On 4 May 2023 two firm Festival favourites returned to Henley for a special pop-up event. Having topped the iTunes and Sunday Times charts with How to Fail and Magpie, Elizabeth Day joined us with her latest book, Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict.
Growing up she wanted everyone to like her; lacking friends at school, she believed that quantity equalled quality. But in adulthood she slowly realised that it was often to the detriment of her own boundaries and mental health. Then, reassessing what friendship meant amid a pandemic it dawned on her that her truest friends were not the ones she had been spending most time with. From her own experiences to those of others around the world, via ghosting, frenemies, social media and communication styles, she leaves no stone unturned.
Times Radio presenter Fi Glover, whose Did I Say That Out Loud? event with co-host Jane Garvey sold out at our 2021 festival, interviewed Elizabeth talking all things friendship and summarised the discussions beautifully by saying, “Friendship is the grouting of our lives.”