Ten years of Friends reviews - the most memorable sets
Posted by MeganL,
Astonishingly, this month marks the tenth anniversary of the first review that I wrote for Brickset, and subsequently became a Brickset contributor. Over that time, I've written about a number of different topics, and most of my contributions have been set reviews. I've reviewed over 230 sets, and not surprisingly, over two thirds of those sets are Friends sets.
I thought it would be fun to do a bit of a retrospective of some of the most memorable Friends sets I've reviewed over the years. This isn't necessarily a list of the best Friends sets in that time period (that would be a slightly different list); rather, these are the sets that have stayed with me (figuratively and literally; I still have each of these in my collection).
Since it's been ten years, let's make it the ten most memorable Friends sets that I've reviewed.
Surprisingly, it was relatively easy to make this list - most of them sprang to mind immediately. While there have been many very good Friends sets over the last few years, these are the ten that made a lasting impression. I'll list them in chronological order.
41106 Pop Star Tour Bus (2015)
This was one of the first sets I reviewed and the first of many very fine Friends vehicles. I thought this set started the trend of Friends sets having a little bit more than meets the eye - in this case, the ability of the bus to expand to provide a stage for Livi, the pop star Friend. This was a very nice subtheme for Friends, as I really enjoyed 41135 Livi's Pop Star House as well, which I found much more interesting than any of the houses from the regular cast.
Friends vehicles have solidly delivered over the last ten years, with another favourite being 41722 Horse Show Trailer.
41130 Amusement Park Roller Coaster (2016)
The Friends team hasn't been shy on taking on interesting topics, and it was ambitious for them to tackle an amusement park. The fan community really panned this set when they saw it, criticising the roller coaster for not being big enough. When I got the set, I was absolutely prepared to hate it.
My tune changed when I built the set, and I realised the error that had been made was in the set name. Yes, there was a roller coaster (and yes, it was a junior roller coaster), but the set also included a Ferris wheel, a drop ride, and several other auxiliary builds for an amusement park. There was so much focus on what it wasn't that it wasn't recognised for what it was, which was a really good play set.
41379 Heartlake City Restaurant (2019)
Ah, mama mia! I'm surprised that the set name wasn't "Italian Restaurant", as that's clearly what it is. This is a beautiful set that may have been one of the first Friends sets that could easily fit into a more traditional City layout. I wasn't at all surprised to learn that it was designed by Wes Talbott, of whose work I've been a fan since his days with the Elves line.
This is a charming set that has some wonderful details (the roof tiles and the grapes on the arbour), and I think started the trend of more Friends buildings moving away from bright and pastel colours.
41424 Jungle Rescue Base (2020)
This was the second time the Friends team had a jungle theme, and this set was the best executed of the lot. This set was a good example of the team taking an earlier idea and refining it. Plus, it had elephants that were absolutely adorable. I was surprised (but not really, in hindsight) to learn that this set was designed by Antica Bracanov, who has since gone on to design many other great sets.
But who am I kidding? The main reason I love this set is because of the sloths! It is the only set (to date) where sloths are included in the set. Indeed, I mentioned in my review that I liked the sloths, and that you could expect to see many sloth pictures. Little did you all know that it was just the first set review of many to have sloth cameos....
41702 Canal Houseboat (2022)
Like Friends vehicles, the Friends team has an excellent track record with designing fun and interesting boats. 41702 Canal Houseboat springs to mind immediately when thinking of a great Friends boat - it has some wonderful details on the boat, but then I like how the story continues with the dock build (Mia in a cool fedora certainly didn't hurt).
I could have easily have named 41317 Sunshine Catamaran here, as it was excellent. And spoiler alert - this year's 42664 Travel Boat Adventure is quite good as well.
41703 Friendship Tree House (2022)
This was the Friends 10th anniversary celebration set, and wow, what a terrific set it is. This set has something for everyone. It was a very fun build, and had lots of features that kids and adults both would enjoy. Antica Bracanov was also the designer for this one, in partnership with Joel Baker.
