The term book boyfriend is a merch magnet, the topic of much conversation, and a perennial discussion on social media.
But what about book girlfriends? The characters – of any and all genders – who you’d love to be friends with?
I have several, and it kind of shocks me that I hadn’t thought to ask this question before. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the number of man-centered women in romance and how that affects and shapes the genre and its community, and the way in which heroines are written about, critiqued, and judged hasn’t slowed down since romance as we know it was born. Heroines are much more harshly criticized than heroes in romance, and have been since the 70s.
But there are some heroines I love, who I would love to spend time with in my real actual life, from running errands with iced coffee to fluffy-socks-and-wine sleepovers.
NB: despite using the term “girlfriends,” I am not restricting your fictional friendships to specific genders. “Friends” didn’t seem strong enough to depict the loving, supportive relationship I’m speaking of. Honestly, we don’t have enough words for the different relationships we have in different venues. But to be clear: there is no restriction or limitation on gender here.
Here are some of my Book Girlfriends:
Katie in Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis – an old favorite of mine. Katie survives a terrible accident and resolves to live her life actively instead of passively. She quits her job and moves to a mountain town in California where (SURPRISE) she’s hired by three hot brothers (their names are See, Quelle, and Bait – I’m kidding) and has a romance with one of them.
Katie is relentlessly brave when she’s scared, determined when she’s overwhelmed, and clever and funny as well. I would absolutely go snowboarding with her or drink alcoholic hot chocolate in the lodge for hours. I bet she has excellent gossip.
Another old favorite: Act Like It by Lucy Parker. Yes, I love this book and I will never shut up about it. Lainie is a talented actress, she’s pragmatic, she’s quick and funny and so smart, and I wish I could hang out with her. She runs 5ks, though, and I’ll have to cheer from the sidelines with mimosas at the finish line. She, too, probably has incredible stories. I’m sensing a theme.
James Sommers from Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian is a character I would love to take long walks with while we discuss books and the weather and the changing light in the trees. I would probably do more of the talking, but I would love to be his friend.
And oh boy do I want to be friends with Mariah Cooper from Destiny’s Embrace. Mariah moves across the country from Philadelphia to California to answer an ad seeking a housekeeper for a gentleman. Said gentleman does not like Mariah’s inability to tolerate his nonsense, and her fearlessness and her cleverness would make for very fun road trips, or trips to Costco. Mariah is one of my all-time favorite Beverly Jenkins heroines.
What about you? Who would you love to have as a book girlfriend?
Lara: There are one million heroines I want to be friends with (or maybe just want to be??) but there is one heroine’s best friend who really stood out for me: Naomi in Dolly all the Time by Annabel Monaghan. She’s opinionated and fiercely loyal but will also call you on your bullshit. And funny too! She portrayed what it is to be a great friend and I would love to have the privilege of her friendship.
Kiki: I would love to be friends with Mercy from The Undertaking of Heart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. She’s an undertaker in a land of demigods and magical realms, keeping her family business alive and writing letters to an unknown recipient. I would call her after a bad day and we’d split a bottle of wine and dance around barefoot in the kitchen, before settling down to have deep conversations about death, dying, and how to improve care for people before they die. I have a feeling she gives fantastic hugs, and I’m always interested in new penpals.
I’d also love to spend time with Eleanor Ramsay from The Duke’s Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley. She’s both competent and eccentric—the greatest combination. I’m delighted and impressed with her commitment to letting men sweat a bit over things they think they are entitled to. I want to soak up her ability to essentially tell someone: “I love you, and I won’t let you treat me poorly.”
Finally, I’d pick Phoebe Toogood from A Deal With a Notorious Devil by Aydra Richards, who is chill as hell and knows what she does and doesn’t want. She’s gonna make her own deals! Carve out her own little destiny! We’d talk about being childfree by choice while still being delighted by the kids around us! Phoebe also goes out of her way to kinda become friends with her husband’s former mistress, because why not?!
Sneezy: Oh man! Such a good question! Okay, so I think Violet Waterfield from Courtney Milan’s The Countess Conspiracy. One of my friends is a hard science girly who, allegedly, would use liquid nitrogen for good, and I think Violet has the same streak of pirate in her. One can never have enough pirate friends, I say!!!!
