Happy Tuesday, reader friends, and welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday post thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s official topic is Book Characters I’d Love to be Besties With. I’ve decided to put a slightly different slant on my post and talk about books that showcase fictional friendships.
Now, I could have taken the obvious route and included characters like Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, or Harry, Ron, and Hermione (who are currently all the rage in our family!). But I didn’t want to take the obvious route. Today, I want to talk about some books that feature less well-known friendships or that explore different elements of friendship. So here goes!
THE SECRET LIFE OF SARAH HOLLENBECK
Bethany Turner
Everyone needs a friend who’s not afraid to disagree with them, but also willing to admit when they’re wrong. A friend to laugh with, cry with, and generally to keep you grounded—including talking you back down from the figurative trees you get yourself stuck in. Piper Lanier is one such friend.
THE NUMBER OF LOVE
Roseanna M. White
I love the friendship that blooms between Margot De Wilde and Dorothea (Dot) Elton in this book, two young women who struggle in some way to fit society’s mould (Margot, because she’s a math genius, and Dot, due to social anxieties).
THE BLUE CASTLE
L.M. Montgomery
Valancy Stirling’s decision to befriend Cissy Gay is beautiful for so many reasons that I can’t say, because *spoilers*. Such a touching friendship, and such a pivotal part of Valancy’s story!
THE SOLACE OF WATER
Elizabeth Byler Younts
The friendship between Delilah Evans and Emma Mullet is one born of adversity—two very different women (one Black, one Amish) who are both struggling in different ways, yet manage to find common ground in which their tentative friendship can take root.
RETURNING HOME
Toni Shiloh
One of the things that I’ve enjoyed about each of the books in this series is the way this group of friends support one another, particularly in their spiritual growth through their Bible study group. And if that isn’t the sign of a great group of friends, I don’t know what is!
THE LAST SUMMER
Brandy Bruce
Of course, a group of friends can also mean drama, particularly when romantic relationships become involved. Love triangle alert! But I do love the way this novel handles the dynamics in this group of friends as they work through it all.
UNTIL I KNEW MYSELF
Tammy L. Gray
Then again, you don’t need love triangles for friendships and romance to be complicated. All you need are some strong personalities and some baggage that needs to be dealt with and you’ve got yourself a whole lot of tension. But while we’re on the subject of friends, I love the balance Caroline brings to this group. Every group of friends needs a Caroline.
WORTH THE FALL
Bria Quinlan
If you need a break from the drama and want a group of friends who make you laugh, then the Brew Ha Ha series is for you. Friendship + laughter = solid gold
RULES OF MURDER
Julianna Deering
I love the friendship between Drew Farthering and Nick Dennison in the Drew Farthering Mysteries. It’s a friendship that somehow both ignores social status and respects it at the same time, if that makes sense. And they do make a great mystery-solving duo. That expands to a trio. And perhaps even a quartet…
NIGHTSHADE
Ronie Kendig
Friendship takes on a whole new level of meaning when you’re part of a black ops team. These guys don’t just have each other’s sixes out in the field. They’ve got each other’s sixes back at home, too. And the way Ronie Kendig nails the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie between these men is just one of the many MANY things I love about her books!
Oooh, I love The Blue Castle! Thanks for this list.
I’m a huge fan of The Blue Castle, too. There was one other person who talked about Valancy and that book this week. I hope you’ll stumble across them on your rounds. 🙂 Valancy was such a sweet person, wasn’t she? I couldn’t stop reading that book until I knew if she’d get the happy ending she deserved.
My TTT.
Great list! And it’s nice you’ve chosen less well known books to feature! 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2019/08/13/top-ten-tuesday-book-characters-id-love-to-be-besties-with/
Love the ‘Sarah Hollenbeck’ book! It’s so much fun! 🙂
I did the same twist on my post! We only have one book in common, though. 🙂 Here’s mine: https://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org/127159.html
I love reading books with great friendships so I really like your take on this topic!
these are great picks, my friend!
Thank you for the mention! Drew and Nick are quite chuffed that you think they’re smashing. 😀
Thank you for the mention! I love the Freedom Lake grew. You also have some of my favorite friendships like Brew Ha Ha! <3
Ooh, lovely! A very good twist, or, well, variation of this weeks topic. I love seeing some more underrated reads pop up. Gives me a few books to keep on my radar, so thanks for sharing!