“I’m not in love with you, I’m in love with the idea of you.”
— Macallan thinking about Levi and their complicated relationship.
Archivist's Choice
Better off Friends
Elizabeth Eulberg (2014)
Genre
Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
240 min
Key Themes
See below
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Childhood best friends Macallan and Levi navigate the tricky waters of platonic friendship, battling external assumptions and their own doubts about whether they are truly 'just friends' or meant for something more.
Synopsis
Macallan and Levi meet at the hospital as kids and become instant best friends. Throughout middle school and high school, their platonic bond is strong, despite everyone around them insisting that guys and girls can't 'just be friends.' They date other people, always returning to each other as their main confidantes, often harming their romantic relationships. After a prom pact, Levi begins to realize his feelings for Macallan, leading to a kiss that throws their friendship into chaos. They struggle with the aftermath, avoiding each other until a reconnection forces Macallan to confront her own feelings. Finally, at the airport, they confess their love and decide to begin a new, romantic relationship, acknowledging that they are better off as more than friends.
Reading time
240 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Heartwarming, Humorous, Sweet, Romantic
✓ Read this if...
You love classic 'friends-to-lovers' tropes with witty banter and a slow-burn romance.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike books where the main characters spend a long time denying obvious feelings or are looking for high-stakes drama.
Plot Summary
First Encounter: The Hospital
The story begins with Macallan and Levi's friendship, starting in a hospital waiting room when they are seven. Macallan is there because her brother, Will, broke his arm, and Levi is there with his mother, a nurse. They bond over a shared love for 'Star Wars' and find an immediate, easy connection. This chance meeting sets the foundation for their lasting friendship, establishing the comfortable, playful dynamic that will define their relationship for years.
Middle School Mishaps
As Macallan and Levi navigate middle school, their friendship becomes central to their lives. They attend the same school, live in the same town, and their families become close, often sharing meals and holidays. They develop many inside jokes and a shorthand way of communicating, making them inseparable. However, this closeness also starts to cause minor problems. Other kids, especially potential romantic interests, often mistake their bond for something more, leading to awkward encounters. This begins a pattern where their friendship unintentionally interferes with their individual dating lives. Despite these minor hurdles, they remain 'just friends.'
High School and Dating Dilemmas
In high school, Macallan and Levi's friendship is stronger than ever, but their attempts at dating others become more complicated. Macallan struggles to get asked out because boys assume she is with Levi, or they feel intimidated by their intense bond. Levi, similarly, finds his dates often feel secondary to his connection with Macallan, as he frequently jokes with her or prioritizes their shared activities. A key point is when Levi dates Macallan's friend, Danielle, which creates an uncomfortable dynamic, forcing Macallan to confront her own feelings of jealousy and exclusion. She attributes this to concern for Danielle rather than romantic interest in Levi.
The Prom Pact
As junior prom approaches, both Macallan and Levi are dateless. In a moment of shared frustration, they make a pact to find dates for each other. This leads to a series of humorous and ultimately disastrous double dates, where their chemistry as friends overshadows any potential romantic connection with their partners. The failed attempts show how deeply ingrained their friendship is and how difficult it is for them to truly connect with others when they constantly compare them to each other. The experience solidifies their bond, even as it makes their dating lives more challenging.
Levi's Revelation
Following the prom debacle and other dating misfires, Levi starts to realize his feelings for Macallan might be more than platonic. He observes her with other boys, feels a pang of jealousy, and finds himself increasingly drawn to her in a way that goes beyond friendship. He struggles with this realization, fearing that confessing his feelings could jeopardize their unique and precious bond. This internal conflict marks a turning point for Levi, as he begins to see Macallan not just as his best friend, but as a potential romantic partner, leading to introspection and uncertainty.
College Decisions and Distance
As senior year progresses, Macallan and Levi face the prospect of college and potential separation. They apply to different schools, with Macallan set on a university far from home and Levi considering options closer by. The thought of being apart for the first time brings a new layer of anxiety and introspection to their relationship. This impending distance forces both of them to confront what their friendship truly means to them and whether it can withstand the challenges of being geographically separated, adding pressure to their already complex dynamic.
The Kiss and Its Aftermath
During an emotional conversation about their future and the possibility of separate colleges, the tension between Macallan and Levi ends in a spontaneous kiss. This moment is both exhilarating and terrifying, as it blurs the lines of their carefully constructed friendship. The immediate aftermath is a mix of confusion, excitement, and fear. They both struggle to process what the kiss means for their relationship, leading to awkwardness and a temporary strain on their otherwise effortless connection. This event forces them to directly address the romantic undertones that have always been present beneath their platonic surface.