I’d also love to hang out with both Nomoto and Kasuga in She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat, by Sakaomi Yuzaki. I love to cook and eat as much as both of them, so I think we’d have a lot of fun having cooking and eating adventures. Aaahhh just thinking about it makes me happy. Going on food and cooking adventures with people you love is the stuff of life, I tell you.
Hmmm… And I think… okay, now hear me out.
Nightfall from Spy x Family. ( A | BN | K | AB )
WAIT, COME BACK!!!! I SAID HEAR ME OUT!!!!
Look, I think the story is doing our darling Fiona dirty for gags. She’s competent, she’s ruthless, she’s a snac that attacs. I get that the story is using the gap between how strong and skilled she is versus how smitten with Loid for laughs, but honestly it’s not that funny to me that the story forcibly dumbs her down like this.
Possibly even in the real world comp het would also pressure and brainwash her into thinking Loid is anywhere NEAR good enough for her. BUT I CAN FIX HER! I CAN FIX HER GUYS! THIS IS A COMPLETELY HEALTHY IMPULSE! With the power of hotpot and grass jelly desserts I can show her she doesn’t NEED to make a man, ANY man, the centre of her world. She can learn what makes herself happy and enjoy using her super powers for her own goals! AREN’T WE ALL TIRED OF WATCHING AMAZING WOMEN LIMIT THEMSELVES FOR MEN?
And lastly to blur the lines between book girlfriends and book boyfriends a bit, Moni from Another Typical Fantasy Romance. Do I want her? Do I want to be her? Does it matter? She’s so smart and so pretty and so loyal, and while able to read and maneuver political subtleties, has a very direct personality. I really enjoy clever and straightforward people, and she’ll definitely save me if my lack of social niceties get me in trouble.
Do your favorite romances include characters you want to be friends with? Who are your book girlfriends?
Ooh, what a great question. Min in Jenny Crusie’s “Bet Me”, because of the way her mind works and her loyalty to her friends. Polly in Alcott’s “An Old-Fashioned Girl”, because of her enthusiasm and her thoughtfulness. I suspect that the characteristics of an interesting heroine may not always be those one would want in a friend.
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne Shirley. She was my imaginary friend for quite a while. Also, all of the March sisters.
I feel like many of T. Kingfisher heroines fit the bill here, including Marra in NETTLE AND BONE and Mona in WIZARD’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING. I also want to be friends with Veronica Speedwell.
(Side note: I found the depictions of interpersonal and domestic violence and abuse in DESTINY’S EMBRACE to be horrifying.)
A bit of recency bias: Clover (yes, Clover, not Maggie) from THIS KINGDOM WILL NOT KILL ME by Ilona Andrews. Ride or die.
And to make up for the recency, let’s go retro: Philadelphia Fox from THE GOLDEN CHANCE by Jayne Ann Krentz: outspoken social liberalism + superpowered emotional intelligence.
I have to say Dina from Ilona Andrew’s INNKEEPER CHRONICLES – supremely competent, yet so filled with empathy and care for those around her. I would love to wander Baha-char with her or sit around Gertrude Hunt quietly drinking tea, reading or discussing the stresses of intergalactic visitors.
I’d have a hard time identifying potential best girlfriends from other people’s books (I read a few too many to winnow it down) so I’ll mention a few of my own. All of them are inspired, at least in part, by friends in my real life. 🙂
I’d love to cruise around wine country with Silvia from VINTAGE.
I’d love to see plays with Max from NO MORE WORDS.
I’d love to work on a semi-pro dance production with Vicky from UNDERTOW and Rory from STRIPPED.
I’d love to go to a ballroom competition with Michelle from OVERSWAY, Anya from SHAKEN & STIRRED, and Kelli from SMOOTH.
I’d love to embellish chandeliers with Lucy from SET DRESSING.
I’d love to coproduce a low-budget stage or movie musical with Tanith from MILLION DOLLAR DEATH and THE GHOST OF CARLOS GARDEL.
I’d love to cowrite a graphic novel with Tina from DRAWN OUT.
So many stories, so many women I had to write about. All above can be found through my website. thelastories dot com
I want Thesan Wain from ECLIPSE. She’s so *sensible*. She has feelings, and she knows her weaknesses, but she’s very measured in what she does and how she reacts (no matter how she *feels*)
Jo March, my beloved.
Zaira Neve from the Psy/Changeling series. She kicks butt and is beloved by friends and family.
I’d go with Alexia from the Parasol Protectorate. She’s witty, takes no sh*it, and asserts herself no matter what society tells her.
