Friendships come in all forms, and some are more complex than others. Whether it’s being an outcast for a radical cause or grappling with personal struggles that make connection difficult, there is always someone there who understands you in a way that no one else can. These books dive into all the beautiful, heartbreaking, humorous, and poignant ways our relationships shape us, showing just how layered and complex human connections can really be.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Before Dorothy, there was Elphaba—a girl born in the magical land of Oz with emerald-green skin. From her troubled childhood to her time at Shiz University, Elphaba becomes a fierce advocate against the oppression faced by talking Animals and Munchkins. Her bold stance against injustice marks her as a rebellious outsider. Her complex, transformative friendship with Galinda (the future Good Witch) shapes her journey, but her defiance of the Wizard’s tyrannical regime ultimately sets her on the path to becoming the infamous “Wicked Witch of the West.”

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Bunny by Mona Awad

MFA scholarship student Samantha Heather Mackey is a self-imposed outsider, deliberately keeping her distance from her overly cloying fiction cohort, who call themselves “the Bunnies.” But when she unexpectedly receives an invitation to join their exclusive group, she abandons her only friend, Ava, and is drawn into a bizarre, sinister world of creating monstrous creatures. As Samantha descends further into their saccharine yet eerie rituals, she begins to question how far she’s willing to go in the name of magic and imagination—and whether she can survive the dark path she’s chosen.

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Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

When Alix Chamberlain’s babysitter, Emira, is wrongfully accused of kidnapping Alix’s daughter, Briar, during a late-night trip to the grocery store, both women are deeply shaken. Emira feels humiliated and becomes increasingly wary of Alix’s overly eager attempts to make amends, especially as she grapples with her own personal challenges. However, when a video of the incident begins to circulate online, it draws someone from Alix’s past into their lives, complicating the situation further and forging unexpected ties between the two women in ways neither could have anticipated.

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Normal People by Sally Rooney

High schoolers Connell and Marianne couldn’t be more opposite. Connell is the popular star of the soccer team, while Marianne is an introverted outcast. However, when a chance encounter brings them together, an undeniable connection sparks that leaves a lasting impact. A year later, their roles reverse in college: Marianne thrives socially, while Connell retreats into the shadows. As they navigate the complexities of their lives and relationships, shifting circumstances threaten to unravel them both. Ultimately, they must confront whether they can break free from their cyclical, estranged bond or if saving each other comes at too great a cost.

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Socially awkward and deeply set in her meticulously structured routine, Eleanor Oliphant is content with her solitary, predictable life. However, her world is upended when she unexpectedly befriends Raymond, her company’s IT guy, after they come to the aid of an elderly man named Sammy. This chance encounter forms an unlikely bond between the three, drawing them out of their isolated lives. As their connection deepens, Eleanor begins to challenge her rigid way of living and confronts the emotional wounds she never realized needed healing.

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Swing Time by Zadie Smith

This story centers around two brown girls from London with the same dream, but different approaches to life. Tracey possesses undeniable talent, while her friend brings ideas and ambition. However, their complicated friendship ends in their early 20s leading them to forge separate paths. Tracey succeeds as a dancer but finds herself trapped in the struggles of her upbringing, while her friend becomes an assistant to a famous singer, traveling the world and gaining a broader perspective. Despite their diverging lives, the narrator’s trip to West Africa prompts a profound reflection on Tracey, challenging her assumptions about her old friend and offering insight into the complexities of life, ambition, and the forces that shape who we become.

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The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wrecker

Set in New York in 1899, two supernatural creatures find themselves navigating the immigrant communes. Chava is a clay golem brought to life through dark Kabbalistic magic, and Ahmad is a jinni from the Syrian Desert. Despite their opposing natures, they form an unlikely bond while hiding their true identities. When a powerful threat emerges, forcing them to confront their pasts and their place in the world, Chava and Ahmad must work together to face a dangerous and life-altering choice.

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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcom have a friendship that spans decades and withstands various drifts and heavy traumas. At the heart of the story is Jude, a brilliant yet secretive lawyer whose traumatic past casts a long shadow over his relationships and self-worth. As the years unfold, the bonds between the friends are tested by ambition, love, and the weight of Jude’s buried pain. Their journey offers a profoundly emotional exploration of love, resilience, and the depths of human connection.

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