Thank God For Flamingos

by Shelby Webb

The friends who know your whole story… are the ones who help you survive it.

They met as young girls in a small town—different in every way, but bound by something deeper than circumstance.

What began as sleepovers and shared mascara became something much bigger:
bridesmaids and babies, heartbreak and healing, distance and return.

Through it all—
messy breakups, broken trust, deep loss, and life-changing love—
they stayed.

Not perfectly.
Not without growing apart.
But always finding their way back to each other.

Thank God for Flamingos is a deeply personal memoir about the kind of friendship that doesn’t fade with time—it evolves.

It’s for the women who have grown up alongside their people.
For the ones who have been seen in every version of themselves.
For the friendships that have carried you through your hardest seasons—and celebrated your best ones.

Told with raw honesty, tenderness, and moments of humor, Shelby Webb’s second book is a reminder that:

Friendship is sacred.
Growing up is hard.
And life is a little softer when you find your flock.

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2026

Reviews

[Madi Hay]

I find it hard to rate memoirs but this was a touching and very relatable story of friendship, growth and self-discovery. It highlights the highs and lows of your very best friends throughout different stages of life. It is touching and beautiful and makes you reflect on your own friendships and relationships and how they shaped you as a person as you read along with how Shelby’s story shaped her and her friends.

Thank you so much to the author for copies of this book for our book club— the perfect read for the girl group and it gives us much to discuss and reflect upon and draw comparisons from this story to our own.

[Lindsay Olivera]

I don’t rate memoirs but this story was a love letter to her friends which was so sweet and wonderful. If only my friends would write something like this about us!! Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to read!

[Kate Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a tender read about friendship.

[Sara Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 (if I could)

I stumbled across this book by total accident: I follow a coffee shop in the town I’ve lived in for a decade and saw them tag someone that I recognized on Instagram for an author’s event. I read the description of the book and realized that the author was part of a girls’ group I recognized from my high school class. These girls were well-known in school. I brushed shoulders with some of them and had a few prior beliefs. Thus, I became curious about this narrative‘s perspective.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel reading this because it’s mixed with my own experiences and naivety during my high school era—not necessarily related to “The Flamingos” but definitely related to the coming of age experience in the same the setting (the jungle of high school) and at the same time. Embarrassingly, I felt some ancient adolescent feelings well up as I read.

But, I was pleasantly surprised to feel a deep sense of nostalgia and newfound empathy. People experience things you never would know, and Shelby does a good job of capturing that in this book. I enjoyed discovering and reflecting on her perspective. It was perplexing to have an outsider’s (very, very outside) view and then to read an insider’s view. Very interesting and, dare I say, cool experience.

I commend the author because I think it takes courage to write a memoir—people you know (and don’t know) are going to read your innermost thoughts. Writing like that is an incredible feat! Moreover, I enjoyed learning about the girlhood and love this group had/has for each other and wish them the very best as they continue to grow in their bond in the future. I think all girls can benefit from deep, longstanding friendships and admire that this group was able to find and carry on something so precious. The book was heartfelt and sweet!

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of friend group everyone dreams of having.

I read this book in one sitting. Thank God for Flamingos is a heartfelt memoir about Shelby and her flock of friends. It starts with the first day they meet and “ends” with a major milestone. I say “ends” because the beauty of this story is that even when the book closes, these friendships don’t. It’s clear these girls have each other’s backs through it all, the good times, the hard ones, and every season in between. These are lifelong friends.

The love Shelby has for her friends is a reminder that when you find your people, you hold on to them. Shelby doesn’t just tell a story; she pulls you into it. It made me think about the friendships in my own life -the people who have shown up in different seasons and the ones who make you feel like you can get through anything.

I also had the opportunity to read this for book club and interview Shelby, which made the heart behind this story feel even more meaningful.

It wasn’t always easy, because life throws things at us that we can’t control. But Thank God for Flamingos shows what it truly means to be a flamingo: to stand tall, stay balanced, and remain confident. And maybe the reason we’re able to do that is because of the people standing beside us in our flock.

[Emily Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review✨

Thank God for Flamingos by @shelbyonchapter17
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I loved everything about this story!! This is a memoir to all her friends and all their stages in life, from high school to boyfriends/relationships, college marriages, kids, and more!

