The Friendship Breakup by Annie Cathryn: Book Review

The Friendship Breakup is a humorous look at female friendships told through the eyes of a married mother of one. This is the debut novel from this author and I enjoyed it!

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in both ebook and audiobook formats. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

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From The Publisher:

For fans of Laura Hankin and Jennifer Weiner, this fresh, clever, and complex debut “mom-com” explores the ups and downs of friendship and what happens when those you trust the most leave you high and dry.

A plucky protagonist who’s far from figuring it all out—but powers through with wit and determination—Fallon is a heroine millennial moms will instantly connect with.

Fallon Monroe, mother of one, self-help book junkie, and budding chocolatier, has always relied on her mom friends in the Chicago suburbs to get her through the trials of adulthood. So when her bestie Beatrice inexplicably starts ghosting her and takes all their mutual friends with her, Fallon’s left wondering how everything went so wrong. Pushing down a lifetime of insecurities, Fallon doubles down and decides to win them back. First, she hosts an epic Mexican fiesta that goes epically wrong. Then she joins a friendship app but discovers a disturbing secret about one of her new friends.

Just when she’s about to throw in the towel on the whole friendship mess, Fallon reads a recently unearthed letter she’d refused to deal with decades earlier—and reading it forces her to finally face the deep-seated fears she’d desperately tried to bury. Now, looking at her friendships through fresh eyes, she must decide between hanging on and letting go.

Fallon is an instantly likeable heroine—as vulnerable as she is determined—and she’ll have readers eagerly turning the pages as they join her on an emotional journey into the hopes and fears of adulthood.

My Thoughts:

Fallon Monroe is a wife, mother of one, and budding entrepreneur. She’s been working hard at creating unique chocolates in hopes of opening a storefront soon. Along the way, she’s sacrificed time with her family and friends.

She belongs to a group of Mom friends who have been together since their children were small. When suddenly one of the friends begins to exclude her from the group activities she’s planning, Fallon is both confused and hurt.

Fallon begins to organize her own events for the group including a Mexican-themed party (complete with a pinata filled with little tequila bottles) but her best friend continues to ghost her. What does she need to do to win back this woman’s friendship?

The book is a discussion on the importance of having good friends in our lives and how these relationships change over time. There is plenty of gossips, toxic behaviours and judgment in this group of friends. There is also a big void in communication. As an outsider looking in, I couldn’t help but wonder why Fallon would want to belong to this group.

The story was engaging, well-written and thought-provoking. You couldn’t help but root for Fallon in her quest to rejoin this group and build her chocolate business. The conclusion was somewhat predictable but completely satisfying.

I listened to the audiobook format of the book which was narrated by Brenda Scott Wlazlo. I loved her performance which was expressive, enthusiastic and well-suited to the book. I found it easy to listen to at my usual 1.5x speed. Those that enjoy audiobooks may want to choose this format.

I recommend The Friendship Breakup to those readers who enjoy General Fiction or Women’s Fiction. Best read alongside a few delicious chocolates – you’ll be craving them.

What I Liked:

• A highly likeable protagonist with a family and budding business
• The use of humour throughout
• The messaging on how female relationships can be toxic

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner