The Friendship Cure: Reconnecting in the Modern World

The essential guide to the most important relationships in your life.

We are more connected than ever before, yet we are living through an epidemic of loneliness. We have "friends" on screens, but struggle to find someone to call in a crisis. Why is it so hard to maintain deep, meaningful platonic bonds?

In The Friendship Cure, Kate Leaver explores why friendship is the essential "cure" for the stresses of modern life. Part manifesto and part deeply researched investigation, Leaver combines scientific research, sociology, and moving personal stories to examine the mechanics of connection.

From "work wives" and "bromances" to the impact of social media and the vital importance of community, this book is a celebration of the bonds that keep us sane.

Whether you are looking to heal a "friendship breakup," deepen your existing bonds, or navigate the complexities of making new friends as an adult, Leaver provides the insight and empathy needed to build a more connected life.

Perfect for fans of:

• Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score (for its focus on human connection and healing).
• Noreena Hertz’s The Lonely Century (for its exploration of our disconnected era).
• Marisa G. Franco’s Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make―and Keep―Friends.
• Rhik Samadder’s I Never Said I Loved You

Kate Leaver is an author, journalist, and a leading voice on human connection, mental health, and the importance of community. Her work―which spans from the "loneliness epidemic" to the therapeutic power of pets―has appeared in The Guardian, British Vogue, The Telegraph, Glamour, and The Independent.

Kate is the author of two acclaimed nonfiction books: The Friendship Cure, a manifesto for reconnecting in a digital age, and Good Dog, a moving exploration of the life-saving bond between humans and their canine companions. Beyond the page, she is a sought-after commentator on television and radio, appearing on the BBC, The Today Show, and ABC.

A former features editor at Cosmopolitan and senior editor at Mamamia, Kate also hosts the popular podcast Who’s a Good Dog? and serves as a producer for the chart-topping Just The Gist. Whether she is scripting award-winning podcasts or writing her Substack newsletter, ENTHUSIASM, her work is defined by its warmth, wit, and deep empathy.

Originally from Sydney, Kate now lives in London with her partner and her beloved rescue Shih Tzu, Bert, who is widely considered “the world's best boy.”