Historical – All of Sarah MacLean’s heroines. All of whom know how to throw a barb and get out of fix. Most of all, they are tirelessly devoted to those they love.
Contemporary – Kate Canterbary’s heroines, from the women in the Walsh universe to Brooke and Annette in Talbott’s Cove, l love the voice she gives to these women. They are flawed and gloriously hilarious. I love them.
Very honorable mention to the Duchesses of Malvern, Ripley, Ashmont & Blackwood. They are all traceable from the DNA of Jessica Trent (LoS) and the keyboard of Loretta Chase.
The first to come to my mind was Viv from Legends & Lattes.
Long time book buddies for me would be Sarah Thane and Tristram Shield from Georgette Heyer’s Talisman Ring. I’ve always loved their practicality overlaid by their exasperated sense of humor. We could do needlework and sip tea while snarking about people and commiserating over the trials of raising high-spirited but not always rational youngsters.
Sebastian Gray from Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn would be a gas to go to bad theatricals (movies?) with and make fun of the improbabilities together. And also concoct even more outrageous improbabilities for Sarah Gorely’s books.
Lastly Viv and Fern and all their friends from the Legends and Lattes series by Travis Baldree. We could start out with yummy treats and drinks and talking about books in the cafe, then as the evening wears on break open a bottle of wine and talk about Life. You know all your secrets would be kept and they would always have your back.
I wouldn’t mind being dropped into the middle of Lauren Dane’s Brown siblings backyard barbeques where the snark flies, the men are hot and the girl power is strong.
Former demon Lilith from Meljean Brook’s Guardian series. I feel we’d really vibe, and she’d let me snuggle her dog.
Nikys kin Jurald from the Penric and Desdemona series – and her mother, too. We could take turns helping thread the big loom, chatting the whole time. Also spinning and gossip – and swearing at Nikys’ brother’s spinning machine when it’s not working and spinning *so much thread* when it is. (from Lois McMaster Bujold)
Zane from the Temple of the White Rat (T. Kingfisher), and Sister Clara, and Dog Violet and Large Francis and probably a bunch of other people from that world.
These are just some of the most recent people from books I want to hang with. I’ve been yearning to meet my book friends for decades.
Emma M. Lion comes first to mind these days. I’m on my fourth reread of the series this year and so I think she qualifies. I now listen to those books instead of music. My car has started spontaneously reading them to me when I have had a stressful road incident. No joke. It’s happened three times and that has never happened before.
And I second Min in Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me. Such a lovely friend group in that book, but Min wins top prize.
Fiona from Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series.
And so many from Ilona Andrews, so I will pick an unexpected but true one: Catalina Baylor from the Hidden Legacy series.
So many more, but I need to actually work today…
Rowena from the online series Rowena Gets a Life by S.D. Youngren. She’s a young independent-minded introvert working an office job and learning how to adult despite her mother’s interference, her sister Maralynne’s diva dramatics, and her various coworkers’ annoying antics. I read these stories back in the early 2000s, free on the author’s blog sdy.org, and proudly own the first volume in print.
Seconding all the T. Kingfisher heroines. I most recently reread Bryony and Roses and would love to talk gardening with Bryony. Halla from Swordheart is great too, I love her offbeat tactics in getting what she wants by basically weaponizing her ADHD, plus she’d be fun to talk to and never run out of fascinating side quests.
Lois McMaster Bujold’s heroines from her later books, particularly Tej from Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance who enjoys dancing and learning languages (even though automated translation exists in her universe). Ekaterin is a bit too perfect but we’d bond over solo parenting a first born only child. Cordelia would have me starstruck but if we can get past that somehow I’d love to drink tea or beers or whatever and gossip with her.
Great suggestions, especially re T Kingfisher & Bujold. From Georgette Heyer, definitely Sarah Thane, though it would also be fun to hang out with Abigail Wendowver. Jenny Chawleigh would be shy but sterling when you got to know her. Sophy would be a hoot, but one would need to take care not to be managed into what she considers appropriate. From Jane Austen, Lizzy Bennet and Anne Eliot. From Shakespeare, Beatrice for fun and loyalty, Isabella for integrity and Imogen for toughness and persistence.
