I will read anything with Nicole Tersigni's name on it. I find her absolutely hilarious and 'Friends to Keep in Art and Life' is no exception. Nicole's sense of humor just calls to mine, which leads me to devouring her books in one sitting. I've already read 'Men to Avoid in Art and Life,' and this new book builds on the same premise of dialogue superimposed over classic works of art. The book was broken into four categories of friends, each one distinct and full of legendary gal-pals ready to tell you when bangs are not right for your face or clean you up after a night on the town. Outside of the funny little captions, the art chosen for the book is beautiful and equally so funny in the context Tersigni applies.

This is definitely going to be a go-to little side gift for any upcoming friend's birthdays.

This is a cute book, but not exactly what I imagined it to be. I didn’t finish reading it as it is not really for me, but I still think it’s a nice book for the right person.

I loved #mentoavoidinartandlife so I had to check out the #advancedreaderscopy of #friendstokeepinartandlife and it did not disappoint. These books are the perfect gift for the #artlover girls in your life. Or the perfect gift for your bff 👯‍♀️ that needs some culture. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read you should be sure to buy when it’s published later this summer. 📚📚📚 #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview

Let me start by saying that this book will be a home-run for some gals and their gal-friends, and I hope it finds its way to them because I know that if I were that sort of person, I would love this book to pieces.

It wasn't so much a home run for me, but that's only because I found it a little tiring how heavily it leaned into body humor and foul language. I like a good dirty joke as much as the next gal, but when it's page after page of swearing, it gets a little repetitive.

And indeed, some of the captions are extremely funny and well-done. The best ones were the ones where the caption relates specifically to the piece of art (for example, several naked women are cavorting in a park, while a fully-dressed friend tells them they've partied enough for one day, and it's time to check each other for ticks and gather up their bras so they can all head home). Another one that I loved: two women in an overgrown garden, one holding a lute and saying to the other "This song is called "You Are Buying Too Many Plants and This Is An Intervention." Relatable!

So this book is a bit of a mixed bag for me. But as I said at the top of my review, I want to be very fair, because for a certain demographic, this is going to be the best book ever - and I hope that they buy it and love it.

Extra kudos to the publisher for including a reference list of the paintings and artists' names at the back of the book. Unfortunately, this is rarely done in humor books that use classical art, and it always feel a little uncool to the original artist not to give them credit. This publisher has given full credit - and even listed the museum that houses the original piece. So huge shout-out to Chronicle Books on that front!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book places funny captions on classical works of art. Essentially it is a book of created memes with the focus on women and friendships. I found the section categorized as ‘Up for Anything Friends” to be especially funny. I can see this as a gift for female friends or a funny book to check out from a library. It reads quickly and it isn’t something isn’t something that causes you to think too deeply. I love art and that was one the main draws for me. The humor was very hit or miss. I appreciate that there is a listing of all the art titles, artists and the museums where they can be seen in the credits of the book. While I’m not claiming to have seen every work featured, I have been to every museum. Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books and the author for a temporary eARC in exchange for a review.

3.5 Stars. This book takes classical art and places funny captions about women's friendships over the images. The captions are divided into work friends, nurturing friends, hide a body for you friends, up for anything friends, and super honest friends. Some of the captions were funny but I felt like I had seen others before. I love art history so this is what drew me to the book rather than the captions. I was pleased to find that I have been to all the museums where the paintings are on display. I can see this book being a great gift for a best girl friend, or something to crack open on a girls night. I don't see it a something I will return to again and again.

Thank you to Chronicle Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this as a quick read, but it didn't make me laugh out loud. I also wanted more information about the paintings are why they were selected - without that context, I felt like something was missing. It's still a fun coffee table gift, but I would like to see more art information in future books.

This is a fun book, although I didn't understand a lot of the jokes, Because it's in such short section, it would be a good book for places where you need a book you can pick up and put down in a few minutes.

View classic works of art from a modern, snarky perspective in a celebration of all the types of friends that make life great.

This was absolutely delightful. I highly recommend this fun and quick read! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

In all honesty, this one didn't grab me as much as the first.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for giving me this ARC!

I stumbled on her first book without any notion of what I was in for. This time I knew what to expect and it did not disappoint. Not only are the captions hilarious, some of these paintings are so strange on their own. All in all, this was a riot. I may have also startled some of my pets by how loud my I laughed at a few of these. I can think of a few people who I need to purchase copies of this for! Can’t wait.

I did not find this hilarious or relatable. It lacked any true wit or cleverness, and honestly, it didn't seem like any thought was put into it.

In “Friends to Keep in Art and Life,” writer Nicole Tersigni places cheeky captions over classic artwork of women in pairs and groups. The intended effect is not only to amuse but also to celebrate various kinds of companions—the workmate, the nurturer, the ride-or-die BFF, the fun friend, and the super honest confidante.

I found this book cute and amusing. I didn’t think it was laugh-out-loud funny, but it provided a nice break and allowed me to reflect on the great people in my life. It would be the perfect coffee table book to set out when you’re having a girls’ night in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. My review was posted online on June 14, 2022 to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4785112402.

This is a delightful little book. I've been a fan of Nicole Tersigni's Instagram for while. I absolutely loved Men to Avoid in Art and Life. This book is the same concept, but concerns female friendships. I like that Tersigni takes paintings created mostly be men and catering to the male gaze and flipping the narrative, giving these women agency and character. I hear her next book will be on motherhood and I can't wait.

I absolutely loved Nicole’s first book (Men to avoid in art and life) and this book is no exception. Funny and sarcastic and full of gorgeous art. Definitely recommend getting a copy of this for all of your lady friends in your life.

I loved the author's first book, Men to Avoid in Art and LIfe. It was so true, and so funny, I had trouble finding just one or two images to use as an example.

But this second book, I found one image that I laughed at, and the rest just didn't work for me. It was nothing I would have ever said to a friend, or had a friend do. The pictures didn't match the dialogue, the way her first book did.

It was, in all, a great disappointment, but it could just be me. Perhaps I don't have friends like this, and other people do. I guess others get sloshed at lunch time, and take magic mushrooms at work. I guess others talk about attacking boyfriends. It was just dialogue I have never heard anyone say in life.

<em> Thanks to Netgalley fro making this book available for an honest review.</em>

Hilarious and fun this will have you calling your girlfriends to chat shit, talk about nothing and laugh. I can’t wait to gift it to all my ladies!!!

Putting witty remarks between friends on classical paintings makes for hilarious chortling and guffawing. I laughed so hard—-I just couldn’t stop and my husband looked at me funny. Having studied art history it was even funnier.

One of my favorites was Before the Ballet by Edgar Degas at the National Gallery of Art in DC. I have seen it there. The caption here is “why did I let you talk me into this class……..I think I sprained my ankle…….”

I think everyone can identify with many of these witticisms. Celebrate friendship and get this book. Laughter is the best medicine.

I received an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

Pros: I often dream of being an art historian, so I immediately wanted to read this book that is a modern, hilarious approach to featuring classical art in a meme-like way. My favorite part of this book is that its focus is on friendship! I feel that friendship is usually the relationship ignored in favor of featuring romantic relationships or family relationships. This book is obviously visually stunning as it features great works of art, and I think it would make a fantastic gift for all of my art-loving friends. I appreciated that the art credits section at the end not only named the work and the artist but also shared the location of the work of art!

Cons: None--this was fantastic. I want more books like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this book.