Can a relationship work with no mutual friends?

Exactly what it says in the title. Can it? I go out with my friends and my boyfriend goes out with his, so it's not like I expect him to spend all his time with me. It's just that his friends aren't really the type of people I'd usually hang out with. I'm absolutely OK with him spending time with them, though, and so far we've not had any problems. But every time we do something together it's just me and him, no one else, so I was wondering if this could affect our relationship in a negative way.

Thanks for your help :smile:

Reply 1

Arkaria

I'm in a similar situation. Me and my boyfriend have no mutual friends either, everytime I see him we just spend time alone. I'm worried about how we will act as a couple around other people.

Sorry haven't really got any advice..... :frown:

Reply 2

sweeter than a cherry pie

I don't really see why mutual friends would be necessary to a good relationship...

Reply 3

darthgirlie

Personally because i am a student nurse- i live, study, work and socialize with nurses its a breath of a fresh air when my boyfriend comes over and here about his day and we chat about nothing nursing related. I mean dont get me wrong i love my job and i couldn't imagine me being anywhere else but the thought of meeting his friends that aren't anything to do with nursing excites me so much. I think its healthy to have a life separate from your boyfriend because it can quickly become ott if your in each others pockets.

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

I've had relationships with guys that I had no mutual friends with and also guys in my friendship group. I can safely say that you are much better off not being best buds with his friends. Things get messy very easily when two people in the same friendship group start dating, as other people tend to get involved in the relationship.

As least now both your friends and his friends are more likely to leave you to it.

Reply 5

caseyhayes

Nah, not an issue at all as long as you don't mind him spending time with them and they aren't dead against you. And eventually you'll make new friends together who may be couples, or who may not. And then they'll be "your" friends as a collective.

Reply 6

Car0llle

You don't need mutual friends to make relationship work. Ofcourse you should meet his friends and hang out with them ocationally, because his friends show who he is.

Reply 7

Henwin

I'm in the same situation, me and my boyfriend have no mutual friends and I wish we did actually. It's made worse by the fact we've got a 6 year age gap.

I think it works fine. As long as you're happy just spending time together alone, it's okay.

Maybe try and just bring one in at a time? I brought him home to my family quite early on and he gets on well with my sister who's 1 year older than me. He then offered to set her up with his best friend and they ended up dating for a little while, and even though that didn't last we've kind of managed to become an infrequent foursome.

I'd say it works fine without as we only hang out with them once every so often (and we're less mutual friends as a friend from either side we get on with), but it might be worth trying to introduce just one or two as it can be quite nice to have some other company.

Reply 8

riotgrrl

I don't think it's a problem at all, so long as you end up getting to know each other's friends a bit. If anything, it's probably better, as it saves awkwardness within your friendship group if/when you break up.

Reply 9

Henwin

Original post by riotgrrl

Actually, yeah. Mutual friends seem to be more trouble when they're worth if things go wrong.

It's better for each of you just to be on good terms with the other's close friends.