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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
The Friends We Keep is beautiful story of three college friends over the course of 30 years. Following graduation, Evvie, Maggie and Topher each go their separate ways to build their careers and lives. A betrayal by one of the characters to another is hidden until the three are reunited after 30 years.
The story explores the importance of having friends in our lives - many who can be considered family after years spent together. It underlines the idea that none of us are perfect but, despite our imperfections, true friendships will live on.
I appreciate that the author explores the stigmata associated with alcohol induced liver disease as well the eating disorders and life choices one character makes to have the “ideal” body. I loved that the character of Topher is gay - there is a brief discussion of how the AIDS epidemic effected him, but I would have liked the author to have explored this impact on society a bit more.
I would recommend this book to anyone enjoys reading about long term friendships.
The story explores the importance of having friends in our lives - many who can be considered family after years spent together. It underlines the idea that none of us are perfect but, despite our imperfections, true friendships will live on.
I appreciate that the author explores the stigmata associated with alcohol induced liver disease as well the eating disorders and life choices one character makes to have the “ideal” body. I loved that the character of Topher is gay - there is a brief discussion of how the AIDS epidemic effected him, but I would have liked the author to have explored this impact on society a bit more.
I would recommend this book to anyone enjoys reading about long term friendships.
I totally enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were interesting and enjoyed their growth from college years to middle age and I thought was looking forward to see what happened next and was anxiously waiting for their secrets to come out. Good coming of age book and a great beach read!
3.5 stars. I’ve read a number of Jane Green’s books over the years, earlier ones were some of my favorite reads but the more books she writes, the more formulaic they become. This one started off with a lot of promise but then the plot just got ridiculous and the last 1/3 of the book was pretty weak. All in all, an easy read. Not one of her best but not the worst
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Friends We Keep is just one of those amazing friend sagas. We follow Maggie, Topher and Evie from college all the way to their 50’s, watching them change, grow, make mistakes, make more mistakes, grieve and love. It’s basically Beaches, or Steel Magnolias or Just As Long As We’re Together all grown up because it isn’t a tragedy.
Maggie is the practical one, Evie the hip one and Topher is the free spirit for sure. After college, they all pursue their own high-powered lives, one as a successful executive, one as a super model and another as a soap star. But even though life takes them in different directions, they always have time for each other. Well, mostly.
Because, as with any story, real or imagined, things happen as we age. And unfortunately, everything isn’t all pretty tied up in a bow. But I think that’s where Green shines in her writing. She is able to write characters that don’t do everything right. She is able to write defeat, embarrassment and all the real emotions.
For me, Maggie, Evie and Topher didn’t just exist on the page. They came to life. I read their stories and now I will carry them with me. That’s one of the best things about books–the friends we make or keep.
Of course I recommend this one to Jane Green fans, Jennifer Wiener fans (I equally love her) and anyone who loves these types of friendship sagas. Special thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an e-galley in exchange for my review. This one is available June 4, 2019 and would make a delicious beach read! This review will be published on my blog, Women in Trouble Book Blog on May 24, 2019,
Maggie is the practical one, Evie the hip one and Topher is the free spirit for sure. After college, they all pursue their own high-powered lives, one as a successful executive, one as a super model and another as a soap star. But even though life takes them in different directions, they always have time for each other. Well, mostly.
Because, as with any story, real or imagined, things happen as we age. And unfortunately, everything isn’t all pretty tied up in a bow. But I think that’s where Green shines in her writing. She is able to write characters that don’t do everything right. She is able to write defeat, embarrassment and all the real emotions.
For me, Maggie, Evie and Topher didn’t just exist on the page. They came to life. I read their stories and now I will carry them with me. That’s one of the best things about books–the friends we make or keep.
Of course I recommend this one to Jane Green fans, Jennifer Wiener fans (I equally love her) and anyone who loves these types of friendship sagas. Special thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an e-galley in exchange for my review. This one is available June 4, 2019 and would make a delicious beach read! This review will be published on my blog, Women in Trouble Book Blog on May 24, 2019,
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow. Found it very boring
slow-paced
Cliche-filled drama of 3 friends facing every Issue under the sun, that nevertheless kept me turning pages up to the overly neat ending.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated