ForeWord Magazine reviews BFF – August 2009

ForeWord magazine reviews Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend, by Irene S. Levine ,
Ph.D.

"Many women are brought up to believe that
they should have one special friend in their lives, a BFF—Best Friend
Forever. Unfortunately, this belief often leads to heartbreak, since
friends are rarely forever. As people grow and change, so do the
dynamics of their friendships, and many friendships lose their initial
intimacy or fizzle out altogether. Levine, a psychologist and professor
at New York University Medical School, guides women through the myths
that set up unrealistic expectations of friendship. She discusses the
various reasons a friendship can fail, offers suggestions for saving
those worth saving, and tips on bowing gracefully out of those that are
no longer working. “Most women relish being the chosen one, the best
friend,” Levine writes about the BFF myth. However, chances are slim
that one person can fill every niche in another’s life. It is more
practical to think of having a close friend for different aspects of
one’s life, she says, such as a mom-friend for play dates with the
kids, a philosophical friend for intellectual conversations, and an
outgoing friend who can introduce you to new people and experiences.

This
book is of interest to all women. While much of it focuses on what can
go wrong in a friendship and how to deal with endings, there is also
great advice on how to make friends and keep them.
Forgiveness, avoiding ruts, and apologizing when warranted are some of
the ways to save a worthwhile friendship. After all, friendships are
important even if they don’t last forever, and a BFF is a wonderful
asset. As one woman put it, “Your best friend isn’t the person you call
when you are in jail; most likely, she is sitting in the cell beside
you.” – Christine Canfield

See the review here.

Category: KEEPING FRIENDS