New York, New Girl

Beth, a small-town girl from Providence, steps into the overwhelming heat and noise of 1983 New York City, determined to start her life anew. She's there for a prestigious summer newspaper internship, her first taste of independence. The city is both thrilling and intimidating, filled with dangers and possibilities. Beth's initial impressions are a mix of awe and anxiety as she navigates unfamiliar streets, determined not to look like a tourist. Her new home is a dingy, cockroach-infested apartment in the Village, shared with strangers. Despite the squalor, Beth feels a sense of miraculous possibility—this is where her real life begins.

Roommates and Roaches

Beth's new living situation is immediately fraught. Dawn, her friend's abrasive sister, and Tom, Dawn's enigmatic boyfriend, are her flatmates. The apartment is cramped, hot, and crawling with cockroaches. Dawn is blunt and self-absorbed, Tom is distant and sardonic. Beth feels out of place, but necessity forces her to adapt. She tries to carve out a sense of home, finding small comforts in routines and the city's anonymity. The trio's interactions are awkward, with Beth often retreating to her room, seeking solace from the oppressive heat and the emotional distance of her roommates.

First Friendships Form

At her newspaper internship, Beth meets Edie, a sharp, witty, and deeply neurotic New Yorker. Edie is everything Beth is not: confident, stylish, and socially fearless. Their friendship forms quickly, with Edie taking Beth under her wing, introducing her to the city's hidden gems and social codes. Edie's family is entrenched in journalism, and she navigates the office with ease. Beth, in awe, is swept along by Edie's energy, grateful for the companionship and guidance. The two become inseparable, sharing lunches, secrets, and the daily grind of intern life.

The Scandal That Started It

Beth's reputation precedes her—she's known for exposing a high school admissions scandal back home, which landed her the internship. This history gives her a sense of purpose but also sets her apart from her peers. She's both proud and uncertain, feeling the weight of expectations. The newsroom is a microcosm of ambition and hierarchy, with Beth observing the gendered divisions and the subtle power plays. Her outsider status is both a liability and a source of strength, fueling her determination to prove herself in a city that rewards hustle and resilience.

Interns and Office Politics

Beth and Edie are paired in features, while Oliver and Dan, the other interns, work in editorial. Edie quickly categorizes the boys—Oliver as the privileged WASP, Dan as the ambitious outsider—and warns Beth against befriending them. Office politics are cutthroat, with men dominating the upper echelons. Beth is both fascinated and frustrated by the unspoken rules. She learns to observe, adapt, and survive, guided by Edie's cynical wisdom. The interns' camaraderie is tinged with rivalry, and Beth begins to question her own instincts and allegiances.

Edie's Magnetic Pull

Edie's presence is transformative for Beth. She teaches her how to dress, how to talk, how to be noticed. Edie's confidence masks deep insecurities and a fraught relationship with her controlling mother. Therapy is a family tradition, and Edie's self-awareness is both a shield and a wound. Beth is drawn to Edie's intensity, even as she senses the volatility beneath the surface. Their friendship is intimate, sometimes possessive, with Edie demanding loyalty and attention. Beth, eager to belong, is swept up in Edie's orbit, learning as much about herself as about her friend.

Style, Self-Doubt, and Makeovers

Under Edie's tutelage, Beth undergoes a physical and emotional makeover. They scour thrift shops, experiment with haircuts, and develop a shared language of style and self-expression. Beth's self-doubt lingers—she envies Edie's effortless chic and social ease. The city becomes a backdrop for their transformation, with each outing a lesson in confidence and reinvention. Beth learns that style is as much about attitude as appearance, and that friendship can be both a mirror and a mask. The process is exhilarating and exhausting, as Beth grapples with her own identity.

Navigating Men and Desire

Beth's interactions with men—Tom, Oliver, Dan—are fraught with ambiguity and longing. Tom is alternately aloof and tender, their flirtation simmering with unspoken tension. Edie's pronouncements about the boys shape Beth's perceptions, leading to misunderstandings and missed connections. Sex, desire, and identity are constant undercurrents, complicated by the era's anxieties about AIDS and intimacy. Beth's first sexual experiences are awkward, tender, and ultimately liberating, marking a shift from innocence to self-knowledge. The city's sexual politics are both liberating and perilous, with every encounter tinged by risk and possibility.

