Just with most other TSoL books, The Secrets of Successful Friendships invites the reader to have an honest conversation with themselves and those around them; in this case about friendships.

And just like most of TSoL books do, this book makes you feel you have reached familiar but not fully explored territory.

This book was very thought provoking. It drove home points that I previously struggled with. Whenever I heard about how we make friends out of need or different ones at different times in our lives, it never settled well with me and always led to a panicked discussion where I would explain in great detail how all our friendships are the same and should be treated equally. The author completely changed my mind by explaining specifically why we struggle to make friends as humans, and the labels we put on our friendships due to expectations. But also that alot of our behavior is learnt and stems from deeply rooted personal fears. I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who wants to go with the eb and flow of life and their ever changing friendships.

The Secrets of Successful Friendships is an insightful book that explores the nature of friendship in a meaningful way. At its core, the book reassures us that true friends see and accept our most authentic selves. Our flaws and struggles are accepted and true friends still choose to stand by us.

The chapters are clearly laid out and cover a wide range of themes, including different types of friendships, substitutes for friendship, and even the potential enemies of friendship. I found the book engaging and appreciated the inclusion of historical context and photographs.

One of the key messages that resonated with me was the importance of honesty in friendships and not presenting a facade, but showing up as we truly are. We don’t need to behave 'normally' or hide our quirks. In fact, I’ve always believed that vulnerability makes a person more likeable, and this book reinforced that beautifully.

It also offered insights I hadn’t considered before. The writing is well-researched, and accessible. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to reflect on their friendships. I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.