There are countless things to be said about the importance of friendship, as well as about the complexity, challenges, and demands of these quite close relationships. What better fodder for fiction could there be? We’re fascinated by the dynamics between people and how those dynamics ebb and flow with the wind — or with some wild catalyst. Want to zero in on this very topic for your next book club? Need help nailing down your theme? We thought you’d never ask.
Frenemies till the end
Keep Your Friends Close
by Leah Konen
It is sometimes in our most vulnerable times of need that we become more open, more receptive to allowing someone new into our life. That’s exactly Mary’s state of mind while dealing with a custody battle when she meets Willa at a playground in Brooklyn. They become near-immediate friends and before long a touch of tequila loosens Mary’s tongue and she spills some of the secrets she’s been keeping quite close to her chest. Fast-forward to the flip side of the negotiations and Mary is living upstate with her son. She runs into Willa one day — but Willa evidently has an entirely different life, complete with a different name. For most, this would be a massive red flag. For Mary, she’s once again in a needy state of mind and turns toward the woman who suddenly seems unfortunately involved in murder.
For your thrill-packed book club, we’re suggesting you entertain the Brooklyn mom way: a charcuterie and cheese platter that includes a selection of your best locally sourced cheeses, cornichons, castelvetrano olives (pitted, please), a sliced saucisson sec, Marcona almonds, and wavy potato chips — the good kind. Pair it with a pitcher of palomas! It’s a perfect drink for your summer gathering and has just the perfect amount of sour.
Blood is thicker than water
The Seaside Sisters
by Pamela M Kelley
Two adult sisters, Hannah and Sara, take an opportunity to spend a summer together on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. Hannah, based in Brooklyn, is trying like mad to get started on her second novel, following the best-selling success of her debut. Sara lives on the Cape, playing the part of dedicated mother and wife, while yearning for something more. Together, they step onto the cozy literary scene of the seaside northeast. This charming novel is a perfect beachy beach read for your bookish friends.
When we think of the coastal northeast, we think about seafood’s most delectable offerings, with scallops at the top of the list. Treat your book club crew to something special with these scallop and prosciutto bites. They’re exactly the kind of hors d'oeuvres we’d expect to see at a sweet and chic beach town book party. Pair them with a dry, bright white, like this Les Fous Sauvignon Blanc from Blanchard and Lurton.
An Unlikely pair
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
by Marianne Cronin
In the novel The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin, we meet 17-year-old Lenni. Lenni has a dire prognosis — and a remarkable wit. She resides in the terminal ward of a Scottish hospital, where she befriends 83-year-old Margot. The two embark on an ambitious project that becomes a joy to witness as the relationship between the very loveable Lenni and Margot develops. The charming pair coupled with the book’s inventive structure, plus more than a few moments of profundity, will leave you with plenty to unpack during book club.
What to pour for your ageless book club? Rosé, rosé, and more rosé. The rose has a special spot in this tale, and this Malene rosé has just as much gorgeous complexity. To keep your book pals satiated, take inspiration from the UK wanderings this novel incorporates, and go with another (we think) Britis-ish unlikely pair: cheese and pickle sandwiches. Trust us on this one, okay?
friends forever
Swing Time
by Zadie Smith
While Swing Time might not be the most popular of Zadie Smith’s fabulous novels — that honor belongs to her debut, White Teeth — we think it’s just as excellent. Two friends, Tracey and the narrator, are shooting for the stars with big dreams of becoming professional dancers. Passion isn’t enough to keep both of them on that same path, however, as one veers off to become an assistant to a celebrity of sorts. This pick will keep your book club enthralled while reading and utterly engaged while discussing, given its exploration of female friendship, comment on culture, and absolutely gorgeous storytelling.
For your book club meeting, take a chance on homemade pretzels! We like the nod to New York City, given the novel’s brief stop in the big apple, and it’s a metaphoric nod to the twists and turns that life can sometimes take. While we’re at it, we’re nodding to the book’s London-based beginning and recommending you mix up a pitcher of Brambles, the recipe for which was also born in London.
Soul mates
Nothing Burns as Bright as You
by Ashley Woodfolk
To say Ashley Woodfolk’s young adult novel, Nothing Burns as Bright as You, is soulful is putting it mildly. Through inventive, thoughtful, and fast-paced verse, Woodfolk shares the story of two young women who start as friends in adolescence. As the story moves around in time, we begin to piece together all of the parts of their relationship, as it becomes romantic, complex, fiery. All of this revolves around a quite dramatic scene in the novel — a literal fire burning between two friends, standing on opposite sides of it. The suspense builds steadily as we know how things end, but the author takes us on a gripping journey to find out why.
We’re sticking with the theme of “soul” given how this novel made its way quickly into ours. With that, consider these vegetarian barbecued jackfruit sliders from Love and Lemons. They’re absolutely delicious, and involved and interesting but not overwhelming. For your drink pairing, consider a full-bodied and bold red, like this Reserva Malbec from Fabre Montmayou. It will get your attention without taking over, and the finish is absolutely perfect.
Friends with benefits
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
by Christina Lauren
Flirty, fun, irreverent, and just steamy enough, Christina Lauren’s novel Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating has everything your book club could want in a summertime pick. Meet Hazel and Josh. They are absolutely not dating each other. However, the entanglement of their romantic lives has them set up perfectly to, well, fall for one another — in classic rom-com style. This novel is light, sure, and will leave you laughing plenty, but it also has a ton of depth, touching on themes of partnership, desire, and expectations.
For your FWB book club meeting, you’ll want to mix up a pitcher of the perfect mocktail as a nod to the disastrous first meeting of Hazel and Josh. Were she not completely inebriated, perhaps she wouldn’t have vomited on his shoes. (Though doing so certainly made an impression on him.) This lemon basil soda is absolutely divine. For nibbles, keep it simple! After all, the focus on a first date is on the company, not the food. But still, you’ll want to satisfy your book-reading crew so try a straightforward pasta like this appropriately named blushing angel hair pasta.