I loved the working elevator, and the different homages to early sets in the Friends line that were incorporated in the build. There were many thoughtful details included. This was one of the first sets to include alternate facial expressions for the Friends.
The early 2022 wave was arguably one of the most impressive in the Friends theme, and this set was the best of the lot.
41737 Beach Amusement Park (2023)
What a great set! I remember when I first built this set, I thought I was just building another beach scene. Clearly, I hadn't looked at the box art properly (or maybe it wasn't featured as much), but wow, was I surprised when I discovered the moving functions! The surf simulator! The wave machine! The shooting gallery! All moving functions - but they were all connected!
After my recent move, this was the first set I rebuilt. When I participate in LEGO events, I bring this set for display. It's a big hit with the public, and many in the LEGO community don't realise it's a set. I didn't realise until writing this that the designer of this set, Bas Brederode, was also one of the designers for 41106.
I continue to wait (so far, in vain) for another set like this one in the Friends world.
41757 Botanical Garden (2023)
I think of this set as the second breakthrough set for the Friends line (the first being 41379) - one of those sets that attracted many fans outside of those who had followed the Friends line. I think the transparent dome pieces were an attraction for some, but I think more bought this set for the elegant architecture, cascading waterfall, and the plethora of plants found throughout the greenhouse.
It's one of the few sets where I received many enquiries as to just when I was going to review the set (Friends sets don't usually get that much attention), as I had saved that one for the last of year.
For those looking for companion sets to this one, keep an eye open for 42671 Plant Cafe & Flower Shop (review forthcoming), which is very charming.
42639 Andrea's Modern Mansion (2024)
The largest Friends set (and also the most expensive) to date, this set would be notable for that alone. But this is also the only set (available through retail channels) that includes all five of the original Friends cast.
I've mentioned that other sets were the first to branch from traditional Friends colouring, the first to be considered in a city layout, etc. I think this set marked that Friends could and would bring a sizeable, beautiful set that could provide a great building experience for all those girls who had grown up building Friends sets. It's a fun, challenging build, includes a functioning garage and elevator, and is both a great display and play model. (Nod to Wes Talbott, who designed this one as well.)
42670 Heartlake City Apartments and Stores (2025)
Released earlier this year, this set announces that Friends can (and does) have sets that will rank against any adult-targeted set. This set very much reminded me of a modular during the build, and it looks very much like it could belong on a modular street.
In my review, one of the commenters asked what this set would look like next to a modular. The subsequent article ended up getting more views and comments than the original review. I think this set fits quite well with the modulars, though the argument could be made that Friends is starting its own version of a modular street, with this set and 41732.
It's been a lot of fun reviewing sets these last ten years! It's been great to see how far Friends sets have come over that period of time.
I'm grateful to Huw for the opportunity and I owe him many thanks for his patience as he coached me on how to improve my photography skills.
I'm looking forward to the next ten years of reviews!
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54 comments on this article
Agree.
41700 - 41714 was also a particularly noteworthy group of great sets.
I agree on some on them, but definitely not all.
The stand out Friends set for me is the original Heartlake Grand Hotel 41101. It was one of the first big playsets that looks great on display and has loads of play features. It is the one Friends set of the era my daughter still has built on her shelves (although has been torn down and rebuilt many times) and I think the design still stands up today (literally and figuratively!)
I have no interest in the Friends theme but I always read Megan's reviews because they are well-written and funny with excellent photographs. And of course the sloths! Congratulations on 10 years of reviews!
I’m not into Friends but this is a fun topic. Thank you @MeganL for this piece and all the Friends reviews!
I am a big Friends Fan, and own all the above mentioned sets since 2019. I returned from my Dark Ages in 2018, and started with the Italian Resto in 2019 and did not stop adding Friends Buildings for the pop of color into my city. Which is why I want to mention my highlights from 2021: 41682 Heartlake City School (so versatile and so many fun Rebrickable models available); and my all time favorites - the combination of the 2 Heartlake Community Centers which I have rebuild into a colorful highrise in my city center <3. i really enjoy all the Friends Reviews here on the site as well - great job Meghan
I understand a top 10 list has to be selective and many great sets can't make it into the shortlist but not seeing 41732, 42602, or 42605 is still puzzling to me.
