Books
Life is an ugly, awful place to not have a best friend.
— Sarah Dessen • Keeping the Moon
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Without a best friend, life feels harsh, ugly and awful. The speaker isn't saying life is bad in general; the bleakness is tied to being alone. It's a blunt way of saying how much one close companion changes how the world looks.
Context reviewed