The Company We Keep: Alex Elle's radical guide to creating deeper connections

by Alexandra Elle

‘This book is a gift for anyone ready to choose better, deeper connection’ Jillian Turecki, author of  It Begins With You

From  New York Times  bestselling author Alexandra Elle comes a radical call to reflect on our friendships, take ownership of our energy and live in our truth.

The Company We Keep reminds us that the people we surround ourselves with are not only mirrors, but key companions on the lifelong journey of healing, self-trust and belonging. Alex shares her unflinching journey of learning to stop abandoning herself in the name of loyalty and offers a clear and compassionate path to creating deeper connections.

In it, Alex invites us to be real about the friendships we nurture and the ones we outgrow, offering hard-won wisdom
Recognising when people-pleasing and self-silencing have become a patternUnderstanding that honesty – while sometimes painful – is a bridge to real intimacy or necessary endingsTaking full responsibility for how we show up in our friendships and communitiesLetting go of the belief that we earn love by shrinking ourselves
The Company We Keep is not just about nurturing our most meaningful friendships – it’s about becoming a better friend to ourselves first.

‘In a time of increasing loneliness, this book provides a steady guide, teaching us how to foster closeness, show up intentionally, and genuinely care for the people in our lives’ Nedra Glover Tawwab, author of  Set Boundaries, Find Peace 

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Alexandra Elle is a writer and creative living in the Washington, DC metro area with her husband and daughter. In her pre-teen years, writing came into her life by way of therapy and the exploration of healing. Many years later, Alex's voice and words are being shared poetically in the form of self-love and self-care. Her passion for storytelling, poetry, and narrative writing are infused with life lessons, self-celebration, and building community through reading, writing, and language.

Reviews

[Cecilia Pang]

Underlined pretty much every page.

Alex the clarity in which you write is powerful. This was like a mirror in my own self development journey and the reverence in which I hold my relationships and myself.

It takes so much heart work to be able to express oneself in this way and you are truly a queen. Thank you for the vulnerability and the space you’ve created for us to all grow. After years of journaling myself since the age of seven, it was so satisfying to read in someone else’s voice and story the own feelings and lessons I’ve carried over the years. This is what I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been thinking. Thank you thank you for putting all that wisdom and life experience into paper.

As well, thank you for your book talk on Brooklyn on May 19, 2026. My best friend Thandi and I loved it. The conversations you had and invited, were the epitome of what we talk about.

So much love to you ❤️
To the company we keep 🥂

[Sara Howe]

I listened to this book, highly recommend as the authors voice is so soothing!! This is an EXCELLENT book, 5/5!!! Would recommend to anyone especially those wanting to work on deepening relationships and setting boundaries within those relationships. This book had so many lines I wanted to underline and has reflections at the end of each chapter so I may order a hard copy too

[Freda]

For anyone in a season of relationship observation and especially for young adults navigating friendships and building meaningful community …this is a good read w/ practical and meaningful reflections.

[Roxane]

Very insightful and relatable.