Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, 1813
While there are many friendships featured in Austen’s seminal novel, like the Bennet sisters or even between Elizabeth and Charlotte, Bingley and Darcy’s relationship is stable and dependable even if it often tends to fade to the background. The happy-go-lucky Bingley and the stoic and pessimistic Darcy are always together through thick and thin.
Percy, Annabeth and Grover in Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan, 2005
With the recent casting for the Disney+ adaptation from this iconic series, we are once again reminded of the amazing trio of Percy, Annabeth and Grover. From fighting monsters to finding answers, these three friends have gone through it all and some more. Even though Percy and Annabeth eventually get together romantically, the foundation of their friendship had always been in friendship.
Alex, June and Nora Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, 2019
The White House trio, as they are known in the book, are an interesting bunch of friends that often scream #goals. As they navigate the realities of being in the spotlight and their personal lives, larger political schemes unfold around them but the comfort of them having each other through it all is felt even by the reader. Their dynamic is all kinds of fun, and with Alex and June’s sibling antics thrown in, it becomes even more relatable and a delightful read.
Jo and Laurie in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A literary friendship list without these two almost feels incomplete, especially after Greta Gerwig’s 2019 cinematic adaptation brought to life their intricate friendship. Jo and Laurie have been friends since childhood. In Laurie, Jo finds support and comfort for all her ventures even though they might not be seen well by others. Although Laurie’s eventual romantic gesture does not find reciprocation from Jo, their friendship remains a memorable aspect of the novel.
Eleanor and Raymond in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
In Honeyman’s 2017 book, the titular character, Eleanor, is in fact not fine. She has dismal social skills that often tend to hinder her and a resultant of a deeply traumatic past which she ardently buries. However, she strikes an unlikely friendship with the IT guy in her workplace, Raymond. With his companionship, she eventually realises that opening up is sometimes the best option. Eleanor, who is herself a unique heroine, makes for a warm and melancholic pair with the kind Raymond.
Calvin and Hobbes
A classic, the wondrous adventures of Calvin and Hobbes are forever unforgettable. Calvin is a six-year-old boy whose stuffed toy and best friend is Hobbes. While to everyone else Hobbes is just a stuffed tiger, to Calvin, it’s his friend. Through these simplistic comic strips not only is true friendship and its dynamics explored, but so are larger socio-political issues.
Gupi Gayen & Bagha Bayen in Gupi Gayen & Bagha Bayen by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
Another classic, this one is from the Bengali series of books (and later, movies) that many of us have grown up with. The singer Gupi and his dhol-playing friend Bagha are quite terrible at what they do, that is, singing and playing dhol. But their enthusiasm and optimism are infectious and more than make up for it.Together, they go on larger-than-life (quite literally) adventures. Although they had initially started off on a rough note, one can hardly remember that after seeing their chemistry!
Yun-jae and Gon in Almond by Sohn Won-pyung
At the beginning of Sohn’s novel it is hard to believe that these two could be called friends but they do strike up a unique relationship by the end of it. Yun-jae, who suffers from a condition called alexithymia, is unable to feel emotions. Eventually, he meets Gon, a new student at his school. Gon bullies him and goes out of his way to get into trouble. While Yunjae is curious about the world, Gon is angry at it. Yunjae, although he had a lack of emotions, had grown up surrounded by love and support. On the other hand, Gon, teeming with emotions, had had a tough life devoid of a happy and loving childhood. In the end, it is when Gon gets into trouble that Yunjae works the hardest against all the instincts that he had built up over the years.