The Avoidance and Reconnection
After the kiss, Macallan and Levi fall into an uncomfortable period of avoidance and uncertainty. They both try to pretend it didn't happen, but the unspoken tension remains. Their usual easy banter is replaced with awkward silences and strained conversations. Eventually, they realize they can't ignore it forever. They have a difficult but necessary conversation, acknowledging the kiss and the complex feelings it stirred. This discussion, though challenging, begins the process of understanding what they truly want from their relationship and whether they are willing to risk their friendship for something more.
Macallan's Realization
Through introspection and conversations with her brother, Will, and her friend, Danielle, Macallan begins to process her own feelings for Levi. She reflects on all the moments when she felt jealous or protective, realizing they came from a deeper romantic attraction rather than just platonic concern. The thought of Levi being with someone else, or of losing him to distance, makes her finally confront the truth of her emotions. This realization is a turning point for Macallan, as she moves from denying her feelings to actively acknowledging and accepting them.
The Airport Confession
The day Levi is set to leave for college arrives, and Macallan goes to the airport to say goodbye. The impending separation, coupled with their unresolved feelings, creates an emotional environment. In a moment of raw honesty and urgency, Macallan confesses her love for Levi, admitting she doesn't want him to leave without knowing how she truly feels. This confession is a culmination of years of suppressed emotions and a brave step into the unknown for their relationship, marking a moment where they both lay their hearts bare.
A New Beginning
Following Macallan's confession at the airport, Levi reciprocates her feelings. They decide to try a long-distance relationship, acknowledging the challenges but prioritizing their love for each other. They commit to making it work, understanding that their deep friendship provides a strong foundation for a romantic partnership. The ending signals a new chapter for Macallan and Levi, transforming their long-standing 'better off friends' dynamic into a committed romantic relationship, proving that sometimes, the best relationships grow from the deepest friendships.
Principal Figures
Macallan 'Mac' Stankowski
The Protagonist
Macallan evolves from a girl convinced of platonic friendship to someone who embraces her romantic feelings for her best friend, Levi.
Leviathan 'Levi' Bloom
The Protagonist
Levi matures from suppressing his romantic feelings for Macallan to bravely confessing them, accepting the risk for true love.
Will Stankowski
The Supporting
Will remains a consistent source of support and wisdom for Macallan, helping her navigate her complex feelings.
Danielle
The Supporting
Danielle learns to navigate the complexities of her friends' relationships and becomes a more understanding confidante.
Macallan's Parents
The Supporting
They remain a constant, loving presence, providing a stable backdrop for Macallan's growth.
Levi's Mother
The Supporting
She remains a loving and supportive parent, fostering the strong family bonds.
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Friendship vs. Romance
This central theme explores the blurry line between deep platonic friendship and romantic love. Macallan and Levi spend years convinced they are 'just friends,' even as their bond consistently interferes with their attempts to date others. The narrative constantly questions if their intense connection is truly platonic or if it is a form of love that has simply been mislabeled. Scenes like the prom pact and their respective dating mishaps directly illustrate how their friendship is so deep that it often mimics or overshadows romantic relationships, making it difficult for them to see the truth.
“Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan's friends. They are platonic and happy that way.”
Fear of Change and Loss
Both Macallan and Levi are afraid of changing their relationship dynamic because of the potential loss of their cherished friendship. This fear prevents them from acknowledging or acting on their romantic feelings for a long time. The thought of college separation forces them to confront this fear, as the prospect of losing each other to distance becomes more daunting than the risk of exploring a romantic relationship. The kiss, and the subsequent awkwardness, highlights their struggle with this fear, as they initially try to revert to their 'safe' friendship rather than face the unknown.
“The thought of losing him as a friend was almost as terrifying as the thought of losing him as something more.”
The Power of Communication (and Lack Thereof)
The story highlights the importance of open communication, particularly in close relationships. Macallan and Levi's inability to openly discuss their true feelings for years leads to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and prolonged emotional turmoil. Their shared history and comfort often allow them to communicate non-verbally, but when it comes to their deepest emotions, their silence creates barriers. Only when they finally articulate their feelings, particularly Macallan's confession at the airport, are they able to move forward and establish a genuine romantic connection.
“We were so good at talking about everything... except the one thing that really mattered.”
