Friendship Never Ends

by Alexandra Sheppard

When you're figuring it all out, there are some friendships that mean the most. Meet Sunita, Gifty, Dawn and May. They're each about to have a summer they'll never forget, but does growing up have to mean growing apart? Funny, relatable and heart-warming, get ready to laugh, cringe and cry with these four besties! From the author of Oh My Gods comes another perfect read for readers aged 11 and up.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2023

About the author

I'm an author from North London, and my debut novel OH MY GODS will be published by Scholastic in January 2019. To say I'm excited would be an understatement.

When I'm not writing YA fiction, I'm a social media strategist (it's a real job, I promise), and love to bake nearly as much as I love to read.

Reviews

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun update of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, which used to be my favourite book as a kid

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious! Such a great read, wish it had existed when I was 15.

[Lizzie Huxley-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read most of Friendship Never Ends by Alexandra Sheppard while tucked up in bed, and was immediately transported back to being a tween reading Travelling Pants or Ally’s World (the millennials among you will know).

Friendship Never Ends by @alexsheppard is a gorgeous Teen novel about a group of pals - Sunita, Gifty, Dawn and May - over one summer as they balance growing up and growing apart. Artistic Gifty is heading to Scotland to stay with her grandparents, Sunita is off to France with her family, Dawn is headed to a musical summer school, and Dawn is staying home at the family takeaway.

I was absolutely hooked from the group fancy dress reveal in the first chapter, and loved every moment of this book. It’s a gorgeous ode to teen friendship with all the hallmarks of classic teen literature, and instead of Travelling Pants there’s illustrated postcards. First crushes, new friends, the strain of growing up and hopefully not growing apart, family ties, and ambition are explored gloriously with a delicate touch that balances the trickier topics with great fun and love for all the characters.

Sheppard weaves a wonderful story of the trials and tribulations of teenagers finding their true selves, alongside all the highs, lows and mega-cringes that come along with it. It perfectly fills that niche of teen fiction for 12-14 year olds. Booksellers & librarians, this is going to be essential for your “outgrown middle grade” selection.

Friendship Never Ends is a total roaring triumph of a book, irresistibly charming and I’d like seven more immediately thanks x

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunita, Gifty, Dawn and May have been best friends since Year 1 and they always spend their summer holidays together but they'll be split up for the first time in the holidays following Year 9. Sunita is going to a chateau in France with her Mum, her brother, her Mum's new boyfriend and his stuck-up children. Gifty is going to stay with her grandparents in the far, soggy grey north of Scotland. Dawn is going to drama summer school in London, and May has to stay home with her parents and work in their takeaway restaurant. But they decide to send each other postcards through the summer to keep in touch.

This is basically an updated version of 'The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants' (without the weird magical jeans) and it's utterly charming. I love a book title that you have to sing - although I've had the Spice Girls stuck in my head all day! My one criticism is that the girls did seem a younger than 14 - closer to 12 perhaps. But anyway - lots of fun!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous tale of 4 friends apart for summer, learning to be their own people with their own passions, desires and talents. I loved each of their personalities and this made me chuckle a fair few times! I reckon everyone’s going to relate to one of the girls! This will be perfect for tweens!

[Random Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare I go to my local library and see a book based in England. The only other time is with Tamsin Winter's novels, so I pleasantly excited, and Alexandra Sheppard did not disappoint. This book was perfect to me. I loved each character, especially Sunita, OMG she was the best bit of this book. I only wish her feelings about Olivia were mentioned a bit more, but that might be because I'm a sucker for jealousy plots in books.

I adored the little Teletubbies at the beginning, I adore every little bit of this book. Will be looking out for author in future. 4.5 stars.

[Nicolle Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Think Sisterhood of the travelling pants but make it British and diverse. It's definitely a book that I would have raved about in my early teens. A great story about friendships and growth.
4 ⭐

[Agent_bugs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, quick read which is perfect for summer.
Was tempted to give an extra star just for the Final Fantasy name drop ;)

[Subane · Rating 4 out of 5]

• une très belle histoire
• qui se lit très vite
• et avec de bons personnages

[Laura Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic and predictable. Not one that will appeal to my granddaughters age 11, or children the age of the characters, in my view.

[Helen Towers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about best friends and being yourself. Really really feelgood. Will be recommending it to the students at my school.

[Anne-Ruth De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute

[Izzy Marriott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I usually don't really read stuff like this and enjoy it as much as I have. I wish we spent a little more time on each character. 3.5 stars

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendships differ. Everywhere we look, every book we read, film we watch and all the other places we may discover friendships we see that each and every one is different. Hint about your groups of friends, even within the group individual friendships are different and this is a good thing. It’s a wonderful thing reminding us we are all different and special. It also reminds us that friendships are about supporting one another being together and staying strong but also being apart and staying strong. True friendships can weather anything. This is the message that is strongly presented to us in the beautifully humourous Friendship Never Ends.

Following four best friends over the course of one summer we experience their ups and downs, their embarrassments, achievements and above all else their discovery that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have 100% of their classes together in the new school year as long as they have postcards… After an embarrassingly disastrous end of term party (which they had thought was a fancy dress party) the four friends decide to reinvent themselves, to grow up. But, it is going to be the first time since primary school that they have not spent the summer together, it’s going to be hard, especially without good internet access. Away from home, out of their comfort zones, they discover postcards and themselves, quirks and all. Hilarious, heartwarming, full of stories that almost every reader will be able to relate to, this is a wonderfully feel-good summer, or anytime, read. Maybe it will help you to discover yourself and the wonder of the humble postcard.


Merged review:

Friendships differ. Everywhere we look, every book we read, film we watch and all the other places we may discover friendships we see that each and every one is different. Hint about your groups of friends, even within the group individual friendships are different and this is a good thing. It’s a wonderful thing reminding us we are all different and special. It also reminds us that friendships are about supporting one another being together and staying strong but also being apart and staying strong. True friendships can weather anything. This is the message that is strongly presented to us in the beautifully humourous Friendship Never Ends.

Following four best friends over the course of one summer we experience their ups and downs, their embarrassments, achievements and above all else their discovery that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have 100% of their classes together in the new school year as long as they have postcards… After an embarrassingly disastrous end of term party (which they had thought was a fancy dress party) the four friends decide to reinvent themselves, to grow up. But, it is going to be the first time since primary school that they have not spent the summer together, it’s going to be hard, especially without good internet access. Away from home, out of their comfort zones, they discover postcards and themselves, quirks and all. Hilarious, heartwarming, full of stories that almost every reader will be able to relate to, this is a wonderfully feel-good summer, or anytime, read. Maybe it will help you to discover yourself and the wonder of the humble postcard.

[♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant summer read that I was gripped to from the first page. It’s about 4 friends who for the first time are spending their summer apart, and want to use the time to become more grown up and mature before starting year 10 in September. Gifty is off to Scotland to stay with her grandparents, Sunita is going to France with her family, Dawn is heading to a musical theatre summer school and May is staying at home to help with her family’s takeaway.

I loved reading from each girl’s POV about their summer adventures. My favourite was May! The first chapter of the book reminded me of the fancy dress party scene in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (in terms of the film as I haven’t actually read the book(s)). I liked how all the girls were different and reading the postcards they wrote to each other was so fun. Perfect for young teens!☀️

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was lots of fun from the outset. Made me chuckle and loved the different characters and seeing them grow over the summer. Really funny too