From the incomparable Meg Rosoff, bestselling author of How I Live Now and The Great Godden, comes an alluring coming-of-age tale about the summer that changes everything.
New York City. June, 1982. When eighteen-year-old Beth arrives in Manhattan for a prestigious journalism internship, everything feels brand new – and not always in a good way. A cockroach-infested sublet and a disaffected roommate are the least of her worries, and she soon finds herself caught up with her fellow interns – preppy Oliver, ruthless Dan and ridiculously cool, beautiful, wild Edie.
Soon, Beth and Edie are best friends – the sort of heady, all-consuming best-friendship that’s impossible to resist. But with the mercury rising and deceit mounting up, betrayal lies just around the corner. Who needs enemies … when you have friends like these?
From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a gritty, intoxicating novel about a summer of unforgettable firsts: of independence, lies, love and the inevitable loss of innocence. Sharp and irresistible, it’s perfect for fans of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends and Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan.
Buy a copy of Friends Like These here.
Read some great reviews from a mix of high school and staff book clubs here:
‘Friends Like These’ was a fantastic novel which covered the making and undoing of friendships within a setting realistic for the time with the AIDS pandemic. The roughness of living in New York especially for a young woman such as Beth, who is living long distance away from her family for the first time was also a focus. Edie’s character was charming and charismatic making it easy for the reader to fall in love with her fun personality, making it all the more tragic to read when her lies came undone and Beth was left to figure things out for herself after she learns she cannot trust who she thought was her best friend. The book follows Beth as she matures while facing new challenges and negotiates through her newfound relationships, romantic and platonic alike. Overall, a very enjoyable read. Hannah, aged 16, 5 Stars
‘Friends Like These’ is written in a unique style that beautifully conveys the heat and atmosphere of New York. Breathtakingly descriptive, it follows not the traditional narrative pathway, instead preferring to focus on taking a snapshot of life in 1980s New York. The novel is at times disjointed and uneasy to follow, and the pacing seems just a little off. This does, however, perfectly reflect the spontaneity of life and the two central characters. Aaliyah, aged 17, SA, 5 Stars
Friends Like These is set in New York in the 1980s. It is retro as there are no mobile phones and people use typewriters! The main character is Beth who is an intern at a newspaper. During the summer Beth learns about life, love and work. This book is great! Poppy, aged 16, VIC, 5 Stars
Friends Like These show what it’s like being in New York for the first time and having to learn about how to stay safe from muggers, junkies, pickpockets, flashers, rapists, perverts, psycho bag ladies and the problems of the AIDS outbreak and other diseases. To me, this book seemed really interesting and after reading the first chapter I decided I really enjoyed it. I was expecting this book to go through what it’s like to be new to a big city and the things you learn while living your life. I’ve learnt how hard it is to be new in a place you don’t know much about without much to offer and how to be grateful for the things you have. Jade, aged 16, VIC, 5 Stars
Friends Like These tells the story of a person called Beth. Beth has just finished school and goes to New York to start a newspaper internship. Beth experiences the highs and lows of living in the city. She works during the day, parties at night and with the help of her friend Edie she becomes independent. I found this book easy to read and I couldn’t put it down. Sarah, aged 17, VIC, 5 Stars
Blistering heat. Unbearable co-workers. Decrepit apartment. Since moving to Manhattan, 18-year-old, aspiring journalist Beth seems to be playing one big game of Pick Your Poison. That is until she meets uber-cool, fellow journalism intern, Edie. Pre-occupied with navigating past the dangers and struggles of living alone in the big city, Beth is yet to discover that her fast friendship with Edie may prove most toxic of all. Set in 1980s New York City, Friends Like These will ensnare you in an atmospheric and fascinating world, with Beth’s refreshingly human narrations inviting readers to relate to her struggle in finding her sense of self. Think coming of age story, but make it gritty, unglamourous, yet wholly absorbing. If you are looking for a quick read that is still packed with character development, Friends Like These is the one for you. Ava, aged 18, 4.5 Stars