There are three who immedicate come to mind because when real life gets too real, I go hide in their worlds. In no particular order:
Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb’s In Death series. We have coffee and cop stuff in common plus… ROARKE! I mean dang. I could sit and stare for a long time. Not that I would because…friends don’t do that stuff. Dalls is smart, tenacious, and loyal and those qualities rank high on my list of good friend traits.
Next,
Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series. I won’t mention Curran. I’m a bit like Kate and swat his big lion nose from time to time. Kate is something of a loner and I get that totally. She has Andrea but one can’t have too many friends who will always have your back and that’s Kate in a nutshell.
And last but certainly not least,
Charley Davidson from Darynda Jone’s Charley Davidson/Grim Reaper series. Once again, she shares my love (no, we are NOT addicted, thank you very much) of coffee. Also, her grasp of sarcasm and snark are master level. Since I speak fluent sarcasm, we’re sure to be besties. Added bonus, she comes with Cookie–the friend not the snack.
Since I’m currently lurking in Charley’s world,this subject just hit the target. Thanks for asking.
Daphne from “Mr. impossible”. I would assist as much as possible in supporting her in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Elise from “Love, Theoretically”. I have some idea about masking yourself to be agreeable, and we could bond during movie marathons.
And I would love to hang out with Tikaya and Rias from “Encrypted” and “Decrypted”. Languages, experiments and shenanigans? Sign me up!
Jo March, Lizzie Bennet, Anne Elliot, etc…
I guess nearly any of KJ Charles’s protagonists, since they’re (with the exception of Lord Richard, ugh) such interesting people, pretty much all of whom I would be wildly sexually incompatible with. Silas from A Seditious Affair comes to mind if I have to pick one. Like I wouldn’t want to go back in time or anything, but if I had to, working with him in his radical underground bookstore seems worthwhile, and he could be fighting pretty much all the same battles if he existed today. Sigh.
I mean, I’d be perfectly happy being friends with Sukey, or Merrick, say, but I’d be even happier being friends who also had sex, and certainly in Sukey’s case I’d *accept* that she wants to have babies with what’s his face, but it’s a shame.
It’s just, I don’t really have a category of people I like but would never sleep with, which is what the het world seems to mean by friend. Book girlfriend vs book girlfriend is very much the same thing for me. Which makes total sense because, y’know, *it’s the same term*.
T Kingfisher’s characters seem like they would be particularly delightful to hang out with, and paladins aren’t generally my style, so those friend groups might count? I wouldn’t want to live in the white rat world any more than I would want to go back in time. Plumbing is the whole point of civilization.
Vera Wong! She’s relentless, hilarious and yes, please cook me yummy food and fix my life!
The duchess from hells belles series because I would get up to some harebrained regency era schemes and an insightful rich friend to advise and bail me out would be fantastic.
Can I just say every Nalini Singh heroine ever? Especially Holly & Ashwini from Guildhunters. I love Sara and Elena’s sisterhood/best friendship too.
Patricia Briggs heroines like Mercy and Anna. They’re thrust into these uber alpha/masculine social hierarchies, where even the relationships with other werewolf/shapeshifter/paranormal women are fraught with power dynamics. They both do alot of emotional heavy lifting with not alot of positive femine feedback – I want to hand out hugs and coffee dates.
I spent most of the weekend reading Daggerbound in one big gulp and then rereading the Clocktaur books so I’d be another to add so many of T.Kingfisher’s characters. I want to spend a week in the town from Snake Eater, a day or two being a volunteer at the Temple of the White Rat, I’m a librarian, I’d be useful. Grace and Marguerite and Gwen would be so much to have a night out with or a night in.
Another who’d love to know Tej from Vorkosigan, that’s one of my favorite books of that series hugely because of her.
I also just want to list so many Diana Wynne Jones’ characters, they always feel so real and fun; Sophie and her sisters, Maree Mallory. I want to go the con in Deep Secret.
Spend an afternoon with Arabella Strange. Go drinking with the Luidaeg or just hang out with the younger Fae.
This is why I write fanfic and used to do panfandom rpg.
I am really more interested in found family than Romance, so I love writers who lean into those kind of connections. Murderbot and the research team, pretty much all KJ Charles characters, the ghost hunters from Jordan L. Hawk’s
OutFoxing the Paranormal Series, and everything by Sam Burns.
Finlay Donovan, Veronica Ruiz and Finlay’s sister Georgia. A writer, an excellent wingman/con artist/nanny/cook/BFF, and a good cop. All contingencies covered.
