If you're interested in how TV has evolved, how the sitcom fits in with the growing popularity of reality TV, game shows, and procedural shows, then this is a great one to read!

NetGalley, Karen Dowling

Good deep dive into friends and sitcoms from that area. I loved the crossovers between other sitcoms with the focus generally being on friends.

NetGalley, Ruth Parker

I absolutely loved this. It's a sad read with Matthew Perry's passing recently, but a really special treat as a friends fan! It's a great insight into the world of sitcoms, how successful the show truly was, and what made it so golden. It makes me want to rewatch the series for the hundredth time!

NetGalley, Kelsey Grace

I am a huge Friends fan, I can and will quote the series at random and at will. This was such an enjoyable thesis-style recount of the series, going into it in depth season-by-season.

It discusses the fun and exciting storylines (Monica and Chandler's relationship, Emma's birth), but also the lack of representation on the screens in terms of people of colour, and Matthew Perry's struggle with addiction throughout the show. It was such an interesting read, and I even managed to learn some tidbits I hadn't known.

I also really enjoyed the look into other big sit comes of the time, such as Fraiser, Seinfled, or newer players in the game like Scrubs or Will and Grace. Reading about their impact on television and pop culture as a whole was really informative.

NetGalley, Aoife B

A fascinating book about one of my favourite tv shows ever. Loved reading about the behind the scenes for this show.
Brought back so many happy memories of watching this series and the additional information about other shows was great too.

NetGalley, Susanne Baker

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As a long-time Friends fan, I was reluctant that this book would give me any new insights. I was wrong! I really enjoyed this in-depth look that not only gives new tidbits of Friends trivia, but also situates the show within the context of the television landscape at the time. You hear about how Friends got on the air and how it competes against other shows on the network and on other networks, too. It's an interesting look at the dynamics at play in the entertainment industry. There are investigations into the things that worked well on Friends and the things that don't hold up so well later on (racism, fat shaming, etc.).

NetGalley, Courtney Eger

A well written analysis of Friends and the sitcoms that ran during this period. It delves into what worked, impact and the problematic elements of the show.

NetGalley, TIYASHA GANGULY

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Okay, people, I have a confession. I was late to the "Friends" party. Like, *really* late. As in, I just finished binge-watching all ten seasons for the first time *ever* late. (I know, I know, where have I been?!) I was excited when I saw this book pop up on NetGalley and I decided to pair it with my "Friends" marathon. I had to pace myself with this book - I didn't want any spoilers!

What I loved most was how Hagan puts "Friends" into context. It wasn't just some random sitcom that appeared out of thin air. She talks about the evolution of sitcoms in the 90s, bringing back so many memories of shows I used to watch (and some I'd totally forgotten about!). Remember "Frasier"? "Mad About You"? "Dharma & Greg"? Hagan takes you on a trip down memory lane, reminding you of all the gems that graced our screens back then.

What I appreciated most was how Hagan dug into the nitty-gritty of why *Friends* worked so well. She explains how little things—like syndication deals and prime-time slots—played a huge role in its success. It contextualizes *Friends* within the broader landscape of television, weaving in shows like *Seinfeld*, *Frasier*, and *Scrubs* (flashback to me binge watching Scrubs on my laptop while stuck at an airport during a flight delay!).

There were discussion points on the the problematic aspects of "Friends." The lack of diversity, the fat-shaming of Monica, and some of the questionable storylines...it dove into the characters, the writing, and the cultural impact of the show.

I found the book to be engaging and informative, enough history sprinkled in to feel like I was learning but lots of references to each episode that paired well with me watching the show alongside it. Plus, if you’re a 90s kid, this book is packed with blasts from the past that bring you back to the good ol’ days when you actually had to wait a week for the next episode AND watch the commercials.

NetGalley, Taya Cassens

Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom offers an engaging exploration of one of television's most beloved series and its impact on the sitcom genre. The book is well-researched and provides insightful context about the era in which Friends emerged and how it shaped the comedy landscape.

NetGalley, Rachel Bock

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Just finished reading this and it may be my favorite book of 2024. The book goes back and forth between sharing all the important information and little known facts about Friends but it also goes into depth about the tv industry around that time. I learned a lot about the tv industry history from early 1990s to 2000s here. Any fan of Friends will LOVE it as the main topic but tv buffs will learn a lot and get a better understanding of the industry at that time. Must read.