Identity and Self-Discovery
Throughout the story, Macallan and Levi are on a journey of self-discovery, particularly in understanding their own emotions and desires. Macallan struggles with her identity outside of her friendship with Levi, realizing how intertwined their lives are. Levi grapples with his feelings, trying to reconcile his desire for Macallan with his fear of jeopardizing their friendship. Their individual dating experiences and the looming decision of college force them to look inward and define who they are and what they truly want, leading them to the realization that their happiness is intertwined.
“I always thought I knew exactly who I was, but it turns out, I only knew who I was with Levi.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Flashback/Alternating Perspectives
The story alternates between Macallan's and Levi's points of view, often revisiting key moments.
The novel uses alternating first-person perspectives from Macallan and Levi, often with chapters titled by their names. This allows the reader direct access to both characters' internal thoughts, feelings, and interpretations of shared events. Crucially, the narrative frequently revisits pivotal moments, first from one character's perspective and then the other's, revealing their differing (or surprisingly similar) emotional states and delayed realizations. This device effectively builds dramatic irony and suspense, as the reader often knows one character's feelings before the other does, highlighting the communication gap between them and the gradual evolution of their romantic awareness.
Inside Jokes and Shared History
A multitude of private jokes and a long, intertwined history that defines their unique bond.
Macallan and Levi's relationship is characterized by a wealth of inside jokes, pop culture references (especially 'Star Wars'), and a shared history spanning their entire lives. This device serves to illustrate the depth and exclusivity of their bond, often making outsiders feel excluded and emphasizing why dating others is so difficult for them. These shared experiences and private language act as a barrier to new relationships, reinforcing the idea that no one else 'gets' them quite like they get each other. It also provides comfort and familiarity, making the idea of changing their relationship even more daunting.
The 'Just Friends' Trope
The central premise that challenges the traditional 'friends-to-lovers' narrative.
The novel directly engages with the popular 'just friends' trope, presenting Macallan and Levi as characters who genuinely believe they can maintain a purely platonic friendship despite societal pressure and obvious chemistry. The entire plot revolves around them trying to uphold this belief, only for various events and their own maturing feelings to constantly challenge it. The story subverts the initial premise by ultimately confirming that, for them, 'just friends' was a temporary state leading to something more, making their eventual transition to romance more impactful and earned.
The Airport Confession
A classic romantic trope used for a climactic declaration of love.
The airport confession is a well-known romantic plot device employed in the climax of the story. With Levi about to leave for college, Macallan rushes to the airport to make a last-minute declaration of her love. This device creates heightened tension and urgency, emphasizing the 'now or never' stakes of their relationship. It acts as the ultimate catalyst for their transition from friends to lovers, providing a dramatic and emotionally charged resolution to their long-standing romantic tension and solidifying their commitment to each other despite impending distance.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Sometimes the person you’re meant to be with is the person you’ve been with all along.”
— A general theme reflecting Macallan and Levi's journey.
“Being friends with someone you’re in love with is like torture.”
— Macallan's internal struggle with her feelings for Levi.
“Maybe being friends first is the best way to fall in love.”
— A hopeful thought about the foundation of their relationship.
“You can’t force love, no matter how much you want it to happen.”
— Reflecting on past attempts to make relationships work.
“We were always just Macallan and Levi. Always.”
— Emphasizing their constant connection despite other people and events.
“It’s hard to let go of someone you’ve known your whole life.”
— Macallan contemplating the possibility of losing Levi as a friend.
“Sometimes you have to break a few hearts to find your own.”
— A reflection on the dating experiences both characters go through.
“The best kind of love story starts with a friendship.”
— A romantic ideal that the book explores and ultimately supports.
“You don't just fall in love with someone's good parts. You fall in love with all of them.”
— Macallan realizing the depth of her feelings for Levi, including his flaws.
“It's scary to think about what life would be like without your best friend.”
— The fear of separation and the importance of their bond.
“Maybe we were always meant to be more than friends. We just had to figure it out.”
— A hopeful and retrospective thought on their evolving relationship.
“True love isn't about being perfect for each other, it's about being perfect together.”
— A mature understanding of love that develops over the course of the story.
“You can't choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose to be brave enough to admit it.”
— The struggle and eventual courage to confess feelings.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Better off Friends' explores the long-standing, seemingly platonic friendship between Macallan and Levi from childhood into young adulthood. The core conflict revolves around whether a boy and girl can truly remain 'just friends' when everyone around them, and their own developing feelings, suggest otherwise.
