Customer Reviews

With Friends Like These: A Novel

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before Bridget Jones burst onto the literary scene and the term "chic-lit" was coined to describe a genre of hapless females trying in their own inept ways to get a man, women were writing novels featuring intelligent, usually clever, women and their dreams and aspirations. From the recent past, Gail Parent, Olivia Goldsmith, Anne Bernays, Elinor Lipman, and Susan Isaacs all produced such novels. (And those are just the few I could list off the top of my head.) I'll add Sally Koslow to that list, after finishing "With Friends Like These", and having read and enjoyed her first novel, "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx".

"Friends" is the story of four women, all in their late 30's and early 40's, who've been close friends since they shared an apartment in Manhattan in their unmarried days. Three of the women have married, and of those three, two have had babies. The other married woman has had a series of miscarriages. The fourth woman is unmarried and doesn't want children. Koslow's novel takes a year in their lives where they each manage to subvert the plans of another "friend". Betraying confidences, taking job offers, and sabotaging real estate aspirations take their toll on the once-close friendships these women enjoyed. Koslow is a good writer; the nuances of life show up in these characters. The story is good and entertaining, and I never disliked a character, though I sometimes disliked what she did.

So, to call Koslow's two books "chic-lit" is wrong. Regular "chic-lit", which I sometimes enjoy, never reaches the story and personality depth Koslow does in her writing. Sally Koslow is an author to keep looking for.

This was such a delightful read. I've read all of Sally Koslow's novels and this one really blew me away. The four main characters are so vividly written. I felt like they were my own friends by the end of the book. It was a great read. Perfect for the end of summer or whenever. I can't recommend it enough.

From the very first description of young women heading to Manhattan, apartment and roommate hunting, I knew this book was written by someone who had walked the walk. The two friends and two other women bond through years spending their single years as a foursome in a rent-controlled Upper West Side apartment. Fast forward and two are young mothers, one is a wise, sassy serial monogamist, and the last is happily married but, unhappily, without a baby. One struggles financially, one lives a life of luxury (without feeling confident), one suffers the death of her beloved mother while also losing pregnancies, one ... well, I won't give that plot twist away.

The author writes each chapter from the point of view of one of the quartet, so one hears each of their interior monologues, along with how they interact with the other three. I've never been part of a tight group of friends like this, but the second-guessing of one's self, the way we always think others have it easier than we do, or that others are so much more talented or successful than we are - it's what we women do. We love our friends, feel sorry for our friends, we're glad we don't need to put up with their burdens, and at the same time, are selectively envious of the one whose husband sends all the flowers, the one whose kid got the 2400 SAT score, the one with long legs, the one whose in-laws actually show up to be helpful with the grandchildren - you name it. Just as they look at us the same way.

I saved this book until I had a nice stretch to get into it, since I suspected once I entered the world of Jules, Quincy, Chloe, and Talia, it would be hard to exit. With Friends Like THese delivered. I read a few hours on a train trip, then snuck in a few more hours when I got in bed. Woke up early this morning and read a few more chapters, had coffee - and then sat curled up on the sun porch, reading the last few chapters. Totally delicious!! These women are smart and funny.

I saw myself and people I know in all these characters. Their marriages, their successes, their failures - the way as old friends they really know each other in a way that just isn't the same with new friends, even if we have more specifics in common with the new ones... It does mean, though, that old friends have more capacity to hurt one another, knowing where the bodies are buried. I think the main point of this book is - be there for your friends, treasure them. They are not replaceable. If you do something hurtful, or they do - try to work it out. Ask for forgiveness and if they ask for your forgiveness - giving it to them is a gift to yourself as well. The author conveys the women's struggles to balance self-interest, couple loyalty, family commitments and friendship in a way which is compelling, but never preachy.

With Friends Like These tells the story of four women who lived together when they were fairly new to New York, and their lives were just taking off. When we catch up to them, it's a decade or so down the line - three are married, two have children, and they are all still trying to maintain their friendships in the midst of pulling priorities. The stories take twists and unexpected turns, and we wonder whether the women will ever be able to resolve some of the differences pulling them apart, but the ending reminds us of why friends matter in the first place, and why it's important to nurture our friends. This is a fast read, and it will definitely pull you in, so be prepared.

I was blown away how this book got you frustrated with characters motives. Because you kept saying "how could she do that" and then a minute later be thinking "I might do that too"! The range of emotions with touches of humor really made this book jump out. I highly recommend.

I thought this was a great book and one I did not want to put down. Each chapter brought new interesting thoughts by one of the characters. Would really recommend this, I had not read any of Koslow's previous books so was pleasantly pleased and surprised how much I enjoyed this

I really enjoyed this book. The friendships where so believable. The only thing I didn't like was the way it ended, it kind of left you hanging with their lives and relationships. I would love a second book!

You know, it took me ten chapters to get into this book. The characters, in the beginning at least, were not well defined. They were defined mostly through dialog, and the dialog really wasn't distinct enough to easily tell which character was which. I also didn't enjoy the prologue.

But why did I give it four stars then? Because after those ten pages, I loved it! LOVED it. The characters came into focus better and the story was fun and unique. I looked forward to getting to the story every day.

The story centers around four women friends, and as their lives change their friendship changes. Some women get married, do better financially, have children, and as these changes happen the women make choices that affect the friendship. I don't know of a woman around that couldn't relate to this story. There is also quite a bit having to do with real estate and "the perfect house" running through this book, which made it all the realistic and interesting.

Think a PG-rated Sex in the City and you'll have a good sense of Sally Koslow's latest, "With Friends Like These." There's Jules, a mouthy, brassy zaftig Italian beauty who's determinedly single; there's Charlotte-esque Chloe, who makes up in beauty and breeding what she lacks in guts; then there's ambitious, talented Talia, and seemingly blessed Quincy, who would sacrifice all her other accomplishments to be able to join her friends in motherhood.

The book traces their beginnings as single, twenty-somethings, to thirty- and forty-somethings, and reflects the changes in their personalities and relationships. An ode to female friendship, anyone who's had to look past jealousies and envies and even betrayals to hold on to their girlfriends will love "With Friends Like These."

Sally Koslow's With Friends Like These chronicles four college friends who are now in their late thirties and well entrenched in their lives. Bound by memories as well as their current challenges (family, husbands, lovers, children the hunt tor the great apartment) they make alliances and hold secrets (though not always very well). Even though they have moved on in years, they often remain in the same social roles first set in college. There are Chloe, married to a ruthless hedge fund hotshot, and Talia, married to a teacher and raising two preschoolers. They share a copywriting job and secretly hold ambitions not entirely hospitable to the other's success. Quincy and Jules, both without children but with careers, might be considered the cool ones, even though they are trying to find their place in the equation as well. Alliances are made and betrayed and eventually some friendships are not worth saving. The four main characters are well written and fully fleshed out and the supporting players are also well written and intertwine the plot seamlessly. The dialogue is razor sharp. A story line involving the hysteria that can ensure while seeking the perfect address and the friendship assumed is spot on. If your opinion of Koslow's writing is based on the dreadful Little Pink Slips, cast those apprehensions aside. This is a great read.