@CCC said:
"The stand out Friends set for me is the original Heartlake Grand Hotel 41101. It was one of the first big playsets that looks great on display and has loads of play features. It is the one Friends set of the era my daughter still has built on her shelves (although has been torn down and rebuilt many times) and I think the design still stands up today (literally and figuratively!)"
Agreed! I still have that set as well. Alas, I didn't review it, so couldn't include it on the list.
Thanks for your 10 years of contribution. Though I don't collect Friends I still read the reviews of sets to see how the theme is doing...13 Years and still going strong.
Lego really needs to shift some of its focus from licensed themes and produce more in house themes like Friends and Ninjago.
@MeganL Congratulations and thanks for all the fun reviews!
I have yet to buy a Friends set, but some have been very tempting, like 41732.
You say that Andrea's mansion is "a great building experience for all those girls who had grown up building Friends sets", but I can say for a fact that Friends is no longer just for girls.
My 9-year old boy, who is not usually fond of "girly" things at all, loves modern architecture, so 42639 was his dream. Since getting that set, he also watched the cartoons, got 42604-1, which is one of very few sets that he keeps assembled as part of his city, and now says he much prefers Friends figures to regular Minifigures, which he now refers to as "egg heads".
The detail, scale and originality of architecture in Friends sets has far surpassed city and sometimes even adult sets.
@leuerb said:
"You say that Andrea's mansion is "a great building experience for all those girls who had grown up building Friends sets", but I can say for a fact that Friends is no longer just for girls.
My 9-year old boy, who is not usually fond of "girly" things at all, loves modern architecture, so 42639 was his dream. Since getting that set, he also watched the cartoons, got 42604-1, which is one of very few sets that he keeps assembled as part of his city, and now says he much prefers Friends figures to regular Minifigures, which he now refers to as "egg heads".
The detail, scale and originality of architecture in Friends sets has far surpassed city and sometimes even adult sets."
Yea, its crazy Lego just full on gave up doing those buildings for City. Made me contemplate buying Friends sets multiple times, but the minidolls still dettered me.
Other than those mentioned in comments above, 42638 should be included as well!
My favorite is definetly Botanical Garden. It's exceptionally beautiful, mostly because unlike other Friends sets it's not disturbingly colorful.
I also have most of the sets in this article. They are easily adaptable for my city, have great funcions and are beautifully detailed. I recently bought 42671, which is incredible. And friends sets are usually quite affordable.
The boats like 41317 were great designs, plenty of play-ability and created the Friends lifestyle.
The Paris art school was the game-changer for me, when I really started paying a lot more attention to Friends buildings and the architecture thereof. IIRC, it came out before the Botanical Gardens, and I feel like the art school walked so the Botanical Gardens could run.
Congratulations on a decade of reviews!
@leuerb said:
"You say that Andrea's mansion is "a great building experience for all those girls who had grown up building Friends sets", but I can say for a fact that Friends is no longer just for girls.
My 9-year old boy, who is not usually fond of "girly" things at all, loves modern architecture, so 42639 was his dream. Since getting that set, he also watched the cartoons, got 42604-1, which is one of very few sets that he keeps assembled as part of his city, and now says he much prefers Friends figures to regular Minifigures, which he now refers to as "egg heads".
The detail, scale and originality of architecture in Friends sets has far surpassed city and sometimes even adult sets."
The Cartoon series has come a long way since its initial version and the recent character change (I like to think were in Friends phase 3) gave us girls and boys who are overdrawn yet relatable and entertaining.
I like that one with Chandler
Always loved the colours and collected the city park cafe, bakery, school. then stopped and later had to get the botanical garden n arcade. my favourite is 41748 Heartlake City Community Centre combined with 41747.
