I remember a time when I was a teenager and I was reading a very dramatic, high-octane love story. The tormented heroine had to make a difficult choice and I wondered why this woman didn’t have any friends to talk to. It took me a while to realize that if she received any sound advice the problem would be resolved and the story would end too quickly.
Then again, friends can sometimes cause more angst than a troubled love affair. In my novella collection Bad Girl Bridesmaids, each of the reluctant bridesmaids feels the pull of friendship and attends the wedding against their better judgment. They act with the best intentions to help their friends, but it doesn’t always go as planned.
I try to add friends in my stories, for the hero and heroine. In The Year of Living Shamelessly, Katie has two friends, brainiac Hilary and sports junkie Melissa. They have their moments of encouragement and there are times when they give opposing advice. Ryder, the hero, also has an important friendship with Jake, Katie’s brother. Ryder doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the one lasting relationship he’s had, even for the chance of something wonderful with Katie.
A few reviewers have already expressed hope that I will write Hilary and Melissa’s stories. I’m not sure if that will happen. Sometimes the friends are better off in their supporting roles than as the main character. Melanie Hamilton in Gone With the Wind would not have made an interesting heroine, especially after reading Scarlett O’Hara’s story.
Who is your favorite best friend in fiction or film? Are you a fan of Ethel in I Love Lucy or are you more in favor for Rachel from Friends? Do you like the camaraderie in Golden Girls or do you like the friendships in Sex and the City?
Tell me in the comment section before Tuesday, October 6 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one person to win a $15 Barnes and Noble gift card. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!
**Update: Congratulations to Crystal, commenter #6. She won a $15 Barnes and Noble gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite fictional best friend. I think my favorite is Laverne & Shirley. I know I’ve had more than my fair share of Laverne & Shirley moments.**
That’s a tough question… I think I appreciate Ethel… she’s not one who gets in Lucy’s face even when it’s patently obvious that Lucy is headed for big trouble- but is a faithful friend who knows Lucy only learns by her own experiences and is there to support her when she has to pick up the pieces. Lucy is so insecure deep down that I believe she’d be more hurt than helped if Ethel confronted her on how silly so many of her choices are. What Lucy needs is a calm, solid, supportive friend – Ethel.
The other good friend is Jemma in Eloisa James’ Desperate Duchesses series. Jemma is there for Roberta when she needs to leave home.
When I’m reading I really do enjoy connected books about the ‘best friends’ of the protagonists in the book before.
Good challenging the old brain cells so early in the morning!
Looking foward to reading more of your stuff,
MariElle.
Hmmm… never thought about it before. I am sure there are some really great choices out there, but I will choose Chloe from Smallville. She does everything she can to help Clark in the show. He may be the one with powers, but it is always nice to have someone watching your back…
I like the friendships in SATC. One of my favorite best friend movies is My Girl with Macaulay Culkin and Ann Chlumsky.
My favorite, Jacob in twilight
love gloden girls so cute
firends too
The Golden Girls or the girls in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
I liked the friendships of the Friends television show. They were an odd group that just seemed to belong together.
I do love the friendships in Sex and the City.
Hugssss
LindaH
golden girls. and i love lucy
lol i use to have a ethal friend
or maybe she was lucy and me ethal , lol
Definitely “The Golden Girls”! I watch them on WETV every night.