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Writer's pictureAmy Missin

Books for your BFF

Travel to different worlds and make new friends across New York, Italy and a dystopian England


Not only have we had to navigate a pandemic this past year, but we’ve also had to completely re-prioritize everything in our lives just to survive it. Being in lockdown meant books and baking overtook having your monthly catch up or night out with your friends, so predictably, some friendships have become more distant and even dropping off our radar completely. While you may think it will be months until you can repair those bonds, at least you can fill that time reading the novels that will temporarily give you some companionship. Below is a list of highly acclaimed books from my Want to Read shelf to get you started.



WHSmith

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

FICTION

WHAT: how a friendship and a nation transform over time and hardship

WHEN/WHERE: on the outskirts of 1950s Naples, Italy


GOODREADS REVIEW

“She started telling it and kept on doing it without pauses for literary reflections or metaphors, or for pretty much anything that might send the ‘oh right, this is fiction,’ signal to your brain. She let the damn thing be and run its course without interfering. She didn’t shy away from having her character be involved in all the quotidian things of childhood or adolescence- zits, dresses, best friends, boyfriends, finding out what bad words mean, and endless status competitions. But never once did she make it feel tired or like something I’ve read a zillion times.” – 5 stars, Kelly



WHSmith

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

DYSTOPIAN FICTION

WHAT: importance of friendship in a time when scientific experiments are done without consideration for any implications

WHEN/WHERE: England in the late 1990s


GOODREADS REVIEW

There is no way I could put the words down how I feel about this book. In fact, I won't even try. The beauty of this book and how you feel about it, is not in the words on the pages, but the words that aren't on the pages. It is not what was said, but what wasn't said. It is tragic and though the setting might be based in fantasy or make believe, we would be fools to believe that what happens in this book (not literally what happens but on a greater scale- what happens) is not all around us.” – 5 stars, Michelle



Amazon

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

MEMOIR

WHAT: the story of an award-winning author and her friendship with a fellow writer


GOODREADS REVIEW

“Perhaps my new favourite first line of all time: ‘It's an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and so we shared that, too.’ Caldwell and Knapp both emphasize their feminist values and their penchant for independence through their writing. Yet, Caldwell portrays their reliance on one another and their support of each other with conviction and eloquence.” – 5 stars, Thomas



Amazon

It's Not All Downhill from Here by Terry McMillan

FICTION

WHAT: a group of gal pals help their friend get her life back on track after a life-altering incident

WHERE: America


GOODREADS REVIEW

“This is what I really needed to read right now. It was funny and at times heart-breaking. Terry McMillan does such an awesome job of writing strong black women characters.” – 4 stars, Obsidian



Amazon

The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman

FICTION

WHAT: an honest, unromanticised account of love between six childhood friends

WHERE: outside Buffalo, NY


GOODREADS REVIEW

“What a wonderful, little gem of a novel this was. Anovel about friendships, about the seemingly little things in life that can affect us, change us and stay with us forever. It was also about perspective, about memory, about belonging and so many other things. But most of all, this was about the human limitations and flaws.” – 4 stars, Bianca



WHSmith

Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer

NON FICTION

WHAT: celebrates the modern friendship between women through research, conversations and the journalists own experiences


GOODREADS REVIEW

“What a great, insightful collection of thoughts. Coming from someone that has no real female friendships, I found this book somewhat eye opening. It's well known that women can easily tear each other down but when you find another female that you connect with, they usually are a friend for life. I think this book relayed the message clearly to me that we all crave that female friendship to some extent, someone to bond with outside of our daily commitments/lives.” – 4 stars, Reanna



WHSmith

Valley of the Dolls by Jaqueline Susann

FICTION

WHAT: what happens when three friends have nowhere to go but down

WHEN/WHERE: New York between 1940-60s


GOODREADS REVIEW

“If you haven't read this book, I suggest you quit dicking around on the internet and do absolutely whatever it takes to snag yourself a copy this instant. Granted it's probably not for everyone, but I gotta tell you, this is seriously among THE MOST VASTLY ENTERTAINING books I have ever read in my life.” – 5 stars, Jessica

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