We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of An Unlikely Friendship

We Should Not Be Friends is a memoir by Schwalbe that follows an improbable and life-changing friendship over the course of forty years, highlighting the miracle of human connection and the power of seeing past differences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

From the acclaimed author of "The End of Your Life Book Club," comes a heartwarming, humorous, and irresistible novel that chronicles an unlikely and transformative friendship spanning forty years. Moving and captivating, Schwalbe's memoir shines with authenticity. Written like a dear friend, it resonates deeply with readers.

In his final year of university, Will believed he had acquainted everyone he cherished. A perm-haired, out gay young man, working at an AIDS helpline in the early days of the crisis, Will found solace and community among the theatre students, artists, and writers. He also knew whom he wished to avoid: the jocks. Sporting sporty attire and moving in boisterous packs, the jocks seemed like a distinct species, one Will might encounter only at his own risk.

All this underwent a dramatic transformation when Will was inducted into a secret society at Yale, aimed at bringing together individuals from different backgrounds. On his first day, he encountered Chris Maxey, a physically imposing, loud, star wrestler who seemed uncomfortable around Will and embodied everything he disliked and feared.

However, through months of mandated dinners and countless beers, the two swapped life stories and forged an unexpected bond that became a steadfast support system in each other's lives for forty years. A true-life "The Breakfast Club" tale, "We Should Not Be Friends" serves as a testament to the miraculous power of human connection, urging us to look beyond our differences and embrace the beauty of friendship.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 222 x 141 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241594612