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vananne7's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting collection of short stories all about female companionship and the complexities they can bring. Sonnenberg is a beautiful writer and every relationship stuck with me for various reasons. A great read!
kryptowright1984's review against another edition
3.0
This book makes me itchy and appreciative in equal measure. Sonnenberg's life in friendships provides a fascinating series of recognizable moments, when friendships end, when they begin, when they rekindle. So much in this memoir is relatable, but Sonnenberg's well-explored need for companionship makes the stories blur together a bit after a while. I know where the author began her quest to be a better friend, and I saw her end a better, more mature friend at the book's close. But the middle lost me a bit, and that's where my itch came in. I itched for more -- which isn't a poor place to leave me, I suppose. But something in the structure left me unsatisfied.
jdybs's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. The author tells the stories of her close friendships with women, starting as a young child and moving up to her mid-life. Each friend/relationship is told in one chapter. The author is an emotional, introspective, needy, and extroverted woman, whose relationships are shaped, tainted and in reaction to her very difficult relationship with her crazy mother. Sonnenberg grows through these relationships - through hard work and sheer grit, sometimes - and gains insights into how to be in a healthier relationship.
Sonnenberg is also a brilliant writer. Her prose is lush, detailed and evocative. Her relationships and insights will strike a chord with most female readers, as will her feelings about marriage, mothering, and growing older. I found myself wanting to devour this book and its beautiful words.
Really, women are so lucky that we are able to have such intimate relationships. And we're lucky that Sonnenberg chose to write about hers. Eat your hearts out, guys.
Sonnenberg is also a brilliant writer. Her prose is lush, detailed and evocative. Her relationships and insights will strike a chord with most female readers, as will her feelings about marriage, mothering, and growing older. I found myself wanting to devour this book and its beautiful words.
Really, women are so lucky that we are able to have such intimate relationships. And we're lucky that Sonnenberg chose to write about hers. Eat your hearts out, guys.
kickarse's review against another edition
2.0
I had a serious love/hate relationship with this book. I love the concept and the idea... she writes the story of her life in terms of her female friendships who have helped shape her life. However, it was a total slog to get through! She doesn't come across as very likeable and her prose is rather stilted and affected. It did make me want to write about the women and girls in my own life though.
stephirene's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. This was pretty intense. The author talked about her friendships over her lifetime (some successes and some failures). It was very intertesting the way her stories moved me. Lots of evaluating going on over here.
purni's review against another edition
1.0
Too much of whining. I am about 90 pages in and I cannot stand the nagging tone/character. She comes across as being so self-centered. I have been a teenager too and in those years all you care about is yourself. Every page I turn I hope for her to see the good aspects in a friend and appreciate them for who they are, value them for their abilities. Instead she is concerned only about how each friend treats her, rather how she wants each friend to treat her as the center of the universe! Bah! I quit.
anngarth8's review against another edition
3.0
The Goodreads rating system always annoys me because it skips wildly back and forth between objective evaluations of the book and subjective opinions of the book. This was a very good book; it gets 3 stars ("I liked it") because it wasn't telling the sort of stories about friendship that I am hungriest for. But it was nice to read about friendship!