Heatwave, Illness, and Rescue

A brutal heatwave and a bout of illness leave Beth physically and emotionally depleted. The squalor of her apartment becomes unbearable, and she is rescued by Edie, who invites her to stay in her air-conditioned, luxurious home. This act of kindness cements their bond, with Edie playing nurse and confidante. The experience is both a reprieve and a revelation—Beth sees the stark contrast between her own circumstances and Edie's privilege. The episode underscores the fragility of independence and the importance of friendship as a lifeline in a city that can be both indifferent and generous.

Apartment Upgrades and Tensions

As the summer progresses, the dynamics in both apartments shift. Dawn and Tom's relationship unravels, with Beth caught in the crossfire. Edie's romantic entanglements grow more complicated, and her need for attention becomes more pronounced. Beth feels increasingly like an outsider in both homes, her loyalties divided. The tension between dependence and autonomy becomes acute, as Beth navigates the expectations of friendship, romance, and adulthood. The city's relentless pace and the pressures of the internship amplify these strains, pushing Beth toward a breaking point.

Sex, Death, and Bagels

New York in the 1980s is a city of extremes—sexual liberation shadowed by the specter of AIDS, abundance coexisting with danger. Beth and Edie's adventures are punctuated by encounters with drugs, muggings, and the ever-present threat of violence. The newspaper's obituaries are filled with young men lost to the epidemic, a daily reminder of mortality. Food, especially bagels, becomes a small comfort, a symbol of survival and community. The city's energy is intoxicating and exhausting, with every pleasure shadowed by risk. Beth learns to navigate this landscape with caution and curiosity.

Betrayals and Boundaries

The intensity of Beth and Edie's friendship gives way to jealousy, betrayal, and disillusionment. Edie's affair with a married man, her manipulations, and her emotional volatility strain their bond. Beth feels used and sidelined, her own needs subsumed by Edie's dramas. A series of crises—romantic, familial, existential—culminate in a painful rupture. Beth is forced to confront the limits of loyalty and the necessity of self-preservation. The end of their friendship is both a loss and a liberation, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The Mother-Daughter War

A surprise visit from Edie's Mother exposes the deep wounds at the heart of Edie's psyche. The mother-daughter dynamic is toxic, marked by control, resentment, and mutual incomprehension. Beth witnesses the emotional fallout, recognizing parallels with her own family's silences and traumas. Clara (Edie's Grandmother) offers a brief respite, embodying a different kind of strength and wisdom. The intergenerational patterns of pain and survival are laid bare, forcing Beth to reckon with the complexities of love, loyalty, and inheritance.

Drugs, Danger, and Disillusion

A night of partying with Edie's friend Leo turns dangerous when Beth is nearly assaulted. The incident shatters her sense of safety and trust, both in the city and in her friend. Edie's dismissive response deepens the rift between them. Beth is mugged at gunpoint, further eroding her sense of invincibility. These experiences force her to confront the realities of urban life—the thin line between adventure and peril, the necessity of vigilance, and the importance of boundaries. Survival becomes not just a physical challenge, but an emotional and ethical one.

Muggings and Moving On

As the summer ends, Beth prepares to leave New York, her internship, and her fractured friendships behind. She reflects on the lessons learned—the value of resilience, the cost of naivety, the necessity of self-reliance. Edie's disappearance and subsequent fallout mark a final break, freeing Beth to pursue her own path. The city, once overwhelming, now feels navigable, its dangers familiar. Beth's sense of self has been forged in adversity, her innocence tempered by experience. She leaves with a new understanding of what it means to grow up and move on.

Lessons in Survival

Beth's journey is one of survival—of the city, of toxic relationships, of her own doubts and fears. She learns that no one person can fulfill all your needs, that friendship and love are complicated, and that betrayal is sometimes inevitable. The skills she acquires—adaptability, empathy, self-advocacy—are hard-won but invaluable. The summer's trials become the foundation for her future, teaching her to trust herself and to set boundaries. The city's chaos becomes a crucible, transforming her from a naive outsider into a resilient, self-aware young woman.

