Big Friendship Book Review: A Gift About Staying Close
Two best friends, the hosts behind the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, write about a decade of their own friendship. A book that treats friendship as something worth working on.
Yes, for a best friend who reads and likes to talk about it after. Big Friendship argues that close friendships deserve real effort and shows the authors' own messy decade [1]. Skip it for a friend who only reads fiction.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 29, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Authors | Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman [1] |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster [1] |
| Pages | 272 [1] |
| Published | July 2021 [1] |
| Language | English [1] |
| Size | 5.5 x 8.38 inches [1] |
Pros and cons
- Nonfiction, not a novel
- Some readers may want more practical advice
- Very focused on one friendship
Friendship as the main story
Most books and films treat friends as the side characters to a romance. Big Friendship puts the friendship itself at the center and asks what it takes to stay close for the long haul [1].
That is why it works as a gift between best friends. The message is not subtle, and it is not meant to be: you matter to me, and I want us to last.
It also gives the two of you something to talk about that is not work, family or the group chat.
Two hosts, one messy decade
Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman are the hosts of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, and the book tells the story of their first decade in each other's lives [1].
The publisher describes it as honest and funny, covering the joys of the friendship and the times it was challenged [1]. It runs to 272 pages from Simon & Schuster [1].
The closing argument is simple: value your friendships, actively choose them and sometimes fight for them [1].
Who will not finish it
This is a book of ideas and memoir, not a novel. A friend who only reads thrillers or romance may leave it on the nightstand.
Readers who want a step by step guide to fixing a friendship may also find it more story than advice. And because it centers one friendship, some parts will not match your own.
For a friend who does not read much at all, a fill-in journal is a safer sentimental gift.
An inscribed copy
Write on the first page before you wrap it. Name the year you met and one thing you would fight for in your friendship; the book does the rest.
From this guide, it pairs with the What I Love About You journal for a gift that is all about the two of you, or with the Capri Blue candle for a quiet reading night.
Better still, buy two copies and read it at the same time. It turns into a two-person book club with built-in conversation.
FAQ
What is Big Friendship about?
Big Friendship is a nonfiction book by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman about their own close friendship over its first decade [1]. It looks at how adult friendships are formed, challenged and kept, and argues that friends deserve the same effort as other important relationships. The authors host the Call Your Girlfriend podcast [1]
Is Big Friendship a good gift for a best friend?
Yes, for a best friend who reads nonfiction and likes to talk about books. The message fits the gift: your friendship is worth working on. Inscribe the first page with a memory, or buy two copies and read together. For a friend who rarely reads, a fill-in journal may suit better [1]
Featured in these guides
All product reviews · All gift guides
Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 29, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
As an Amazon Associate, GiftX earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon for the current price.