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Really Good, Actually
A hilarious and painfully relatable debut novel about one woman’s messy search for joy and meaning in the wake of an unexpected breakup, from comedian, essayist, and award-winning screenwriter Monica Heisey
Maggie is fine. She’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s broke, her graduate thesis on something obscure is going nowhere, and her marriage only lasted 608 days, but at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new life as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée™.
Now she has time to take up nine hobbies, eat hamburgers at 4 am, and “get back out there” sex-wise. With the support of her tough-loving academic advisor, Merris; her newly divorced friend, Amy; and her group chat (naturally), Maggie barrels through her first year of single life, intermittently dating, occasionally waking up on the floor and asking herself tough questions along the way.
Laugh-out-loud funny and filled with sharp observations, Really Good, Actually is a tender and bittersweet comedy that lays bare the uncertainties of modern love, friendship, and our search for that thing we like to call “happiness”. This is a remarkable debut from an unforgettable new voice in fiction.
Maggie is fine. She’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s broke, her graduate thesis on something obscure is going nowhere, and her marriage only lasted 608 days, but at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new life as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée™.
Now she has time to take up nine hobbies, eat hamburgers at 4 am, and “get back out there” sex-wise. With the support of her tough-loving academic advisor, Merris; her newly divorced friend, Amy; and her group chat (naturally), Maggie barrels through her first year of single life, intermittently dating, occasionally waking up on the floor and asking herself tough questions along the way.
Laugh-out-loud funny and filled with sharp observations, Really Good, Actually is a tender and bittersweet comedy that lays bare the uncertainties of modern love, friendship, and our search for that thing we like to call “happiness”. This is a remarkable debut from an unforgettable new voice in fiction.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2023
About the author
Monica Heisey
3 books779 followersMonica Heisey is an essayist, comedian, and screenwriter from Toronto. Her writing has been published in The New Yorker, the New York Times, Vogue, Elle, The Guardian, Glamour, New York Magazine, and VICE, among others. She has written for television shows like Schitt's Creek, Workin' Moms, and Everything I Know About Love, and created her own romantic comedy for SkyTV, Smothered, which aired in December of 2023. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,191 reviews
January 13, 2023
Not Really That Good, Actually
There's some good material here but it doesn't really add up to a novel.
Heisey is one of those snappy, comic, self-deprecating writers who uses wit in her narrator to distance herself from pain - that's fine but it does run the risk of the book feeling a bit facile and glib, more chick lit than Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss, say. It's written in a conversational style that I could imagine transferring to stand-up very well but always feels a bit amateur to me when written down to be read.
Without much pull-through this starts to feel repetitive, whiny and narcissistic - yes, we know that the narrator is going through a painful divorce, I just would have liked more direct emotion and connection on the page and less of the self-pity. Lots of chick lit-y clichés like overdrawn credit card yet throwing unneeded clothes into the internet shopping basket - is retail therapy still a book trope?
I suspect the material would have worked better in short essay-style pieces: as a novel this feels laboured and lacks dynamic forward movement.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
There's some good material here but it doesn't really add up to a novel.
Heisey is one of those snappy, comic, self-deprecating writers who uses wit in her narrator to distance herself from pain - that's fine but it does run the risk of the book feeling a bit facile and glib, more chick lit than Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss, say. It's written in a conversational style that I could imagine transferring to stand-up very well but always feels a bit amateur to me when written down to be read.
Without much pull-through this starts to feel repetitive, whiny and narcissistic - yes, we know that the narrator is going through a painful divorce, I just would have liked more direct emotion and connection on the page and less of the self-pity. Lots of chick lit-y clichés like overdrawn credit card yet throwing unneeded clothes into the internet shopping basket - is retail therapy still a book trope?
I suspect the material would have worked better in short essay-style pieces: as a novel this feels laboured and lacks dynamic forward movement.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
October 15, 2023
not great, actually
this book studied at the University of Millennial with a degree in Being Quirky™️
usually I love books with lots of detail and fun anecdotes to add texture but this was just relentless
this book studied at the University of Millennial with a degree in Being Quirky™️
usually I love books with lots of detail and fun anecdotes to add texture but this was just relentless
July 3, 2024
I can describe the audiobook version of "Really Good, Actually" as a reader's treat. The narrator really brought Maggie to life, stressing her internal monologue and adding depth and richness to the story. If you're an audiobook fan, this is a definite must for you. Get it here: Audiobook: "Really Good, Actually"
This book is a great read for anyone wanting a book that is both funny and touching... and if this sounds appealing, the best news is that there are recommendations throughout, from the author.
