I Know How You Feel: The Joy and Heartbreak of Friendship in Women's Lives

Psychotherapist and Psychology Today blogger Barth explores women and their friendships in this lively and compassionate guide that defines what is meant by "friend" in the 21st century, highlighting the differences between real-world and social-media acquaintances, answering the question: "How many friends should I have?" Barth describes how a woman's past relationships can affect current ones, including those with female family members. What women claim they want in a friend, and how they can, in turn, be good friends to others is another topic that is detailed. In addition, Barth presents how friendships can become complicated and grow if a sexual component forms. Finally, she discusses negative interactions among women, relating heart-wrenching break-ups and giving advice on how to move on. Her theories are based on the experiences of women she has interviewed, current publications on the topic, and characters from women's literature.