Inma Rubiales rewrites A Free Friend: Nash and Eleonor Against School Loneliness

Published on May 19, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Author Inma Rubiales has decided to rewrite her first novel, Un amigo gratis, a story set in a high school that follows Nash and Eleonor, two opposite students who meet thanks to an anti-loneliness program. The plot addresses friendship, first love, insecurity, and bullying, showing the importance of feeling accompanied during adolescence.

high school hallway scene, two teenagers Nash and Eleonor opposite lockers, Nash offering a torn notebook page while Eleonor hesitantly reaches for it, sunlight through windows casting long shadows, scattered backpack and fallen books on floor, subtle glowing social connection lines between their hands, photorealistic cinematic style, warm amber lighting contrasting cool blue shadows, depth of field blurring background students, dust particles suspended in light beams, emotional tension visible in body language, ultra-detailed textures of denim fabric and metal lockers, dramatic storytelling composition

Rewriting from Scratch: The Technical Process of Polishing a Debut Novel ✍️

Rewriting a novel is no walk in the park. Rubiales has had to review narrative structure, chapter pacing, and character development to give more depth to Nash and Eleonor. The process involves analyzing temporal coherence, eliminating unnecessary subplots, and reinforcing the central conflict. Additionally, the author has adjusted the youthful language to sound natural without falling into clichés. All this without changing the essence of the original story.

The Anti-Loneliness Plan That Would Make Any School Counselor Cry 😅

Let's see: a school program to combat loneliness by pairing two opposite teenagers. What could go wrong? Nash and Eleonor show that sometimes the antidote to existential emptiness is having someone who steals your sandwich at recess. The initiative sounds so good that even the math teacher would want to sign up. Too bad in real life the only free friend is the school Wi-Fi.