What Is The Book Tully About?

I picked up 'Tully' because a friend said it wrecked her, and wow, she wasn’t kidding. It’s a coming-of-age story, but not the rosy kind. Tully is this force of nature—bold, damaged, and desperate to escape her past. Her friendship with Jennifer is the heart of the book, but it’s not always healthy; it’s codependent, messy, and achingly real. The book dives into heavy stuff: poverty, abuse, the way love can both heal and destroy. What stood out to me was how Simons writes about class. Tully’s hunger for more—money, success, validation—drives her, but it also isolates her. Jennifer’s stability becomes a mirror Tully both resents and craves. There’s a scene where Tully visits Jennifer’s family home for the first time, and the tension is palpable—you feel her Envy and shame. The book’s pacing is slow-burn, but the emotional payoff is huge. It’s not a light read, but if you want something that feels like living a whole life in 400 pages, this is it.

Imagine a friendship so intense it borders on obsession—that’s 'Tully.' Paullina Simons crafts this unforgettable duo: Tully, wild and wounded, and Jennifer, her steady counterpart. Their dynamic is the book’s backbone, but it’s the gritty details that bring it to life. Tully’s home life is a nightmare, and her escape is Jennifer’s family, but that safety comes with its own tensions. The book’s middle section drags a bit, but stick with it. The final act is a punch to the chest. not for the faint of heart.

'Tully' by Paullina Simons is one of those books that sticks with you long after you turn the last page. It's a raw, emotional rollercoaster about friendship, love, and the scars life leaves behind. The story follows Tully Makker, a fiery, ambitious girl from a troubled home, and her best friend Jennifer, who comes from a more stable background. Their bond is intense, almost like sisters, but life keeps testing them—heartbreak, betrayal, and the kind of growing pains that make you question everything. What I love most is how unflinchingly real it feels. Tully isn’t perfect; she’s messy, selfish at times, but you root for her because her struggles are so human. The book doesn’t shy away from dark moments—abuse, loss, the weight of expectations—but it also has these bursts of joy that make the pain worth it. If you’ve ever had a friendship that felt like it could survive anything (or wondered if it could), this book will hit hard.

Simons’ writing is vivid, almost cinematic. There’s a scene where Tully and Jennifer drive through the night, laughing and screaming into the wind, that captures the wild, fleeting magic of youth. But the story also spans decades, showing how their lives diverge and reconnect. It’s not just about them, either; the side characters, like Tully’s dysfunctional mother or Jennifer’s husband, add layers of complexity. Some readers find Tully frustrating—she makes awful choices—but that’s the point. Life isn’t tidy, and neither is she. The ending? No spoilers, but it left me staring at the wall for a good hour, replaying everything.

'Tully' wrecked me in the best way. It’s a brutal, beautiful exploration of how far friendship can stretch before it snaps. Tully and Jennifer meet as kids, and their bond feels fated—until life gets in the way. Tully’s ambition is her superpower and her flaw; she’s Always Running, whether from her past or toward some elusive future. Jennifer, meanwhile, represents the safety Tully can’t allow herself to have. The book’s structure is genius, jumping between timelines to show how small moments ripple across their lives. One minute you’re laughing at their teenage antics, the next you’re gutted by a betrayal you never saw coming. Simons doesn’t romanticize anything. Even the love stories are complicated, full of missteps and regrets. There’s a secondary character, Jack, who’s as compelling as the leads—his relationship with Tully is messy and magnetic. The ending is divisive, but I loved it. It’s not neat or happy, but it feels true. If you’ve ever loved someone who was bad for you, or if you’ve ever been that person, this book will resonate.