Female friendships are intimate, intense and often life-defining. Whether they are decades-long sisterhoods, fleeting yet powerful connections, or platonic partnerships that will outlast romantic relationships, these bonds deserve center stage. In honor of those messy yet magical relationships, we’ve rounded up some of the most compelling titles that explore the depth and nuance of female friendship.
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
This inventive novel follows three best friends, an artist, a coder and an activist, from the 1980s into a tech-dominated future. As the world changes, so do their dreams, but their bond remains a powerful force. Lisa Ko explores what it means to stay connected through decades of social upheaval, personal reinvention and political resistance.
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A deeply moving story of three Nigerian women whose friendship spans continents and years. With Adichie’s signature elegance, Dream Count explores how their connection helps them navigate love, loss, motherhood and the fractures of displacement. It’s a powerful meditation on what keeps friendships alive — and what threatens to undo them.
Love and Virtue by Diana Reid
In this campus novel set in Sydney, two university students form a close friendship that becomes strained by issues of consent, privilege and moral ambiguity. The story examines the complexities of young adulthood and the impact of societal expectations on personal relationships.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
This smart, emotionally layered novel explores the intense friendship between college students Frances and Bobbi, and how it’s tested by desire, jealousy and shifting power dynamics. A sharp look at the blurred lines between love and friendship.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
A poignant tale of lifelong friends Edi and Ash, exploring the depth of their bond as they face Edi’s terminal illness. The story balances humor and heartbreak, showcasing the strength of female friendship in the face of life’s ultimate challenges.
First Love: Essays on Friendship by Lilly Dancyger
Dancyger turns a raw and fearless lens on the friendships that shaped her — from adolescent chaos to adult clarity. Through personal essays that double as cultural commentary, she elevates friendship to the status it deserves: not background noise to romantic drama, but the central melody of life. It’s intimate, sharply written and quietly revolutionary.
Bad Friend: A Century of Revolutionary Friendships by Tiffany Watt Smith
This creative blend of historical fiction and cultural commentary reimagines intimate, often overlooked stories of female friendship throughout the 20th century. While structured like essays, the vivid storytelling and character-driven arcs give it the feel of a novel. A fresh take on the emotional intensity of women’s relationships.
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Sow and Friedman, co-creators of the popular Call Your Girlfriend podcast, offer an honest look at what it takes to maintain a best friendship over the long haul. Their story is both personal and universal, filled with insights into how conflict, communication and growth are essential to keeping the bond strong. It’s the friendship manual we never knew we needed.
These novels offer rich, varied portrayals of female friendships, from the supportive to the tumultuous. Whether you’re interested in contemporary settings, historical narratives or speculative futures, there’s something here to resonate with every reader.
