Harvard in 1995. The Idiot (2017) traces her first year as she studies linguistics, writes long emails to a Hungarian math student named Ivan, and tries to figure out what any of it means. The book earned praise for its dry humor and its honest portrayal of the aimlessness and intensity of being young.

Either/Or (2022) continues Selin’s story into sophomore year, where she tries to live a more intentional life inspired by Kierkegaard while still stumbling through relationships and classes. Both novels resist tidy plot arcs in favor of observation and voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Elif Batuman Standalone Novels series?

There are two books in the Elif Batuman Standalone Novels series, published between 2017 and 2022.

What is the first book in the Elif Batuman Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Elif Batuman Standalone Novels series is The Idiot, published in 2017.

Are The Idiot and Either/Or connected?

Yes. Either/Or picks up where The Idiot leaves off, following the same protagonist, Selin, into her sophomore year at Harvard. Both books are loosely autobiographical and draw on Batuman’s own college experience.

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