Text Me When You Get Home

The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship

By: Kayleen Schaefer

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

"Text Me has the thrills and laughs of a romantic comedy, but with an inverted message: 'There just isn't only one love story in our lives,' Schaefer writes. If you're lucky, friends will be the protagonists in these multiple love stories. It's high time that we start seeing it that way."--NPR, 2018's Great Reads

A personal and sociological examination--and ultimately a celebration--of the evolution of female friendship in pop culture and modern society

For too long, women have been told that we are terrible at being friends, that we can’t help being cruel or competitive, or that we inevitably abandon each other for romantic partners. But we are rejecting those stereotypes and reclaiming the power of female friendship.

In Text Me When You Get Home, journalist Kayleen Schaefer interviews more than one hundred women about their BFFs, soulmates, girl gangs, and queens while tracing this cultural shift through the lens of pop culture. Our love for each other is reflected in Abbi and Ilana, Issa and Molly, #squadgoals, the acclaim of Girls Trip and Big Little Lies, and Galentine’s Day.

Schaefer also includes her own history of grappling with a world that told her to rely on men before she realized that her true source of support came from a strong tribe of women. Her personal narrative and celebration of her own relationships weaves throughout the evolution of female friendship on-screen, a serious look at how women have come to value one another and our relationships.

Text Me When You Get Home is a validation that has never existed before. A thoughtful, heart-soaring, deeply reported look at how women are taking a stand for their friendships and not letting go.

Great concept but disappointing

Great concept and great subject but this book could've been so much more. Would have benefitted from some better statistics and sources in there rather than anecdotal stories, and looking at older women's friendships or how motherhood forges friendships. Just sort of repeated itself.

You'll Call your Besties ASAP!

What did you love best about Text Me When You Get Home?

While the history and evolution of female friendships as they are presented in the media is definitely intriguing, what I loved most about this book was the constant reminder of how valuable our friendships are. I enjoyed the way the author intertwined her own friendships with pop culture references and famous friendships.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book will make you want to call up your best friends and tell them how much you love them!

Any additional comments?

One thing that did sort of irk me about this book was the idea the author seemed to perpetuate that wanting to be married or have a romantic relationship is somehow forsaking your friendships. As a proud feminist, I understand the idea that women are taught romance is above all else, but the author allows the pendulum to swing too far in the opposite direction.

Girlfriends

Well done!! Great read for women of all ages.

Insights to the definition of best girlfriends.

Not what I was hoping for

only so many times you can compare modern women to the characters from 80's sitcoms. I was hoping this would have more substance. we read this for a bookclub because we all tend to say this to each other when we leave a gathering. it was disappointing. lacing statistics and solid research, it felt based on characters from tv shows the author enjoyed. a letdown.

Good message

Wanted to really gush and enjoy this book, it seemed very repetitive and was more like a report of women in the media through the past century more than an intimate tale of female friendship, my book club enjoyed it none the less.