I love this post. It’s fun to think about favorite books this way. I’d be interested in a favorite found families post, too!
Heated Rivalry (Reid): Ilya, for his quick wit, quiet caring, squishy interior, perseverance, and how dialed in he is to other people. Harris from Role Model, because he’s loving, empathetic, adorable, patient, and a bright light.
The Wedding Season (Birchall): Ruby and Leo. Cheeky, caring, loyal, earnest.
Funny Story (Henry): Daphne or Miles but preferably both, for the snark, layered emotions, openness to growth and self-reflection, and Miles’s childhood.
Abby Offsides (McCallie): the Mersey football team, who treat Abby like one of their one with banter, ribbing, and including her in meaningful or playful moments.
(I’m having trouble getting my comment to post so if it’s caught in a spam filter, please ignore!)
What a cool quesrion! Here are mine:
Ada from Inheritance / Andrews
I wouldn’t mind hanging out with any of Ilona Andrews’s heroines to tell the truth, but Ada from The Inheritance is the first to come to mind. See how she cares for her hand-me-down dog, and imagine what she’d do for a friend.
Delilah Hardy & Angelique Durand from Palace of Rogues series / Julie Anne Long
I love Delilah & Angelique. They forged a friendship at a low point in their lives, when a man had betrayed them both. I would happily share a vision with either or both of them.
Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan from Cordelia’s Honor (Books 1 & 2, Vorkosigan series) / Lois McMaster Bujold
Cordelia is actually my first pick. I know she would always have my back and take none of my crap either.
Esme Weatherwax from the Witches sequence of Discworld / Terry Pratchett
Granny Weatherwax & Nanny Ogg are a classic pair of friends, but it’s Granny’s core of ethical $ moral steadfastness that I would value most in a friend. She’s another who would call me on my bs.
I was like ‘well, I don’t really know, I don’t remember this stuff and I’m so bad with names…” and then a voice in my head was like “Basically everyone in Jennifer Crusie novels” and yeah, that’s 100%.
Dr Greta Helsing (in the Vivian Shaw series) would be the best friend in the world, or in Hell, on any plane! Her compassion and willingness to stand in any gap to help others is astounding. I find the same true of of many of those mentioned above (especially the women depicted by Ilona Andrews, T Kingfisher OR/= Ursula Vernon writing for children or adults, and women and men written by Lois McMaster Bujold). What a great question to ask.
I think my clique would be: Blaine Thorp from Shelly Laurenston’s Shifter series. Shes so annoying on purpose and dramatic that I feel like we would never run out of things to say. Something I struggle with. Plus, hanging out w her you can see any number of Laurenston’s other shifters. I would also add Niamh from Magical Midlife series. Shes such a good time. Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels. So some of her badassery can rub off on me.
Ooh, many of the characters from Erin Nicholas’s universe, especially Harper Broussard (GETTING OFF EASY), Kennedy Landry (CRAZY RICH CAJUNS), and Ellie Landry (the family matriarch who knows a whole heck of a lot); Joanna Bourne’s Marguerite de Fleurignac, aka Maggie Duncan (THE FORBIDDEN ROSE), Justine DeCabrillac (THE BLACK HAWK), Severine de Cabrillac (BEAUTY LIKE THE NIGHT); Jeannie Lin’s Li Feng (THE SWORD DANCER); Lady Bai, aka Wei-wei (THE HIDDEN MOON); Shelly Laurenston’s Darla Lewis (LIKE A WOLF WITH A BONE)… and loads more. Smart, funny women who can cut you and also have a deft hand with pies…
Oh, I have a loooong list! But I’m only going to rattle off a few.
-Lydia, A Gentleman Undone, by Cecilia Grant
-Billie, Destiny’s Surrender, by Beverly Jenkins
-Teresa, Wild Sweet Love, by Beverly Jenkins
-Justine, the Spymaster series by Joanna Bourne
-Mingyu, The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin
-Elena, Paige, Jamie, Hope, and Savannah, from the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
-Isabel, Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt
Ilse Burnley from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Emily books (smartalecky but loyal). Kanada from Yuki Suetsugu’s Chihayafuru (poetic, romantic soul who nonetheless can defuse drama). Kanna from Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys (would clearly be cool to hang out with after all that saving the world jazz).
@Sneezy: funny that I immediately thought of Spy x Family’s Franky for this…
This would be a good bingo square for next summer’s card.