I really enjoyed this book and read it in practically one sitting. It is humourous and sarcastic with a captivating storyline and perfectly palced language. I loved it

I thought, when I started this book, I was going to get a Bridget Jones-esque story; a lovable yet slightly dysfunctional singleton, trying to navigate the dating world in their own quirky way, but with a splash of being newly divorced and learning how to "cope".

Sadly, what we get instead is Maggie; exhausting, self-centered, selfish, attention-seeking, irresponsible, doesn't know how to function as an adult in the slightest without her hand being held at the tender age of 29.

"Really Good, Actually" started off strong. It was funny if slightly unhinged, but understandable as she's just broken up with her partner of 10 years (married for a year) and is trying to figure out "well, what now?". I put a lot of her issues initially as a post-marriage breakdown, and waited for her to come into her own and shine. Yet as the book carries on, I kept wondering when we were going to get past the never-ending "stalking my ex on every form of social media and leaving unhinged messages for him, begging him to come back" stage and actually see some character growth. But it didn't happen until I was at the 80% mark, just when I was about to give up but decided that since I was already there, I might as well finish the book.

I think Monica Heisey wanted us to feel really bad for Maggie, but I found myself instead feeling sorry for her ex-husband, Jon. Maggie brought nothing to their relationship, and it sounded like he was carrying the emotional and financial burden while she acted forever like a 13-year-old whose thoughts and conversations jump from topic to topic and make no sense.

In fact, I found Maggie to be so nasty to those around her—genuine compliments receive backhanded insults or condescending comments from her (but says she's joking); she goes to a friend's wedding and makes some nasty tweets about the event (again saying she's joking) and just can't even pretend to be happy for the couple; tells her friend who wants to get a puppy with her long-term partner that it's not a good idea in case they break up and "a puppy is basically a down payment on a future dog funeral".

And we're meant to root for this person? As a 29-year old myself (same as Maggie), who is getting married next year, Maggie majorly gave me the ick at her insistence that others in our age-range think and act the same as her. There is honestly no self-awareness here with this character and I was glad when other character also called her out on this.

Unsurprisingly, her friends are beginning to distance themselves from her (don't blame them), and she has no idea why she's not being invited out anymore (she doesn't go out anyway) and continues to refuse the idea that maybe she needs therapy. She is so miserable in herself that she thinks that others will want to wallow in her misery with her and is shocked when they don't.

At the 320-page mark, she suddenly has the realisation that she doesn't need to say every single thing she's feeling or thinking to everyone or post it online all the time-you can keep it to yourself sometimes! *facepalm*

I wondered so often if we were going to find out Maggie has OCD or something similar to explain why she acts the ways she does. It's clear she has some kind of eating disorder (but it's only really portrayed by Maggie as a quirky personality trait), but I wondered if there was more? Did her parent's divorce have more of an impact which explains her reaction to her own divorce and lacklustre relationships thereafter? Did something happen when she was younger that makes her avoid confrontation now and why she's so apathetic about various aspects of her life until things suddenly change? Who knows!

2.5 stars

[This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.]

I was looking forward to reading this as a change from my usual murder mysteries. Unfortunately I was the wrong generation and not my sense of humour. Had I been thirty years younger I would probably thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed my way through. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

An astounding debut.

Funny and light-hearted whilst also managing to handle some serious subject matter.

Step into the world of divorce, dating and all those foot falls of being a 'grown up'.

With brilliantly witty narration, Monica has written something for the modern ages.

If you get a chance to read this, make sure you do.

Could not get into this at all. The narrator was irritating and I was huffing with frustration within the first 2 pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read but this was a DNF for me

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey.

I agree with lots of other reviewers that this is 'laugh out loud funny', and also sad along the way.
I virtually NEVER put down a book before the end, but, despite this being most amusing and indeed well written, I just couldn't contine and finish it, and found it monotenous. Too much of the same 'thing' and, I will never be a fan of very long chapterless monologues - that's just me. I'm sure this will appeal to many readers, just not this one. Sorry.

There's no doubt about it, this book is funny and you will smile a lot while reading it. There's also so many of Maggie's thoughts that many will relate to (even if you'd rather pretend that you didn't...). It's a real deep dive into one's woman visceral experience during her divorce and although there were certainly parts I enjoyed, not a whole lot happens and it goes on for far too long than it needs to. From about 50% onwards, it was a real slog to get through, which was a real shame.

Really good, actually by Monica Heisey

Thank you Netgallery 4th Estate and William Collins for an arc for an unbiased review.

We open with Maggie listing why she and Jon broke up and the subsequent divorce. Yet, as she said, there was no big blow out moment, just a series of small fires they failed to put out.

I'm struggling on where to rate the book as a whole. When it worked for me, it was fantastic. Yet there are also elements that just dragged it down as I carried on.

So what did I enjoy? The premise as a whole works, and especially at the beginning, drew me in. The humour is often self-deprecating, sharp and contemporary. The friendships you start to see around Maggie are solid and believable.

But where it fell down for me at least was after a while it felt repetitive, and lost its lustre. Not that there was anything wrong per se with Maggie, but at times it felt a bit too one dimensional. While it was obvious going in, this book is about all facets of Maggie, I do wish we had more than Google searches, fantasies or text messages etc breaking the narrative up. A couple of times I felt myself craving just a different perspective.

