Top Ten Favorite Non-Romantic Relationships in Books

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is favorite character relationships in books, and since I talk about romance a lot here on the blog I thought it would be a nice change of pace to focus on non-romantic relationships (even though many of the ones I’m talking about today are still found in romance books)! I love really strong, supportive friendships and strong familial bonds, so this was a fun topic for me to do!

1. Olive and Ami, sisters, from The Unhoneymooners and The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren
Olive and Ami are sisters who would pretty much do anything for each other. We see more of their bond in The Honeymoon Crashers, and I really love them!

2. Stella, Beckett, and Layla’s friend group from the Lovelight series by B.K. Borrison
These three friends co-own Lovelight Farms, and the friendship they share is so heartwarming and amazing. And then they all bring their significant others into the fold as the series continues book by book, and I just can’t get over how pure and unconditionally loving this friend group is.

3. Zofia and Janina, best friends, from The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
These two best friends go through so much during the Nazi occupation of Poland during WW2. Zofia sacrifices her life many times for Janina and Janina’s family. Janina is forced to live in the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto, and Zofia works tirelessly for years to try and save her. This friendship is more like family, and really touched me.

4. Grandpa Paul and Theo from You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
Grandpa Paul is one of my top favorite characters ever, and I loved his relationship with Theo (even if I wasn’t so much a fan of Theo himself).

5. Poppy and Dallas’s grandma in My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
Dallas moves to be with his grandma, who needs help after having surgery, and hires Poppy to be his chef so he and his grandma can eat well. But Poppy and Grandma form the cutest friendship, and of course Grandma decides to try and force these two to become more. I love a meddling grandma!

6. Nathan’s hockey team in The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
These guys are super close and so funny! And they’re all big softies, too, who believe in romance and root for Nathan to find love the entire book.

7. Mila and her sniper partner, Kostia, in The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
They had each other’s backs and trusted each other so intensely. Their connection was so deep that they could communicate without even speaking. Or looking at each other, for that matter.

8. The group of wallflowers from the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas
I love a book with strong female friendships, and the friendships between all the wallflowers are some of the strongest ones I’ve read about.

9. The Ravenel family from the Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas
I think this is my favorite literary family! They’re all so wonderful and loving. Lisa Kleypas writes amazing romantic relationships, but the non-romantic relationships in her books might be even better!

10. Audrey’s and Noah’s relationships with their students in Enemies Abroad by R.S. Grey
Audrey and Noah are both 8th grade teachers, and their students are so much fun! They all go on a school trip to Rome together, and I loved how the students played matchmakers (or asked embarrassing questions about Audrey’s and Noah’s relationships as only kids can get away with doing. lol). I also loved seeing these two parent the kids, while also maintaining that professional teacher-student boundary. I don’t usually like kids in romance, but these ones were fun!

What are some of your favorite non-romantic relationships in books?
I’d love recs for strong friendships and literary families if you have any!