Endings, Goodbyes, and Growth

The story concludes with Beth returning home, preparing for college, and fielding a final, fraught call from Edie. The friendship that once defined her summer is over, but its impact lingers. Beth chooses not to pursue journalism, unwilling to immerse herself in a world of perpetual crisis. A new friendship begins, marked by empathy and mutual support. The lessons of the summer—about love, loss, and the necessity of starting somewhere—echo into her future. Beth's coming-of-age is complete, her sense of self irrevocably changed by a season in the city.

Characters

Beth

Beth is the novel's protagonist, a bright but inexperienced young woman from Providence. Her journey is one of self-discovery, shaped by the challenges of living in New York, navigating complex friendships, and confronting her own limitations. Beth is observant, introspective, and eager to belong, but her tendency to defer to others—especially the charismatic Edie—leaves her vulnerable to manipulation. Over the course of the summer, Beth learns to assert herself, set boundaries, and trust her instincts. Her relationships—with Edie, Tom, and her family—force her to confront issues of loyalty, identity, and self-worth. By the end, Beth emerges stronger, more self-aware, and ready to face the uncertainties of adulthood.

Edie

Edie is Beth's magnetic but troubled best friend. Raised in a privileged, dysfunctional New York family, Edie is both worldly and wounded. Her confidence masks deep insecurities, and her need for attention often manifests as possessiveness and manipulation. Edie's relationships—with her mother, her therapist, and a string of lovers—are fraught with conflict and longing. She is both a mentor and a rival to Beth, teaching her how to navigate the city while also undermining her confidence. Edie's self-destructive tendencies and emotional volatility ultimately strain and break the friendship, leaving both girls changed. Psychoanalytically, Edie embodies the struggle for autonomy and love in the shadow of parental dysfunction.

Tom

Tom is Dawn's boyfriend and Beth's complicated love interest. He is laconic, sardonic, and emotionally distant, using humor and detachment to mask his own dissatisfaction. Tom's relationship with Dawn is stagnant, and his flirtation with Beth is marked by ambiguity and missed opportunities. He represents both the allure and the limitations of adult relationships—intimacy without commitment, connection without clarity. Tom's inability to articulate his feelings frustrates Beth, but their encounters are formative, teaching her about desire, disappointment, and the importance of self-respect.

Dawn

Dawn is Beth's initial roommate, the older sister of Beth's friend Rachel. She is blunt, self-interested, and often dismissive, focused on her own needs and ambitions. Dawn's relationship with Tom is transactional and stagnant, providing a cautionary example of what Beth wants to avoid. Her interactions with Beth are marked by indifference and occasional hostility, but she also provides a measure of stability in the chaotic apartment. Dawn's character highlights the challenges of adulting and the compromises people make for security.

Oliver

Oliver is one of the other interns, a quintessential WASP with impeccable manners and an air of effortless confidence. He is both an object of attraction and a symbol of the social barriers Beth perceives. Oliver's privilege allows him to navigate the world with ease, but he is also empathetic and supportive, offering Beth moments of genuine connection. His sexuality is a subject of speculation and misunderstanding, shaped by Edie's pronouncements and Beth's assumptions. Oliver's presence in the story underscores themes of class, identity, and the complexities of friendship.

Dan

Dan is the fourth intern, older and more driven than the others. He is the first in his family to attend college and is determined to secure a job at the newspaper. Dan's ambition makes him both admirable and alienating—he is secretive, competitive, and often at odds with the others. His interactions with Beth are marked by rivalry and occasional camaraderie. Dan's character explores the pressures of upward mobility, the costs of ambition, and the loneliness of being an outsider.

Jeanne

Jeanne is the supervisor of the interns, a seasoned journalist who balances encouragement with tough love. She represents the institutional power structure of the newspaper, setting expectations and enforcing boundaries. Jeanne's interactions with Beth and the others are formative, teaching them about professionalism, ethics, and the realities of the working world. She is both a role model and a reminder of the limitations imposed by gender and hierarchy.

