25 Books About Friendship for Adults

by Ruth Hogan

Years after a tragic accident, Masha still hasn't returned to her spunky former self. She has only one companion - her dog Haizum.

Then, she meets Sally Red Shoes, a bag lady. The encounter launches Masha's return to life and opens her eyes to new possibilities. This unexpected relationship shows the enormous power of friendship and the importance of being open to new friends.

by Josie Lloyd

When Keira receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she has no interest in a support group with other patients. She does not want to be in the cancer club. Yet, she finds herself joining a running club with a group of women she’s just met. They are brilliant, funny women, and they are all going through treatment for the c-word.

As they cheer each other on, running - hot, sweaty, lycra-clad running - manages to give these women the hope they need. And the friendships she forms will help Keira reclaim everything from her family to her identity.

The Book Girls Say… This book about female friendship highlights the power of supporting one another through life's most challenging moments. While the topic makes it seem like this could be one of the sad books about friendship, reviewers say this book is funny, witty, and uplifting. That said, it still providing a realistic look at what it means to endure cancer treatment.

by Deb Spera

Set in 1924, South Carolina, Call Your Daughter Home follows three women who seem to have nothing in common. The unlikely trio consists of a slave, the matriarch of an influential family, and a mother of four. They join together to address injustices in their small town.

It's a story of motherhood, womanhood, and the undeniable force of women when they unite.

by Matt Cain

Albert Entwistle is a 64-year postal worker in the UK. For all of Albert's adult life, he's lived a solitary existence, afraid to let anyone know the real him. Every day he goes to work and comes home to his cat. But when Albert receives a letter informing him that his mandatory retirement is just around the corner on his 65th birthday, he begins to rethink everything.

Little by little, Albert begins to strike up conversations with his coworkers and people on his postal route. Soon Albert begins to see a whole new world of possibilities for his future. With the help of some unexpected new friends, Albert sets off to find George, a man he hasn't seen since they were teenagers, to see if maybe it also isn't too late for love in his life.

The Book Girls Say… While most of the titles on this list are books about female friendship, Albert is one of our all-time favorite male protagonists. This novel emphasizes the value of community, the power of friends who accept you for who you are, and that it's never too late for a second chance at love! If you're looking for a feel-good friendship book that will make you shed a few happy tears, this is it!

We highly recommend the audio version of this book, even if you usually prefer print/ebook. The narrator perfectly captures Albert's emotions through each phase of his journey.

by Carolyn Brown

Four high school besties are reuniting in Riverbend, Texas, for their high school reunion. After twenty years, they all have a lot of baggage to unpack. One is headed for divorce, one has just been dumped by her terrible boyfriend, and one has just learned a shocking family secret. But it’s the fourth friend who has a plan for all of them.

Jessica is an Army vet looking to put down roots. She hopes to convince her fellow former cheerleaders to help her renovate an abandoned church (in the middle of three dry counties) into a bar.

They might spark a scandal in Riverbend, and there might be a promise of romance, but above all else, these four friends will overcome challenges as they rebuild their lives.

The Book Girls Say... As we get older, we especially love books about best friends reuniting later in life, and this one promises to be lots of fun!

The ebook and audio versions of this book are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Jane L. Rosen

Eliza is a suburban wife secretly struggling with a new, intense fear of leaving her house. She forces herself to go to the store in preparation for a visit from her college-age children. While there, she hears younger moms talking about a new local online forum for women. Eliza has run a similar group for years, but these strangers are calling her group boring.

In a moment of desperation and weakness, Eliza starts a rumor about a new neighbor on her board to liven it up, and the rumor reaches further than she expected.

While Eliza is the title character, this friendship fiction book is the story of four women coming together to help each other through a variety of problems.

by Liz Talley

Cricket's life takes a huge turn when she confirms her husband has been having an affair. She's not going to walk away from her marriage without making him pay. Soon, she has a lawyer, investigator, and a plan!

Her new shop assistant, Ruby, has had a troubled past, but is also ready for a fresh start. In addition to pursuing her dreams in fashion, she becomes fast friends with Cricket and is ready to go all-in on helping her get a bit of revenge.

Together, the unlikely duo gets themselves into some hilarious situations as amateur sleuths.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Faith Hogan

Set in a small Irish village, this is the story of three women from different backgrounds, each in a different stage of life. Together, they find that there’s no better way to distract from their worries than a midnight dip in the cold waters of the Atlantic. As they swim, they form a close bond and provide support to one another.

The Book Girls Say… This friendship book is told in five monthly parts, spanning April to August, each from a different point of view. This allows you to get know the characters on a more intimate level. Although it touches on many emotional issues (you may need to keep tissues nearby), the overall vibe of the book is described as heartwarming and uplifting.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Kelly Harms

Neighbors Celeste and Wendy are both moms - but as far as they can tell, that's the only thing they have in common - other than their mutual disdain for the other!

