TL;DR: I consider it like a gift. What they choose to do with it is up to them. After I give it, I don't ask about it. Exceptions would be to beta readers, where a mutual swap occurs and we both critique.

The long version: Eh. I just give it out. If they don't read it they don't read it. They have no obligation to do so.

For beta readers, I do expect a response. I swap stories and give feedback, and I expect the same in return. I don't expect that of people that don't write, even readers.

Reading a novel is an investment of time and your friends probably already invest some time of theirs into you. What you're asking for is an additional investment, but without anything in return for them.

Even with beta readers, some take their time. Things come up, they aren't in the mood, they have something better to work on, etc.

"Honestly, I can't help but get a little irritated."

Eh, I know it's hard to do so, but try not to. When I get irritated over a lack of response time from a beta reader (ex. over two months for a small sample), I just remind myself that they are doing me a favor free of charge. (Note: I believe this is different for already published authors and/or writers working under a deadline)

Also, friends may be more hesitant to read it than strangers. They know you, and many times it can put them in a strange predicament if it's something not in a genre they normally read and enjoy, the writing style is different than what they prefer, the tone, they don't like it but don't want to lie to you but will, etc.

And I'm not going to lie. Feedback you get from friends can be iffy. I just learned a friend of mine didn't like one of my earlier edits. I gave her the much-improved version and she read it (note that like your friends, she pretty much didn't read the first copy). During the first version, she said it was "really good" and she "liked it a lot," despite not finishing it. Now she says, "Yeah, that first one was really bad." Honestly, while she likes the second version, I can't fully believe her, even now. Just be careful. I didn't talk about it with her until she brought it up (I honestly think she just read it out of guilt and sheer boredom, haha). You don't want to annoy people or rush them. I know it may suck to hear, but if they don't want to read it, they don't want to read it. And that's okay.

Also, and this might help you gauge this: Look at how long it normally takes for them to finish a story and how many books they normally read in a year. My friend is busy, starting med school. The average amount of books she reads per year now is one.

For another person, he used to read a lot (MANY books in a year). So, why not read my story? Without bringing it up to him, I just inquired about his general reading preferences. He prefers a story opposite to the one I wrote (he didn't state it, but I can gleam it from what he says). So it doesn't bother me that he didn't read mine.

Anyways, I really do hope it works out, but my advice is to let it rest. Ask another friend, or see if there's a writing group you may want to join, or even something else.