Thanks for the food for thought, and well-timed, too. I just read an e-ARC for an upcoming urban fantasy release by R.L.Naquin, and I'm happy to report that our heroine has a gal-pal who is better at some things than she is, and worse at others, with whom she runs a business. They have a relationship of equals where strengths balance weaknesses. And our heroine goes out for coffee with one lady, shares emotions with a few others, and generally has other women come through the book who are not there to only provide a magic plot twist or a quick comparison of how our heroine is The Fairest. (... And as a total aside - there is a hightop-wearing closet monster named Maurice who is a fabulous cook - he makes the best muffins.)