I Know How You Feel : The Joy and Heartbreak of Friendship in Women's Lives by F. Diane Barth

When I first saw I Know How You Feel: The Joy and Heartbreak of Friendship in Women's Lives by F. Diane Barth on the Amazon Vine Program page, I scrolled on past. I didn't think it applied to me. My friendships are... just fine. Then I started thinking about it and ended up back on the page ordering it. I'm so glad I did. While there wasn't all that much that I didn't know or hadn't surmised from my own life experience, Barth gave me a different perspective on what the knowledge and experience I had actually meant. Barth writes in a tone that feels a bit like having a conversation with a friend. She even includes a bit of friendly advice at the end of each chapter with her "what you can do" section. As I read I Know How You Feel, my thoughts traveled back over my entire life in an attempt to better understand all the friendships I've had with women over the years. Barth touches on the emotions, the actions, the beliefs, the expectations, and the thoughts that surround friendships between women and examines how each of these play a role in every friendship women have with one another whether lifelong, for a short period of time, or only at a workplace or organization. I Know How You Feel reminded me that while sometimes I really do know how my women friends feel, other times I only think I do.
NOTE: I received this book for free as part of the Amazon Vine Program.

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