If you ask me, “Is We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons worth your time?”—yes, it is. Elyce Arons tells a touching story about friendship and creativity. Readers often want to feel true emotions. Books like this one draw us in with kindness and real-life bonds.
Key Takeaways
This memoir shows how a strong friendship can help people be creative.
It also shows how friends can start a brand together from nothing.
Elyce Arons tells true stories about her childhood.
She talks about hard times and how she found strength after losing someone.
Readers will understand the real feelings in the Kate Spade story.
They will see how teamwork helped, even if they do not know about fashion.
Why Read This Memoir
Unique Perspective on Friendship
I’ll be honest: I pick up a lot of memoirs, but few feel as personal as this one. Elyce Arons doesn’t just tell stories about Kate Spade—she invites us into the heart of their friendship. I found myself thinking about my own best friend as I read.
The way Elyce describes meeting Kate as freshmen, sharing dorm rooms, and moving to New York together made me smile. Their bond feels real, not just a highlight reel of good times.
“We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons” stands out because it’s not just about business or fashion. It’s about two women growing up together, cheering each other on, and sometimes picking up the pieces when things fall apart.
I noticed that memoirs like this are having a moment right now. Here’s why I think so many readers are reaching for stories like this:
Memoirs rank among the most popular nonfiction genres, according to Query Tracker.
They’re top-selling print and eBook categories on Amazon.
Surveys show nonfiction genres, especially memoirs, have a strong and growing audience.
I get it. We want to see ourselves in someone else’s story. Elyce and Kate’s friendship feels like a mirror for anyone who’s ever had a best friend who changed their life.
Creativity and Collaboration
Reading about Elyce and Kate’s creative partnership gave me chills. Their story isn’t just about handbags or brands. It’s about two friends who saw the world a little differently and decided to make something new together.
I loved the details about their early days—designing bags because everything else felt boring, picking up finished products from factories, and packing boxes themselves. That’s the kind of hustle I respect.
Their creative journey looks something like this:
Elyce and Kate met as freshmen and moved to New York after college.
They started the Kate Spade brand in 1993 from their apartment.
They sold the company in 2006, then launched Frances Valentine in 2016.
After Kate’s passing, Frances Valentine expanded to apparel, with tribute items selling out quickly.
Elyce writes about their work ethic and creative spark. She says their friendship shaped every decision, from design to business. I have to give props to anyone who can turn a dorm room dream into a brand that makes women feel seen and celebrated.
“Our work was never just about bags. It was about creating something meaningful for women,” Elyce reflects. That line stuck with me. It’s not just about products—it’s about the feeling behind them.
If you love stories about building something from scratch with your best friend, this memoir will hit home. I found myself rooting for them, even when I already knew how the story ended.
We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons
Personal and Professional Journey
I always love stories that start with a real friendship. In We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons, the story begins in college. Elyce and Kate met as freshmen.
They shared a dorm room, swapped dreams, and laughed about the future. That friendship turned into something bigger when they moved to New York. They didn’t just become roommates—they became business partners.
I felt like I was right there with them, watching as they built their first company. They started small, working out of their apartment. Every step felt personal. Their lives mixed together—work, friendship, even family. I could see how their bond shaped every choice. The book shows how hard it is to keep a friendship strong when you’re also building a brand.
Publishing a memoir like this takes time. Here’s a quick look at how long it can take for a book to reach readers:
Editors pick books for future seasons 12-18 months before release.
Final details and marketing are set 9-12 months before launch.
Most books, including this one, need the manuscript finished well before the release date.
I noticed that other memoirs, like The River’s Daughter, also have June 2025 release dates. That lines up with the timeline for We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons.
Coming of Age Together
This memoir isn’t just about business. It’s about growing up. Elyce and Kate faced big moments together—moving to a new city, starting a company, and learning from mistakes. Their story reminded me of other coming-of-age books, like Wild or The Glass Castle, where the main characters change and grow.
Description | |
|---|---|
Finding Their Theme | Elyce and Kate discover what matters most to them—friendship and creativity. |
Facing Obstacles | They deal with tough times, both in business and in life. |
Learning and Reflecting | The memoir looks back on lessons learned and how those moments shaped them. |
I saw myself in their journey. We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons captures what it feels like to come of age with someone by your side. It’s honest, sometimes funny, and always heartfelt.