I eventually plumped for 4/5 stars, although in reality it is more 3.5/5 stars 🌟
I feel it does enough to not warrant the mid range rating. I can see that this book will not be for everyone, and a lot of going to be on whether the humour lands as it is supposed to.

The story is about marriage and breakup. Maggie and Jon have been together forever but married only for a couple of years and then they separate. It did not grab my attention span and in the end I am sorry to say I abandoned it which is not like me at all. I found it not sustaining enough for me to read. Maybe it is a generation thing being of the older generation. have since read some reviews and they are mixed so that makes me feel a little better as I do not like to not finish a book which someone has put their heart and soul into. Sorry to Monica

Really Good, Actually was really good, actually. The story follows Maggie's journey as she comes to terms with the breakdown of her marriage.

I think for me, what I found relatable was the messiness of the fall out from going through a divorce particulary at a young age. Trying to figure out who you are without your significant other can be confronting and confusing and can also make you act out of character which is why I was able to feel for Maggie. She was flawed and selfish at times but there was just something about her that I warmed to and I enjoyed her story.

A book that is sad, emotional, affirming all at once. The rawness of Maggie’s feelings as she goes through her divorce, first dates and first wedding since the separation is beautifully written. We really do cry with Maggie as she gets it right and wrong muddling on one step in front of the other. You know it will be okay but stay with Maggie for the ride.

MONICA HEISEY – REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY *****

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a contemporary story, one that could not, with its language and viewpoint, have been written in any period of history other than now. The opening sentence, My marriage ended because I was cruel. Or because I ate in bed, (and the list of a hundred other possibilities) introduces the voice, and the perspective of, Maggie and her breakup with Jon.

The story itself is simple; she’s trying, very unsuccessfully, to make sense of what has happened, and to deal with the fall out with the aid of her group of remarkable supportive friends, and new friends she meets along the way.

The tone is self-deprecating and very humorous in an absurdist sort of way (by the author’s clever juxtaposition of images); Maggie is a disaster in just about everything she does and every decision she makes, and the author cleverly reveals this through the reactions and comments of her friends, as Maggie herself can’t see what she is doing to them or herself.

It’s an extraordinarily witty and readable book, my only reservation being that it’s all one volume, as everything is told through one character. There is no light and shade by having another point of view, and this POV is almost overpowering. In a sense it is like splurging six inches of clotted cream onto a normal height scone. After a while I found it too rich and had to stop reading, and then go back to it, otherwise I might have been bilious. But the author is brilliant with her observations of modern city life and Maggie comes full circle by the end. An excellent read.

This debut is an interesting one. It's often an astute, well-written reflection on being a woman in your late 20s today. Maggie is going through a divorce and having to learn how to navigate the world again as a single woman. It ends up being a mix of regular prose, fantasies, texts, Google searches and more.

While this has quite a lot of insight on that period of life - often with a wicked sense of humour - I struggled with Maggie as a character. I don't need my characters to be likeable but it felt like we were supposed to be following growth, while there was sparse amounts of it to be found. She makes mistake after mistake, stuck in her own self-centeredness and we never really move on from there.

I could see what this was trying to do but overall, the frustration won out a little too much for me. Despite that, there's a lot of promise here and I'd pick up the author's next book.

This book was not for me. I didn't like the run on sentences, despite recognizing it's an identifying style. It lacked body and interest. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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 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.

Really good actually is such a funny read to pick up, for British readers imagine a newer version of Bridget Jones after divorce. Think diets, dating, and dealing as an adult whose newly single and hasn't had a first date in years. I liked the main character I just didn't really see a plot, I think that was the point but It just felt really messy at times. The friendship aspect was hilarious and seeing how she dealt with all these new experiences whilst being single was interesting and relatable. I would happily read more from this author.

Not for me , wrong demographic, not as I expected from blurb, sorry.

DNF.

Thank you NetGalley.

After reading the blurb, I was excited for a book that was going to make me laugh and maybe sympathise with the main character, Maggie, but I'm afraid I was left a bit flat.
Maybe I'm too old for it, but I found Maggie, a woman in her late twenties, who is going through a divorce, very self-centred.
It's not a good situation for anyone to go through but come on, you have to realise the world doesn't revolve around you, Maggie!
Plus, I found the way it was written quite tiring. There were no obvious chapter breaks and lots of rambling and random lists of internet search histories that I didn't quite understand.
Some people may love this. I am just sorry I didn't.
Many thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the honesty of the book and the character. The author has done well to write how she has. You hope through it all the main character sorts her stuff and life out.

This is exactly my sort of read - and while it's tempting to use the title as my review tag, it deserves a far better response than that. It's an immensely enjoyable and very relatable tale about marriage breakdown and life spiralling out of control - with many a nod to Norah Ephron's novel ‘Heartburn’ and just as funny, There are so many notable highlights and witticisms that it’s hard to choose, but a couple of my favourites are ‘sadness hobbies’ and ‘cyber-stalking via pet account’, I will definitely be looking out for more of this author’s work.