In this joyous, big-hearted novel, “All Friends Are Necessary” by Tomas Moniz delivers readers a commanding new story about the power of friendship, community, and the families we create for ourselves.

Meet our protagonist, Efren “Chino” Flores. He has just moved back to the Bay Area from Seattle, navigating life after a stunning loss that changed everything. Once a beloved middle school biology teacher with a loving wife and a child on the way, Chino now finds himself working temp jobs, terrified of commitment, and struggling to put himself back out into the world.

But there to nurture Chino is a coterie of new and old friends and lovers who form a protective web around him. Among them are a red-haired metalhead with a soft spot for Courtney Love and a rangy dog named Sabbath; and a couple whose literary edge is matched only by the success of their secret OnlyFans account.

As Chino begins to date more men and women, opening himself up again to love, his bonds with other people grow both rich and profound. Like a fern blooming in the wake of a forest fire, new life emerges after even the most devastating upheaval.

Moniz weaves gorgeous, heart-rending detail into a seemingly infinite catalogue of tender, unexpected interactions. His prose creates a striking mosaic of desire and belonging. The novel becomes an anthem to both queer and platonic love, evincing the wonder of friendship and the joy of giving oneself up to the essential force of community.

“All Friends Are Necessary” is a celebration of human connection. Moniz's exploration of love, loss, and resilience resonates deeply, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, friends are the lifelines that keep us afloat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is not for me. I could not get through it no matter how hard I tried. I gave it multiple attempts and could not get past the halfway mark.

A thoughtful look at friendship in queer communities, which is refreshing when often romantic books are prioritized over platonic ones.

"All Friends Are Necessary" by Tomas Moniz is a joyful, poignant and tender novel that highlights the love formed between a chosen family and a group of friends, both before and during COVID. I loved Moniz' exploration of different types of relationships and his examination of ways to play and get away from toxic masculinity. The author achieves great character depth in a short novel. The book also felt very real in terms of grief, and characters facing their own failings in the face of it. Oakland and Northern California provide a wonderful setting and almost felt like their own character. I love that Moniz's author's note ends with a request for readers to write him snail mail letters and a promise to answer. It feels like a fitting end to this kind-hearted book. I will miss these characters, especially Chino and Metal Matt. Thanks to Alongquin Books and Netgalley for an eARC.

Indeed, all friends are necessary and for platonic love to be featured so prominently (more so than the romantic relations) in a novel is precious to me. After a personal tragedy upends his life, Efren "Chino" Flores moves back to the Bay Area where his lifelong friends reside. Together, the friends go through the waves of life: dating, job opportunities/losses, protests, and, eventually, a pandemic. Yet, their love for each other is never tested but rather steadfast. Moniz conjures such evocative descriptions of both setting and characters. The redwoods and native ferns are as much characters as Chino and his group. You, the reader, feel close to these friends, it's as if you were there with them. Just an excellent portrait of a community.

I was sent an ARC by the editor of this book. Thank you to the team at Algonquin Books and Hachette Book Group. "All Friends Are Necessary" will be available in the US on June 11, 2024.

I think this book was good. I requested it because it sounded interesting, and it was. The cast of characters was interesting and all so different from one another. I love the setting and environment this book created it really helped to create well rounded and dynamic characters