In this book you are following Maggie, who is going through a crushing break-up. This novel about heartbreak, self-discovery and growing up is a laugh-out-loud but surprisingly relatable read. Heisey has a sharp pen that makes the drama of modern relationships and the process of self-understanding feel very real.
I think the brunt of the story's power comes from the characters. Maggie's internal monologue is self-deprecating and wise, which makes the reader want to be her friend. Heisey delivers humor where you'd expect it, and then pleasantly surprises you with reflective pieces about Maggie experiencing something that makes her feel real or vulnerable. This book works because it never sits still for long and continuously raises the stakes.
This book is a great read for anyone wanting a book that is both funny and touching... and if this sounds appealing, the best news is that there are recommendations throughout, from the author.
In this book you are following Maggie, who is going through a crushing break-up. This novel about heartbreak, self-discovery and growing up is a laugh-out-loud but surprisingly relatable read. Heisey has a sharp pen that makes the drama of modern relationships and the process of self-understanding feel very real.
I think the brunt of the story's power comes from the characters. Maggie's internal monologue is self-deprecating and wise, which makes the reader want to be her friend. Heisey delivers humor where you'd expect it, and then pleasantly surprises you with reflective pieces about Maggie experiencing something that makes her feel real or vulnerable. This book works because it never sits still for long and continuously raises the stakes.
April 4, 2023
⭐⭐⭐.5/5 - This book is like someone's intrusive thoughts gone rogue. lol... I think I liked it more in the end because the character grew so much? But during that, I was constantly trying to hide from the cringy parts while simultaneously laughing at the absolute absurdity of some of it.
March 12th, 2023: 10:27 PM Update
THINGS I LOATHED:
- Vacillating between the cringe-worthy/second-hand embarrassment-fueled moments of a person with no self-awareness.. and absolute heart-wrenching grief and denial... this story is hard to read. Somewhat in a good way, somewhat in a bad way? It's categorized as a novel, but most definitely makes you wonder how much of was real for the author.
- I've never been through a divorce, but they happen every day to the people we love around us... it was a great insight into what people really go through in cleaving their life from someone else's. I think the reason I had a hard time with this, even though there are some great insights... so much of this is a rambling mess?
- It's REALLY hard to read about self-destructive people. I think we've all been there, but you just want to shake people sometimes? This book is the literary embodiment of that person while their emotionally spiraling. It made me want to pick up a fantasy novel multiple times and wash it from my mind.
SOME THINGS I LOVED:
- Parts of this book are incredibly funny. And I mean laugh-out-loud funny. If you have a friend going through a divorce, you can most definitely hand them this book in their divorce care package!!! (I will literally be doing that from now on. I have so many friends going through a divorce on a regular basis, and I truly believe books are the best gifts!!)
- Literally, one of the chapters is called: Emotionally Devastating Things My Therapist Said to Me Like They Were Nothing - I laughed way too hard for too long at this chapter for so many reasons.
- Really, Good, Actually is also an incredibly powerful reminder that people don't need to be fixed, but they do need support, and they best possibly loving intervention you can provide if you have the energy to give? Also, to not mention any kind of random Japanese pottery theory about broken people... Really, though, let's all encourage our friends to seek professional help when we can see they're clearly struggling and we don't have the tools to help them. 🥺🥺
March 8th, 2023: 6:47 AM Update
This is the vibe of this book so far at 50 pages in... (If you can't see the meme on your phone.. it's absolutely worth seeing. Click here. 😂😂)
March 7th, 2023: 1:26 AM Update
I am awake WAY too early because I accidentally took a weeeee depression nap after learning about a family member's illness. 🥺🥺I think my mind just needed to take a break to process so here I am awake at this unGodly hour. They say nothing good happens after midnight and I 100% agree with that.
I've been seeing this gorgeous cover all across Bookstagram and Goodreads so I'm hoping it's good! I just DNFed my last read, and I'm actually really proud of myself for that because I was genuinely not invested in it!
Trying to break up my fantasy reads this month so this one looked good. I usually like my Book of The Month picks, so I hope it's entertaining. I love books that make me laugh and I'm hoping this one does that for me 🖤 🖤
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Definitely some explicit sexual content.
- LGBTQ+ themes
- Toronto / Canadian setting
- Mental health themes explored
March 12th, 2023: 10:27 PM Update
THINGS I LOATHED:
- Vacillating between the cringe-worthy/second-hand embarrassment-fueled moments of a person with no self-awareness.. and absolute heart-wrenching grief and denial... this story is hard to read. Somewhat in a good way, somewhat in a bad way? It's categorized as a novel, but most definitely makes you wonder how much of was real for the author.