NetGalley, Joey Haverford

As a big fan of “ Friends “ and several other US sitcoms made around the same time, this was a perfect read. I knew a lot of the information before but I thought the book was interesting and entertaining .
I've just started rewatching the series ..yet again…. But it’s bittersweet now with the passing of Matthew Perry.
A must read for a “ Friends” fan.

NetGalley, Alison Bevington

This was a very educational read about the golden age of sitcoms (especially friends). And as a friends fan I absolutely loved the way the chapters were titled.

NetGalley, Autumn Ruth

As a huge FRIENDS fan who grew up with the show, watching it during its first airing on television, I had to request this book. And it didn't disappoint! It goes through all ten seasons of the show, even as, in parallel, it sets and builds the scene of the US sitcom industry (with some reference to the British industry, when talking about the show being aired there) throughout that decade. There was a good balance of industry tidbits to delight my nerdy heart and a critical reflection on and analysis of this iconic show (I appreciated how honest it was about elements that were problematic then and remain so today -- while also highlighting all the ways in which it was progressive and visionary). A very enjoyable book that situates and examines FRIENDS in the context of what is known as the Golden Age of the Sitcom.

NetGalley, Anushree Nande

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Very interesting title. Loved that the author doesn't focus only on "Friends," but also talks about other sitcoms on the time. Very enjoyable read with lots of fun details!

NetGalley, Carolyn Dunkins

An excellent behind the scenes story about the sitcom Friends! I could watch this show on repeat daily, and this book has given me even more information about episodes that I did not know. I look forward to rewatching the series with my new knowledge!

NetGalley, Jennifer Barnes

A great read for FRIENDS fans and students of media alike. It was packed with trivia about the show, characters and actors and provided an in depth analysis and commentary about other sitcoms and shows that were broadcast around the same time. Informative, interesting and entertaining. As someone who watched friends right from the start it provided a high level of nostalgia for me. .

NetGalley, Bettina Hunt

First off, this book is not just about Friends, the popular 1990s TV show, but about the 1990s sitcoms and television in general from that period of time. The majority of the book is about Friends, the NBC network’s Must-See TV lineup, which started back in the 1980s with The Cosby Show, and how they tried to dominate by offering up endless sitcoms. There is some talk about British television in the fact that some of the American shows were exported to various channels there, much like some British shows appear here in the U.S. on PBS.

What I find interesting about the book is not the rehash of Friends’ seasons, which can be had in any number of places, but how the show evolved and changed. Also important to note is the reflections of the show’s creators addressing the now-problematic issues with the show: fatphobia, homophobia, lack of diversity, and how they admit they got those things terribly wrong. It’s clear most of us have learned and grown with the years, and some aspects of the show which we once thought were hilarious fall flat now.

Some of the other shows mentioned include Suddenly Susan, Sports Night, Veronica’s Closet, Just Shoot Me, Caroline in the City, Spin City, The Drew Carey Show, Dharma & Greg, Will & Grace, and Ellen. Many of those shows are in syndication on retro TV channels in the U.S. right now like Antenna TV, Catchy TV, and Me TV, and some have aged better than others.

There’s also discussion of the TV landscape in general, with popular dramas like E.R. and The West Wing, Law & Order, and the return of the prime-time game show like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, as well as the major networks’ foray into reality TV with Survivor and The Bachelor.

I found this book very interesting from a nostalgia standpoint, not only for Friends, but also the time in which the show aired.

NetGalley, Jennifer J

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Literally anything about friends is a win for me.

If you’re a friends bossed fan like me, this is well worth the read.

Il be there for you !

NetGalley, Nathalie Charlebois

This book was a nostalgic journey for me, as Friends has always been, and continues to be, my ultimate comfort show. I often rewatch the series, and diving into the behind-the-scenes details made the experience even more enjoyable.

The book offers a deep dive into the making of Friends while also exploring other iconic NBC shows from the same era, such as Will & Grace and Frasier, which are also personal favourites of mine. It was fascinating to learn how Friends consistently topped NBC’s ratings season after season and how many of the creative decisions made were groundbreaking for television at the time...

Since reading this book, I’ve been inspired to revisit many of the shows mentioned, and it’s been a fantastic trip down memory lane. Despite my desire for more photographs, Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom is a must-read for fans of the show and anyone who loves the golden era of ’90s sitcoms.

Thank you again to the publisher for granting me this reading wish. It was a wonderful and insightful experience!