Edie's Mother

Edie's Mother is a formidable presence, embodying the generational dysfunction that shapes Edie's psyche. She is controlling, judgmental, and incapable of genuine empathy, her interactions with Edie marked by power struggles and emotional manipulation. The mother-daughter dynamic is a central source of Edie's insecurity and self-destructive behavior. Her character serves as a cautionary example of the damage wrought by parental neglect and the difficulty of breaking free from toxic family patterns.

Clara (Edie's Grandmother)

Clara (Edie's Grandmother) is Edie's grandmother, a photographer and the family's emotional anchor. She offers Beth and Edie a glimpse of a different kind of strength—creative, independent, and compassionate. Clara (Edie's Grandmother)'s apartment is a sanctuary, filled with art and stories from a life well-lived. Her relationship with Edie is warm and supportive, providing a counterpoint to the coldness of Edie's Mother. Clara (Edie's Grandmother)'s death marks the end of an era and the loss of a vital source of wisdom and comfort.

Mike

Mike is Edie's married lover, a city desk journalist whose affair with Edie is both thrilling and destructive. He is charming and attentive, but ultimately self-interested, unable or unwilling to leave his wife. Mike's relationship with Edie exposes the dangers of seeking validation through others and the pain of unrequited love. His character serves as a catalyst for Edie's unraveling and Beth's disillusionment.

Plot Devices

Coming-of-Age in Urban Chaos

The novel uses the classic coming-of-age structure, with Beth's summer in New York serving as a crucible for growth. The city is both setting and antagonist, its dangers and delights forcing Beth to adapt, survive, and ultimately thrive. The narrative is episodic, with each chapter presenting a new challenge or revelation. The relentless pace of urban life mirrors Beth's internal journey, with moments of crisis—illness, assault, betrayal—serving as catalysts for change.

Intense Female Friendship

The central relationship is a codependent, often toxic friendship that oscillates between intimacy and rivalry. Edie's charisma draws Beth in, but her neediness and manipulations create tension and ultimately rupture. The friendship is a vehicle for exploring issues of identity, loyalty, and self-worth, with Beth's eventual break from Edie marking a key moment of maturation.

Social Satire and Cultural Critique

The novel is rich in social commentary, using humor and irony to dissect the hierarchies of the newsroom, the pretensions of New York society, and the anxieties of the era. Dialogue and internal monologue are used to highlight the absurdities of ambition, the performativity of style, and the contradictions of modern adulthood. The city's diversity and dysfunction are both celebrated and critiqued.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Recurring motifs—cockroaches, bagels, fashion, the oppressive heat—serve as symbols of survival, transformation, and the persistence of the mundane amid chaos. The city's dangers are foreshadowed in early descriptions, with later events (muggings, assaults) fulfilling these warnings. The evolution of Beth's wardrobe and appearance mirrors her internal growth, while the shifting dynamics of her friendships signal impending change.

Narrative Voice and Structure

The novel's voice is intimate, confessional, and often self-deprecating, drawing readers into Beth's perspective. The episodic structure allows for a mosaic of experiences, each contributing to the overarching narrative of growth. The use of humor, irony, and sharp dialogue keeps the tone engaging, even as the subject matter grows darker.

Analysis

**A sharp, witty, and poignant exploration of coming-of-age, "Friends Like These" captures the messy, exhilarating, and often painful process of growing up in a world that is both beautiful and brutal. Meg Rosoff's novel is a love letter to New York City and a meditation on the complexities of female friendship, ambition, and self-discovery. Through Beth's journey, the book interrogates the allure and dangers of charisma, the necessity of boundaries, and the inevitability of betrayal. It is a story about survival—of the city, of toxic relationships, of one's own doubts—and the hard-won wisdom that comes from facing disappointment and loss. Ultimately, the novel suggests that no one person can fulfill all our needs, that growth requires both connection and separation, and that the only way forward is to start somewhere, however uncertain the path.

Last updated: July 13, 2025