- I've never been through a divorce, but they happen every day to the people we love around us... it was a great insight into what people really go through in cleaving their life from someone else's. I think the reason I had a hard time with this, even though there are some great insights... so much of this is a rambling mess?
- It's REALLY hard to read about self-destructive people. I think we've all been there, but you just want to shake people sometimes? This book is the literary embodiment of that person while their emotionally spiraling. It made me want to pick up a fantasy novel multiple times and wash it from my mind.
SOME THINGS I LOVED:
- Parts of this book are incredibly funny. And I mean laugh-out-loud funny. If you have a friend going through a divorce, you can most definitely hand them this book in their divorce care package!!! (I will literally be doing that from now on. I have so many friends going through a divorce on a regular basis, and I truly believe books are the best gifts!!)
- Literally, one of the chapters is called: Emotionally Devastating Things My Therapist Said to Me Like They Were Nothing - I laughed way too hard for too long at this chapter for so many reasons.
- Really, Good, Actually is also an incredibly powerful reminder that people don't need to be fixed, but they do need support, and they best possibly loving intervention you can provide if you have the energy to give? Also, to not mention any kind of random Japanese pottery theory about broken people... Really, though, let's all encourage our friends to seek professional help when we can see they're clearly struggling and we don't have the tools to help them. 🥺🥺
March 8th, 2023: 6:47 AM Update
This is the vibe of this book so far at 50 pages in... (If you can't see the meme on your phone.. it's absolutely worth seeing. Click here. 😂😂)
March 7th, 2023: 1:26 AM Update
I am awake WAY too early because I accidentally took a weeeee depression nap after learning about a family member's illness. 🥺🥺I think my mind just needed to take a break to process so here I am awake at this unGodly hour. They say nothing good happens after midnight and I 100% agree with that.
I've been seeing this gorgeous cover all across Bookstagram and Goodreads so I'm hoping it's good! I just DNFed my last read, and I'm actually really proud of myself for that because I was genuinely not invested in it!
Trying to break up my fantasy reads this month so this one looked good. I usually like my Book of The Month picks, so I hope it's entertaining. I love books that make me laugh and I'm hoping this one does that for me 🖤 🖤
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Definitely some explicit sexual content.
- LGBTQ+ themes
- Toronto / Canadian setting
- Mental health themes explored
December 16, 2022
You know those miserable friends you avoid at all costs? This book was like being forced to listen to one for 5 hours straight. Painful.
I had high hopes for this Canadian writer and comedian, a writer for the show Schitt’s Creek which I LOVE!
Maggie is a 29 year old struggling to come to terms with a fresh divorce and for some reason has zero self restraint. She is endlessly cringey; constantly acting poorly and saying awful things to her friends. I’m surprised her friends didn’t fall out with her sooner.
I’m giving it 2 stars because I managed to finish it, but I expected something good to happen at some point. I’m sad to say I regret the investment.
Favourite quote:
‘Call it what you must, but you need to practise walking around and living life and being heartbroken at the same time. Not in an exciting way, where you're in the thrall of some new person, or buying something outrageous, or terrorising Jiro, but in the way where you still have to go to work when you have a toothache.’
Really Good Actually will be available to buy from the 17th January 2023. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
I had high hopes for this Canadian writer and comedian, a writer for the show Schitt’s Creek which I LOVE!
Maggie is a 29 year old struggling to come to terms with a fresh divorce and for some reason has zero self restraint. She is endlessly cringey; constantly acting poorly and saying awful things to her friends. I’m surprised her friends didn’t fall out with her sooner.
I’m giving it 2 stars because I managed to finish it, but I expected something good to happen at some point. I’m sad to say I regret the investment.
Favourite quote:
‘Call it what you must, but you need to practise walking around and living life and being heartbroken at the same time. Not in an exciting way, where you're in the thrall of some new person, or buying something outrageous, or terrorising Jiro, but in the way where you still have to go to work when you have a toothache.’
Really Good Actually will be available to buy from the 17th January 2023. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
October 17, 2022
2.5/3 stars
After nine years together and married for all of 608 days Maggie and Jon are divorcing. This is Maggie’s story as she tries to embrace life as a young, twenty nine year old divorcee as she tries to “get back on the horse“ and re-find some joy and happiness but it’s a messy road to recovery.
The author has my attention at the start with the opening section which is really good but then she loses me. Whilst there are some laughs and also some heartache I struggle to get through this.
