Publishers Weekly
01/30/2023
10 Things to Tell You podcast host Tremaine (Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First) takes a perceptive look at female friendship in this bright offering. Popular culture tends to prize romantic relationships, but friendship is “a cornerstone of our health and happiness,” argues Tremaine, who here maps out a “Life Council” framework that calls for a balanced, diverse mix of companions and confidantes. Just as effective advisory boards are comprised of members with different perspectives, each friend brings unique value to one’s Life Council: the Daily Duty friend “doesn’t pause in speaking as she tiptoes around the toys and laundry” littering the floor; the Battle Buddy can uniquely understand a shared struggle; and the Old Friend, who’s witnessed bad haircuts and formative life moments, provides the comfort of knowing one’s “past iterations.” Also important is the “Yes Friend,” who’s most likely to accept plans, and the “Business Bestie,” to provide support at work. The author wraps up with guidance for cultivating healthy friendships (drawing boundaries, sharing difficult emotions) and navigating pain points (drifting apart, money imbalances). Tremaine’s exploration of adult friendship is nuanced yet practical, and she’s honest about her own friend-related foibles, including failures to communicate and see others’ perspectives. This will resonate with women who value their allies and acquaintances alike. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
A lot of women think that if we're not going on vacation with a montage-worthy bestie, we're doing friendship wrong. In The Life Council, Laura Tremaine candidly and compassionately tells us the truth about the beauty and vastness of adult friendship, offering a relational framework that women deeply crave. No longer are we stuck in a restrictive paradigm of what it means to make and keep friends. The Life Council teaches us to paint a new picture of friendship, one with more color and texture than we realized was possible. Kendra Adachi, New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen
She already taught us the importance of sharing our stuff and was brave enough to go first. Now, Laura Tremaine shows up for us again, this time bringing hard-won wisdom, honest confessions, and a thoughtful new vocabulary for how to talk about being friends (especially for those of us who secretly worry we're bad ones). Finally, a useful friendship book for grownups. Emily P. Freeman, Wall Street Journalbestselling author of The Next Right Thing
This book is such a treasure! We spend a lot of time talking about how marriage takes work and parenting takes work, but we sort of expect friendships to just appear in our lives and sail on for the long haul. But that's not how my life and friendships have gone, and I'm so grateful for Laura's willingness to open an honest conversation about how to make friends, what kinds of friends we need, and how to be a good friend. I love Laura's writing, and her wisdom and wit sparkle on every page. When you finish this book, you'll want to reach out to every friend in your life, and you'll have the skills and perspective to make a few new ones, too. Shauna Niequist, New York Times bestselling author of I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet
Tremaine's exploration of adult friendship is nuanced yet practical. . . . a perceptive look at female friendship in this bright offering. Publishers Weekly
