Weekend Pick for July 14, 2023

Weekend Pick for July 14, 2023

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We Used to Be Friends by Amy Spalding

Amy Spalding

​​It is not easy to stay friends through years. Time and personal changes affect even the closest of relationships.
​We Used to Be Friends is a young adult novel by Amy Spalding.  At the center of the story, readers witness the intricacies of friendship and the emotional passage of two best friends as their relationship unravels during their final year in high school.

Kat and James have been inseparable since kindergarten, sharing countless inside jokes, secrets, and dreams. However, as they navigate their senior year of high school, their friendship gives a crack. The narrative moves backward and forward in time, allowing readers to observe the moments that shape their bond and ultimately lead to its breakdown.

James nourishes her dreams of becoming a filmmaker, while Kat, an aspiring songwriter, struggles with feelings of jealousy and insecurity.  As they both become involved in new romantic relationships, their priorities shift, causing them to grow apart. They try to salvage their friendship but keep exploring their own individual paths.
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Readers may trace themes of identity, love, heartbreak, and the complexities of teenage emotions. Through their alternating narratives, Kat and James reveal their deepest fears, regrets, and desires. The novel brings up the realistic progression of friendship with its high and low points, emphasizing the impact of misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, and personal growth.

We Used to Be Friends is a heartfelt story of complicated relationships and the challenges of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. It reveals Amy Spalding's ability to delve into the troubled emotional landscapes of her characters and offers readers a relatable and thought-provoking portrayal of the joys and heartaches of youth.

Check out Amy Spalding's web page for more information and books: https://www.theamyspalding.com/


Stay well and keep reading,
​Leilya