First of all, the positives as I see them. The premise is a creative one and I do enjoy the new chaotic life Maggie now lives though the standout feature that appeals to me the most is the ironic, sarcastic tone and the social commentary. The friendships are good and there are some scenes that are entertaining as Maggie employs a multitude of diversionary tactics. The Google searches she does a funny too!
However, it just goes on and on. It’s way too long as it’s all basically the same theme so there’s a lot of repetition. There isn’t a plot as such as it’s just Maggie‘s exploration of various things which eventually gets tedious. I can’t say either that I especially like her as a central protagonist and this is one of those occasions where I think that is important. She tires me out, wears me down quite simply drives me round the bend. Some references mean nothing to me as a reader in the United Kingdom but will mean something to North American readers.
In fairness to the author I believe this is way more appealing to a millennial or Gen Z rather than a baby boomer as I quite simply can’t relate. I’m clearly the wrong demographic for this. Therefore take my review with a pinch of salt if you’re in the right age bracket.
However, all that being said I have little doubt this but will be a hit if not because of the authors script writing credentials.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Fourth Estate for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
After nine years together and married for all of 608 days Maggie and Jon are divorcing. This is Maggie’s story as she tries to embrace life as a young, twenty nine year old divorcee as she tries to “get back on the horse“ and re-find some joy and happiness but it’s a messy road to recovery.
The author has my attention at the start with the opening section which is really good but then she loses me. Whilst there are some laughs and also some heartache I struggle to get through this.
First of all, the positives as I see them. The premise is a creative one and I do enjoy the new chaotic life Maggie now lives though the standout feature that appeals to me the most is the ironic, sarcastic tone and the social commentary. The friendships are good and there are some scenes that are entertaining as Maggie employs a multitude of diversionary tactics. The Google searches she does a funny too!
However, it just goes on and on. It’s way too long as it’s all basically the same theme so there’s a lot of repetition. There isn’t a plot as such as it’s just Maggie‘s exploration of various things which eventually gets tedious. I can’t say either that I especially like her as a central protagonist and this is one of those occasions where I think that is important. She tires me out, wears me down quite simply drives me round the bend. Some references mean nothing to me as a reader in the United Kingdom but will mean something to North American readers.
In fairness to the author I believe this is way more appealing to a millennial or Gen Z rather than a baby boomer as I quite simply can’t relate. I’m clearly the wrong demographic for this. Therefore take my review with a pinch of salt if you’re in the right age bracket.
However, all that being said I have little doubt this but will be a hit if not because of the authors script writing credentials.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Fourth Estate for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 19, 2023
Meh that was boring. The main character was so irritating and insufferable it's no surprise her husband left her. In fact, I'm surprised he didnt leave her earlier.
This book is essentially the ramblings of an entitled and emotionally immature woman who does nothing but cry about how her husband left her. Again, she was a dick and tbh the fact she got married to begin with was a miracle.
I wish I had DNF'd this book as it really was shite. 2 stars and that's because I'm feeling generous as I've just eaten a chocolate brioche.
This book is essentially the ramblings of an entitled and emotionally immature woman who does nothing but cry about how her husband left her. Again, she was a dick and tbh the fact she got married to begin with was a miracle.
I wish I had DNF'd this book as it really was shite. 2 stars and that's because I'm feeling generous as I've just eaten a chocolate brioche.
January 19, 2023
I was besties with second-hand embarrassment the whole time I was reading this.
January 28, 2023
Really Bad, Actually
July 28, 2023
Really good, actually follows an insufferable character making the worst decisions, alienating everyone close to her in the process with little to no self-awareness. It was great.
August 7, 2022
Blown away by this debut novel. Everyone went on and on about Sally Rooney capturing women’s lives but I didn’t see myself on those pages. With Maggie’s life, I felt like the chaos in my brain and the contradictory parts of my conscience were much more aligned with her descriptions and neuroses. It is funny, really funny, and sardonic and just brilliant. I loved it.
January 18, 2023
Skip it. Life is too short.
January 3, 2023
I give the author a lot of credit because she took a subject that is explored frequently in fiction, divorce, and yet came up with a story that felt fresh and new. That's a pretty big feat to pull off. Regardless of whether you have experienced a significant break up or not, there's some value here for any reader.
Maggie's husband has moved out of their shared London apartment and wants a divorce. That's not what Maggie wants, but hey, what can she do? Sounds like she is going to need to get back out there and live her life. Perhaps not the easiest thing to do when you have a broken heart.
Maggie is an interesting character in that she is more complex than first meets the eye. I'll admit to getting frustrated with her at times but to be honest that's kinda what made the book special. Had Maggie been written as a one-dimensional character , it would have been a fluffy, mindless read. Instead she's a hot mess and even though you might not make the same choices as her, on some level she is relatable.