NetGalley, Nicole Reed

What a trip down memory lane! Joanna Hagan travels through each season of Friends, putting them in the context of the period and main events, as well as the sitcoms coming and going through its run…. Many of which the reader will probably have forgotten about as the success of Friends could not be replicated and many shows didn’t make it through a full season. A must read for Friends fans.

NetGalley, Katherine Richard

Amongst the numerous sitcoms that were created at the time of Friends, the latter is one of the only that is still popular today. Why has Friends became so popular along the years to become a classic? Because let's be honest, the competition was tough at the time. That's what Joanna Hagan is going to decrypt.

This book was a really interesting retrospective of the golden age of sitcoms, as it didn't only focus on Friends. This author compares all types of sitcoms, from the most popular to the ones who failed from their pilots; the war between the channels to be at the top. She also answers the most important question: why has Friends remained so popular until today.

NetGalley, Laura B

Friends is my all-time favorite show, so I was excited to read this book. While it covered a lot more than just Friends (it looked at the history of many other 1990s/early 2000s shows — think Seinfeld, West Wing, Cheers, Will and Grace, etc. — and behind the scenes at the major TV networks), I still found it interesting and enjoyed reading it.

NetGalley, Brittney Storm Rankin

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I loved Friends and this was a fun trip down memory lane... If you like reading about TV, this is a great book!

NetGalley, Christina Gonzalez

I loved this look into sitcoms and how Friends managed to affect and continue to bring nostalgia to so many. I liked the look into what the producers did to help this show be different and leave a lasting impression.

NetGalley, Suzy Card

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I love Friends and I have seen every episode so I was looking forward to learning more about / behind the scenes of the show and this book was full of fantastic information and quotes.

NetGalley, A D

I really enjoyed this non-fiction all about Friends and a brief history of sitcoms.

I'm a big Friends fan – and, yes, I can admit it has plenty of pitfalls and shortcomings – so this made for a light, easy and fascinating end-of-summer read. In it, Hagan expertly delves into the success of Friends and how it came to be, but also what it became. The author shares behind-the-scenes snippets that add weight to her opinions, and it felt like a well-researched book. What's more, it's interwoven with the fabric of sitcom life in the US and UK. I appreciated the backdrop of other sitcoms that were popular at the time – especially understanding some of the cameos in the show! I liked that Hagan criticised the diversity and inclusivity of the show, the awful sexism and fatphobia, and picked up on other issues too. An insightful and compelling read.

NetGalley, Michelle Chai

As seen in

Library Journal

Great book for ultimate fans of friends with some fab behind the scene facts and trivia!

NetGalley, Michaela Randell

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this! I liked reading about what made FRIENDS so special compared to other shows at the time. How the writers kept it from being like all the other sitcoms by writing the unexpected story lines for the characters was interesting to read about. Knowing about the time and thought that went into a lot of my favourite episodes makes me love them even more. Reading about the networks and how they were all competing, how they configured their line ups and and how shows were picked up or canceled was eye-opening. Some shows I had never even heard of and a lot I had forgotten about. The introduction of HBO and the rise of game shows and reality TV made more of an impact that I realized.

Even though all these years later, we've come to realize that the show was not without its problems given some of the story lines, the culture significance, the friendships, and the nostalgia still holds strong.

NetGalley, Stephanie Kimberley

I am a big fan of the TV show Friends and it’s always fun to see a behind the curtain look at episodes and what the writers, producers and Directors were thinking when they chose certain scenes.

NetGalley, Roxi Wasmer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As someone who watches endless reruns of Friends, i absolutely adored this book.

With new insights into the filming of the show and cross referencing from other books including Matthew Perry’s biography - it’s a truly interesting read.

I loved that it answered why Friends was so popular in the age of the sitcom, and how it became the behemoth that it is now.

NetGalley, Chloe Barnfield

I liked Friends and watched it throughout its run and still watch it occasionally. This book gives you a high level yet comprehensive review of the show. It was interesting getting the behind-the-scenes scoop on what was happening with some of the episodes.

NetGalley, Teena in Toronto

I love Friends so this was an interesting read for me. I don’t remember when it first aired so it was good to get some of the back ground and some of the commentary behind some of the decisions and the scenes.

NetGalley, Erin & Kirsty .

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Love love loved this book. As a huge friends fan it was just a perfect hit of nostalgia and I really enjoyed hearing some of the info I hadn’t come across before!

