It might be that you are looking for an idyll that doesn’t exist and rejecting real – though perhaps at times messy – relationships

• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a reader

Do “romantic comedy friendships” still exist? I am perpetually hopeful, but losing faith. I love my alone time, and enjoy coffees with women in my neighbourhood and colleagues from work. But, although these encounters are mostly pleasant, they feel superficial.

Thoughts of missing out on my “tribe” have been overwhelming lately; even back at school, girls seemed to clump together. Most are still BFFs 20 years on and living in the same town, whereas I moved around a lot growing up. I’ve only ever had one or two friendships I’d consider genuine and, until recently, it has never been a problem.