Absolutely loved the humor in this book and also how it had some heart. It's worth sticking with Maggie as she navigates her way through the ups and downs of life.
Thank you to Book Club Girl and William Morrow for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Maggie's husband has moved out of their shared London apartment and wants a divorce. That's not what Maggie wants, but hey, what can she do? Sounds like she is going to need to get back out there and live her life. Perhaps not the easiest thing to do when you have a broken heart.
Maggie is an interesting character in that she is more complex than first meets the eye. I'll admit to getting frustrated with her at times but to be honest that's kinda what made the book special. Had Maggie been written as a one-dimensional character , it would have been a fluffy, mindless read. Instead she's a hot mess and even though you might not make the same choices as her, on some level she is relatable.
Absolutely loved the humor in this book and also how it had some heart. It's worth sticking with Maggie as she navigates her way through the ups and downs of life.
Thank you to Book Club Girl and William Morrow for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
February 10, 2023
A 3.32 Goodreads’ rating?????
Meet Maggie . . . .
Maggie’s marriage is ending only six hundred and eight days after it began (despite being together nearly a decade) . . .
In the movies, you are Diane Lane, or Keaton, or possibly Kruger, a beautiful middle-aged Diane who is her own boss and knows about the good kind of white wine. Usually, you do not continue living with your ex for weeks because you can’t make the rent on your dusty one-bedroom apartment alone. Generally, you are not a glorified research assistant and an advertising copywriter, respectively, whose most important shared financial asset is your one friend who always gets free phones from work. Certainly, you are not supposed to be twenty-eight years old and actively planning a birthday party with the dress code “Jimmy Buffett sluts.”
Looking for love in all the wrong places, continually texting and calling her ex because he said they should keep in touch (and he has their cat Janet, after all) and alienating herself from her friend group for being such a Debbie Downer, she’s having more than a bit of a struggle handling things . . .
From the rating alone, it’s obvious this was NOT for everyone, but oh how I loved it. There’s nothing like making an imperfect fictional friend and this was another example of a “romdramedy” that had me laughing out loud one minute and “bless your heart”-ing Maggie the next.
Oh and if the gifs didn’t clue you in, if you enjoyed Fleabag there’s a solid chance you’ll like this too.
Meet Maggie . . . .
Maggie’s marriage is ending only six hundred and eight days after it began (despite being together nearly a decade) . . .
In the movies, you are Diane Lane, or Keaton, or possibly Kruger, a beautiful middle-aged Diane who is her own boss and knows about the good kind of white wine. Usually, you do not continue living with your ex for weeks because you can’t make the rent on your dusty one-bedroom apartment alone. Generally, you are not a glorified research assistant and an advertising copywriter, respectively, whose most important shared financial asset is your one friend who always gets free phones from work. Certainly, you are not supposed to be twenty-eight years old and actively planning a birthday party with the dress code “Jimmy Buffett sluts.”
Looking for love in all the wrong places, continually texting and calling her ex because he said they should keep in touch (and he has their cat Janet, after all) and alienating herself from her friend group for being such a Debbie Downer, she’s having more than a bit of a struggle handling things . . .
From the rating alone, it’s obvious this was NOT for everyone, but oh how I loved it. There’s nothing like making an imperfect fictional friend and this was another example of a “romdramedy” that had me laughing out loud one minute and “bless your heart”-ing Maggie the next.
Oh and if the gifs didn’t clue you in, if you enjoyed Fleabag there’s a solid chance you’ll like this too.
April 9, 2024
Less than two years after an abrupt end to her marriage Maggie is ghosted by her ex-husband to be, and she pretty much spirals into a breakdown of sorts. Ever have that friend whose life is completely dominated by a breakdown of their romantic relationship, and you find yourself asking wtf is wrong with them? Well, this darkish-light(!) comedy book debut by professional comedian Heisey is a top drawer debut that captures the inner workings and mind of such a person, and perhaps does it too well , as it times uncomfortably straddles comedy and unwittingly (!) the mental health impact of the societal pressure to partner-off? So well put together, with a startlingly realistic look at relationship breakdown from a single aggrieved point of view, that the very least I can give this one is a 7.5 out of 12, firm Three Stars.
2024 read
2024 read
February 4, 2023
DNF at 68%. It’s honestly a miracle I made it that far. I think I was hate reading for a while and then just actively dreading it. Literally a selfish woman can’t see past her nose for 300+ pages but apparently it’s witty and hilarious? Pass.