The book Friends Like These follows 18-year-old Beth as she navigates 1980s New York along with toxic friendships, romance, and lies. After being awarded an internship at a prestigious newspaper in New York, Beth quickly finds herself in an intense friendship with her fellow intern Edie, which takes a turn for the worse. Her words and storytelling painted the picture of a sweltering New York during the summertime and transported you into the storyline of the book. One thing that I loved about this book was the complexity of the characters relationships. In particular Edie and Beth’s summer friendship. With Edie’s character being very domineering and Beth having more of a naive character, their friendship was challenging to say the least. Another aspect of the book I loved is how Meg Rosoff was able to seamlessly address many real life issues in her story. For example, the sweeping AIDS epidemic around the 80s in New York or the generational trauma felt by Holocaust survivors’ families and loved ones. The only fault I would have with this book is that the big reveal at the end of the book was quite underwhelming and I was left looking for something more. Overall, this coming-of-age story is great for anyone looking for a quick read that will keep them hooked till the last line. Ava, aged 15, 4 stars
I don’t usually pick up a Meg Rosoff book, but I read this novel pretty fast and didn’t want to put it down. Her storytelling is so amazing, and it was beautifully written and felt nostalgic. I was drawn towards the protagonist and their loss of innocence because it can be such a hectic part of growing up. This book was so deeply relatable and was so enjoyable. When Beth struggled to find herself, the feeling was so familiar, and I loved to see her character development. I didn’t enjoy the part about the reveal as much as the rest of the book because the betrayal wasn’t what I thought it was going to be but overall, it was such a captivating book. Leila, aged 15, 4 Stars
Set in the 80s in New York and amidst the beginnings of the Aids Global Pandemic two young women become friends. This book is about the role of friendship and relationships and how looks can be deceiving. The two young female characters form a friendship based on a forced association during an internship at a newspaper company. The friendship is viewed from Beth’s point of view and we see her questioning many things about herself and comparing them to her friend Edie. The story shows the craziness of the time in New York with an open attitude to sex and drugs. Yet also shows how this can have an effect on relationships in a not so happy way. By adding the Jewish component into the mix, both girls come from a Jewish background, this adds further comparisons into the story. This is a quick moving story that holds your attention from the beginning to end. Sarah, aged 16, 4 stars
Friends Like These is a captivating coming of age story that takes you back to the 1980s, perfectly illustrating the beauty and the ugly side of New York in the midst of the AIDS crisis. Rosoff tells a tale of 18 year old Beth as she moves to Manhattan for her journalism internship, only to find that her very identity is tested, as betrayal and toxicity force Beth to let go of her once close friends. I thoroughly enjoyed walking alongside Beth as she stumbled through the new, adult world and loved Rosoff’s ability to capture a time from our past. Holly, aged 17, 4 stars
Transporting us back to New York in the 1980s, Friends Like These by Meg Rosoff follows the life of Beth as she struggles to find her place in the world. Being 18 is hard enough as it is, but throw in being in a new city, making new friends and starting a new job over the summer is enough to make any 18 year old confused! Highlighting the complexities of friendship, love and life – this story is a wonderful coming of age novel for current teens and a nostalgic look back for older readers. Jessica, 4 stars
The novel ‘Friends Like These’ was a brilliant book that explored friendship and love. I think this book was wonderfully written and told the story of Beth’s time in NY really well, like the intense heat, the cockroach-filled apartment, her internship, and her independence. I enjoyed reading about the toxic friendship between Beth and Edie and how they were loving one another’s presence and were ‘glued to the hip’. Towards the end, Beth realized that their relationship was toxic, and Edie was not the easiest or greatest friend to be with, which I found interesting to read. Beth was such a good main character and what she went through helped her discover her relationships with everyone and what people aspire to achieve in life. This book is a perfect read that you can get lost in for ages and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page of this book. Mollie, aged 16, 4 stars
