Friends are one of the greatest resources for book recommendations that you have.

You already have a rapport; you often like similar things. You talk and see each other rather regularly (with your own definition of regularly).

Though with texting now in these days, seeing seems to be optional. However you also feel about that.

(I miss people.)

So you can, on the regular, do a shout out in text or across the room, or over the scraping sound of metal hangers on clothes racks in JCPenney (Are there still JCPenny’s?) as you try to find pants that help you fluff up one side of you so it less resembles something from a diner you should put butter and syrup on, and deflate a side of you that looks like something you’d buy at Les Schwab as you ask said friend “Whatcha reading?”

And since you are friends, you know instantly if you may have a potential book on the hook if their eyes meet yours — bright and glittering — their smile widening. They lean forward and practically shout, “Oh my god, this book!”

And if you’ve read my previous blog, you know that it does not matter what they say after that.

Even if they describe a book about moon rats that believe they are reincarnated Superman and Batman clones that have come together as a colony to train until the day they have grown in skill and numbers to go down to Earth and use their skills to take all the dents out of cars – you need to just get the book and read it.

Pretty much after, “Oh my god this book!” just say “Sold!”, pull out your phone and buy it.

Then give it a good solid chance, and most of the time you will like it. Probably even love it.

Forget the genre or the reviews, or whether or not you worry you may not like it.

Just read it and know for sure.

If your friend loves something that hard, then the chances are very good there is Your Next Favorite Book potential!

But I was a little low in my friend tank and was generating friendergy (friend energy) for my book loving side.

(I also needed new pants, but that was secondary.)

They both arrived and it was awkward.

That was fair.

Then I showed them my books.

And friends were born.

At least the tiny sprouts of friendship as they perused my shelves and gushed and geeked, and we talked and talked and talked.

So at that time I worked at a used bookstore and buying nicer quality used books in mass market paperback of every book I loved was a total hobby/fun thing for me. I even had a friend build special bookshelves for me that fit just the mass market size so I could, and did, line the walls of both bedrooms with precisely ordered, and also genre-sorted, books. Of course.

(I worked in a bookstore for goodness sakes. I ORGANIZED my books.)

So my house had a bit of a bookstore feel, but curated to me and mostly — what? — Yep! Fantasy and science fiction.

They loved it, and it inspired them to talk about their own shelves and what we shared and what I was missing. (Yes!! The gold I was looking for. EUREKA!!) And spouting ideas for which books who was recommending first. And yes, monthly was too long to wait. And, and, and…

We sat down and listed out our first few biweekly meetings and what books we needed to read.

It was the start of a beautiful little book club of three that generated some of my very favorite books, even to this day.

We met for years. And then more moving and life happened. We’d reconnect sporadically or just for recommendations.

And then it was the last time.

Now it has been years again since our last book recommendation. But I still think of them and the reading joy they brought to my life.

Wherever they are, I am grateful for what we had and what they shared.

Not just the books. They gave me some of themselves as well.

I went seeking My Next Favorite Book, and I got two friends.

Ask and ye shall receive, dear readers.

Ask your friends about what they are reading. Do it frequently. Make that part of your conversation check-in.

How’s your mom? Your cat? Your kids? Your underwater jiu jitsu class? How did those BBQ eclairs turn out?

What are you reading right now?

Start mining your sources, for in there you will find book resources.

And if you are low on friends…

Put out an ad even. (Carefully!)

But what do you have to offer them? What about your ideas?

What if someone asks you what you are reading?

Or if you have a recommendation?

What if you get the holy grail of a book lover’s question?

Are you ready for it?

Well, let’s do some training and get you prepped next week!

Can’t wait, my dears.

Have a wonderful week!