We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding
Review by Calli S., Youth Reviewer
“We Used To Be Friends”, by Amy Spalding, follows James and Kat, best friends since kindergarten. At the beginning of senior year, the girls are attached by the hip, but by the end they’re two different people. James had her life planned for her; the perfect school, the perfect relationship, and the perfect future. But when things start to go downhill she doesn’t tell Kat. Kat, on the other hand, is taking life as it comes; falling in love, experiencing new things, and trying to figure out what she wants. James is Kat’s go-to person for everything, but James isn’t the same. Slowly, cracks form in their relationship and just keep getting worse.
There’s something really interesting about this novel. Spalding chooses to have both characters narrate the story, but one starts at the end and the other starts at the beginning. It can get a little confusing at times when the dates change, but it’s honestly a really cool concept. James’ narration starts at the end of senior year when everything has already happened, and from there the reader will go back to the beginning. Kat’s narration is the opposite. She knows nothing of what’s going to come, and the reader will see her story to the end.
“We Used To Be Friends” does a very realistic job of showing friends growing apart. They drift and find new interests, ultimately becoming different people. Most friendships, especially in high school, don’t just end in giant fights. Sure, they may end up that way, but there’s always more to the story. “We Used To Be Friends” lets the reader see both halves of a relationship that’s falling apart. I’ve never found a novel that’s done that in quite this way, and it was truly amazing.
Overall, this book is a nice read. I found the concept and the story to be very interesting. It’s a little confusing at times, so make sure to check the dates at the beginning of the chapters. This is a book that I’ve been recommending to many of my friends, and I think almost anyone would like it.
Find We Used To Be Friends at Kitchener Public Library!