Friendaholic – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day in exchange for an honest review*.
Friendaholic book blurb
As a society, there is a tendency to elevate romantic love.
But what about friendships? Aren’t they just as – if not more – important?
So why is it hard to find the right words to express what these uniquely complex bonds mean to us?
In Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, Elizabeth Day embarks on a journey to answer these questions.
Growing up, Elizabeth wanted to make everyone like her.
Lacking friends at school, she grew up to believe that quantity equalled quality.
Having lots of friends meant you were loved, popular and safe.
She was determined to become a Good Friend. And, in many ways, she did.
But in adulthood she slowly realised that it was often to the detriment of her own boundaries and mental health.
Then, when a global pandemic hit in 2020, she was one of many who were forced to reassess what friendship really meant to them – with the crisis came a dawning realisation: her truest friends were not always the ones she had been spending most time with.
Why was this? Could she rebalance it?
Was there such thing as…too many friends?
And was she really the friend she thought she was?
Friendaholic unpacks the significance and evolution of friendship.
From exploring her own personal friendships and the distinct importance of each of them in her life, to the unique and powerful insights of others across the globe, Elizabeth asks why there isn’t yet a language that can express its crucial influence on our world.
From ghosting and frenemies to social media and seismic life events, Elizabeth leaves no stone unturned.
Friendaholic is the book you buy for the people you love but it’s also the book you read to become a better friend to yourself.
My overall thoughts on Friendaholic
I found Friendaholic a thought-provoking, vibrant and interesting read.
I’ve definitely had some introspection on my own friendships and journey through friendships and I’ve come more to peace with some friendships that have ended because of Day’s writing.
It’s helped me to rationalise and reflect on my own experiences while reading about Day’s.
Friendship, particularly from a woman’s perspective, is a fascinating relationship dynamic.
I, like others in Day’s friendship tapes, think friendships for women are different for men and are so important.
Life is about much more than romantic relationships.
My friendships circle has evolved and gotten smaller as I’ve gotten older.
I think at certain points of my life I was a friendaholic and I definitely know some other friendaholics!
However, now at mid-thirty my friendship circle is small but perfectly formed.
I have friends who I only see once a year but when we catch up over dinner (no white wine Wednesdays for me) it’s comfortable and we can be real with one another.
We may send the odd Facebook message throughout the year but we’re not in each other’s digital pockets and that works for us.
Like Day, I’ve been through a journey as I get older on how I value or measure friendship.
I do have a strong Whatsapp group chat which like Day says is the magic number three and it works well for us.
I see my two best friends not as often as we’d like but we know we are always here for each other but we’re busy with work and family life.
Like Day, I’ve been through a journey as I get older on how I value or measure friendship.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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