The points of issue
Riverhead Books (Penguin) imprint with a number line including 1 on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Small first printing.
Is this the true first?
The US Riverhead hardcover (2018) is the true first; the book won the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. First-issue jackets predate any award seal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is a concern. Confirm a number line ending in 1 and a first-issue jacket without an award seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Friend a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Riverhead Books (Penguin) imprint with a number line including 1 on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Small first printing.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Riverhead hardcover (2018) is the true first; the book won the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. First-issue jackets predate any award seal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is a concern. Confirm a number line ending in 1 and a first-issue jacket without an award seal.
I have a first edition of The Friend — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.