We expect friendships to be free of the static that frazzles many family relationships, and often we fail to see how deeply friendships shape our lives, work, and well-being. So much remains unspoken that when conflicts arise, they surprise, shock, even shatter us. Florence Isaacs explores the complex interplay of affection, obligation, and competition in women's friendships and shows how these dynamics emerge between close, casual, or collegial friends confronting life's ups and downs -- career demands, single life, marriage, divorce, retirement, and more. Isaacs explains: Who's a real friend and who's a waste of time or worse. How to make lasting personal and professional friends and avoid people who hurt you through jealousy, manipulation, or self-centeredness. How to navigate tricky waters -- friendships online, with in-laws, and with the opposite sex. How the right friends can improve single life, marriage, and make you a better parent. True friends are worth their weight in gold; toxic friends threaten your well-being.

This book reveals how to tell the difference.