I felt all the emotions reading this and I loved hearing their story unravel! There were many similarities to my own life so I was able to connect so well with Shelby and her friends!

Please go give this one a read for a fun, real life based friendship through all the challenges that come in life!🥹

Thank you for sending me your book! I loved every part of it!🫶

[Nicole Aaberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir brought back many memories of the times had from high school and beyond. From friendships to the relationships and all that comes in between. The challenges of life surrounded by friends that love and care for you deeply and stay by your side. Looking forward to reading more books by Shelby Webb.

[Kristen Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank God for Flamingos is such a heartfelt, moving story that stays with you long after you finish. It captures the beauty and chaos of lifelong friendships—the laughter, the adventure, the messy, wild moments, and the quiet ones that matter just as much. What I loved most is how it honors the kind of friendships that show up for everything—not just the highs, but the lows, the in-between, and every version of who we become.

Shelby’s writing is incredibly immersive. So many scenes felt vivid and real, like I was right there living them. It’s honest and nostalgic, a reminder of just how meaningful those once-in-a-lifetime friendships truly are.🫶🏻

[C Me Read Write Now · Rating 5 out of 5]

So relatable!

I LOVE a good memoir and I love being able to relate to the persons story that I’m reading. I don’t like that I can relate to child loss, but when I hear someone else talking about it, I don’t feel so alone! This book is a quick read that will have you feeling more empowered after reading it! Shelby has the group of friends I think every girl dreams of having and I love that so much! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book! I love the comparison to flamingos as well. As a woman, I’ve been struggling for years to get my pink back, but I’m finally starting to get there!

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ There was so much to love about Shelby’s memoir! As someone who is still very close with my childhood best friend, I really connected with the way she described her friendships and the inseparable bond they all share. It also did not take long for me to realize Shelby and I have a lot in common… growing up with the same taste in music and even pomping for our sororities? Immediate throwback!

I truly felt like I got to know Shelby and her friends throughout this memoir, and it captured girlhood so well, from high school memories to adulthood and motherhood. Thank you, Shelby, for sending me a copy of your book and for sharing your memories with readers!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll always give a memoir 5 stars. if you're brave enough to tell the story, you get 5 stars. This book is about a friendship between 7 women who have been friends since girlhood. They lovingly refer to themselves as the "flock." This was a fun story to read and get to know the girls. If you like memoirs and girlhood, this book is for you.

[Victoria Schmidly]

I don’t rate memoirs but would absolutely recommend this heartwarming story about female friendship. Such a sweet, quick read that will have you reflecting on your own “flock” 🦩🤍

[Carly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, heartfelt story about the importance of friendship. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It’s genuine, real…authentic. And it really reminds us how important it is to choose your friends wisely. Because those people will be with you through the good, bad and the ugly. The author did such a wonderful job retelling her years of friendship through present day in a way that felt peaceful and comforting. I feel like I know all her friends!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this memoir. What a beautiful story about lifelong friendships & how they can impact your future. There is something so special about having girlfriends who come together especially when you need each other most. The last 40 pages or so, I alternated between sobbing & laughing. I felt all the emotions while reading! If you are a fan of memoirs, I highly recommend you pick this up!

This quote: “And I will never forget the tidal wave of emotions in those early postpartum days- how your whole life shifts in an instant. It’s beautiful, it’s terrifying & it’s overwhelming.”

[JC :)]

I don’t rate memoirs but this was a sweet read! As I get older, I really appreciate the friendships I have more. (Especially those from my childhood.) Life is always changing & it’s hard enough without your “flock.”

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows a group of best friends from high school shenanigans to career and babies while navigating moves, challenges, relationships, and more. The perfect mix of sweet, funny, and authentic. Highly recommend!

[SavannahsBooktok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was my first ever memoir and I loved it. If you’re looking for a sweet story about girlhood and friendships this is for you. I love seeing a glimpse into the authors life and things she had to face. The friendship she has among 7 friends in their flock is something to hold on to and cherish forever. I crave to have that. I have had friendships like that but not ones that have lasted so long. I love seeing this group of women and how they always stand by each other but not only just them but also their future spouses too. How special is that to have? I related to several silly crazy stories that was shared and it brought me back to times I have also lived just different towns and different friends. But I also felt for the women in the story with harships they faced. You will find so much love, laughter and found family in this story.