History Will Say They Were Best Friends

Mar 1

Mar 1 History Will Say They Were Best Friends

Written by Jules Rivera

Representation is hard to find, y’all. Sometimes you read a book and feel seen (in a queer way) and when you talk to someone else about it they’re all like “What? I didn’t think that was queer at all. They’re just friends.” You’re right, they’re right. But… you’re more right. Here are some books that have same sex friendships with romantic undertones.

History will say they were just best friends, but we know the truth.

Book of Goose, Yiyun Li

“As long as I was next to her I could be the same Agnes, Fabienne’s lightness and quickness still carried me. It did not matter at all that I could not catch up with her. I lived through her. What was left behind was only my shell.”

Agnes and Fabienne are best friends. Agnes finds out when she’s in America after the two spent time together in France almost 10 years prior that Fabienne has since passed away. Fabienne was Agnes’ savior both tangibly and emotionally. When all was lost, Fabienne was there for Agnes. The two were able to create their own safe haven between each other, and now Agnes is left to process her grief in America. It’s up to her to remember how uplifting and loving their friendship was. We follow her flashes from the past and present. Now, come on. Finding home in your best friend? Okay girlie!! This is an amazing and beautiful story about love, loss, and friendship*. For fans of My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (and see below for a little treat)!

My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante

“I soon had to admit that what I did by myself couldn’t excite me, only what Lila touched became important. If she withdrew, if her voice withdrew from things, the things got dirty, dusty.”

Elena and Lila are the best of friends living in postwar Naples, Italy. The two become friends at the age of six and compete together in various aspects. The two girls are able to connect across many topics and aspects of themselves, but their wealth class is the only force keeping them different, and thus apart. Over the years we watch these two attempt to overcome their circumstances through various monumental life experiences and opportunities. This is a story about growing, changing, and wanting to be together through it all. An incredible depiction of womanhood in all its beauty, grace, and otherwise. These two make it through. Together. All because they love each other. So much! An amazing immersive classic. Ferrante never fails!

Dogs of Summer, Andrea Abreu

“I’d have followed her to the toilet or the mouth of a vulcano. I’d have peered over the edge until I saw the dormant fire, until I felt the vulcano’s dormant fire inside me.”

A story about two young best friends growing up in the Canary Islands near a volcano. These two come from working class families and only truly have each other. The ten year old narrator is absolutely obsessed with her friend Isora. Isora’s life has been moving at a jagged pace- she’s hitting puberty, her mother recently passed, and her grandmother’s abuse takes an extreme toll on her mind and body. However, she is there for our narrator through thick and thin. This is a story about the young female condition in all of its forms, uncertain, complicated and mangled. Reading it makes you feel like an uncomfortable preteen all over again. With time our narrator begins to struggle to stay in tune with Isora, fearful she’s outgrowing their friendship, and her need for her in her life. She’d do anything to keep her there, no matter what. Give it a read.

Sula, Toni Morrison

“Their friendship was as intense as it was sudden. They found relief in each other’s personality.”

Nel and Sula grew up as best friends. Fast forward and they’re adults: Nel stayed home to choose comfort and structure, Sula escaped and embraced a dynamic life of higher education in the fast paced city. When Sula comes back home the two are so different, and still so similar. The love and familiarity is still there, and it saves each other when needed. These two women must not only support one another, but face the music when it comes to the decisions they’ve made in a white world. This is an amazing story about friendship*, support, class, race, and fighting through the muck of everything else. Their love is so loud, so big, and so very queer. Toni herself has said that it isn’t true, but I know what I saw. Give this a read!!!!!

Babel, R.F Kuang

“Their eyes met. Robin felt a prickle at the back of his neck. The space between them felt very charged, like the moment between lightning and thunder, and Robin had no idea what was going on or what would happen next, only that it all felt very strange and terrifying, like teetering over the edge of a windy, roaring cliff.”

It’s 1828 in London. Robin, the protagonist, has been orphaned by cholera and has suddenly moved to London by Professor Lovell, Robin begins to study in Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, known as Babel, which is absolutely a huge deal. There, he’s anointed into an exclusive and intimate cohort of translators, including the charismatic and effervescent Ramy Mirza. Together they grow closer than they ever could have imagined* in a world that values their work over their personhood. These two sensitive guys understand and rely on each other intuitively, and yet there’s so much bubbling under the surface. Woof! What a doozy. This one’s worth a read if you’re down for magic, translation, and guys bein’ dudes who probably have crushes on each other. Check it out!

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Fannie Flagg

“I wonder how many people don’t get the one they want, but end up with the one they’re supposed to be with.”

A frame story. Evelyn meets Mrs. Threadgoode, an elderly woman telling the story of her friends and family when Evelyn goes to visit her in a nursing home. This story is specifically about Idgie and Ruth- two women who start out as young friends that eventually open up The Whistle Stop Cafe: a small place to serve coffee, barbeque, and of course, fried green tomatoes. When a murder happens, things throw these two for a loop, but their love keeps them intact. This is the most on-the-nose of all of the titles in this list seeing as these two are actually in love (not a spoiler!!!!!), however, the movie dials it down a bit. Still very gay, just a little bit less. This is an incredible story about love, community, rebellion against racism, classism in the favor of love. Women in love. Give it a read. Then watch the movie. Kathy Bates is in it!

* wink wink nudge nudge

Major thanks to Zoe for the help with picks and quotes!!