Fierce Friends in Fiction: Happy Galentine’s Day!

When most people think of romantic fiction, they immediately think of relationships between the two main characters. However, often the hero/heroine’s friendship circle plays just as crucial a role in the main character’s development; because, really, who would we be without the people who have our backs and vice versa?

Jim Rohn once stated that we are essentially the sum of the five people we spend the most time with and I think that’s something that we, as readers, should really consider in both the books we read and our daily lives. So for this Galentine’s Day, I’d like to post a little tribute to some of my all time favourite friendship groups in romance novels! If you have any other recommendations, please comment them below!

The Fierce Friends in Fiction I Would Love to Have

1. The Inner Circle from The ACOTAR series by Sarah J Maas

Rhysand, Feyre, Cassian, Azriel, Amren and Mor are a motley crew that continually have each others backs regardless of whatever silly choices they’ve made. Each person would go to the ends of the earth for the others and have already done so, usually with a cheeky and/or sarcastic comment.

Discover the Inner Circle
A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)
A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)
A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.1)

2. The Wallflowers from The Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas

Lovers of historical romances (specifically, the regency era) will enjoy the adventures of the lovely ladies: Annabelle, Lillian, Evie and Daisy; as they navigate the delicate intricacies of London society and form a fast friendship that spans years (and books).

Discover the Wallflowers
Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers #1)
It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers #2)
Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)
Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers #4)

3. The Women of Hart’s Boardwalk from the Hart’s Boardwalk series by Samantha Young

This group of women have slowly built up a friendship that consists of gaining advice from one another and finding peace in each other’s presence. They meet in the mini cafe within the bookstore owned by one of them (hello, dream job) and what I love most is the range of personalities in this friend circle. Loud and outgoing to shy and introverted, everyone has a place in this friendship. So far there are three books in this series with a forth coming soon (and hopefully a fifth since there was some serious foreshadowing happening in the last book)!

Meet the women in Hart’s Boardwalk
The One Real Thing (Hart’s Boardwalk #1)
Every Little Thing (Hart’s Boardwalk #2)
Things We Never Said (Hart’s Boardwalk #3)
Books 4 (& hopefully 5) coming soon!

4. The Heroes from The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni

Alex, Bear, Jordan (and later DC) are a great group of friends that remind you of the classic Harry Potter trio. They go through everything together at a boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts and every moment with them feels easy going and familiar.

Read more about the heroes from the Medoran Chronicles
Akarnae (TMC #1)
Raelia (TMC #2)
Draekora (TMC #3)
Graevale (TMC #4)
We Three Heroes (TMC #4.5)
Vardaesia (TMC #5)

5. The Immortals from The Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole

Not one specific person, species or faction to name in this series because there are way too many amazing friendship groups going strong in IAD! There are valkyries, witches, vampires, demons, lykae, phantoms and more! Each hero and heroine in the books has a circle of friends ready to gear up and take down anyone hurting their friend; and when not in attack mode, they know how to let their hair down and have fun. Eg: the witches like to party, the valkyrie kick ass in video games, the lykae and demons can be found in an intense game of rugby… If I were an immortal, this is one of my top 3 worlds I’d like to live in!

Befriend the immortals from IAD
The Warlord Wants Forever (IAD #0.5)
A Hunger Like No Other (IAD #1)
No Rest for the Wicked (IAD #2)
Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (IAD #3)
Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (IAD #4)
Dark Desires After Dusk (IAD #5)
Kiss of a Demon King (IAD #6)
Deep Kiss of Winter (IAD #7)
Pleasure of a Dark Prince (IAD #8)
Demon from the Dark (IAD #9)
Dreams of a Dark Warrior (IAD #10)
Lothaire (IAD #11)
Shadow’s Claim (IAD #12 / The Dacians #1)
MacRieve (IAD #13)
Dark Skye (IAD #14)
Sweet Ruin (IAD #15)
Shadow’s Seduction (IAD #16 / The Dacians #2)
Wicked Abyss (IAD #17)