I got Emma Straub vibes from this big, juicy novel focusing on two women in upstate New York: Elisabeth, a married journalist who moved out of Brooklyn when she finally conceived via IVF; and Sam, a college art student who becomes her son Gil’s babysitter. Elisabeth misses her old crowd and doesn’t fit in with the middle-aged book club ladies in her suburban neighbourhood; Sam is almost her only friend, a confidante who’s also like a little sister (better, anyway, than Elisabeth’s real sister, who lives on tropical islands and models swimwear for inspirational Instagram posts). And Sam admires Elisabeth for simultaneously managing a career and motherhood with seeming aplomb.

But fundamental differences between the two emerge, mostly to do with economics. Elisabeth comes from money and takes luxury products for granted, while Sam is solidly working-class and develops a surprising affinity with Elisabeth’s father-in-law, George, who is near bankruptcy after Uber killed off his car service business. His pet theory, “The Hollow Tree,” explains that ordinary Americans have been sold the lie that they are responsible for their own success, when really they are in thrall to corporations and the government doesn’t support them as it should. This message hits home for Sam, who is distressed about the precarious situation of the Latina dining hall employees she has met via her work study job. Both Elisabeth and Sam try to turn their privilege to the good, with varied results.

Although I remained engrossed in the main characters’ stories, which unfold in alternating chapters, I thought this could easily have been 300 pages instead of nearly 400. In particular, Sullivan belabours Sam’s uncertainty over her thirtysomething English fiancé, Clive, whom Elisabeth refers to as “sleazy-hot.” The red flags are more than obvious to others in Sam’s life, and to us as readers, yet we get scene after scene meant to cast shade on him. I also kept wondering if first person would have been the better delivery mode for one or both strands. Still, this was perfect literary cross-over summer reading. (3.5 stars)

This book has a huge lack of storyline.
I also couldn’t connect with the characters.
The actual writing style is very good.
I did stop reading at the 55% mark

Beautiful story, bit slow to start and get going but so well written no Spoilers! But well worth the read excellent Author.

an intriguing set up about a woman who moved from the city to upstate where she hires a nanny to look after her child before she goes back to work. just not very invested!

Loved, loved, loved this. Loved the characters, loved the storyline, loved the setting.
Highly recommend. There is nothing about this book I would change.

This was my first book by this author, but I had only heard good things about the earlier books.

While I enjoyed meeting the characters in this book, I just found that I didn’t really like them. I felt that I was reading about their lives, and to be honest, their lives were not really all that interesting.

Unfortunately, I found the story to be slow-paced and I didn’t really understand what I was meant to take away from this book.

Not one I’d recommend, however, I did enjoy the writing style of the author and will definitely try one of the earlier, recommended books.

This novel was an insightful read which explores a friendship between very different women: they are different in their backgrounds, class, age and wealth, creating an interesting relationship.
Even though it was a slow-paced novel, I really enjoyed it and even days after I finished it I found myself still thinking about it

I adore this cover! I found the writing really the highlight here - it was just perfection! I found the story compelling and intriguing too.

A great story about friendship. motherhood, and modern life. I did find it oddly paced and sometimes couldn't connect with the characters so well. I also think it could be a lot shorter than it is here.

Another great book from Courtney Sullivan, who writes so well about female friendship, motherhood and selfhood.

In some ways the central relationship, between Elizabeth and her babysitter turned friend Sam reminded me of Kiley Reid’s ‘Such a fun age’, but where Reid’s novel explores race and class, Sullivan’s is more focused on the privilege that comes from education and money, and on the relationships each woman has with their husband/fiancé, best friend and family.

I really enjoyed reading Friends and Strangers, but I’m not sure it’s one which will stay with me as much as some of Sullivan’s other novels have.

An insightful and emotional explorations of different types of relationships, particularly around motherhood and caring for children. The description of mommy Facebook groups made me cringe in their accuracy.

A book of motherhood, friendship and a new life. A good domestic drama. A slow paced but gentle and engaging read.

I don't think this book for me. I couldn't keep up with the pace, drama, or characters. And honestly, I didn't find it hilarious at all!

Friends and Strangers deals with the minutiae of daily life in a glorious way. I loved how it explores how much women can lose themselves in some relationships – with friends or a marriage – to become the person they think the other one wants or needs. It showcases college friendship groups, mum friend groups, the dilemma of trying to find your tribe post-baby. There are many relatable scenes about book club nights at the house of someone you sort of know, but think you might want to know better because you have a few things in common, such as babies of the same age or you live in the same area… but then they say something as part of the conversation that makes you question so many of your choices up to that point. Also J Courtney Sullivan spins the light onto peer pressure – can you break away from it as an adult, or do we all still strive to fit in? I should mention it's funny too, and simply a lovely read.

This novel follows the lives of two women - Elizabeth, a writer who has moved from the city to the suburbs to raise her son with her husband; and Sam, a student at the local university trying to balance her education with a long distance relation with a much older boyfriend.

I found this novel so very slow, I kept waiting for it to hit its stride and for the story to start flowing, but it never happened. Elizabeth turns out to be a selfish, controlling and manipulative woman who lies to her husband with ease and meddles in the lives of others. Sam, unsurprisingly for a young woman her age, is confused, naive, privileged (although she cannot see it) and idealistic.

It feels like a very well written book and I have read the positive reviews and understand them and I was adamant not to DNF this book thinking that I too would see the brilliance of it,, but it was really hard work and I did not enjoy it. From looking at other reviews, I know that I am in the minority, so it is clearly either not my type of book, or I was just not in the right frame of mind to read it.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Good but not great. I really liked the discussions around motherhood and privilege but I did find it slightly too long and too slow

A DNF I'm afraid. I just couldn't get into it.

[Free copy kindly provided by NetGallery in return for my honest review]

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.
The book follows two women, Elizabeth (who moves from the city after having a baby) and Sam her babysitter.
I found that the book was slow paced as it delved into each of the characters. I felt that the book was more about issues and for me not a lot really happened even though it was well written

I couldn’t get on with this book, so I’m afraid it was a DNF from me.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
This story covers the perspectives of two women Elisabeth and Sam, who are at very different stages of their lives but end up bonding and helping each other in ways they don’t realise. I really liked the in-depth character detail and how it sensitively covers motherhood, friendship, privilege and hardship. I did find myself skimming a little through the middle of the book as it is a long one but then felt it picked up again towards the end, so I would recommend sticking with it if you feel the same.