Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict

(Paperback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF HOW TO FAIL

Bravely revealing. Bernardine Evaristo

Funny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience. Sathnam Sanghera

This book is brilliant. Jo Elvin

Essential reading admirably candid and well-crafted The Guardian
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 astoo 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 isnt 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.

Reviews

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

Ive 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 Im 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

Author Bio

Elizabeth Day is the author of four novels and Sunday Times bestelling memoir, How to Fail. Her acclaimed debut Scissors, Paper, Stone won a Betty Trask Award and Home Fires was an Observer book of the year. Her third, Paradise City, was named one of the best novels of 2015 in the Evening Standard, and The Party was an Amazon bestseller and a Richard & Judy bookclub pick. She is also an award-winning journalist and has written extensively for The Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian, the Observer, Harper's Bazaar and Elle. She is currently a columnist for the Mail on Sunday's You magazine and host of the iTunes chart-topping podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day.