I’m in dire need of books about friend groups. I want to read books that have friendships that evoke emotion, that grow over the course of the novel, characters that really become a part of your life as their becoming a part of each others’ lives.
Hoping specifically for friend groups (3-6 ish), with enough time to develop individual friendships within the group. Totally okay with romance within the friend group.
I do prefer contemporary – I can make do with other genres, incl Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc., as long as the attention to friendships are there, and meaningful character development. Ideally not incredibly long-winded world-building.
I find these qualifiers are easier to find with YA novels, which I’m totally okay with! but would love to have some young adult/adult fiction options as well.
My holy grail favorite book is On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (I think Melina Marchetta does friend groups and character development wonderfully in so many of her books!).
Some books that I’ve read to try to reach this high:
- The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater
- Excellent job, does everything I’m looking for. Sometimes the fantastical elements get a little too convoluted for me, but it was worth it for the relationships. Just as Blue says in the books, they’re all in love with each other!!! Exactly what I’m looking for.
- Fangirl and Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell
- I love Rowell as an author, I love her contemporary and adult fiction books, and would love for her to write an adult fiction about a friend group. Until then, I will need more recs.
- Various Fredrik Backman books
- New fan, huge fan. Can completely understand the hype. The Beartown Trilogy is my favorite, and I expect My Friends to be a holy grail for me, but I am just waiting for my turn in the library queue for it. Might become impatient and buy it soon though!
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
- I love this so much, and its sequel, really warmed my heart right up. Currently waiting for Under the Whispering Door in my queue, but grappling with some of the comments the author made regarding the inspiration for THITCS :/
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
- I read this in early in college before I had a real handle on how controversial this book is. Not wanting to debate it generally, but when I look back, I do think the friend group element and character development especially in the first half really represents what I’m looking for.
- The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
- I wanted to love it. I really, really did. As I’ve been scouring this subreddit for books that fit what I’m looking for this was definitely one of the most recommended. I thought I’d love the no conflict! Turns out, I need some conflict/complication to characters! Great book, just not the best for me, and I don’t think I’ll continue the series.
I do also really enjoy when parts of the friend group start off as enemies/rivals/annoyances to each other, but at this point anything you’ve got, please send my way!
by Unimportant-Weather