January 23, 2023
I don’t know why I thought lit fic about a “quirky” (read: narcissistic) 29 year old divorcée would be my thing. It is not.
March 31, 2023
maggie is the annoying, self absorbed, rude, miserable friend that you cut out of your life. 29 years old, her marriage has failed and she tries to cope with it in the worst way. in fact, the break up wasn’t even that bad! he didn’t do anything to her. this entire novel is just incessant whining from a woman old enough to know better. by the end of the book, maggie doesn’t have a revelation, epiphany, or change. really not good, actually.
November 20, 2022
I’m so glad to be done with this. I wish I wasn’t so stubborn and could abandon books sometimes 🤣. Had a few clever/funny lines but mostly extremely boring.
January 26, 2023
couple funny lines but so bloated and plotless
February 3, 2023
People in general were very keen to suggest I hang out with other people they knew who’d divorced before they’d gotten gray hair. Sometimes it felt like a gesture of support, and sometimes it felt like loading all the corpses on the same cart so the rest of the village didn’t get the plague.
This book made me feel like the boy in Matilda who is forced by Principal Trunchbull to eat that entire chocolate cake. At first you think, oh yay cake. I enjoy this. But then you realize you are forcing yourself through more of the same with no new development until you are ready to just explode. It is much easier to digest in a more bite sized portions.
I think the problem with this book is that it’s not in its ideal format. This would have worked a lot better as a short story/essay collection. As a novel, it drags and meanders without a real sense of purpose or plot. Nothing really moves forward and it feels like a collection of comedy routines on a shared topic. The zany one liners also work a lot better in that medium I think. With this being a full length novel, endless jokes about the same topic get tiring.
The other issue I had is that the writing style involved a lot of telling and not showing, which sometimes works for me but not so much here. Even when there was dialogue, we are never really in the moment. It’s written like she told her friend the story. “Then I said this, and he said that, and the fight got away from us.” It’s like I’m reading the story through a telescope. The sense of a story being told from a distance made me not care about anyone in the protagonist’s orbit. Plus we are mainly stuck with Maggie’s repetitive and self-deprecating thoughts, and the supporting characters don’t get enough spotlight to be dynamic (although I loved Amy, what a weird little ray of sunshine). They mostly feel like props for joke setups. This may have been more appealing if Maggie wasn’t kind of a self-indulgent, immature and selfish person.
I was very sold on the set up though: a young, pithy woman goes through a divorce and has to cope with all the changes that brings. She struggles to achieve independence (financial and otherwise) when she’s been part of a couple for so much of her adult life. She doesn’t necessarily know entirely who she is, how to go about being a responsible adult, or have complete control over her emotions and even though I haven’t been married or divorced, it was relatable. Unfortunately for me the execution fell short, but maybe if I experienced divorce I would appreciate it more.
To end on a positive note: I love a bi rep! Her concern about feeling “bisexual enough” definitely hit home.
This book made me feel like the boy in Matilda who is forced by Principal Trunchbull to eat that entire chocolate cake. At first you think, oh yay cake. I enjoy this. But then you realize you are forcing yourself through more of the same with no new development until you are ready to just explode. It is much easier to digest in a more bite sized portions.
I think the problem with this book is that it’s not in its ideal format. This would have worked a lot better as a short story/essay collection. As a novel, it drags and meanders without a real sense of purpose or plot. Nothing really moves forward and it feels like a collection of comedy routines on a shared topic. The zany one liners also work a lot better in that medium I think. With this being a full length novel, endless jokes about the same topic get tiring.
The other issue I had is that the writing style involved a lot of telling and not showing, which sometimes works for me but not so much here. Even when there was dialogue, we are never really in the moment. It’s written like she told her friend the story. “Then I said this, and he said that, and the fight got away from us.” It’s like I’m reading the story through a telescope. The sense of a story being told from a distance made me not care about anyone in the protagonist’s orbit. Plus we are mainly stuck with Maggie’s repetitive and self-deprecating thoughts, and the supporting characters don’t get enough spotlight to be dynamic (although I loved Amy, what a weird little ray of sunshine). They mostly feel like props for joke setups. This may have been more appealing if Maggie wasn’t kind of a self-indulgent, immature and selfish person.
I was very sold on the set up though: a young, pithy woman goes through a divorce and has to cope with all the changes that brings. She struggles to achieve independence (financial and otherwise) when she’s been part of a couple for so much of her adult life. She doesn’t necessarily know entirely who she is, how to go about being a responsible adult, or have complete control over her emotions and even though I haven’t been married or divorced, it was relatable. Unfortunately for me the execution fell short, but maybe if I experienced divorce I would appreciate it more.
