Do you know what knocks Valentine’s Day out of the ballpark? Galentine’s Day! Aka the best day of the year! (At least one of the best days, next to Treat Yo Self day on October 13th.)
[quote]It’s a day, coined by the amazing Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation, to celebrate all the awesome ladies and female friendships in the world! You don’t need Valentine’s Day! Galentine’s Day is all you need.[/quote]
On this glorious day, I want to talk about some of my favorite YA female friendships. I just love these ones sooo much that my soul actually hurts (in the best way possible) when I think about them.
FRANCESCA, JUSTINE, SIOBHAN, & TARA
[quote]And I put it in my ammo pack that’s kept right next to my soul. The one that holds Mia’s scent and Justine’s spirit and Siobhan’s hope and Tara’s passions. Because if I’m going to wake up one morning and not be able to get out of bed, I’m going to need everything I’ve got to fight this disease that could be sleeping inside me. [/quote]
FRIENDSHIP GOALS. Nothing bonds you together than being the only female students at an all boys school. Francesca Spinelli, Tara Finke, Justine Kalinsky, and Siobhan Sullivan become a friends, despite their differences and quirks. You gotta make due with the crew that you didn’t choose, and these girls does it beautifully. Who else do you have who can understand the daily pains of facing immature and douchebag boys acting like they’re the Big Kahuna just because they have a dick? You have nothing but your friends to support you since they’re all you’ve got.
KAMI GLASS & ANGELA MONTGOMERY
[quote cite=”Angela to Kami”]I wanted to say no to the whole world, until you.[/quote]
It’s no secret I love Kami Glass in The Lynburn Legacy dearly, but you know what else I love? Her friendship with Angela Montgomery. It’s a friendship of a lifetime. You have Kami Glass, who people have casted her as a big weirdo because she talks to “herself” and constantly on the prowl for stories, and Angela Montgomery, who hates people and would rather nap instead of galavant around. They have such a tight bond, and you can tell immediately how much they care about each other by the many things they do for each other even in the face of danger. And for someone like Angela, who’s default answer is always a big fat no, to say yes to all of Kami’s crazy ideas and schemes, she must love Kami a lot. Kami really does bring the best out of Angela, even if Angela goes with Kami begrudingly.
BRIDGE, EMILY, & TAB
(Goodbye Stranger)
[quote]Tab: Love you. Still mad.
…
[Bridge’s] phone dinged again. A group text from Emily to her and Tab: U guys up?
Tab’s answer popped up right away: Right here!
Bridge typed: Me too.
Then she typed back to Tab on the other thread: Love you too.[/quote]
You know what girls know how to do friendship really well? The girls in Goodbye Stranger. Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha are brimming with love for each other. They might not do things the other will like, but at the end of the day, friendship overcomes all the disagreements they might have. They know how to nip any confusion or questions about the state of their friendship with a simple text message, telling each other that although they’re mad, they still love them. They just know what to say, and that resolves any insecurity in their friendship by being upfront.
ANNE SHIRLEY & DIANA BARRY
[quote]”Oh Diana,” cried Anne, clasping her hands, “do you love me?”
“I’ll never have another bosom friend —I don’t want to have. I couldn’t love anybody as I love you.”
“Why, of course I do. Didn’t you know that?” [/quote]
Kindred spirits, bosom friends, whatever they call each other, Anne Shirley and Diana Barry have a friendship that is filled with so much love. They balance each other so well—Diane grounds the passionate Anne. You sense how they long for each other when they’re separated (like when Diana’s mother forbade Diane from being Anne’s friend). Whenever I think about their friendship, they have the love and support that is the envy of all.
This is in no way a conclusive list of all my favorite female friendships. There are plenty that I don’t remember, and hey, there’s always next year. ;)
I love Parks and Rec and I love Galentine’s Day. Last year me and my friends from work celebrated and we had a blast. I also love a good book with great friendships. I just read Truthwitch and thought if those two while reading your post! Happy Galentine’s Day!
I’m not familiar with any of these, sad to say. My favorite female friendships? Uhhhhhhhh… Lemme think.
– Cinder, Scarlet, Cress & Winter from the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer!
– Libby & Avery from the Science Squad books by Kelly Oram
– Maggie & her mom from The Awesome by Eva Darrows
Those are the ones that come to mind right now. :)
Yesss love this! I wrote a book with only female characters because I’m so passionate about female friendship :) Awesome recs, too.
Omg I love this post, ladies love need more limelight – esp since the only examples I can think of in YA are Truthwitch and Gossip Girl lmaooo I’m just gonna go and hide in this corner now. Happy Galentines my fair lady <3
Anne & Diana will always be one of my favorite literary friendships ever! <3 And obviously, I fully support seeing the Saving Francesca girls and Kami & Angela on this list. Hmm. I'd add Reagan and Dee from Open Road Summer; I really enjoyed their friendship!