When life gets hard, we turn to our female friends. Husbands, partners, and jobs come and go, but close friendships are our bedrock. Unless they’re not.

What happens when these bonds sabotage instead of support? Who among us has the courage to walk away? And how can we protect ourselves from further heartbreak?

In her provocative new book Susan Shapiro Barash takes a deep dive into the complexities of female friendships. By peeling back the societal narrative that our friendships are meant to last forever, she uncovers a more nuanced reality: the closest bonds do falter. Through groundbreaking research and 150 interviews with women ranging in age from 20-80, Barash reveals an emerging trend — estrangement among female friends.

Examples of Unhealthy Friendships:

The Faithless Friend: Always there until a third party drives a wedge between you.

The Wayward Friend: Drawn to questionable or dangerous behavior.

The Green-Eyed Friend: Jealous and secretly rooting for your failure.

The Thieving Friend: Betrays you by stealing your ideas, opportunities, relationships.

The Disparaging Friend: Tears you down with relentless criticism disguised as “honesty.”

The Four Hard Truths Uncovered:

How toxic friendships can take a toll on mental health.

Why women often avoid conflict, even in damaging relationships.

The emotional trauma of cutting ties with a friend.

What makes estrangement a radical yet necessary act of self-preservation.

Estranged is an eye-opening investigation/ practical guide for women navigating murky waters of suboptimal friendships. Sheds light on unspoken pain of estrangement—both for the “estranger” who walks away and the “estrangee” who is left behind. Candid confessions of betrayal and grief, Barash challenges women to reimagine their friendships and take the bold step of letting go when necessary.

This cutting-edge book offers an empowering path forward: learning to prioritize self-worth, stability and authenticity over loyalty to friendships that no longer serve us.