To end on a positive note: I love a bi rep! Her concern about feeling “bisexual enough” definitely hit home.
March 6, 2023
I really liked this one, actually.
April 22, 2023
Pretty excellent, actually
May 19, 2023
okay wait ... this was really good actually ??
the goodreads rating for this book is shocking. i almost put off reading it because of the rating and i'm so glad i didn't. i think i saw someone recommend the audiobook, so i decided to give it a go (plus Julia Whelan narrates so i thought it couldn't be all that bad!?)
anyways, i really liked this one! and it's one of those books that feels weird so say you "liked" or "loved" because of the flawed main character ... and boy is she FLAWED! i agree that there were a lot of moments that i cringed through while the FMC self sabotaged her life, but something about it felt relatable? plus (while it does take a while to get there) her character growth is EVERYTHING. i was so pleased with the ending and to see how far maggie had come. and not to mention this book is FUNNY. the sarcasm, wit, and dry humor sprinkled throughout was top notch.
like i previously mentioned, i read the audiobook and i highly recommend going that route if you decide to pick this one up. i can see how the story would have been slower at times had i not had the audio.
i would compare this book to a mixture of ADELAIDE and ROMANTIC COMEDY but tbh i liked it a lot more. i believe i read somewhere that it was being adapted into a movie or series and i think it would translate very well!
maybe i'm feeling generous but giving this a 4.25
the goodreads rating for this book is shocking. i almost put off reading it because of the rating and i'm so glad i didn't. i think i saw someone recommend the audiobook, so i decided to give it a go (plus Julia Whelan narrates so i thought it couldn't be all that bad!?)
anyways, i really liked this one! and it's one of those books that feels weird so say you "liked" or "loved" because of the flawed main character ... and boy is she FLAWED! i agree that there were a lot of moments that i cringed through while the FMC self sabotaged her life, but something about it felt relatable? plus (while it does take a while to get there) her character growth is EVERYTHING. i was so pleased with the ending and to see how far maggie had come. and not to mention this book is FUNNY. the sarcasm, wit, and dry humor sprinkled throughout was top notch.
like i previously mentioned, i read the audiobook and i highly recommend going that route if you decide to pick this one up. i can see how the story would have been slower at times had i not had the audio.
i would compare this book to a mixture of ADELAIDE and ROMANTIC COMEDY but tbh i liked it a lot more. i believe i read somewhere that it was being adapted into a movie or series and i think it would translate very well!
maybe i'm feeling generous but giving this a 4.25
December 12, 2022
No plot, not funny. Not a fan of this book.
December 12, 2023
3.5/5
funny, relatable, and a little bit existential
very similar to dolly alderton’s writing
funny, relatable, and a little bit existential
very similar to dolly alderton’s writing
March 3, 2023
This wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t good? I found this entire book to be a little insufferable. 🙈
February 6, 2024
When Marian Keyes tells me to read a book, I will listen.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/20...
This book started off with all the reasons why Maggie and her newly betrothed, should divorce. They didn’t last long, less than two years, and she’s quite worried about her new status. She’s neurotic, funny, troubled, and very prone to overthinking. The absolute vibe of this was reminiscent of The Gilmore Girls, especially when the producers changed over, and it was wordy. She didn’t stop, and this spilled over to work, friendships and learning to live a new life after divorce. Perpetually in a relationship, she’d never experienced being on her own, and still sought relationships fresh from separation.
From the first paragraph I could see the reasons why they parted, she could too, but never could trust her instinct, therefore neither could I, and kept wondering what would eventuate when it was crystal clear Jon was no longer having a bar of it. At the time of separation, they decided (more likely with Maggie’s telling it would have been only her version of it) it would be amicable, they’d remain on friendly terms, it would be all good. It did not end up this way and Jon would go on to ignore her, ghost her right away. This did not help at all, Maggie was increasingly perturbed, aggrieved, and did everyone know it! Her friends quickly tired of this, she was unable to be happy for others and became hard work for everyone.
The internal dialogue was so intense, Maggie was on the go constantly, we glimpsed her Google searches which added an extra layer into her chaos, work suffered, spending became an issue, as well as the endless hook ups, her blossoming enjoyment of her newfound ability to sleep with both men and women.
She made a couples therapy appointment, Jon was not there but ended up on the phone by trickery which by then we finally see how damaged she is and hope she will finally have some well needed therapy.
This book made my head spin, I could relate in ways and just wanted her to be ok, but what a journey Maggie has had, and will continue to have. When a book ends and I think about the protagonist the way I thought about Maggie, I know the book has worked for me, but wow was my own head spinning just like it was in the GG show.
