Book Club: Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet

Tuesday, 8/26/2025
7:00 - 8:00

Jennine Capó Crucet’s Say Hello to My Little Friend is a genre-bending, darkly comic and emotionally resonant novel that invites deep conversation around identity, grief and the immigrant experience. At its heart is Ismael “Izzy” Reyes, a 20-year-old Cuban immigrant in Miami who earns a living impersonating Pitbull—until he’s hit with a cease-and-desist order and must reinvent himself once again. Channeling Scarface’s Tony Montana, Izzy chases dreams of success and power while trying to untangle the mystery of his mother’s death and his disjointed past.

Izzy’s path leads him to an unexpected connection with Lolita, a captive killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium. Their mirrored stories—both marked by separation from their mothers and feelings of confinement—explore themes of displacement, cultural identity, and emotional survival.

Join us as we dive into this unforgettable story of reinvention, resilience, and the search for belonging. With its vibrant characters, sharp humor, and poignant reflections on identity and displacement, Say Hello to My Little Friend promises a rich and thought-provoking read.


Read, discuss ideas and connect through the many book clubs hosted by SFPL.

On The Same Page is a bimonthly city-wide read.

Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Latinx community.

¡VIVA! at the Library is a celebration of Latinx heritage, cultures and traditions. San Francisco has a rich Latinx heritage that is highlighted in a diverse array of exciting programs for all ages, from Spanish/bilingual storytimes to cooking classes, author talks to art and cultural presentations.


This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.


Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.


Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.