My Ride or Die by Leslie Cohen: In true ‘left him at the alter’ type fashion, Sophie Warren realises that marrying 
Abe may not be the key to her happily ever after and with her best friend Amanda’s support, she comes to the conclusion that long term commitment to any man may not be in her cards.
Similarly, Amanda having just realised she was playing mistress in an affair with Ethan that she really didn’t know she was having, is ready to give up the ghost on relationships with men altogether, and so quite naturally, she and Sophie concoct a plan to buy a house, live together in beautiful friendship harmony and only casually date blokes so that everyone is getting the best of everything.
With little to do but put a bid on an old Brownstone, Sophie receives the refund from the wedding, and whilst the contractors come in to do so seriously needed work, she shouts them a trip to Mexico to celebrate their new found arrangement. And of course a seemingly casual encounter for Amanda and a professional opportunity for Sophie may well be the catalysts that destroy their perfect utopia.
Intelligent, witty and with some genuine laugh til you cry type moments, My Ride or Die is one of those incredibly relatable books that unpacks the inherent bond between women, that perhaps all women share in one way or another. The set up and the agreed upon living arrangement were perfect and both characters were equally appealing – Sophie in her artsy flighty way, and Amanda in her need for order and routine. In many ways they were polar opposites and thus, were able to provide the other exactly what she needed for balance.
Throughout, the comfort they found in their friendship, and the naturally hilarious banter between them was a huge plus that actually platformed the thematic intent, in that ultimately we need adaptability to shift in the ever-evolving and constantly moving aspects of life. And in many ways the reader requires that same adaptability as well, as there were some moments that were incredibly frustrating to experience.
On the whole though, and despite the title that seems unrelated, this is a very fun read that digs deeply into the unconditional love friends can share, whilst reminding us to take care of those friendships as they are as often as not, more important then the love we share with our families.
Book Info:
Publication: 20th April 2021 | William Morrow Paperbacks |
For many women, finding the man of their dreams can be something of a nightmare. Luckily, they can often rely on their friends for the support they so desperately need. Friends for over a decade, Amanda and Sophie decide to flip the script. Why can’t they spend their lives with each other and just keep men on the side for fun, sex, and occasionally fixing things around the house?
Amanda is a lawyer who excels in her professional life but crumbles at the slightest sign of a common cold. Sophie is an aspiring artist who has lived all over the world and doesn’t crumble, period. Together since freshman year of college, they’ve been through it all. But when their romantic lives explode at the same time, they decide that enough is enough. Enough pretending that traditional relationships work for everyone. Enough fantasizing about an old-fashioned ideal.
They enter into a mutual arrangement: They will rely on each other and give men the secondary role that they deserve. And much to their surprise, it actually works. Amanda and Sophie fix up a dilapidated brownstone and create the home they’ve always wanted. Soon, they have love and emotional support as well as a wide variety of male “crushes” on the side. But when one of their crushes becomes something more, Amanda and Sophie must reconsider the life they’ve begun to build and how far they’re willing to go to keep it.
