All Friends Are Necessary

One of People's Best Books of June
Most Anticipated Queer Adult Fiction by LGBTQ Reads

“Absolutely irresistible... unforgettably profound."

“Tender new beginnings are at the heart of Oakland author Tomas Moniz’s sophomore novel… When Efren “Chino” Flores suffers a devastating loss in Seattle, he moves back to the Bay Area and finds himself enmeshed in a group of old and new friends and lovers.”

“Tender and open-hearted, sexy and messy and deeply human. I absolutely love this novel.”

“All Friends Are Necessary is playful, buoyant, subversive, observant, and rebellious… I adore this book… Even as Chino confronts his grief and faces everything he’s lost, the prose is edged in hopeful tones. It’s as if Moniz is writing to show each of us the way that things can still turn out okay.”

"Vibrant, alive, and absolutely devastating in its beauty, All Friends Are Necessary is like a late-night phone call with your best friend—exuberant, confessional, and above all, honest. Cutting to the heart of grief in all its multitudes, one man finds his way back to a new version of self after deep loss. Sexy and subversive, I tore through this book, inhaling line after surprising line, feeling myself want to reach into the pages and be saved too."

"Moniz connects to his characters in a consistently compassionate manner and brings each personality to life through their own separate fears and passions. It's a resonant and impressive sophomore effort from a Bay Area Latinx writer who continues to shine."

"All Friends Are Necessary brings much needed tenderness, beauty, and hope into the world. This splendid and rejuvenating novel will make you feel so full and alive, held and comforted. Tomas Moniz has created joyous companions and a book to cherish for ages. I love these characters and will miss them endlessly."

“Bighearted and introspective… Moniz’s thoughtful narrative demonstrates the reparative power of friendship, and how it can even transcend the bonds of love. Readers will be entranced.”

“All Friends Are Necessary is so tender and well-crafted that you almost don't notice how fiercely it challenges common depictions of male friendship. The novel explores the interiority of Efren "Chino" Flores and his ride-or-die, Metal Matt, who love each other and work hard to demonstrate that love con cariño and sin vergüenza.”

"Moniz's raw novel unfolds as a series of vignettes and escapades… As romantic relationships come together and sometimes fall apart, Chino's friends are a constant, holding a mirror to Chino’s life, supporting him, and helping shoulder the burden of his grief.”

“Tomas Moniz’s All Friends are Necessary is a powerful love letter to friendship and community... It is a tender story that demonstrates how nature and friendships are integral parts of surviving in this difficult world. Moniz’s novel is the balm we all need. Don't walk, run to grab this gorgeous book.”

“Vivid and compelling, All Friends Are Necessary is a celebration of love in all its forms. In the wake of devastating losses and amid the isolation of the pandemic, Efren “Chino” Flores struggles for meaning and connection. In a pitch-perfect portrayal of the Bay Area and beyond, the indelible Flores welcomes us into his circle of friends. A tender, frank, and funny narrative.”

“Tomas Moniz returns with a beautiful, searching novel. All Friends Are Necessary combines the rugged tenderness of Denis Johnson, the poetic geographies of Jimmy Santiago Baca, the frank sexual desire of Garth Greenwell, and the playful joy of Sandra Cisneros into a novel equally heartbreaking and hopeful. This is one of the best books of the year.”

“Moniz writes about friendship, community, and love—all the flavors of it one can experience in a lifetime—with the warmth of a big hug and a wealth of wisdom. More than a novel, All Friends Are Necessary is a manifesto on how to live more tenderly and authentically, how to open your heart and let life inside.”