Themes and Reflections
Deep Bond and Shared History
Reading We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons, I felt like I was peeking into a friendship that ran deep. Elyce shares stories that made me laugh and sometimes tear up. She talks about inside jokes, late-night talks, and the way she and Kate would watch Mary Tyler Moore reruns together.
That show became their secret code for hope and starting over. I loved how Elyce described their silly moments—like dancing in their tiny apartment or picking out fabric swatches while singing along to TV theme songs. Those details made their friendship feel real, not just a highlight reel.
“We always said we were the Mary and Rhoda of our own story,” Elyce writes. That line stuck with me. It reminded me that true friendship is built on small, everyday moments.
Navigating Loss and Resilience
The memoir doesn’t shy away from hard topics. Elyce writes honestly about losing Kate and how it changed her. She talks about grief, but also about finding ways to keep going. I could feel her sadness, but I also saw her strength.
She shares how she leaned on family, friends, and even work to heal. The book handles mental health with care and respect. Elyce never tries to explain away pain or make it neat. She just tells the truth.
Research shows that personal stories like this help people feel less alone.
Memoirs can spark real conversations about mental health and recovery.
Studies say sharing these stories can help others heal, too.
I finished this section feeling hopeful. Even in the hardest moments, Elyce’s words felt like a hand to hold.
Strengths & Weaknesses
I’ll be honest, I read this memoir in one sitting. I curled up on my couch, lost track of time, and forgot about my phone. That’s rare for me. The book’s biggest strength? Emotional honesty.
Elyce Arons writes like she’s talking to an old friend. She shares the good, the awkward, and the heartbreaking. I felt like I was right there with her, reliving every memory.
What worked for me:
Warmth and authenticity: Elyce’s voice feels real. She doesn’t sugarcoat the hard parts. She lets the reader see her joy and her pain.
Reflective storytelling: The memoir goes beyond facts. It digs into what those moments meant. J.F. Penn points out that the best memoirs balance “truth” and “Truth.” Elyce does this well. She captures the feeling behind each story, not just the details.
Clear structure: The story follows their friendship from college to adulthood. I never felt lost. The timeline made sense, and the themes of growth and resilience stood out. I noticed this matches advice from memoir guides that say a strong theme helps readers connect.
Where I struggled:
Sometimes, the writing felt a bit too close. Amy Vizenor’s analysis says memoirists can struggle to “show, not tell.” I saw that here. A few scenes told me what happened instead of letting me feel it.
I wanted more about the creative process. Some business moments felt rushed.
The book walks a fine line between privacy and honesty. I respect Elyce’s choices, but I wished for a little more behind-the-scenes detail.
To be fair, no memoir gets everything perfect. This one left me thinking, and that’s a win in my book.
Who Should Read It
Fans of Memoirs and Personal Stories
If you love memoirs that feel honest and real, this book will speak to you. I always look for stories that make me feel something, and this one did. I saw myself in the pages, even though my life looks nothing like Elyce’s. The way she shares her friendship with Kate feels open and true.
Here’s why memoir fans will connect:
The story feels authentic and relatable. I could picture the late-night talks and inside jokes.
The mix of personal growth and storytelling kept me turning pages.
The writing style made it easy to understand their journey, even the tough parts.
I felt inspired by their struggles and wins. It made me want to call my best friend.
The book lets Elyce reflect on her life, which made me think about my own memories.
“If you want a book that feels like a friend sharing secrets, this is it.”
Those Interested in Creativity and Fashion
Do you get excited about creativity or the world of fashion? I do. I loved reading about how Elyce and Kate built something from scratch. Their story isn’t just about handbags. It’s about dreaming big and working hard with someone you trust.
You’ll see how two friends turned ideas into a brand.
The book shows the ups and downs of starting a business.
If you like learning how creative people think, you’ll find plenty here.
I finished the book feeling inspired to try something new. If you want a story about friendship, creativity, and chasing dreams, this one belongs on your shelf.
I closed We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade by Elyce Arons feeling both moved and inspired.
The memoir’s honest stories about friendship and creativity stuck with me.
I loved the warmth and hope in every chapter.
I give it a solid 7/10.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this memoir only for fans of Kate Spade?
Nope! I think anyone who loves stories about friendship or creativity will enjoy it. You don’t need to know fashion to feel moved.
Does the book talk about mental health?
Yes, it does. Elyce shares her feelings with honesty. She writes about grief and healing in a way that feels gentle and real.
Will I learn anything new about starting a business?
You’ll get a peek behind the scenes. I picked up tips about teamwork and taking risks. The focus stays on their friendship, not just business advice.
