From the journalist and author of How to Fail comes a disarmingly honest and perceptive investigation into the nature of friendship, prompted by Day's lockdown reassessment of her need for a large group of companions.
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.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780008374938
Number of pages: 448
Weight: 300 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 34 mm
Praise for Friendaholic: ‘A joyful read’ THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘Essential reading… admirably candid and well-crafted’ THE GUARDIAN ‘(An) eloquent, disarmingly honest book’ DAILY MIRROR ‘A generous, companionable guide to a part of life every bit as crucial – and as fraught – as romance or family.’ THE OBSERVER ‘Perceptive, compassionate and filled with relatable insights into all that is beautiful about friendship, with its most valuable point being that it should be about quality, rather than quantity.’ THE DAILY MAIL ‘This book is brilliant.’ Jo Elvin ‘I’ve never read a book about friendships before. This one really digs deep, is bravely revealing and makes me reflect on my own friendship habits, issues, and culture.’ Bernardine Evaristo ‘I really want to say that reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend, but it's complicated by the fact that I’m an actual friend who makes an appearance in this book on friendship. But fuck it, it's true: reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend. And reading her on this strangely neglected theme is a revelation. Friendships can mean as much, sometimes even more than family, and finally we have a book that treats the subject with the seriousness it deserves. And Day is the best possible guide: funny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience.’ Sathnam Sanghera
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