Friends and Strangers

A novel (A Read with Jenna Pick)

By: J. Courtney Sullivan

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick!

An insightful, hilarious, and compulsively enjoyable novel about a complicated friendship between two women who are at two very different stages in life, from the best-selling author of Maine and Saints for All Occasions (named one of the Washington Post's Ten Best Books of the Year and a New York Times Critics' Pick).

Elisabeth, an accomplished journalist and new mother, is struggling to adjust to life in a small town after nearly 20 years in New York City. Alone in the house with her infant son all day (and awake with him much of the night), she feels uneasy, adrift. She neglects her work, losing untold hours to her Brooklyn moms' Facebook group, her "influencer" sister's Instagram feed, and text messages with the best friend she never sees anymore.

Enter Sam, a senior at the local women's college, whom Elisabeth hires to babysit. Sam is struggling to decide between the path she's always planned on and a romantic entanglement that threatens her ambition. She's worried about student loan debt and what the future holds. In short order, they grow close. But when Sam finds an unlikely kindred spirit in Elisabeth's father-in-law, the true differences between the women's lives become starkly revealed and a betrayal has devastating consequences.

A masterful exploration of motherhood, power dynamics, and privilege in its many forms, Friends and Strangers reveals how a single year can shape the course of a life.

©2020 J. Courtney Sullivan (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Courtney Sullivan is a writer of extraordinary gifts, and this is her most affecting book yet, which I just wanted to keep reading and reading straight through to its climactic and emotional last pages, because its world felt completely realized, and completely real. Sullivan is a writer who offers up small human moments and large social ones, all within the frame of a truly good story. I loved it.” (Meg Wolitzer, New York Times best-selling author of The Interestings, The Uncoupling, The Ten-Year Nap, The Position, The Wife, and Sleepwalking)

Ok

I found it hard to stay interested in the story. I found myself having to rewind a lot. I feel the story just dropped off. No actually ending.

Review overall story.

Was disappointed that they did not finish exploring Elizabeth’s story and a reconciliation. Definitely held my interest.

Perfect

A perfect novel. Engrossing storyline with exceptional sub-storylines throughout. Well developed and defined characters. Wonderful narration. Perfect.

Good characters, weak story

The writing is wonderful but there is no real story here. I kept waiting for some climax. I love character-driven books but I also like a little bit of plot!

slow start but a good book

It to me a minute to get into it, but I enjoyed this one. I cared about the characters.

Light read, good for book club

This was a nice book. Lots to talk about. I did not like the voice portrayal of the boyfriend. It was hard to listen to that. But I enjoyed the story and will recommend this book.

Nice chick book diversion

It was a good read. Nice mindless diversion. It kept my interest. I liked how all the characters grew in substance.

Fine read but not my favorite

I found this story to be a bit boring, and I kept expecting something to happen. I didn’t think that the characters were very well developed were likable except maybe Sam. This was not my favorite read.

Great Read Naturally Soothing

In love with this book. Its so relateable the issues are real it shows the start of a relationship you really dont want the characters to lose.Literally could not stop listening. The ending feels unsettled, but befitting of the title.

WONDERFUL

I loved every moment of this book. It’s painfully true in ways and familiar, and turns in ways I didn’t expect. Sullivan continues to be one of my favorites.