An outstanding debut in many ways, evidently written by a comedian in a smart way. This was thought provoking, playful, and unique. Another extra layer was the setting, I rarely hear so much about Canada and its physical environment, I really enjoyed that as well.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library, deftly narrated by Julia Whelan who has narrated many titles I’ve previously enjoyed.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/20...
This book started off with all the reasons why Maggie and her newly betrothed, should divorce. They didn’t last long, less than two years, and she’s quite worried about her new status. She’s neurotic, funny, troubled, and very prone to overthinking. The absolute vibe of this was reminiscent of The Gilmore Girls, especially when the producers changed over, and it was wordy. She didn’t stop, and this spilled over to work, friendships and learning to live a new life after divorce. Perpetually in a relationship, she’d never experienced being on her own, and still sought relationships fresh from separation.
From the first paragraph I could see the reasons why they parted, she could too, but never could trust her instinct, therefore neither could I, and kept wondering what would eventuate when it was crystal clear Jon was no longer having a bar of it. At the time of separation, they decided (more likely with Maggie’s telling it would have been only her version of it) it would be amicable, they’d remain on friendly terms, it would be all good. It did not end up this way and Jon would go on to ignore her, ghost her right away. This did not help at all, Maggie was increasingly perturbed, aggrieved, and did everyone know it! Her friends quickly tired of this, she was unable to be happy for others and became hard work for everyone.
The internal dialogue was so intense, Maggie was on the go constantly, we glimpsed her Google searches which added an extra layer into her chaos, work suffered, spending became an issue, as well as the endless hook ups, her blossoming enjoyment of her newfound ability to sleep with both men and women.
She made a couples therapy appointment, Jon was not there but ended up on the phone by trickery which by then we finally see how damaged she is and hope she will finally have some well needed therapy.
This book made my head spin, I could relate in ways and just wanted her to be ok, but what a journey Maggie has had, and will continue to have. When a book ends and I think about the protagonist the way I thought about Maggie, I know the book has worked for me, but wow was my own head spinning just like it was in the GG show.
An outstanding debut in many ways, evidently written by a comedian in a smart way. This was thought provoking, playful, and unique. Another extra layer was the setting, I rarely hear so much about Canada and its physical environment, I really enjoyed that as well.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library, deftly narrated by Julia Whelan who has narrated many titles I’ve previously enjoyed.
March 26, 2023
This is the debut novel from Monica Heisey, a writer on Schitt's Creek, among many other TV shows. Her comedic talents are in no doubt in this effort, but she demonstrates a rare insight into modern relationships too.
The story is narrated by Maggie, a 29-year-old woman living in Toronto. She has just separated from Jon, the only man she's ever dated, and she's struggling, to put it mildly. She's torn between wanting to win him back and getting on with her life. Dating is mostly a disaster, even though she does meet one interesting chap called Simon, before getting rid of him for being too nice. She has a self-destructive streak as you can see. Luckily Maggie has a great group of friends to depend on, but this is a tumultuous period in her life, and it's going to take some big changes to turn it around.
As I read, I kept thinking that this was like a Nora Ephron book for millennials. It's very clever, and self-aware, and perceptive about relationships in a way you don't see very often these days. It's also genuinely funny, in a can't bear to look kind of way. Maggie just can't help ruining things for herself. She might not be likeable all the time, but that's OK - it only makes her seem more real. My one criticism is that the story does go on a bit too long. But all in all, Really Good, Actually is a witty and perceptive account of modern love and all its foibles.
The story is narrated by Maggie, a 29-year-old woman living in Toronto. She has just separated from Jon, the only man she's ever dated, and she's struggling, to put it mildly. She's torn between wanting to win him back and getting on with her life. Dating is mostly a disaster, even though she does meet one interesting chap called Simon, before getting rid of him for being too nice. She has a self-destructive streak as you can see. Luckily Maggie has a great group of friends to depend on, but this is a tumultuous period in her life, and it's going to take some big changes to turn it around.
As I read, I kept thinking that this was like a Nora Ephron book for millennials. It's very clever, and self-aware, and perceptive about relationships in a way you don't see very often these days. It's also genuinely funny, in a can't bear to look kind of way. Maggie just can't help ruining things for herself. She might not be likeable all the time, but that's OK - it only makes her seem more real. My one criticism is that the story does go on a bit too long. But all in all, Really Good, Actually is a witty and perceptive account of modern love and all its foibles.
March 24, 2023
I’m not sure why this book isn’t rated a little bit higher. It’s a book about our messy lives. How we respond to breakups and the messiness surrounding them.
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