42693 is probably the greatest set for "build experience" that Lego has ever done. You get a little bit of every build style (modular, botanical, landscape, SNOT, technic, Star Wars, etc.) as you are putting it together.
The theater and art school were particularly impressive IMO - as someone who does not like the friends sets, immediately knew I had to buy those for my daughters.
I think 41711 should be here, but there are some good choices here. 41757 is a great set, and so is the tree house. Not sure how 41737 is on there, though.
It’s great hearing all the varied reasons these sets made the grade; especially the sloth-related reasons!
41379 Heartlake City Restaurant (2019) is still one of BEST Lego friends sets ever.
Amazing price and great details!
@Darth_Dee said:
" 42693 is probably the greatest set for "build experience" that Lego has ever done. You get a little bit of every build style (modular, botanical, landscape, SNOT, technic, Star Wars, etc.) as you are putting it together."
I guess you meant 42639 ;)
Nice feature--thank you Megan! I enjoy the Friends reviews even though I never buy any sets.
However, a couple years ago I got several Friends sets in a large bulk purchase, and ended up completing them and selling them locally--all except the Friendship Tree House. That one was such a fun build and rich playset that we kept it for our kids to enjoy.
One day you'll convince huwbot to join the friends side.
Keep up the good work
Congratulations on 10 years @MeganL!
Agreed, the Tour Bus and Roller Coaster are also two of my favorite Friends sets.
@kyrodes said:
"I like that one with Chandler"
I understood that reference!
Sets with minidolls are not Lego.
@Altair1970 said:
"Sets with minidolls are not Lego. "
The Lego bricks in them beg to differ. Do you consider sets that don't have figures at all "not Lego" as well? If so then I think you're more a fan of minifigures than you are of Lego itself.
@Altair1970 said:
"Sets with minidolls are not Lego. "
I can only assume you made this post to purposely elicit feedback and not because you actually believe such an objectively false claim.
@Altair1970 said:
"Sets with minidolls are not Lego. "
People who live in France are not human.
But seriously, I cannot comprehend that mindset. Sure, minidolls break from the blocky, square-grid-based design style minifigs had for many years, and I'm not a huge fan of that either. But to claim that an entire set is disqualified from being LEGO because of just the figures? Really?? All those LEGO ripoffs and imitators in China and Germany would strongly disagree.
As soon as I saw that you were going to do your top ten, I knew that the first (and, as it turns out, only) set with sloths would be on the list.
@watcher21 said:
"One day you'll convince huwbot to join the friends side.
Keep up the good work"
I'm curious what you mean by that. Friends sets have been RSotD, and Friends minidolls have been RMotD. Huwbot isn't ignoring Friends.
@MeganL said:
" @CCC said:
"The stand out Friends set for me is the original Heartlake Grand Hotel 41101. It was one of the first big playsets that looks great on display and has loads of play features. It is the one Friends set of the era my daughter still has built on her shelves (although has been torn down and rebuilt many times) and I think the design still stands up today (literally and figuratively!)"
Agreed! I still have that set as well. Alas, I didn't review it, so couldn't include it on the list."
After writing that, I checked who wrote the review. And I saw that LIT was the lucky one!
@Altair1970 said:
"Sets with minidolls are not Lego. "
The LEGO logo on the box suggests otherwise.
@TheOtherMike
First of all a Joke
2nd we do see a lot of Bionicle and clikits but less friends
Thanks for so many years of Friends reviews! I've always loved this theme and one of my all-time favorites is definitely 41317 Sunshine Catamaran. I think it's one of the best LEGO sets ever made.
My theme is City, but Friends is so colorful, making it so playfull and atractive! Got double of 41748 and 41757
Nice reviews @MeganL!
But a sloth was also included in 41434 Andrea's Jungle Play Cube. There were four colors randomly: aqua, teal, cool yellow, and vibrant coral.
