Fictional besties are my absolute favourite to read about but funnily enough, they’re also hard characters to write about. So, this week I want to highlight some books whose authors have written beautiful and relatable friendships.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Dimitri Swinton and Fiore Murphadias from The Oremere Chronicles by Helen Scheuerer top my favourite bookish best friends because I love reading healthy male friendships. My favourite male friendships are those who are unafraid to be vulnerable and affectionate. Dimitri and Fiore have been friends for a long time and trust each other with their lives. Their relationship is more than just back and forth banters and hearty laughs. Fiore and Swinton called each other out when the other was wrong and valued honesty.
🌺 Related Post: Review of War of Mist by Helen Scheuerer || Of Rebuilding and Moving Forward
Kiko and Hiroshi from Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman deserve a mention here even though they have more of a student-mentor relationship. Hiroshi is a wonderful mentor who understands Kiko’s anxiety and gently pushes her. I love how he doesn’t try to force her or nags her for not taking more risks, instead, he asks her thought-provoking questions which help Kiko understand her art and eventually herself.
Tea and Likh from The Bone Witch series by Rin Chupeco are like the outcast kids who find each other. From the beginning, we know Tea and Likh are pretty much “othered” for being very different. One of the best things about their relationship is that they accept the other for who they are and yet gives them space to grow into whoever they want to be.
🌺 Related Post: THE BONE WITCH BY RIN CHUPECO: A LUSCIOUS AND DARK BOOK I DEVOURED
I could not write this post without mentioning The March sisters from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott! I grew up reading about these siblings whose bond closely resembled my siblings and me. In fact, we used to put on little shows for my mother which we would try to secretly practice in our rooms.
🌺 Related Post: CLASSICS OR CONTEMPORARY BOOKS? || HOW I BALANCE MY READING STACK
Esmae and Rama from A Spark of White by Sangu Mandanna deserve a mention though I am so, so, so sad to talk about them! Two characters who, on the surface, seem the very opposite and yet have a strong sibling-like bond made me weak.
🌺 Related Post: Review of A SPARK OF WHITE FIRE by SANGU MANDANNA
Rudy and Liesel from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak are the most heartbreaking friends I’ve read about til today. I read this book a year ago, I think, and I still don’t have the emotional capacity to talk about it. Just know that you will get attached to the characters with their swearing and their quirks. So much so that I am not done recuperating after reading this book.
Who are your favourite bookish best friends? What’s your favourite friendship trope?
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The March sisters are a good choice! Still have to think about whether I could get along with Amy, even when she’s older…but the other 3, yes, without hesitation.
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Hahaha yes, I feel the same way about Amy but I do believe that being the youngest of the girls she’s flakier than the others. I haven’t read any of the books after Little Women (Little Men and Jo’s Boys), so I’m not sure if her character has changed.
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I love the friendship of the March sisters! Such a great choice. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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Aww, the March sisters are such a good choice. I’m still sad about what happened to Beth.
My TTT.
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Rudy and Liesel are the best! And I really want to read Starfish sometime! Great choices 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2019/08/13/top-ten-tuesday-book-characters-id-love-to-be-besties-with/
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Gosh, I can’t think of Rudy and Liesel without tearing up. I hope you pick up Starfish because it’s a great read and has a good rep for social anxiety.
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I know! Me too – that book makes me so emotional! I’m definitely going to read Starfish at some point soon hopefully! 😊
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Aww, the March sisters! They’re universally loved I think. 🙂
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They certainly are! Have you seen the trailer for the upcoming Little Women movie?
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Oh gosh Rudy always makes me cry when I think about him. I really want to read Starfish, especially after you included it in your list 😀
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Please do read Starfish! It’s such a heartwarming book!
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Great list!!! I have a couple of these books on my TBR that I really need to get to!
Here’s mine: https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2019/08/13/bookish-besties-top-ten-tuesday/
-Lauren
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Hiroshi was definitely my favorite part of Starfish, so I’m really happy to see him mentioned here! I loved how welcoming he and his family were to Kiko, and how he supported her dreams the way her mom should have. I fully agree about Rudy and Liesel, and the ending broke my heart.
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YES to Little Women!! SOO excited for the film!!! ❤
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I really need to check some of these books out!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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I loved the friendship between Fiore and Swinton as well. It’s one of the best male friendships I’ve read in books in a while. Haven’t read the other books but they are on my to-read list. I actually watched the movie of the book thief and enjoyed it. Rudy and Niesel’s friendship was truly heartbreaking. Have you watched the movie?
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Omg yes, all the sisters in Little Women are such a perfect example for this post! i spent my childhood reading about them too. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU FOR THE MOVIE?!?!?!
OMG I just finished A Spark Of White Fire like last night after sobbing like crazy and yassss Ram and Esmae!!!!!
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Great list! I loved the Book Thief. 🙂
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
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The March sisters have such a beautiful bond and I’m so glad to see someone include them. What a special book. Also, YES! The Book Thief! I still think about Rudy and Liesel CONSTANTLY.
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I love your spin on this week’s topic!
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Bookish friendships make a book! I love Fitz and the Fool from Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderling books.
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Omgg, just bringing up Leisel and Rudy is making me tear up 😭 I read the book ages ago and I’m still not over it. Great post!
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