The novel “Friends Like These” is a compelling story of a girl navigating New York life. She finds friends in many different places and learns from them all. The struggles that she faces are hard from relationship problems with friends and boys Beth works towards her dream job at the newspaper that she is currently interning at. Furthermore, Beth learns about self-confidence and what it’s like to work in a male dominated workplace learn how to cope with inappropriate comments to racist remarks Beth strives toward her goal none the less. This book has insight on the busy and hectic life of New York and the power of friendship that binds us all. Meg Rosoff has really captured the complexities of friendship. Mikayla, aged 15, 3.5 stars
New York City in the 80s, a new job as an intern and the summer still ahead of you – Beth knows that she has a lot to learn. Beth is testing the waters of a new friendship with Edie and trying to figure out who she has a crush on, the novel ‘Friends Like These’ is a true coming of age story that highlights the harsh realities of becoming an adult. Sophie, aged 17, 4 Stars
In her new book ‘Friends Like These’, Meg Rosoff tells a fast-paced story that explores Beth’s first summer away from home, a summer of friendship, love and deceit. The writing style is witty and the moves quickly, which perfectly conveys the fast-paced new life that Beth finds herself in the centre of, as well as her tumultuous relationship with Edie, a fellow intern at her summer job. With a nuanced look at relationships and independence, this book is definitely worth a read. Bridget, aged 16, SA, 4 Stars
I found ‘Friends Like These’ an incredibly dark yet eye-opening tale of how some relationships can turn unhealthy the more you deny the issues that come with it. It took me time to see the truth to Beth and Edie’s dynamic, and I enjoyed how Rosoff made them a foil to one another in terms of how people deal with having to grow up once they reach adulthood; since Edie chooses to let her issues and bad habits consume her while Beth chooses to move forward with her life and work to become the best person she can be. Although the amount of pessimism in the novel made it too daunting for me to call it a personal favourite of mine, it did remind me of how cruel the world can be at times as well as the challenges faced with adulthood that those, including myself, will eventually have to face in the future. Will, aged 18, SA, 4 Stars
Friends like these is a story about Beth who moves to New York to start an internship. Beth meets new friends, lives by herself for the first time and learns about being in a big city. I got this book from my school library to review. I liked imagining what it was like to live in New York in the 80s. I read this book in two days. I didn’t want this book to end and enjoyed reading it. Madeline, aged 15, VIC, 4 Stars
Diving deep into the pages of this novel I, the older millenial child, was able to paint a perfect picture of New York life in the 80’s which formed such a foundation for understanding the life of Beth. Female friendships are at times, difficult, however, I loved the way Rosoff encaptured the feelings of growing up a young woman perfectly exploring the themes of love and happiness and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with it. Reading Friends Like These gave me a sense of nostalgia about my own experiences of becoming an adult, experiencing the ups and down of living life independently and embarking on a journey so foreign. Whilst a short novel, the message and ability to make one reflect and question their own experiences is truly valuable. A 4/5 novel perfect for a wide range of ages. Laura, ACT, 4 Stars
This short novel depicts the Summer of a fresh-faced eighteen-year-old intern working at a newspaper in New York. Beth is very aware of her persona as a sheltered hometown girl and her voice is brilliantly portrayed throughout the story as she negotiates friends, work, living conditions and new freedoms as a young adult. Her strength of character ultimately sees her finding her own identity and sense of purpose, understanding that her experiences and the way she responds give her strength as she embarks upon new beginnings. Karen, ACT, 4 Stars
I loved this book and the weird and wonderful friendship of Beth and Edie. The book reads similar to a sitcom and keeps you contemplating the choices the characters make. I laughed and cried and found ‘Friends Like These’ an easy read and wanted to keep reading even at the end. Narelle, ACT, 4 Stars
