A woman can always count on her friends - right? But what if those friendships are hurtful, harmful, even toxic? Susan Shapiro Barash explores the various types of female friends and shows you why and how women get stuck with the worst kinds, the ways to get unstuck, and how to recognize a true friend. For example: The Leader of the Pack - it's all on her terms; The Doormat - and why you're the one paying the price; The Misery Lover - she wants to feel your pain; The User - and why you seldom see her coming; The Frenemy - and the things she's really after; The Trophy Friend - and what you gain from each other; and, The Authentic Friend - the Real Deal, and how to keep her. Provocative and fascinating, Susan Shapiro Barash looks at the bonds (and bondage) of female friendships in a new and intimate light.