Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. I thought this would be a fun way to share a condensed version of potential rambles and thoughts that I have.
This Week’s Theme:
Top Ten Book Bromances
Initial Thoughts:
Top Ten Book Friendships felt too tacky for me.
So, obviously, this is much cooler …wait for it… bro-er.
Don’t get me wrong though, I do enjoy a good friendship turned shippable relationship or even the possibility of a platonic friendship between boys and girls, men and women…but bromances are a different beast of its own right. Or at least I’d like to think so.
Apparently, there are diverging meanings toward what bromance ought to be. Some sources focus on the non-romantic, non-sexual relationship between two males while others add to that and focus on it having to be straight boys/men only. Even if you made me take a step back twenty years to consider what bromance ought to be, I’d still favour the former. Narrow-mindedness and not forward-thinking rambling is not in my repertoire despite its validity to some individuals that I can’t completely and faithfully argue against. Because in the end…to each their own. But I’m opening up the scope of bromance for this list to consider all aspects of self-identity. I mean does everything have to relate back to some social cause? Nope.
(But really…I can’t take myself seriously with this post.)
The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
Dem Greasers (and I guess to a lesser extent…The Socs)
The trump card of my childhood reading experience involving bros sticking by bros through thick and thin. If you’ve read it then I simply say to you: “Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold”?
I just can’t. [insert feels here]
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (Gabrielle Zevin)
A.J Fikry and Chief Lambiase
It’s funny how the smallest of events shift the cogs of fate, even if its just slightly. Although living on a small island where everyone knew each other’s business was a life that A.J. has milled through accepting… the individuals themselves didn’t truly know or understand A.J. for all of his values, for all of his worth, and for all of his life. So as much credit can be given to Maya being critical point of change, Lambiase, in my opinion, shares equal weighting as an important benefactor, supporter, and ultimately: a friend.
The Lord of the Rings/ The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Take Your Pick
…pick and choose any two of them or more. Heck, I’m even sure Gollum even had his moments with these fellas. While I know Legolas wasn’t in the novel per se, I was reminded of this pick when re-watching the clip in The Desolation of Smaug when Legolas held Gloin’s locket and called out Gimli for being a horrid creature. Golden. Which takes me back to Gimli-Legolas antics being amazeballs.
Or maybe you fancy Gollum and Sam with their Potatos. “WHAT’S TATERS?”
Minders (Michele Jaffe)
Ford Winters and Bucky (or Mason)
Both relationships give me feels for different reasons. Both of these characters add a level of character depth that is so tangibly real and depict human nature acting on the same avenue of impulses through varying socioeconomic statuses.
Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)
Take Your Pick
I don’t need to give any reasons for this…I’ll let your mind decide.
Dublin in the Rain (Andrew Critchley)
J.P. Melton and David Pritchett
Both endured similar circumstances but dealt different cards to play through their struggles and both supported each other in-and-out of their crises. Not to mention that J.P. was adopted by David’s family so they’re pretty much broski’s.
Proxy (Alex London)
Sydney Carton and Knox Brindle (or Egan)
They’re more similar than they know and despite being on complete polar opposites of equality, the bro-times they spent together really grow on you as a reader. Then there’s Egan…oh faithful, outspoken Egan.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
Charlie and Patrick
I feel like this is a diverging choice to this topic. Frequent TTT visitors of this blog know that I haven’t read this book… (bring on the hate) but there’s something undeniable about the friendships in this novel that works so well. So Patrick wasn’t as involved in Charlie’s happenings as many of these other choices listed have been there for their bros…but something is still something even if you’re the last resort. Not to mention that guys who have read Perks might get a slight tingly brosy feel considering you are, as it is, a dear friend.
More Than This (Patrick Ness)
Seth and Tomasz
I can never say enough good things about this novel. While it reads more like big-bro, little-bro feels due to the age disparity, the dialogue these two share (with Regine as well) is in many ways quirky, poignant, and certainly grounded in friendship because each can hold in facing the unknown before them.
Notable Books I’ve Been Told To Read (Bromances Incl.) 
– Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Sáenz)
– Boy 21 (Matthew Quick)
– Gentleman Bastard Series (Scott Lynch)
– …[insert your choice here].
This might be a copout but I can assure you…it’s probably a copout it isn’t. There’s a different style of grit in friendship that’s portrayed through bros being bros. As much as I’d like to say human nature is human nature and friendship is invariably friendship…I still feel there’s a slight variance in relationships that deviates bromances from the normalcy of mixed-sex relationships.
Afterthoughts:
I’m kind of lame sometimes for making myself work double time in thinking of creative ways to explore the topics. In this post in particular: to look into bromances specifically as opposed to the standard platonic friendship (which I can just think of so many on a whim). But you and I both know I don’t roll that way… and I know you secretly missed my diverging table topics.
Though I hope that this post didn’t feel too preachy.If it does, my apologies. If it needs more snark and the like, I’ll definitely babble more.