The story starts with Beth, an 18 year old young woman who gets an opportunity to work at an exclusive New York Newspaper. Beth soon learns not everything is cracked up to be. An interesting, coming of age story of love, loss of innocence and how friendship can easily turn toxic. Jodie, VIC, 4 Stars
Friends Like These is a fast moving coming of age story set in New York in the 1980s. I enjoyed being transported to another world where I could experience the excitement of being a young adult who moves to live in a big city. Not all is what it seems though and the magical spell of New York soon turns into harsh realities. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars
I am quite particular about the books I read and often struggle to get into many books. I found this book engaging and easy to read. I was able to read the book in a weekend. There was a touch of everything in this book that teens would be drawn to – friendship, love, independence and coming of age. Megan, VIC, 4 Stars
Friends Like These, like its title suggests, explores new friendships formed during a summer internship. Initially the friendships between the main characters seem supportive and beneficial, but suddenly these friendships become toxic. More could have been explored about the results of a toxic relationship as the ending felt a little rushed. Petra, VIC, 4 Stars
Beth is new to New York, working there over the summer as a journalist intern. She only knows her friend’s sister Dawn, who Beth intends to board with for the season. Beth’s New York initiation is less than ideal, the weather is sweltering hot, her apartment is cockroach infested and her internship has Beth learning a lot in a very short period of time. Thankfully Beth is paired with Edie, another intern and local New Yorker. Edie takes Beth under her wing, helping her find her feet at work and teaching her the New York ways. When Beth becomes unwell, Edie throws her a lifeline and Beth moves into her apartment to live. Beth and Edie become best friends, both reliant on each other, but for very different reasons. Beth is young and naive, so being thrown into city life is a wake up call. She has to deal with some very confronting situations; a molestation, getting mugged at gunpoint, affairs and competitiveness in the workplace. Edie’s reactions to Beth’s struggles cast a shadow on their relationship and have Beth rethinking the essence of their friendship. I found towards the end there were many questions left unanswered which left me pondering long after I’d finished the book. Priscilla, ACT, 3.5 Stars
Friends like These took me back to my university days. Leaving the country to hit the big smoke. Beth, an unfashionable girl from the burbs becomes best friends with Edie, a local in NYC, when she takes on an internship. Beth experiences many firsts – job, time away from home, sex, and drugs and where human contact makes a difference when you’re an alien in a city that never sleeps. There is always a buzz of excitement for Beth when hanging out with Edie, resulting in survival and realising every ending has a new beginning. An easy read. Kerrie-Anne, ACT, 3.5 Stars
‘Friends Like These’ by Meg Rosoff is a ‘coming of age’ fictitious story of young adults moving on from school, attending summer internships, all whilst weaving their way through new friendships, deceit, love and newfound independence in the hustle and bustle of New York in the eighties. The dynamics between the friendship of the two main characters Beth and Edie is a roller coaster of up and downs making it at times relatable to the reader. Whilst reading different parts of the story, I found myself feeling somewhat nostalgic as it brought back memories of experiences I had after leaving school and embarking on the next chapter of my life. It is an easy read and I would probably recommend it to young adult readers. Leanne, ACT, 3.5 Stars
The journey of the next chapter of Beth’s life begins when she is offered a journalism internship and moves to New York City during a steamy summer in 1982. She arrives only to be welcomed by an unbearably hot and revolting apartment that she will be sharing with her best friend’s sister Dawn and her boyfriend Tom, neither of whom she has met before. When the naïve Beth meets her fellow interns, she is quickly swept into an intense friendship with the fearless Edie. Beth is captivated by her confidence and energy and allows Edie to introduce her to new eye-opening experiences. What Beth doesn’t realise is the rollercoaster of emotions she is about to encounter. This book is not lengthy and does not really reach a climax, yet leaves you thinking about what happens to the characters long after the story is over and challenges you to question your own experiences and friendships from the past and present. Anita, ACT, 3.5 Stars
