We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends

“We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends” by Billy Baker is a candid, humorous, and relatable exploration of the challenges and complexities of adult friendships.

In this memoir, Baker, a Boston Globe journalist, reflects on his personal struggle to maintain meaningful connections as an adult, diving into the pressures, awkwardness, and sometimes comical efforts required to keep friendships alive in a busy and often isolating world.

Baker's writing is both witty and poignant, balancing humor with emotional depth as he recounts his own efforts to nurture friendships—especially after the busy, commitment-heavy years of early adulthood have passed.

He also causes in the book, a little too much for me!

But in the book, as he grapples with the realities of balancing family life, work, and other responsibilities, the memoir touches on the universal experience of realizing that, despite being surrounded by people, one can still feel profoundly lonely.

Baker's vulnerability in sharing his own shortcomings, fears, and desires to reconnect with others is endearing, making it easy for readers to see themselves in his story.

The book also explores the broader societal shifts that affect friendships, such as the rise of digital communication and the pressures of work-life balance. Baker raises important questions about what it means to truly connect with others in a world that often seems too busy for real human interaction.

Though the narrative occasionally leans into the personal—sometimes even self-deprecating—Baker’s ability to balance humor with emotional resonance makes “We Need to Hang Out” a satisfying read. It's a reflection on the importance of making time for the friendships that can help sustain us, even in a world that makes it increasingly difficult to do so. The book serves as a reminder that while building and maintaining friendships as an adult can be awkward and challenging, it’s also one of the most fulfilling endeavors in life.

Fans of memoirs that blend personal storytelling with broader cultural observations will appreciate Baker's thoughtful, entertaining approach to a topic that often goes overlooked in discussions about adulthood.