Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close

I bought this book because, yes, I'm a fan of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast. I bought the book and then it sat on my shelf for a few months. I recently chose it for my book club to read. I went in and started reading some of the reviews, here on Amazon and then on Goodreads. For a second, I thought that maybe I had made a mistake after reading what some reviewers said. I am so glad I didn't let it stop me. The book was really great, and not just because I'm a fan of their podcast. It is well-written and thoughtful. It was obvious to me that some of the reviewers never finished the book because if they had, some of the things they didn't like or thought weren't resolved, were clearly dealt with by the end. I wasn't left feeling like I was missing information at all. The book is written as a memoir more than a social science read- so they do use their own Big Friendship as the foundation and then discuss different ideas they researched on the topic of friendship as it applies to their personal experience. If you're looking for a more scientific or research approach, this might not be what you're looking for. It is also not a political essay or anything like that. Yes, people like AOC and Ilhan Omar are mentioned, but in the context of Shine Theory. That's it. Yes, they most definitely hold progressive political views, but the book isn't about that. The conservative reader can read this and look at the topic at face value and be ok. If you're offended by the mere mention of anything liberal or progressive, then maybe you can't handle it??? I'm only bringing this up because I saw some pretty ugly comments in other reviews on the topic of their politics and I based on those I was expecting something different than what I found. At the end of the day, this book was so beautiful. I loved it. It made me think about myself in friendships in a new way. It made me think about the people I love and how I want to be there for them. How life has gotten in the way of some friendships and I wonder if we can bring them back in a new way that works better once you're older and have a family of your own. I highly recommend this book and I hope you decide to take a chance on it.

I gave this book four stars because I believe that focusing on the importance of friendship as an essential piece of women’s lives and being as impacting as family or marriage is absolutely necessary to understand women. As a recently retired psychotherapist of 52 years, I am very aware of the psychological impact of female friendship and initiated a few sessions with female friend of female client a few times. There was surprise at suggestion, followed by gratitude after these experiences. Yes this book is very personal and yes the authors specific experiences aren’t universal but the energy and investment described is so important. Women are usually very relational beings and this book supports our need to value, understand, and find ways of supporting that…whether we are living in present digital age or understanding friendships even in pre computer days.

This is the kind of book you don't put down after picking up (because you simply cant!) This is the kind of book that compels you to underline, and screenshot, and dog-ear pages. This is the kind of book that makes you laugh, cry, and reflect. This is the kind of book that you lend to your best friend, because only *they* could understand it like you. This is the kind of book that you need to read.

Based on the description of the book, I thought this would be more about friendships and less about the authors. The parts where they focused on theories and studies on friendships were interesting, but the book was more of an auto-biography of the authors. Also it’s confusing that the book is written in both the 1st and 3rd person.

Navigating friendships and keeping them healthy is important work. Enjoyed reading about someone else intentionality with regard to keeping friendships !!

I was first introduced to this book and these amazing women on the 7/28/2020 ep of Sam Sanders' NPR podcast "It's Been a Minute". Since I'm already listening to another friendship podcast ("Best Friends With Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata"), this book seemed like my best starting point. This book is funny, insightful, well-researched, thoughtful and incredibly needed. As they iterate time and again: friendship is valuable but not valued. Especially as people lead busier lives, spend more time online and are married later (if at all), friendships deserve a stronger focus and support. I have old friends, interracial friends, make friends, long-distance friends (and combos!) so I identified with so many of the triumphs and struggles depicted here. I highlighted sections because I want to be a better friend--and you should too! This book is lightly political (they're unapologetic feminists), not graphic (a few medical descriptions), and very emotional. Everyone can learn something. But take your time, this is important.

I read this book for my book club I thought it was good and I really enjoyed reading this book

Love love loved this book! I felt like they were writing about my life. And the fact that they were writing about friendship as a central tenant of life was a new thing I have not found before. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Very candid and personal account of a friendship between two very different young women.

This book would likely be enjoyed by fans of their podcast. However, it’s not an insight guide about friendship, but a year by year break down of their friendship story.

A meaningful contribution to the growing body of work on the vital meaning of the social relationships we call "friendship"

Llegó un día antes de lo estimado, en excelentes condiciones!

I saw a review that said this was a self-help guide, which as someone who lives in a different country to my best friend I thought might be good to make sure that I am doing my best to be there without being there (especially during the ongoing travel and other Covid restrictions). However, this is really a story about their specific friendship, which might be interesting it you follow their podcast and know who they are, but it you don't, it's just not very interesting.