The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud is a richly layered novel that delves into the lives of three friends—Danielle Minkoff, Marina Thwaite, and Julius Clarke—as they navigate ambition, identity, and personal fulfillment in early 2000s Manhattan. Set against the backdrop of a city on the cusp of transformation, the story captures the complexities of friendship, societal expectations, and the pursuit of success. (6094)