If you’re a fan of Friends, you know there’s nothing quite like the perfect mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and strong bonds between characters who feel like family. Whether it’s the hilarious misunderstandings, the quirky personalities, or the love stories that evolve over time, these books offer a similar vibe to the beloved sitcom.
Here are some books that will transport you to a world of friendship, laughter, and sometimes a little drama.
1. One Day by David Nicholls
This story of Emma and Dexter captures the “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic of Ross and Rachel. Following them over two decades, you’ll find plenty of humor, heartbreak, and emotional depth.
One Day: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
NOW A NETFLIX SERIES • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • TWO PEOPLE. ONE DAY. TWENTY YEARS. • What starts as a fleeting connection between two strangers soon becomes a deep bond that spans decades. • “[An] instant classic. . . . One of the most …emotionally riveting love stories you’ll ever encounter.” —People
2. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment and a bed but have never met. Their quirky arrangement mirrors the kind of unique scenarios you’d expect to see in Monica’s apartment.
Flatshare
What if your roommate is your soul mate? A joyful, quirky romantic comedy, Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare is a feel-good novel about finding love in the most unexpected of ways.
3. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor’s journey of self-discovery and her friendship with Raymond is heartwarming, reminiscent of Chandler and Joey’s evolving friendship.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese’s Book Club: A Novel
“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!” —Reese Witherspoon
4. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget’s hilarious misadventures and close-knit group of friends are the ultimate comfort read for Friends fans.
Bridget Jones’s Diary: A Novel
Bridget Jones’s Diary is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of Bridget’s permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement—a year in which she resolves to: visit the gym three times a week, not just to buy a sandwich, form a relationship with a functional adult, and learn to work the television remote.
5. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Set in a newsroom in the 1990s, this book revolves around workplace friendships and a quirky romance that feels just like something Rachel would experience.
Attachments: A Novel
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It’s company policy.) But they can’t quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
Meanwhile, Lincoln O’Neill can’t believe this is his job now—reading other people’s e-mail. When he applied to be “internet security officer,” he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers—not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
When Lincoln comes across Beth’s and Jennifer’s messages, he knows he should turn them in. He can’t help being entertained, and captivated, by their stories. But by the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late to introduce himself. What would he even say…?
6. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman’s quest to find love is full of comedic moments and awkward social encounters that feel akin to Ross’s many attempts at romance.
The Rosie Project: A Novel
The international bestselling romantic comedy “bursting with warmth, emotional depth, and…humor,” (Entertainment Weekly) featuring the oddly charming, socially challenged genetics professor, Don, as he seeks true love.
The art of love is never a science
7. Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Sloane’s sudden disappearance leaves Emily to discover her own strength, with the help of a new group of friends. It’s perfect for fans of the show’s exploration of personal growth through friendships.
Since You’ve Been Gone
Emily is about to take some risks and have the most unexpected summer ever in this novel from the bestselling author of Second Chance Summer and Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour.
8. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This story of a grumpy man who finds unlikely friendships with his neighbors is as heartwarming as it is funny, much like Friends’ comedic but heartfelt moments.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman’s beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).
9. The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
With its mix of quirky characters, a little mystery, and a touch of romance, this series has the same blend of humor and heart that Friends fans adore.
The House on Tradd Street
Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she’s going to have to accept it. An old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog—and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.
Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that diamonds from the Confederate Treasury are hidden in the house. So he turns the charm on with Melanie, only to discover he’s the smitten one…
It turns out Jack’s search has caught the attention of a malevolent ghost. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak—and even murder.
10. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex’s long-standing friendship and eventual romance will give you all the Ross-and-Rachel feels.
People We Meet on Vacation
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Funny Story comes a sparkling novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations.
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
11. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two authors stuck in a small beach town push each other out of their comfort zones. Their banter feels like Monica and Chandler before their romance bloomed.
Beach Read
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever after’s.
12. Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel
Set in Seattle, this unique love story delves into relationships, grief, and humor in a way that resonates with Friends’ mix of comedy and poignancy.
Goodbye for Now
When Sam Elling creates an algorithm to pair people with their soul mates online, he meets Meredith, his own perfect match. But when Meredith’s grandmother Livvie dies unexpectedly, Sam puts his algorithm to even better use: it compiles Livvie’s old emails and video chats to create a computer simulation so that Meredith can say goodbye. It’s not supernatural; it’s computer science, and Meredith loves it—too much to keep to herself.
Together, she and Sam open RePose to help others who have lost a loved one. Business takes off, but for every person who just wants to say goodbye, there’s someone else who can’t let go. This twenty-first-century love story asks what would happen if saying goodbye were just the beginning, and shows how love can take on a life of its own.
13. You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
With its focus on family, friendship, and a sizzling romance, this book channels the charm of Friends with a Latinx twist.
You Had Me at Hola: A Novel (Primas of Power, 1)
“I could not get enough of Jasmine and Ashton! I adored Jasmine–her ambition, her confidence, her attacks of self-doubt, and especially her hilarious, snarky, and loving cousins. She and Ashton have such a steamy, swoony, love story that I didn’t want the book to end!”–Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author
14. The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale
This story about three lifelong friends navigating life’s challenges will appeal to anyone who loved the strong bonds in Friends.
The Secret to Hummingbird Cake
In this spot-on Southern novel brimming with wit and authenticity, you’ll laugh alongside lifelong friends, navigate the sometimes rocky path of marriage, and roll through the outrageous curveballs that life sometimes throws . . . from devastating pain to absolute joy. And if you’re lucky, you just may discover the secret to hummingbird cake along the way.
15. Roomies by Christina Lauren
What happens when a marriage of convenience turns into something more? This fun, flirty read has all the humor and chemistry you’d expect from Friends.
Roomies
From subway to Broadway to happily ever after. Modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable as in New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Roomies.
Why These Books Are Perfect for Friends Fans
Each of these stories captures the humor, camaraderie, and sometimes messy relationships that made Friends such a cultural phenomenon. Whether you’re in the mood for lighthearted fun or emotional depth, these books will keep you entertained and remind you of the iconic sitcom.
Happy reading, and don’t forget to grab a coffee (or two) while you dive into these stories—Central Perk style!
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