The following version of the book was used to create this guide: Ferrante, Elena. The Lying Life of Adults. Europa Editions, 2020.

In Elena Ferrante's The Lying Life of Adults, 13-year-old Giovanna panicked when she overheard her father, Andrea, telling her mother, Nella, that she had begun to resemble her hateful and ugly Aunt Vittoria. Desperate to know if Andrea's hurtful words were true, Giovanna insisted on meeting her aunt, despite her longtime estrangement from Andrea. Giovanna's parents reluctantly agreed. The meeting thrilled Giovanna. Her aunt treated her differently from every other adult in life. Vittoria also seemed to love Giovanna. So when she insisted Giovanna spy on her parents in order to discover the truth of their idiocy and deception, Giovanna obliged.

Things escalated, however, when Giovanna began suspecting her mother of having an affair with Andrea's best friend, Mariano. Terrified, she told her aunt. Because Vittoria had discovered Andrea had given their mother's bracelet, meant for Giovanna at birth, to Costanza, she exposed his affair with Mariano's wife. The revelation quickly dismantled Giovanna's family structure. Hurt and confused Giovanna stopped talking to Vittoria, and hid the bracelet, which Costanza had returned to her.

Depressed and angry after her father moved out and into a new house with Costanza and her daughters, Giovanna's close friends, Angela and Ida, Giovanna gave up on school. She also embraced her perceived ugliness in an attempt to convince everyone she was undesirable. Failing school, and wearing all black, Giovanna also began fooling around with rude boys, including Rosario and Corrado. Furious with Giovanna's behavior, Vittoria insisted she return the bracelet. So, one day, Corrado and Rosario dropped her off at Vittoria's. On the drive, Giovanna felt thrilled by the power she had over both boys.

At Vittoria's, Giovanna feigned remorse and affection for her aunt. Appeased, Vittoria hugged Giovanna, and insisted she join her for a talk at the parish. Though she was initially disinterested, Giovanna soon perked up upon seeing her friend Giuliana's fiancé Roberto. She was convinced she had fallen in love at first sight.

In an effort to win Roberto's attention and affection, Giovanna decided to pursue the Christian faith. She changed her appearance, devoted herself to her studies again, and stopped seeing Rosario and Corrado. She also read the Gospels. When these endeavors proved insufficient, Giovanna did everything in her power to get closer to Giuliana in order to befriend Roberto. With time, her plan worked. During the companions' occasional visits, Giovanna proved herself intelligent and sensible to Roberto. Meanwhile, Giuliana's faith in the relationship faltered. When she worried Roberto was cheating on her during his business trips, Giovanna assured her otherwise.

Then one day, Giuliana begged Giovanna to accompany her on a visit to Roberto. Though Giovanna was thrilled, she felt silly and embarrassed on the trip. Her mood worsened when she realized Giuliana and Roberto were indeed sleeping together before marriage. Giovanna felt all alone. She barely had her parents' love, or her aunt's love, who had recently bestowed the bracelet on Giuliana.

When Giuliana and Giovanna arrived at home, Giuliana realized she left the bracelet behind. Giovanna comforted her, and after Giuliana departed, she got back on the train and returned to Roberto's apartment. The whole way there she was convinced she would betray Giuliana and sleep with Roberto. Yet while he invited Giovanna to share his bed, Giovanna refused, unsure if sex was what she really wanted.

Back at home, Giovanna renewed her friendship with Ida and made plans to visit Venice. The day before leaving, she and Rosario had sex. Though Rosario seemed disappointed, Giovanna was pleased with herself, believing her loss of virginity had ushered her into adulthood.