The Private Side of Friendship

 The Private Side of Friendship

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       March 27, 2026

 

Author  Alexander McCall Smith

Distributor:      New South Books
ISBN:                 9781846977299
Publisher:         Polygon
Release Date:   1 February 2026  

   Website:   https://newsouthbooks.com.au/books/the-private-side-of-friendship/

FaceBook:    

YouTube:   

Instagram:   

X Formally Twitter:    

As always, Alexander McCall Smith delivers an interesting story about people, their thoughts and ideas and interactions in The Private Side of Friendship. This time the familiar setting in Edinburgh is once again used to embrace the characters and set the scene.

Mrs Donald has a large and spacious house with six bedrooms to let out to university students. Julie is the first to see the advertisement and immediately makes contact. Mrs Donald appoints her as the person to screen and accept students for the other five rooms.

Julie’s friend Angela is amazed at the airy, spacious, light flat with her own choice of bedrooms. Georgia is the next student to apply to rent the room. Georgia is the daughter of a wealthy orthopaedic surgeon she is studying Political Theory and had not thought about where this would lead. Then there was Ian and Neil. They too fell in love with the house and accepted the terms and conditions both formal and informal.

Because of the different study areas that the group have, their conversations were varied and interesting. We learn a great deal about the passions and forward thinking of them. Their interactions raise many ethical issues. As Angela comes from a mining area where the Miners strikes are ongoing, she feels that Georgia would benefit by coming to visit, help at the volunteers’ group and gain an insight into the situation.

The group meet at a reunion when Georgia decides to get married in Scotland. It is four years after they have all gone their separate ways. There is so much to catch up on, and a few confessions to make. Such friendships as these will be long lasting and each of the former students will always hold a place in each other’s hearts. The long intense discussions over late night cocoa will remain an integral part of their years together.

Fiction, General