NetGalley, Leanne Mitson

This is a great look into the history of the sitcom, a breakdown of the different seasons of Friends, and interesting looks at the place this era will have in television history! I'm not usually a nonfiction girl, but I love my sitcoms, and this was a fun read!

NetGalley, Megan O'Brien

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I am a Friends fan, despite being aware of its more problematic features. I find myself quoting it constantly in real-life situations. I've done the Friends' "Experience" three times (once driving from NYC up to Boston on a day trip just to do so). And I've read all the books, articles, and interviews with various cast members, producers, and anyone who has ever been involved with the show and has spoken about it. So I was curious to see if I would learn anything new from this book.

And I did. If you are interested in the show and/or the rise and fall (and maybe rise again?) of the situation comedy in the 90s and early 2000s, this is a fascinating read. And it turns out I am. Of course, I'm old enough to remember some of the shows discussed--on the other hand, I had no idea how many shows passed through the small screen briefly.

I was fascinated by the discussions of how the shows were filmed, what constituted a "concept" show, and in how Friends was situated in these contexts. I found the discussions of how reality shows impacted the industry as well as the tidbits about how different casts interacted with each other, what personal factors informed outcomes on many shows. While I'm interested in theater and films, I did not expect to find this kind of information as engaging, even absorbing, as I did.

This is at least in part due to the excellent quality of the writing. Smooth, fluid, easy to follow, I was carried along the flow of information presented in a conversational, informal tone. The author expresses her personal opinions from time to time but in a way that augments rather than interferes with flow of the book.

Reading this book felt like having a conversation with a very knowledgeable industry insider, one who loves the show and the business of television and is eager to share it. Also, someone who is articulate and easy to listen to.

The more problematic aspects of Friends are covered: the fat jokes, the homophobic jokes, the lack of diversity, amongst others. Also covered are the strengths: ways in which Friends avoided many of the common pitfalls of sitcom writing, the strengths of the relationships of the characters, The favorable depiction of Ross's ex-wife marriage (Susan--his ex-wife's wife--is presented for the most part in a negative light but I would argue that this more because she committed adultery with Carol and, from his point of view, broke up their marriage--however, Susan and Carol's relationship is clearly strong and loving).

As a fan, I naturally loved the discussions of the more technical aspects of the show, the writing, direction, plot choices. I thought I'd read all there was to say, but not at all. Of course I was familiar with much of the information but there was much more that was unfamiliar and the placing the show in the context of its time as well as its position in NBC's line-up gave the subject greater depth than a usual simple fan read.

I highly recommend this book if you like Friends and/or are interested in the television industry and its relationship to the society in which it's situated.

NetGalley, Ellen Archer

Me and my friend planned a whole night round this book for her birthday and it did not disappoint. A must for any friends fan, we laughed, we cried, we learn new things it was so interesting and full of information.
Love it.

NetGalley, Jade A

A really interesting books which covers much more that it’s title might suggest. Not just for fans of the sitcoms, Friends, this is an intriguing analysis of television and society and how viewing habits have changed and been influenced over time. Well worth a read if you are into social history beyond entertainment and media.

NetGalley, Louise Gray

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Could this BE any better? I absolutely adored this! I was (am) a huge Friends fan and this was a really interesting read. I particularly enjoyed the tidbits about other sitcoms, ones I‘d almost forgotten about but the memories came flooding back! Caroline in the City, Becker, Cybill, Dharma and Greg; I loved them all.
I learned facts I didn’t know and I left this book with a new appreciation for the behind the scenes world of TV. It’s a great book and I hope it finds its audience- I’ll be buying a copy for a couple of Friends super fans!

