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siol4929's review against another edition
3.0
Didn’t love, didn’t hate. A solid ‘okay’ for me. I listened to this on audio so it felt like part memoir, part podcast, part self-help. I definitely liked the second half of the book more than the first because I was more interested in those topics (interracial relationships, stretching, loneliness), but I wish they wrote a memoir OR a friend-improvement book instead of trying to do a little bit of both.
I will say that it brought some needed awareness and appreciation to some of my friendships and I consistently thought of certain friendships while reading so that was nice.
I will say that it brought some needed awareness and appreciation to some of my friendships and I consistently thought of certain friendships while reading so that was nice.
lizlec's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
shermreads's review against another edition
3.0
I came into this thinking it was going to be a non-fiction exploration into friendships (as suggested by the subtitle) but it turned out to be a lovely meander through the relationship history of the two authors ann & aminatou. I’m sure that people familiar with them through their podcast would love the book but for me, it mirrored that alienating feeling of meeting up with a pair of best friends - they share their inside jokes, a level of profound psychic understand and you’re just kinda, there.
which is not to dismiss it as irrelevant though! I haven’t had a big friendship in a while (a reason I wanted to pick up this book in this first place) and it made me realise what I could be doing to make this happen & to sustain it. I loved shine theory and highlighted that section aggressively. I want to live in the word that believes and lives in it too!
in conclusion: can somebody please write the non-fiction book on friendships??? the culture urgently needs it
aside: I’ve been having the worst luck with fiction-disguised-as-non-fiction recently! that’s it, we’re reading the Goodreads reviews before starting the book from now on.
which is not to dismiss it as irrelevant though! I haven’t had a big friendship in a while (a reason I wanted to pick up this book in this first place) and it made me realise what I could be doing to make this happen & to sustain it. I loved shine theory and highlighted that section aggressively. I want to live in the word that believes and lives in it too!
in conclusion: can somebody please write the non-fiction book on friendships??? the culture urgently needs it
aside: I’ve been having the worst luck with fiction-disguised-as-non-fiction recently! that’s it, we’re reading the Goodreads reviews before starting the book from now on.
rasoulin's review against another edition
3.0
Captured well and mirrored my experience of my. What didn’t work for me: a lot of the interpretations of research I found wonky and the writing style grated on me a bit. The vulnerability both writers show is profound and I especially appreciated their introspection and time spent discussing interracial friendships. I totally agree there needs to be more discussion and serious academic inquiry into friendship!!
jeezjazz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
A bit slow at times but a wonderful message and discussion of a very real life adult friendship.
miffy4real's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to CYG for a long time starting in undergrad and always felt comforted by Aminatou and Ann - I really enjoyed this book! Especially the reframing of friendship and its maintenance and all it brings and also the CHOICE aspect of it - how you CHOOSE your friends and to love them and support them - all language usually reserved for ROMANCE! BUT WHO SAYS FRIENDSHIP DOESN'T HAVE ROMANCE, HMMM? MY FRIENDS? ARE THE LOVES OF MY LIFE!
ANYWAYS, I CRIED (difficult, these days)
ANYWAYS, I CRIED (difficult, these days)
sophiewitter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
bimmbles's review against another edition
4.0
Especially in this time of stretching friendships across distance and other difficult circumstances, this one felt like a super timely read. I read most of it in one sitting, and appreciated the reflections and wisdom that both authors brought to their situation/story.