Celeste is a stay-at-home mom who spends her days volunteering and creating a Pinterest-worthy life that makes other moms despise her. Wendy is a career-driven working mom who lives by her minute-to-minute schedule as she balances her business and keeps things afloat at home.

Celeste and Wendy despise one another, but after a bit too much sangria at a softball potluck, they wake up in each other's bodies - Freaky Friday style. Soon everything they thought they knew about the other is turned upside down. Their messy lives are about to get a whole lot more complicated, but along the way, they'll discover they might not be so different after all.

The Book Girls Say... So what is a book about enemies doing on our list of the best books on friendship? This book is a heartwarming reminder - presented in a laugh-out-loud funny package - that we shouldn't be so quick to judge other women and that we're all better off when we have each other's backs!

by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah blows us away with her emotional historical fiction books like The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and Winter Garden. In Firefly Lane, she uses her descriptive talent to share the story of three decades between friends.

From 8th grade, Kate and Tully cycle through the highs and lows of long-term friendships as they try to figure out what they want from the world and what they need from each other.

by Amy Sue Nathan

Back in 1951, Betty Stern was 18 and looking forward to her last summer with her friends at her grandparent's Jewish summer resort before heading off to college.

During that life-changing summer, Betty collapses at the end of the beauty pageant, which ends up being the last time the pageant is held. In 2020, a financially-struggling manicurist decides to bring it back. By this time, Betty is in her late 80s, and no one knows she was the last winner or why the pageant ended.

The dual timeline book alternates between Betty's life during the summer of ‘51 and a present-day gathering of her best friends from that summer. Together, these friends deal with their aging bodies and help Betty come to terms with her past.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Robert Dugoni

Born with ocular albinism, Sam Hill is a young boy whose rare red eyes cause him problems from the moment he enrolls at the Our Lady of Mercy school.

Labeled "Hell Boy," he is bullied by not only his classmates but also given a hard time by the nun who is the principal at his elementary school. Eventually, Sam finds the new best friend he desperately needs in Ernie Cantwell, the only African American boy in his class, and years later in a fiercely individual girl named Mickie.

Years later, Sam is a respected ophthalmologist still moving through life with Ernie and Mickie still by his side. His world is about to be upturned when he's unexpectedly reunited with the biggest school-yard bully from his past.

by Sara Goodman Confino

Lily is a great writer, has a reliable job, and has great friends. But she’s also 32 and single… which is all her mom can seem to focus on. It’s especially hard to ignore her relationship status when everyone else around her is getting married - she’s a bridesmaid in five weddings in six weeks.

She’ll go to any length for the love of her friends, but she also needs a place to vent. Which is why she starts an anonymous blog called Bridesmania where she dishes on mom-zillas, wicked bridesmaids, body-shaming dress clerks, and even her 88-year-old Granny (who she’s recently been deemed the guardian of) who prefers to enjoy her morning mimosas in the nude. Of course, we all know that secrets are hard to keep on the internet…

The ebook and audio versions of this book are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Maeve Binchy

Life-long friends Benny and Eve grew up in the village of Knockglen, Ireland. Together they head to university in Dublin, where their circle of friends expands to include beautiful Nan and handsome Jack. But heartbreak and betrayal result when their worlds of Knockglen and Dublin collide, and long-hidden lies emerge that will test the bonds of their friendship.

The Book Girls Say... Angela read this book in high school, and it still stands out in her mind as one of the all-time best books about friendship! It's a simple story that is heart-warming and beautifully told from the first page to the last. Her most vivid memory of this book is the warm feeling it left her with.

by Jojo Moyes

When English Alice Wright marries an American, she looks forward to moving to the US. But life in Kentucky comes with an overbearing father-in-law, so Alice takes an opportunity to join Eleanor Roosevelt's team of traveling packhorse librarians.

Alice bans together with Margery and three other women to become the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. They must rely on friendship, courage, and perseverance in this beautiful story about making a difference.

by Jenny Bayliss

When Annie's 26-year marriage ends, she needs a fresh start. When she takes a temporary position as a winter guardian of a historic home in the small seaside community of Willow Bay, the decision turns out to be even more impactful than she expected.

While this is largely a book about finding herself, it only happens through her relationships with her new friends in town. There is a romance thread as she heals, but you'll find a significant focus on the friendships.

by Elizabeth Wetmore

Valentine tells the story of a terrible event in a small west Texas town, and how one event can ripple through many lives.

Melissa was concerned going into this book based on other reviews stating there were too many disconnected characters. She didn't find that and thought the author made all the proper connections between them. However, it is a book you have to pay full attention to to catch everything.