Many Friends sets have some nice building architecture designs and a plethora of useful part recolors, but always saw them as too busy, no focus and the mini-dolls look awkward to me but these are my Top Ten Friends...
- 41757 Botanical Garden (Top notch Friends set. Beautiful look, asthetic design. Nicely detailed. Can fit in with any city, town scapes).
- 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket (great space look, with uncommon but great color design. Excellent details throughout).
- 41714 Andrea's Theatre School (Excellent theater design, w/gate fold opening to interior. Wouldn't change a thing except for the green ingots on the exterior. Interior EXCELLENT theater playset).
- 41711 Emma's Art School (I wouldn't change a thing! Great look in and out).
- 42639 Andrea's Modern Mansion (great model to Mod/moc for a Tony Stark apartment/Iron Man lab/armory).
- 41748: Heartlake City Community Centre (another great tenement looking design. Swap out some of the colors to match and add to your city-scapes and get rid of the slide).
- 41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores (excellent older building to modern look for a town/city plaza. Just subdue some of the bright colors and get rid of the signage over the bridge (looks too out of place).
- 42663 Friendship Camper Van Adventure (great looking chunky vehicle design and fun camping interior details).
- 41708 Roller Disco Arcade (excellent design with fun play features throughout).
- 42602 Space Research Rover (perfect compliment vehicle for 42605 Mars Space Base and Rocket ).
Honorable mentions...
- 41713 Olivia's Space Academy
- Friends Pod polybag sets.
- Friends Cube set.
@Altair1970 said:
"Sets with minidolls are not Lego. "
Minidolls are fine.... As raw material for melting down and moulding into Botanical vases!
Botanical Garden was my very first Friends set and I love it so much. I still have it built and really don’t want to take it apart. Since then I have been collecting more of the Friends sets that stand out to me and really enjoy this line. Plus I am a big fan of the mini dolls as well :). I am glad to see the Friends line thriving and I love reading @MeganL reviews of all the sets. Thanks for all your contributions to Brickset and here’s to 10 more years of your reviews ;)
@chrisaw said:
"Other than those mentioned in comments above, 42638 should be included as well!"
Oh yes, that is also a beautiful set. I'ld put it in my top ten firends sets.
Thanks for all the great reviews, Megan. Keep up the good work. I own practically all of these sets—began collecting friends over 10 years ago bc I thought it was a great -and expansive-theme for my then 4 y.o. daughter. Alas, still not sloths! The hunt continues!
Friends continued to be the most realistic, world building theme-and so many great small businesses! Long live Heartlake City.
Brickset seems to love its polls. I think we should have a poll for the best Friends set, as voted by us readers.
What do we think?
Hahaha, I own half of those! I also love friends sets, especially the larger ones with lots of details. They're colorful and bright and ... NOT ANOTHER STUPID POLICE/FIRE STATION. ;-)
Thanks for your reviews, I always look forward to them!
I'm surprised you didn't include 42638 Castle Bed and Breakfast, I think it's one of top-tier Friends sets out there.
But I always enjoy reading your "sloth-invaded" reviews. :D
Great list, some wouldn't be on my personal list (I'm not the biggest fan of vehicles/boats) but that's the great thing about friends is the variety of sets, so there's something to appeal to most people.
Some of my favourites, 41711 Emma's art school, 42620 Olly and Paisley’s Family Houses, 41349 Drifting Diner
The collection of the new friends bedrooms have been great as well as small sets, with lots of details.
No surprise 41424 is on your list, it's a really good set and the bonus of introducing the sloths.
I enjoy your reviews and look forward to more coming.
Thanks for all the excellent reviews MeganL - I love the colour & detail in the Friends sets and agree that they’re really some of the standouts of the past few years
It’s also really great to see a mainstream AFOL site giving space to this range - long may it continue!
41324 was my first Friends set. I bought multiples for the ski resort in my Xmas display.
Congrats Megan for the decade of fun reviews and sloth.
This is a lovely retrospective.