Friendship is a beautiful thing that deserves to be celebrated. Whether it’s with a college roommate, a work wife, or a childhood friend, these relationships are important and meaningful. PureWow has compiled a list of 15 fabulous books about friendships of all kinds, perfect for turning into a mini book club situation with pals near and far.
From heartwarming stories to tales of adventure, these books are sure to inspire and entertain. And with prices accurate upon date of publish, there’s no better time to pick up a copy and celebrate the power of friendship.
1. The Group by Mary McCarthy
The Group by Mary McCarthy is a novel that follows the lives of eight female friends who graduated from Vassar College in 1933. The story begins with the marriage of one of the friends, Kay Strong, and ends with her funeral in 1940.
The book highlights the various struggles that the friends face post-graduation such as financial turmoil, family crises, and relationship issues. The Group is a relatable story that transcends time and speaks to the challenges faced by friend groups today.
2. Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie
Zahra and Maryam, despite their differences, have been the best of friends since their childhood in Karachi. The two never discuss their dissimilarities, even after a crucial night that alters their future plans.
Three decades later, they are both influential women in London when unsettling figures from their past reemerge, compelling them to finally confront their essential differences and determine if their friendship can withstand the test of time.
3. The Most Likely Club by Elyssa Friedland
In “The Most Likely Club” by Elyssa Friedland, readers are taken back to 1997 in Bellport, Connecticut, where four best friends, Melissa, Priya, Tara, and Suki, are ready to conquer the world after receiving their high school yearbook superlatives.
However, fast-forward 25 years, and the women’s lives have not gone according to plan. When they reunite at their high school reunion, a forgotten classmate announces something that inspires the friends to revisit their teenage aspirations. Fueled by nostalgia and a few too many drinks, they form a pact to push through their middle-aged angst and bring their dreams to fruition, calling themselves the “Most Likely Girls.”
The book explores themes of friendship, nostalgia, and the reality of growing older while still holding onto youthful aspirations. It offers a fresh perspective on the challenges of middle age and the importance of staying true to oneself. Overall, “The Most Likely Club” is a heartwarming and relatable read that will leave readers feeling inspired to pursue their own dreams.
4. Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions: A Novel in Interlocking Stories by Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions is a novel that tells the story of four young women who form an unbreakable bond while attending an all-girls boarding school in Nigeria. Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape are from affluent families and are raised with a desire for independence.
As they navigate adulthood and the uncertainties of the world, they grapple with loss, family, friendship, and alienation. The novel explores their experiences as they move between Nigeria and America, shedding light on the challenges they face and the risks they take to control their destinies.
5. Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub is a novel about four college friends who were once members of a rock band. After the death of one of their bandmates, the remaining members go on to live ordinary lives in Brooklyn.
However, twenty years later, they are forced to confront their past and the changes they have undergone. The novel explores themes of friendship, love, and the challenges of growing older.
6. Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett’s book “Truth & Beauty: A Friendship” is a moving tribute to her late friend Lucy Grealy. The two met in college in the early 1980s and their friendship endured for over two decades. The book chronicles their experiences together, including enduring harsh winters in the Midwest and navigating the medical system as Grealy underwent numerous surgeries.
Patchett’s account of their friendship is both tender and raw, highlighting the complex emotions that arise when two lives become so intertwined. Ultimately, the book is a powerful exploration of what it means to love and lose a friend.
7. Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, the creators of the popular podcast Big Friendship, have authored a book detailing their decade-long friendship. The book is a candid account of their experiences, including health scares, job losses, and awkward Thanksgiving dinners.
It is a humorous and inspiring tribute to the power of friendship, encouraging readers to reflect on their own relationships. Through their story, Sow and Friedman demonstrate the importance of forming, maintaining, and overcoming challenges in friendships. Their book is a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their connections with others.
8. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other is a multi-voiced novel that won the Booker Prize in 2019, making Evaristo the first black woman to receive the award. The book tells the stories of a group of interconnected Black British women, including a Black lesbian playwright, a disillusioned teacher, and a successful investment banker.
Through their stories, Evaristo paints a vivid picture of contemporary Britain while also exploring the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. The novel’s unique structure and diverse characters have earned it critical acclaim and a wide readership.
9. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend is the first novel in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet. The book follows the lives of two girls, Lila and Lenu, as they navigate their way through post-war Naples. The novel explores the complexities of growing up and the minutiae of daily life in a way that is both engrossing and relatable.
Despite the challenges faced by the girls, including the struggle to receive an education in the 1950s and societal pressure to marry young, Ferrante’s vivid descriptions of teenage friendship will resonate with readers.
The novel’s portrayal of the deep bond between Lila and Lenu has captivated readers, particularly women, since its publication in the early 2010s. The book’s popularity is a testament to Ferrante’s ability to craft a story that is both compelling and emotionally resonant.
10. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life is a novel that follows four graduates from a small college in Massachusetts as they move to New York to pursue their dreams and escape their past. Through the characters of Jude, Malcolm, JB, and Willem, Yanagihara explores male relationships, trauma, self-harm, chronic pain, and more.
Despite the heavy subject matter and trigger warnings, the book is beautifully written and engaging. Yanagihara’s portrayal of the characters’ deepening relationships and the emergence of their painful past secrets make for a captivating read that readers are unlikely to forget.
11. The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
The Burning Girl is a novel by Claire Messud that explores the complexities of friendship and coming-of-age. The story follows Julia and Cassie, childhood friends who share a desire to escape their small hometown in Massachusetts.
As they enter adolescence, their paths diverge, with Cassie embarking on a dangerous journey that jeopardizes her life and their friendship. Messud’s novel is a poignant examination of the clash between childhood’s imaginary worlds and the harsh realities of adulthood.
The novel’s themes of youth, friendship, and the search for identity are skillfully woven together to create a powerful and thought-provoking narrative.
12. Swing Time by Zadie Smith
In Swing Time, Zadie Smith explores the complex relationship between two childhood friends who dream of becoming dancers. Against the backdrop of life in the housing projects, the narrator and her best friend navigate their diverging lives in the following decades.
Smith’s observations about race and popular culture are keenly portrayed in this novel. The book cover features an image of books about friendship, which is a central theme of the novel.
13. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Frances and Bobbi, two young women pursuing a career in writing, meet a well-known photographer at a local poetry performance. The photographer, who lives in a sophisticated home with her handsome husband Nick, draws the two friends into her world. Frances becomes intrigued by Nick and their flirtation takes on a strange intimacy.
Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel explores the pleasures and dangers of youth and the complexities of female friendship. The novel delves into the messiness of relationships and the impact they can have on one’s life.
Summary
Books about friendship explore the dynamics, challenges, and rewards of interpersonal relationships. They often depict characters who navigate complex social situations, learn to communicate effectively, and build lasting connections.
These books can help readers develop empathy, compassion, and social skills, as well as provide a source of comfort and inspiration. Some popular books about friendship include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brashares, “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White, and “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green.