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TL;DR: In a Michigan suburb in the 1970s, the five Lisbon sisters, aged thirteen to seventeen, all take their own lives within a single year. Narrated by a group of neighborhood boys, now grown men, who were obsessed with the girls, the novel pieces together memories and clues, trying and failing to understand why.
Table of Contents
The Virgin Suicides at a Glance
| Author | Jeffrey Eugenides |
| First published | 1993 |
| Type | Novel |
| Best for | readers who want a haunting, lyrical literary novel |
The Virgin Suicides is the debut novel of Jeffrey Eugenides, published in 1993. It is told in an unusual collective “we” voice. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes suicide throughout the book. Readers who are struggling should seek support.
Main Characters
- The Lisbon sisters: Therese, Mary, Bonnie, Lux and Cecilia.
- Mr. Lisbon: The girls' gentle math teacher father.
- Mrs. Lisbon: The girls' strict, controlling mother.
- Trip Fontaine: A popular boy who dates Lux.
- The narrators: Neighborhood boys who watched the girls.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
Cecilia
The youngest sister, thirteen-year-old Cecilia, attempts suicide. When a doctor asks why, she says, “Obviously, Doctor, you've never been a thirteen-year-old girl.” Her parents throw a party to cheer her up, but Cecilia leaves and dies by jumping from her window.
After Cecilia
The family withdraws. The neighborhood boys watch the remaining sisters with fascination. Trip Fontaine, the school heartthrob, falls for Lux and persuades Mr. Lisbon to let the girls attend the homecoming dance.
The dance
The four girls go to the dance with boys. Lux stays out late with Trip, who abandons her on the football field. Mrs. Lisbon punishes the family by taking the girls out of school and locking them in the house.
Isolation
The girls are cut off from the world. The house decays. The boys communicate with the sisters by playing records over the phone. Lux has secret encounters on the roof.
The final night
The girls invite the boys to help them escape. When the boys arrive, they find that the remaining sisters have all ended their lives that night. The family moves away. The boys, now men, still cannot explain what happened and remain haunted.
5 Key Takeaways
- Grief and isolation can be devastating.
- People often fail to understand the inner lives of others.
- Overprotection can suffocate.
- Memory reshapes the past.
- Suicide leaves survivors searching for answers.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Watching someone is not the same as knowing them.
- Teenage pain is often unseen by adults.
- Some mysteries can never be solved.
Who Should Read The Virgin Suicides?
Read The Virgin Suicides if you enjoy lyrical, haunting literary fiction. It suits adults and mature older teens, with care around its subject.
About Jeffrey Eugenides
Jeffrey Eugenides is an American novelist born in 1960 in Detroit, Michigan, where this novel is set. His second novel, Middlesex, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2003. He has also written The Marriage Plot and a story collection, Fresh Complaint. He teaches creative writing and is known for long gaps between his carefully crafted books.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The Virgin Suicides:
- Why are the boys obsessed with the Lisbon sisters?
- What role do the parents play?
- Can anyone understand why the girls died?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The Virgin Suicides is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The Virgin Suicides, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes, for mature readers. It is beautifully written and unsettling, but its subject is very heavy.
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What to Read Next
- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides: Eugenides's Pulitzer-winning novel
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: a young woman's depression
- Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay: the mystery of vanished girls
Related: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Virgin Suicides about?
Five sisters in a 1970s suburb take their own lives, and neighborhood boys try to understand why.
Who wrote it?
Jeffrey Eugenides, in 1993.
Who narrates?
A group of neighborhood boys, now grown men.
How many sisters are there?
Five: Cecilia, Lux, Bonnie, Mary and Therese.
Is there a film?
Yes, Sofia Coppola's 1999 film.
What age is it for?
Adults and mature older teens.
How long is it?
About 250 pages.
Where is it set?
In Grosse Pointe, Michigan, in the 1970s.
Is it based on a true story?
No, it is fiction.
Where can someone in crisis get help?
From a trusted adult, a doctor or a crisis line in their country.
Who are the main characters in The Virgin Suicides?
The main characters are the Lisbon sisters, Mr. Lisbon, Mrs. Lisbon, Trip Fontaine and the narrators. The Lisbon sisters: Therese, Mary, Bonnie, Lux and Cecilia. Mr. Lisbon: The girls' gentle math teacher father. Mrs. Lisbon: The girls' strict, controlling mother.
Is The Virgin Suicides worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a haunting, lyrical literary novel. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.