That said, she really enjoyed each woman's story and loved how they intertwined as friendships developed. While some thought it was depressing, Melissa found it a tale of friendship and survival in terrible circumstances and how we often have to rely on each other. Each character was saved by others in different ways. It's a heavy read, but worth it.

by Anne Youngston

Tina Hopgood and her friend Bella had big plans of traveling to Denmark to see an archaeological discovery, the Tollund Man, at the Silkeborg Museum. However, when Bella passes away, Tina writes a letter to the museum instead.

Andres, the museum curator, writes back, encouraging Tina to visit. From there, regular correspondence begins between Tina and Andres. A strong friendship is formed only through their letters, and you’ll learn about their present lives as well as their past.

The Book Girls Say… This short novel may be a great pick if you enjoy epistolary novels. Another great novel about friendships formed through letters is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society!

by Suzanne Redfearn

Eight years ago, a tragic accident changed Mo and Chloe’s lives forever. Now the friends are in their mid-twenties. Together with their third roommate, Hazel, they share an apartment in San Francisco and are navigating the daily challenges of early adulthood.

When Hazel disappears after being sexually assaulted, Mo and Chloe’s lives are ripped apart. The two are no strangers to tragedy, but the search for Hazel will test their friendship in ways they never imagine.

The Book Girls Say… While many of the books on this list are feel-good friendship reads, this novel is a heartrending story about the power of friendship during life’s most difficult moments.

Suzanne Redfearn is also the author of Hadley & Grace, about two women who set out on a road trip adventure with has major Thelma and Louise vibes.

The ebook and audio versions of both books are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 9/20/22.

by Kathryn Stockett

Skeeter has returned home from college to her family's cotton plantation, where she seems to disappoint her mother constantly despite trying to act like a proper Southern lady. Her true ambition, however, is to be a writer. Unfortunately, the only job she can find is one she is entirely unqualified for - writing a housekeeping advice column for the local paper. Having virtually no experience with housekeeping, Skeeter turns her friend's maid, the very poised Aibileen, for help.

As she gets to know Aibileen and Aibileen's friend, the very sassy Minny, more intimately, Skeeter is inspired to help tell their stories, and she pitches the idea to write the narratives of 12 Black maids – a very risky project for all of them. It's an unlikely friendship, but this group shows that true friendship comes in many forms.

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

In concurrent storylines, 29-year-old Hannah lives out the effects of two different decisions. Should she leave a party with her best friend or with the high school boyfriend she just ran into again? Will either decision help her feel content after a decade of moving from city to city for meaningless jobs?

In both timelines, the one thing that remains consistent is the strength of the friendship between the two women as they help each other through life’s challenges.

by Lorna Landvik

This novel follows the friendship of five women from the 1960s through the 21st century. They began as neighbors, then formed a book club, but over time it becomes a lifeline for each of them as they see each other through all the seasons of life. From the stay-at-home motherhood days to new careers, second chances, grandchildren, and all that life throws at them. Laughter is the glue that holds them together, even when they are mending broken hearts or shattered dreams.

The Book Girls Say… Don’t let the fluffy title of this book fool you… it’s so much more than that!

by Jane Healey

The friends in The Beantown Girls are entrenched closer to the action than most women in World War II. This historical fiction novel is based on the real-life Red Cross Clubmobile girls, who delivered donuts, coffee, and often mail to the troops near the front lines.

Fiona had plans to marry her fiance when he returned from WWII and settle down in the Boston suburbs. But when he is reported missing after being shot down in Germany, her plans are shattered. Determined to learn his fate, Fiona volunteers as a Red Cross Clubmobile girl, and convinces her two best friends to join her.

This excellent book is not as intense as other WW2 reads, and follows the trio from training throughout their service in the war. You'll fall in love with them and many of the soldiers they encounter.

It all starts with a pair of jeans purchased at a thrift shop. Four friends gather the night before they each go their separate ways for the summer of their 15th year, and they each decide to try on the jeans to see who they fit best. Somehow the jeans fit everyone perfectly, so the friends decide to form the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Throughout the summer, the pants see all and keep the friends connected as they each experience the most memorable summer of their lives.

The Book Girls Say... Neither of us read this book about best friends when it was first popular because we had the mistaken impression that this was a fluffy YA book. We were surprised to read review after review from our readers that describe this book as "deeper than you expect" and "all the feels." It's now high on both of our TBRs.

by Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman

While the rest of the books on this list are friendship fiction, Big Friendship is non-fiction. It's a joint memoir about the friendship between the co-authors. They share both the positive stories and the messy moments from their lives and explore how each impacted their friendship with the other.

Throughout the book, they talk to other friends and experts in an effort to understand what makes friendships successful. It's a great reminder that we have to actively choose friendships and not take them for granted.