Real Friendships

Sid wears her independence like armour. So when she strikes up a rare connection with unlucky-in-love Finn, they are both determined to prove that men and women can just be friends. Marin has the perfect home, attentive husband, two beloved children - and a secret addiction to designer clothes. She knows she has it all, so why can't she stop comparing herself to other women? Bea believes that we all have one love story - and she's had hers. Now her life centres around her son, Luke, and her support group of fierce single women. But there's something that she can't tell anyone.

It is Labor Day weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a boy and a girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning; Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again. But they don't. This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other's lives, and who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn't belong in their lives.

This essential teen survival guide will show you exactly how to do this—and along the way, you'll pick up a ton of handy skills that will serve you for the rest of your life. If you're used to feeling anxious or awkward, you might have assumed this is just the way you're built. But you have the power to shape your own story, and if you don't want to feel anxious or awkward, you don't have to! All you need are a few key tools and strategies, and you can take control of everything life throws your way.

Think this might not work for you? Here’s why this book is different. Unlike generic advice that’s out of touch, Unlocking Social Skills for Teens is crafted with genuine empathy and understanding of the challenges you face. The practical exercises are simple, engaging, and fit right into your busy lifestyle.

Navigating the world of adult friendships can be a real challenge when everyone is busy, overwhelmed, or too often too far away. Here to help are Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano, the duo behind the cult favorite podcast Friendshipping. Insightful, empathetic, and just a touch irreverent, Jenn and Trin give listeners the tools they need to make new friends and revitalize the quality of existing friendships. The book covers it all: meeting new people, mastering the art of small talk, deciphering the levels of friendship in the workplace, and making the first friend move.

Social Skills Essentials for Teens will take your teen on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, equipping them with the skills necessary to overcome shyness and boost confidence.

Katy, Gwen and Dee-Dee were best friends since meeting in their suburban elementary school back in 2005. After recovering from an estrangement created when Katy’s dad said she was forbidden from hanging out with Gwen and Dee-Dee the day Dee-Dee was caught stealing in Las Vegas in 2013, the “Leo Trio” was inseparable. They were so close, their families melted together in ways so intimate it caused deep rifts that led to a betrayal destroying marriages and incinerating businesses in 2020. Yet, when an olive branch is extended, will it be accepted or will it be avoided like Covid-19?

On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city saved by the magic woven into its walls when a devastating plague swept through the world years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the Earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow, who spends his days in the dark cellar of his master's shop grinding herbs and dreaming of wizards.

Marigold Johnson can’t wait to attend a special program at her family’s business, Flexx Unlimited, for teens who love fashion. But Mari quickly realizes that she’s out of place compared to the three other trainees—and one girl, Kara, seems to hate her on sight. As tension builds and the stakes at the program get higher, Mari uncovers exactly why Kara’s been so spiteful. She also discovers some hard truths about herself and her family.

Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, that’s never been a question. Until now. Things still feel the same on the surface—they’re even making a comic about their friendship—but lately Oliver’s acting like he might be hiding something. And then there’s Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesn’t talk—not ever. The other kids say mean things and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isn’t right—but he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.

For once, everything in Maya's life is falling perfectly into place. She's getting serious media cred uncovering the source of a new designer drug doing major glitterati damage. And the new man in her life is giving Maya all the cool bling and attention she craves off-camera. But the truth behind her scoop is about to cut too close to home — and put Maya and her family in the crosshairs. Soon, she'll have to decide just how far she can afford to go to save her family, her career…and herself.

Eleven-year-old Macy Weaver knows relationships are complicated. Fresh off her latest friendship breakup, she’s spent most of her summer break on her own. So when Macy’s mother decides to go back to college three states away, Macy jumps on the chance to move—anything for a fresh start. But Macy’s new home isn’t exactly what she expected. Her mother’s never around and her dad’s always working. Lonelier than ever, Macy sets her sights on finding a new best friend.

The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There'd be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. Now 16, Justine doesn't feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film Five at Sixteen, all she feels is dread. Smart, fresh, and frequently funny, You Look Different in Real Life is a piercing novel about life in an age where the lines between what's personal and what's public aren't always clear.

In this updated edition, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott dig below the surface to the depths of human interactions, offering expert advice and practical tools for improving the most important aspect of human life: Relationships. Designed for college students, young adults, singles, and dating couples, this cutting-edge audiobook teaches the basics of healthy relationships, including friendship, dating, sexuality, and relating to God. Newly updated and expanded to include the latest research on relationship building and vital information on social networking.

An honest and humorous take on the connection between self-acceptance and community, I'll Be There (and Let's Make Friendship Bracelets) is a how-to for practicing time-tested skills to establish quality friendships and navigate their ups and downs. From the supermom team that brought you I'll Be There (but I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants) comes a compulsively listenable and highly interactive map for girlhood and friendship with a clear message: life in our crazy and chaotic "plugged-in" world is more fulfilling surrounded by real-life friends.

Every twentysomething has one overriding question: How do I deal with all the things? For all those asking, young-adult minister Nora Bradbury-Haehl's essential go-to guide provides the answer. An approachable, easy-to-digest resource, The Twentysomething Handbook offers guidance for the practical aspects of life - work, food, money, a roof overhead - while at the same time addressing the hunger for meaning, connection, and a sense of the sacred.

Sometimes our soul mates live down the street. Melissa finds hers when she opens the door for her new neighbor, Elizabeth. Over many years, their lives become intertwined as they support each other through pregnancy and motherhood, divorce, bereavement, and starting over. This is the story of finding a life partner under a different roof.

The journey begins when Autumn, a curious and adventurous spirit, stumbles upon a hidden pathway in the woods near her home. Drawn by a sense of curiosity, she ventures forth, unaware of the extraordinary adventure that awaits her. As she steps into the magical forest, she is greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors and an unexpected atmosphere of magic. As Autumn explores further, she meets a variety of magical creatures, each with their own unique personalities and abilities. From witty mushroom fairies to wise old tree spirits, the forest is teeming with life and excitement.

What do you do when your imaginary friend goes away? Did you dream up the entire friendship? Maybe... But you miss her laugh, her comfort, and her silly mischief. It all feels so real... you couldn't have just imagined those things, right?

How can God let bad things happen? Sophie's baby sister, Hope, is born with Down syndrome, and the Flakes dis her over an annoying new girl. Even her research as medical expert Dr. Devon Downing won't fix things, but Sophie learns love is at work even when she can't see it.