If you have thoughts on bromances you enjoy or just the idea of it…hit me up in the comments below!
..okay byeeeeeee.
Cheers, Joey
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
The bromance approach totally works! YES to A. J. Fikry and Chief Lambiase — loved that book! And I really need to read Locke Lamora and Aristotle & Dante. Great list!
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I wouldn’t have imagined that I’d enjoy A.J. Fikry as much as I did. There’s something really real and special about the characters allowed me to appreciate the book though!
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Definitely… plus the author had me at “bookstore”. Of course I was going to love it!
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Fun way to do the topic this week! I can’t believe I forgot Lord of the Rings in my list – I love Gimli and Legolas!
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Their antics were pretty golden!
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I like the bromance take on this. Works rather well, I think. 🙂 The Outsiders is a beautiful example of the ultimate bromance.
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Indeed it is–I think it might have been the first that I’ve read about in a novel (circa: 2002 or something; when I was like 12).
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Well, now my post just kind of looked…lame. 🙂 I like your perspectives and insights.
I agree with AJ Fikry. How could I’ve forgotten his bro-ship with Lambiase? (See what I did there? Still lame, I know.)
You must read Aristotle and Dante.
Thanks for stopping by. Though, I feel I should apologize. Sigh.
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No posts are ever lame. Content curating and the sharing of ideas (positive or negative) in any capacity is greatly appreciated!
I just really enjoyed Fikry and Lambiase and it’s difficult for me to even articulate why (I don’t even know why I enjoyed the novel–it’s just what it is…?!)
People keep telling me to read Ari and Dante buuut I guess we’ll just have to see haha.
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I love your take on this topic, Joey!
There are so many bromances in Harry Potter! I can’t pick my favorite. They’re all my favorites. And while I never finished Perks, Patrick and Cahrlie did have a really interesting and loyal friendship. I haven’t read any of the other books in this list. .___.
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No shame in liking them all, Aimee! And no worries–to each their own in the end–you’re beasting it with reading with other novels already, so that’s good enough, I’d say!
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I like your approach! And I’m so anxious to read Aristotle and Dante! I’m really curious to read a YA book that focuses on male friendships.
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I don’t think I’ve ever read into a book that solely focused on friendships, let alone male-driven friendships. With minor differences, I’m thinking that male friendships aren’t so much different than girl friendships–we’re all human; skin, flesh, and bone till the end!
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Nice spin on the topic! And I’m kicking myself for leaving A.J. Fikry off the list. His friendship with the Chief was wonderful. Proxy is a favorite of mine too. You haven’t read Perks? But you’ve seen the movie I guess?
How about this: I’ll read Boy 21 and More Than This and you read Perks and Ari & Dante. Deal?
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A.J. was just a recent read for me and wow is it hard for me to put letters into words and voice why I enjoyed it–pretty perplexing!
I’m excited for where Proxy will take us in next novel coming out at the end of this month. I need to know the fate of the bromance between the two (and the synopsis for Guardian didn’t even help at all).
I did watch Perks but it’s one of those things that I feel like (I know I’m terrible for saying this)–once I’ve seen it once (or multiple times)…I just can’t seem to find the willpower to read it. Ahhh, I’m a bad reader for that I guess!
I’ll definitely get around to reading Ari and Dante though…I just don’t know when!
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Bromance works. Very well! I can’t wait to read More Than This!
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I think if you can appreciate the depth of friendship between Manchee and Todd–I’m sure you’ll enjoy the friendship in More Than This (side note: watch for Tomasz antics!)
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Love this approach! I want to read that Patrick Ness book just because of the cover….
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I adored the book and the relationships in it. The cover is pretty striking, too! I need to get my hands on Ness’ Chaos Walking trilogy and read into the pet-lationship in that novel!
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Oh I love me some good bromance!;)
Syd and Knox are especially close to my heart. And it makes me happy to see and that you’ve added Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Boy 21 to your tbr. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them!!
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I’m glad I finally got around to reading Proxy! Took like…half a year. So I wonder how long it’ll take me to get around to A&D or Boy21…
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Oh goodness, I should have thought of Locke Lamora. Of course! Jean and Locke are just the bromanciest.
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That’s wonderful to hear–maybe I will experience this bromance in due time!
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Totally irresistible and awesome bromance in The Outsiders and The Lord of the Rings (PO-TA-TOES) LOL!!!
I’ve heard awesome Bastard Bromances were made in Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series (Locke Lamora), which also made my list but for different reasons 😉
Come by and check out my Top Ten Freebie @ Book Hangovers
xoxo Michelle
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(This actually isn’t my Freebie week! For that, it’s here: Freebie Week (May 27))
But yes those book bromances make those novels what they are!
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The bromance in Proxy destroyed me in the best possible way. Also seconding everyone who’s telling you to read Locke Lamora, because Locke and Jean are possibly the best platonic life partners ever.
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Haha, duly noted on Locke. I know Guardian just came out in stores but after the ending in Proxy…I’m not sure if I want to know!
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