This heartwarming and captivating list of books about friendship will make you want to hug your best friend! Celebrate the strength and power of female friendships!
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There’s no replacement for treasured friendships, especially with the kind of friends that you can pick right back up with, no matter how much time has passed. True friends “get” you. They listen to your stories, commiserate with your struggles, and lift you when you’re down.
So, if you happen to be in a “friendly mood” and looking for a story that’ll explore the depths of companionship, leaving you feeling inspired and grateful for the incredible women in your life, you’ll find it here!
Celebrate the strength of female friendships with this list of unforgettable fiction books that showcase the enduring bonds, shared struggles, and uplifting moments that define true sisterhood. Get ready to discover your next literary companion!
What are the top 10 fiction books about friendship?
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Follow a treasured friendship that spans decades! My Brilliant Friend begins the story of two childhood friends, Elena and Lila, and their life in the 1950s, living on the outskirts of Naples.
My thoughts: The characters, the location, and the story are all captivating and unforgettable! This story will truly touch your heart.
This book is the first of a four-part series, Neapolitan Novels, and has been adapted into a series on HBO.
Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie
Zahra and Maryam have been friends since childhood. Yet, their lives and backgrounds in Pakistan during military rule couldn’t be farther apart. Thirty years later, this friendship struggles to survive as the fallout from one night when they were teens threatens to upend everything they hold dear.
My thoughts: You’ll want to read this book with a friend because you’ll definitely want someone to discuss it with!
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
The phrase opposites attract perfectly describes the friendship between the well-mannered, structured life of Dannie Kohan and her impulsive, free-spirited best friend, Bella. However, for all her perfect planning, Dannie mysteriously (perhaps magically) awakens to her life five years later. And she’s not married to the same man whose proposal she just accepted.
My thoughts: So, I snuck a sneak peek into the plot, and not to add a spoiler, but five years later, things are about to get very complicated for Dannie and Bella’s friendship!
Wahala by Nikki May
Ronke, Boo, and Simi are three close friends, each dealing with getting the lives of their wishes and dreams. Then along comes Isobel, who initially seems like a wise addition to the group, but soon becomes trouble.
The author is a British Nigerian whose characters are Anglo-Nigerian women, and the title, Wahala, is the Nigerian word for “trouble.” Get ready for plenty of trouble once Isobel enters the story.
My thoughts: You’re in for a fast-paced, shockingly entertaining read. However, I discovered that some readers didn’t care for how the author portrayed the male Nigerian men characters.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Two twenty-something millennial friends, Frances and Bobbi, develop a relationship with an older privileged married couple who are part of Dublin’s literary scene. Soon Frances becomes attracted to the husband, Nick.
My thoughts: Fans of acclaimed author Sally Rooney will enjoy her debut novel, which has since earned critical acclaim but not as much as her later works. Also, despite the word “friends” in the title, the plot focuses more on the illicit relationship between Frances and Nick.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
This 1996 novel tells the story of a tightly-knit group of best friends, the Ya-Ya’s, and how they rallied to help heal the estranged mother-daughter relationship of one of their members. The Ya-Yas share a scrapbook, the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, with the daughter that helps her better understand her mother through the mementos kept from their young adventures.
My Thoughts: This classic of Southern women’s fiction is one to be read over and over again. It’s as much a story of enduring friendship as it is a heart-warming tale of the relationship between mother and daughter.
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
This novel, told in alternating voices, follows the plights of two Asian-American women and their beautiful friendship.
Through heartbreak and struggles, Fiona Lin and Jane Shen’s friendship remains the foundation that gives them the strength to survive. Best friends since second grade, Fiona and Jane move in and out of each other’s lives as they struggle with family issues and misfortune.
My thoughts: Earning high praise and multiple acclamations, pick this up if you’re looking for a serious, emotional read!
Sister Stardust by Jane Green
An unlikely friendship develops between a small-town young woman, Clare, who is visiting London for the first time, and a famous model and actress, Talitha.
Set in the swinging 60s, the characters leave together for Marrakesh, where the drama may be more than Clare can handle.
My Thoughts: Based on the true story of Talitha Getty, this book looks like a fun page-turner and a great escape into a jet-setting, glamorous world.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
In the summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart are two teens you’d never predict would form a friendship, let alone one that lasts a lifetime. Part of a two-book series that spans three decades, this first book lays the groundwork for a lasting friendship that persists through life’s turbulent changes and a shared past that keeps finding its way into the present.
My thoughts: You may know this title better as a top Netflix series. However, the books are worth the read for gaining deeper insights into the characters.
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
Agnes Lee and Polly Wister are two best friends living distinctly different lives. Agnes has lived a long life pursuing her literary interests, while Polly has enjoyed a life of wealth, marriage, and children. As Agnes works to secure her legacy, including protecting a beautiful section of coastline in Maine, she must convince Polly, a shareholder, to vote her way – and against the wishes of Polly’s three sons.
My thoughts: This sweeping, immersive novel of over 600 pages set on the majestic coastline of Maine is the kind of end-of-summer read that’s both epic and deeply satisfying.
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