NetGalley, Tamsin Preece

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

No one told them life was going to be this way.
It's now been thirty years since Friends first took up residence on the comfy coffee shop sofa of US sitcom history. Twenty years on from when it ended, it still continues to thrive and is often watched today by Generation Z-ers (I.e. anyone currently between the ages of twelve and twenty-seven). Some of these viewers are perhaps nostalgic for a golden age they are too young to remember, a now magical era before social media existed. Although its not mentioned in this book, the recent apocalyptic film, Leave The World Behind ends with one teenaged character endlessly indulging herself in old episodes of the comedy as she sits in a nuclear bunker..
In truth, the main reason for Friends' enduring appeal is simply that it remains so watchable. The cast is attractive: Joey is thick ("if homo-sapiens were HOMO sapiens... is that why they're extinct?"), Chandler is funny ("“I can handle this. “Handle” is my middle name. Actually, “handle” is the middle of my first name.”), Phoebe is kooky ("Snowman, snowman, with eyes so bewitchin', How was I to know Mom was dead in the kitchen?"), Monica is bossy, Rachel is er...haircutty and Ross is pedantic and destructively jealous. Everyone wins.
It's true, as this book points out, that some bits have aged less well than others: e.g. Monica in a fat suit ("The camera adds ten pounds! "So how many cameras were actually on you?"), Chandler's Dad being played by Kathleen Turner, the tormenting of Ross over his lesbian wife and the general lack of ethnic diversity amongst the cast are some of the things that have been criticised since. But, in truth, Friends is not actually any worse for these things than most US sitcoms of the time, it's just Friends is watched so much still that its noticed more.
One strength of this book is that it doesn't just discuss Friends itself but the other sitcoms of the time. On it's arrival in 1994, Friends shared airspace with the new Cheers spin-off, Frasier, Seinfeld, Roseanne, Ellen and some lesser known to British audiences such as Mad About You. By the time it ended, Frasier was finishing too and the American version of The Office was about to start as Scrubs and Curb Your Enthusiasm also now stalked the Earth. Meanwhile, many other series such as Veronica's Closet, Caroline in the City and the wonderfully zany Third Rock From The Sun came and went in the meantime.
This is a good book anyway for anyone interested in this kind of thing. Fare thee well then, old Friends! As the song (almost) goes: "They'll be there for you." And, in truth, they probably are, right now. If you can just find the right TV channel.

NetGalley, Chris Hallam

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

If you're a television nerd like me I think you'll really enjoy this. This is a great behind the scenes look at one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, but also an in-depth look at the business of broadcasting and the landscape of primetime American television in the 90s and early 2000s.

This was well-researched and interesting. Each chapter covers a season of Friends and I really liked how the author framed what was happening in the show, with what was happening with other shows, across the networks and in the world in general. I love television and while I was too young to be paying attention at the very beginning of Friends' run, that early 2000s era is the one I grew up with and is where my love of television really developed. I also appreciated that there was focus given to the UK television and sitcom landscape at the time, as well as the impact that Friends had in the UK...

I would recommend this to anyone interested in television and sitcoms of the 90s/00s and I will definitely be on the lookout for more books like this in the future.

NetGalley, Elizabeth Pace

As a huge Friends fan, this was a fun read for me! There are very few TV shows that I enjoy rewatching but this is one of them! Not only have I rewatched the entire series multiple times when it went to streaming, but also rewatched favorite episodes many many times on best of DVDS, and of course on reruns. This made it very easy and enjoyable to understand references throughout the book without having to rewatch anything. It was very interesting to learn why the NBC network made different decisions as well as the writers. It was also interesting to learn about how these decisions played out within the time period of 1994-2004, as well as within the landscape of other TV shows at the time.

NetGalley, Beth Kalikstein

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom by Joanna Hagan is essential reading for every fan of this staple of 'must watch' TV. Few, if any, other shows have had such an enduring impact on pop culture since the inception of the television sitcom.

In these pages, the author takes a deep dive into the history of the beloved sitcom Friends from its very beginning through ten unprecedented years at the top of the ratings. Comparing and contrasting the phenomenal success of the show with its network contemporaries and rivals such as Seinfeld and Frasier during the golden age of television is a fascinating study. I was surprised to learn of some of the lesser known behind the scenes details of these shows that are so familiar.

This book is simply a must read for anyone who is even casually interested in an enduring age of television that has, inarguably, woven its way into the very fabric of our lives.

NetGalley, Andrea Pole

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

‘It’s so distinctly a part of modern culture that just the sight of an orange sofa, of purple walls and a yellow picture frame, of reclining chairs and a stuffed penguin toy, bring up memories of this television giant.’

Friends is my number one show to watch! If I’m sad, depressed, unwell, or going through something scary, I will ALWAYS return to friends.

Loved this and it is the perfect read for any Friends fan.

‘A whole new golden age of television awaits, but there will never be another friends.’

NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


I just finished Friends And The Golden Age Of The Sitcom, by Joanna Hagan.

This was a very good look at Friends and it’s ten-season run on TV. The book covered so much good material and will be enjoyed by any Friends fan. To a lesser extent, the book also discussed other shows during that era, which also made good reading.

I give this book an A.

NetGalley, Lee Sinins