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THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘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’ 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 as…too 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 isn’t 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.

Publisher Review

Praise for How to Fail: 'A book full of wisdom, humour, humility, tenderness and heart. Elizabeth Day's beautiful, reassuring stories and observations are a guide to self-compassion, a celebration of all things imperfect and will galvanise you to try, try again' Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love 'How To Fail has rapidly become my essential companion in this over-competitive, demanding world. By turns profound, witty, and extremely reassuring, Elizabeth Day's sublime deconstruction of the myth of 'success' - and the journey to find our own markers of contentment - is a life-changing gift to us all.' Jessie Burton, author of The Muse 'Brilliant Elizabeth Day, who you could probably trust to talk eloquently about anything' Evening Standard 'Brilliant ... Covering everything from job rejections to failed IVF attempts, this podcast will make you feel better about life when things aren't going to plan' Harper's Bazaar 'Funny and insightful' Grazia 'It's really quite special' Red 'Whip-smart celebrations of things going, well, wrong' Emerald Street 'Listening to this show is cathartic; failure is a constant experience shared by so many, and being open is not a bad thing' BuzzFeed 'Tender and insightful, as well as acerbically funny' Reader's Digest