Meg Rosoff’s ‘Friends Like These’ fictional novel is set in New York and begins with Beth’s arrival in the city during a scorching summer. Rosoff uses this backdrop to ensconce the novel’s protagonist, 18 year old Beth in the city in a neglected apartment where Beth ‘lay naked on the bed with a damp towel over her torso’. Beth was in New York to begin her journey as a newspaper intern where Jeanie states with stern emphasis that “the point of the internship is to experience everything and leave with an overview” and this first day at the newspaper was when Beth met Edie and their friendship unfolds. Throughout the novel the protagonist’s friendship evolves with Edie, though at times I wondered whether Beth’s literal understandings and blind acceptance of conversations with Edie created questions about the genuineness of this friendship. Whilst the story was appealing and became intertwined with the lives of Beth and Edie at times it was frustrating to read because of the inequity of the friendship. The author’s use of phrases such as the metaphor when Beth was ill and felt “as wobbly as an oyster” made the reading of this novel feel as though I was watching a sit-com. Rosoff’s writing style reminds me of Kevin Kwan’s writing style used in Crazy Rich Asian novels. Overall, this novel by Meg Rosoff is an intoxicating glimpse into female friendships and how sometimes one friend gives more to the relationship than the other. Margo, ACT, 3.5 Stars
The book I read is called Friends Like These and is a story about growing up. The main character is called Beth. She makes friends with Edie who likes to be the centre of attention. Edie is not a very nice friend to Beth. In the book Beth is sexually assaulted, robbed and lied to. Some of the comments about LGBTQI+ were a bit problematic. People who like reading dark stories would like this book. Taylah, aged 17, VIC, 3 Stars
A story that encapsulates the powers of friendship, Beth navigates the unknown world of New York City in 1982 with the guidance of newly found best friend Edie. Edie saves 18 year old, small town girl, Beth from her new reality of living in the big city. Beth is whisked into this new friendship that provides her comfort due to its all-consuming and liberating facets. This entices you to walk alongside the characters as they experience their new journey together as intern journalists. Though not all seems as is told. Betrayal and deceit lurk throughout the plot. Despite lacking an intense climax, this story leaves you considering the motives of friendship. Kayla, ACT, 3 Stars
Friends Like These was an easy and enjoyable read. It initially speeds through a few events but when the storyline settles, it opens into a coming of age story about Beth’s summer internship in New York, but more importantly, the friendships that evolve and change in this time. The story had tones of Normal People by Sally Rooney, which once again proves that novels need not always end perfectly with tied up endings; and the power of this in the characters staying with you long after the last page has been read. Friends Like These shows the complexity of friendships, the potential power and manipulation that can come with an imbalanced friendship, explores moral dilemmas and allows you to think about how different paths can impact your life. I would definitely recommend this book on for a pleasing Summer read. Kate, ACT, 3 Stars
Friends Like These is a glimpse of life in New York in 1983 through the prism of honesty and realism. For an audience of young adults, this novel certainly offers value through real life encounters, dialogues and musings. For older audiences, the novel would need to have more flow and consistency. Diana, VIC, 3 Stars
Friends Like These plays out as an almost real time account, as the convincingly contemporaneous to the eighties narrative presents to us a naive Beth, who experiences a multitude of first time experiences which slowly work to strip her of innocence through the harrowing effects of betrayal and deception. The pithy dialogue acts to intentionally paint the impression of hope and discovery that Beth initially embraces, while the unraveling aspects of manipulation lead you down the same confusing rabbit hole as the green protagonist, artfully creating a kind of metasphere to the reading experience. Michaela, VIC, 3 Stars
Friends Like These is a book I have enjoyed reading. It is a story about independence and friendship. The characters are believable and the story quickly progressed. There were a couple of scenes I found uncomfortable to read, these related to drug use and assault. The text acknowledges the problematic nature of some friendships and the results of toxic relationships. 3 out of 5 stars. Dulcie, VIC, 3 Stars
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