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Aminatou and Ann explain their "big friendship" - one that lasts through the years, the long distance, and life trials. But they still have miscommunications, times when they've drifted apart, and have to work to make their friendship last. They give advice on how to support each other and stretch yourself to make a friendship honest and lasting. Their dual narration and personal stories made this a fun, thought provoking listen.

Only finished one nonfiction this month but it was a good one. Better Living Through Birding is the overall winner though, that one will be tough to beat.
#ReadingBracket2024 @CSeydel

More than a little anecdotal but still an affirming read. My own "Big Friendships" (pictured!) have been defining and sustaining in my life, and I guess I picked up this book hoping to find a mirror- and I certainly did. I also appreciated that though this was mainly the story of the two authors, they acknowledged the other friendships in their lives, and the ways in which the primacy of their own relationship ebbs and flows through the years. ❤️

Current audiobook since my friendships seem to be way more long lasting and intense.

I liked the themes and ideas. And I love the idea of prioritizing your friends - felt like it could have been an essay however

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks you‘re the sweetest

Meh. This was… fine. Okay enough book, but from the title I was expecting more about keeping friends close generally, and this was 90% about the authors‘ specific friendship. I took a couple of useful tidbits from it (the concept of using “body‘s choice” when deciding what to do on vacation, and the need for rituals in maintaining friendships), but otherwise was more of a personal essay than anything else.

Just started this. Didn‘t know/forgot that the authors host a podcast together that I haven‘t been able to get into. It‘s enjoyable enough but I‘m a little disappointed that the “we” in the title seems to specifically mean the two authors. The vast majority of the book so far is focused on the story of their particular friendship rather than on big friendships more generally.

I don‘t think I‘ll be recommending this one to others, but I really enjoyed listening to the parts about the personal relationship between the authors. Edit: I liked it a lot more after a second listen and would definitely recommend to others.

Unexpectedly, really enjoyed this audiobook. I‘ve been getting Ann Friedman‘s weekly newsletter for years but wasn‘t quick to pick this one up because it sounded kind of hokey. But it really makes you think and reframe friend relationships in a whole new way, at least for me. That they need just as much care and feeding as romantic and familial relationships seems obvious but just wasn‘t something I‘d thought a lot about. Recommend.

April was a good reading month for me! Most of my 5 star reads were new to me, and it‘s hard to choose which one I loved most.

This is one of those books that I picked up for its title, I have no context to the authors or their podcast and other work. In a culture that prioritizes partnerships and romantic love, it was validating to read about this Big Friendship between two people. The vulnerability and honesty was testament to how seriously these women take their relationship. It just made me want to reach out to my Big Friends and give them hugs (lolsob this pandemic).

Friendships in my late 20s have been such a pendulum swing, but I've definitely found Shine Theory to be true.

An interesting look at friendship. Did you know the average friendship lasts 7 years?

I‘m DYING at this quote!

Enjoying this treasure, but sheesh is it making me pine for the days of being able to watch trash tv with friends and a bottle of wine (or two...)!

Finished this on audio while I was working. Just alright to me. Wasn‘t quite what I was expecting but it was okay

Yeah....... something to put in my empty diary! #litsylove

I liked some of this a lot, and didn‘t care for the rest! Though the subject matter is very important to me.

My bestie has joined Litsy! Please welcome @CaraTK ♥️ @LitsyWelcomeWagon and get her started on people to follow!

The choices that each of us makes everyday about who we include in our lives end up shaping the larger world we live in.

It‘s only through deciding to stretch that we become stronger and grow. There is really no way around that. When we have stretched ourselves, it‘s not always fun in real time. But when we look back, we can see that it was our challenges, not our comforts, that have made us stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

That awesome moment when you‘re still trying to come back from over a month of not reading anything and you hit a major Bookly achievement!!

Wasn‘t expecting that, but I‘ll take it!

It was lovely to hear how these two woman navigated their friendship over the span of a decade and the nuggets of wisdom they took from their experiences.

September Book 16/20 #LitsyLove

I love that there's a book to explore the idea that friendships deserve attention, care, & work just like other relationships in life. Often, the focus seems to be on couple's therapy and working on familial relationships. This is authored by 2 years-long friends who have weathered ups and downs, host a podcast, and have even done therapy together to overcome issues. It's inspiring, but I don't find their model of friendship to be equal to mine.⬇️

I love their podcast and am super excited to start this! Reading it together with one of my own big friends ♥️

Meh. Not a *bad* book per se but there's really not much here. I wouldn't exactly recommend it but i don't feel like reading it was a waste of time necessarily. Some of the chapters were decent, like the one on race, i wish they had talked more about how they overcame their struggles as friends. I'm not totally convinced they're actually all that good of friends any more tbh even though this book was supposed to convince me of that.

Trying hard to concentrate whilst Bunky suns his armpits! Just a usual day for us! #readybuddy

Before the world went crazy I had a weekly date with a good friend who lives a few houses down from us. We‘d go for the longest, slowest walks - catching up on life, worries, joys and everything in between. I‘ve settled in to read this today - but 2 chapters in I paused - messages my friend and for the rest of the afternoon were off for a walk. I‘m fee very grateful xx

I enjoyed this sweet memoir about two friends and how they maintain their lasting relationship. This sometimes veers into sounding like a self help or how to book, but doesn‘t really work that way. But as a light memoir it worked for me.

Ugh. I made it halfway.

MAYBE someone in their 20s could benefit from some of their friendship tips, but having friendships survive & break from the things they talk about & more, I just don‘t need to read what I already know. (Really, everything I read I had intuited after a number of 10+ & 20+ year friendships. I think this book would seem downright obvious to anyone over 35.)

If you want to read more FOR FREE, go to www.shinetheory.com

Wow! They are so annoying and self-righteous and self-centered. I really don‘t know if I can keep reading. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

I don‘t particularly like their snobbish “insights” into how the way they did their friendship is the “right way”.

Super excited about my BOTM pick. #litsylove

This box is going to be exciting!