Friendship is a recurring theme in novels for children and young adults. But who says it can't be the main subject of stories to read (or reread) as an adult? Here are 14 books about friendship that we recommend for extraordinary tales of deep bonds, from great classics to recent releases.
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
The unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant. The Kite Runner beautifully depicts love, friendship, betrayal, and redemption.
The novel is very intense, at times violent and graphic, so be aware that while it moves you, the story also unfolds in dark and unsettling ways. It is this contrast between the worst of human nature and the best of feelings and relationships that truly makes it a remarkable story that will stay with the reader for a long time.
Swing Time, Zadie Smith
An unnamed narrator reflects on her life and a childhood friendship that changed its course forever.
Raised in London, the protagonist meets Tracey in a tap dance class. Although Tracey is the more talented dancer of the two, the narrator manages to build a career as an assistant to a world-famous pop star. Her friendship with Tracey, both similar and very different, takes a bad turn. From one of the most beloved writers of recent years, a story about desires and aspirations, social injustices, and multiculturalism.
Cat's Eye, Margaret Atwood
Returning to her hometown for Christmas to present her first retrospective exhibition, the controversial painter Elaine Risley contemplates and reflects on her childhood and youth friendships. After a life spent traveling, at eight years old Elaine discovers the joys of having friends when she meets Carol and Grace. But after a summer away, Elaine returns to find a new girl who has completely changed the group's dynamics.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Fannie Flagg
In the grip of a midlife crisis, Evelyn unexpectedly finds comfort in the elderly Mrs. Threadgoode. Mrs. Threadgoode tells her the fascinating story of two women, Idgie and Ruth, who ran the Whistle Stop Cafe in Alabama in the 1930s – a time of hardship, racism, small-town American troubles, lots of laughter, and the occasional murder. A great classic, also famous thanks to the film adaptation.
Emma, Jane Austen
After successfully arranging her governess's marriage, Emma Woodhouse sets out to expand her matchmaking career. Immediately, her sights fall on Miss Harriet Smith, and Emma plans to find the perfect husband for her new protégé.
Adventures follow as Emma discovers that matchmaking is not exactly her specialty. Along the way, Emma herself will discover that love is not quite what she expected.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini has written some of the best novels about friendship, so we must include a second book by this author on our list. In A Thousand Splendid Suns,Hosseini covers thirty years in Afghanistan, from the Soviet invasion to the post-Taliban years.
The illegitimate child Mariam is forced to marry Rasheed, a man thirty years her senior. Trapped in a horrible marriage, Mariam's life changes when Laila, a teenage girl very different from her but whose fate will intertwine with hers, enters her life.
A book about family, friendship, and the struggle to survive.
A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving
During a Little League baseball game, Owen Meany hits a foul ball that kills his best friend's mother. Believing himself to be God's instrument, Owen seeks to fulfill his prophecy.
Narrated by Owen's best friend, John Wheelwright, A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of the best books about male friendship and a beloved modern classic.
Marley & Me, John Grogan
A list of books about friendship wouldn't be complete without mentioning a story about man's best friend. John Grogan tells of his relationship with Marley, the worst dog in the world, whose antics will leave you speechless.
The deep bond that forms between Marley and Grogan, despite Marley's many flaws, gives rise to a moving and touching story. A great reminder to be grateful for the love of our four-legged friends in our lives.
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
This memorable classic about friendship follows the eternal optimists George and Lennie who share a common dream: to own their own land. When fate leads them to work on a ranch in California, they face the harsh reality that life can be extremely unfair. Steinbeck is a brilliant writer, and this story will stay with you long after you've read it.
The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
“All for one and one for all!” shouted the Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
The young protagonist, the Count of d’Artagnan, is determined to find glory for himself and win the hand of his beloved. As he joins the musketeers and befriends the famous three, adventure, intrigue, and plenty of duels await him in this entertaining classic book about friendship.
Girl, Woman, Other, Bernadine Evaristo
This book tells the interconnected stories of 12 different characters, mostly Black British women. While the novel examines the nuances of different types of bonds, from maternal to romantic, it also focuses on friendship, exploring how and why it develops and falters.
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Little Women is known as an unmissable tale of sisterhood. While this is true, the story also concerns the special friendships that unite the four very different sisters – Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth.
Additionally, there is the matter of Jo's complicated friendship with the neighbor Laurie, which comes between the girls. A classic childhood book, to be reread as an adult to catch every nuance.
My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante
The first book in Elena Ferrante's worldwide bestselling series introduces readers to the story of Elena and Lila, who grow up in the 1950s in a poor but lively neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples.
The girls learn to rely on each other before anyone else, and their friendship becomes a lifeline as they grow up.
The Lost Friend
The book tells the impossible friendship between narrator Hans Schwarz, son of a Jewish doctor, and Konradin von Hohenfels, a young aristocrat, during the rise of the Nazi regime in 1932 Stuttgart.
Hans and Konradin manage to become friends despite their differences. A painful, intense, beautiful book about the horror of history and the friendships that, despite everything, arise among human beings.