Really Good, Actually

Really Good, Actually

  • Downloads:1442
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2023-01-15 10:51:36
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Monica Heisey
  • ISBN:1443467081
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

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。

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Reviews

Tina

I’m sorry to say that this book was not really good, actually。 Maggie is an insufferable, self-absorbed 29-year old who recently separated from her husband of 608 days, and what follows is a not in the least bit funny account of how not good Maggie really is。

Mel

3。5⭐

B。P。

2。5 stars The percentage of this I found funny or fun to read: approximately 1%。 But in all fairness, I personally have practically 0 tolerance for contemporary novels。

Sarah Obsesses over Books & Cookies

This book is just fun and sad and quick and creative。 It comes from the mind of a writer of comedy so buckle up。 It's like you have this friend who is right there next you chattering in your year all her thoughts and her insecurities and her problems and you tune out most of it but every third thought is brilliant and sometimes so smart it takes a second or two to realize how smart her thought was。 And no, she's not trying to be smart, she just is。 The main character, Maggie has just been left b This book is just fun and sad and quick and creative。 It comes from the mind of a writer of comedy so buckle up。 It's like you have this friend who is right there next you chattering in your year all her thoughts and her insecurities and her problems and you tune out most of it but every third thought is brilliant and sometimes so smart it takes a second or two to realize how smart her thought was。 And no, she's not trying to be smart, she just is。 The main character, Maggie has just been left by her husband, Jon。 And she is not taking it well。 When you read the first several pages it's a literal stream of consciousness description of why he might have left but do not worry, if that's not your style it calms down and turns into a normal cadence。 But that never-ending blurb of what might have happened is worth the price of admission。 Maggie has friends and a job at a university and she is trying to navigate life as a 29 year old post divorce。 I enjoyed this immensely and I knew I would since it came from the mind of someone to do with Schitt's Creek。 here are some quotes: "An aunt had joking said, "the best marriage advice I can give you: make sure you each want the divorce at different times。""I reshaped our happy memories until they were revealed for what they truly were: false moments of hope concealing the truth。" "Was I really that obvious? I felt like a baboon wagging my big, swollen ass at some other baboon I'd attended a conference with five years ago。""this was clearly a man who journaled。" "How can you tell if something you did was a stupid mistake or a real sign of your character?""All right," I said。 "I'm angry that my threshold for discomfort is so low。 Like I can function totally normally as long as there is no uncertainty in my life, but if I'm waiting to learn the outcome of something, the entire day is fucked。" Just a gem。 Lover her writing, her realistic perspectives and observations of the world through the eyes of a young person。 。。。more

Jenna

Sarcastic, exhausting, funny and sad。 Is it possible to describe a protagonist this way? Yep, because I just did。 Maggie is the woman you root for but also get frustrated by as she navigates life after divorce。 It’s a messy book, which always speaks to me because life is indeed messy, but it’s also one that can feel like messy goes from entertaining to sad。 Totally conflicted on my feelings for this one。 The writer is talented (no doubt) but I’m thinking this book was one for a specific audience Sarcastic, exhausting, funny and sad。 Is it possible to describe a protagonist this way? Yep, because I just did。 Maggie is the woman you root for but also get frustrated by as she navigates life after divorce。 It’s a messy book, which always speaks to me because life is indeed messy, but it’s also one that can feel like messy goes from entertaining to sad。 Totally conflicted on my feelings for this one。 The writer is talented (no doubt) but I’m thinking this book was one for a specific audience。 I enjoyed it, laughed out loud at times but then I also felt like some things didn’t sit with me well (eating disorder for example as a quirky personality trait)。 So yes I liked it。 No I didn’t love it。 I do however love seeing new debuts with good writing so I wish the author so much success in this side of her writing。 perhaps this is better played out as a sitcom?! 。。。more

Jenna

Sarcastic, exhausting, funny and sad。 Is it possible to describe a protagonist this way? Yep, because I just did。 Maggie is the woman you root for but also get frustrated by as she navigates life after divorce。 It’s a messy book, which always speaks to me because life is indeed messy, but it’s also one that can feel like messy goes from entertaining to sad。 Totally conflicted on my feelings for this one。 The writer is talented (no doubt) but I’m thinking this book was one for a specific audience Sarcastic, exhausting, funny and sad。 Is it possible to describe a protagonist this way? Yep, because I just did。 Maggie is the woman you root for but also get frustrated by as she navigates life after divorce。 It’s a messy book, which always speaks to me because life is indeed messy, but it’s also one that can feel like messy goes from entertaining to sad。 Totally conflicted on my feelings for this one。 The writer is talented (no doubt) but I’m thinking this book was one for a specific audience。 I enjoyed it, laughed out loud at times but then I also felt like some things didn’t sit with me well (eating disorder for example as a quirky personality trait)。 So yes I liked it。 No I didn’t love it。 I do however love seeing new debuts with good writing so I wish the author so much success in this side of her writing。 perhaps this is better played out as a sitcom?! 。。。more

Jo-anne Atkinson

Maggie is a Grad Student, married, renting an apartment and owning a rescue cat - until suddenly she is on her own。 When her husband leaves her Maggie believes her life is over, aged 28。 She wallows in sadness and self-pity, throws herself into various activities, overspends and indulges in lots of sex with lots of people。 However sympathy for Maggie is growing thin and Maggie needs to face up to herself。I am not the demographic that this book is intended for and I found it hard to read at first Maggie is a Grad Student, married, renting an apartment and owning a rescue cat - until suddenly she is on her own。 When her husband leaves her Maggie believes her life is over, aged 28。 She wallows in sadness and self-pity, throws herself into various activities, overspends and indulges in lots of sex with lots of people。 However sympathy for Maggie is growing thin and Maggie needs to face up to herself。I am not the demographic that this book is intended for and I found it hard to read at first, simply because of the graphic sexual references and the Millennial vibe。 However once I got into the rhythm of the book I started to find it very funny and very clever。 OK, Maggie is a deeply unsympathetic character to me but the hilarity of the 'woke' activities and actions, the utter selfishness and the self-help got me hooked! 。。。more

Kathleen Gray

Maggie's husband Jon has left her and taken not only most of their possessions but also the cat。 Now she's trying to survive, to step back up to life, and to date again。 She's lucky because she has a posse of good friends who keep her fed, entertained, and cared for。 And, when she has to give up her apartment, her boss at the university offers her a place in her group home so long as she walks the dog。 This is funny and relatable in many ways and I chuckled a bit in the beginning but then it beg Maggie's husband Jon has left her and taken not only most of their possessions but also the cat。 Now she's trying to survive, to step back up to life, and to date again。 She's lucky because she has a posse of good friends who keep her fed, entertained, and cared for。 And, when she has to give up her apartment, her boss at the university offers her a place in her group home so long as she walks the dog。 This is funny and relatable in many ways and I chuckled a bit in the beginning but then it began to wear on me。 Not dismissing her experience by any means but I got tired of Maggie's voice。 Other voices carried me through - there's a scene when she takes her clothes to a thrift shop that's a hoot。 Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC。 A good read。 。。。more

Pauline

Okay Read 🤔 Overall this book for me was an okay read, not a laugh out loud read I was hoping for。 Told in one continuous read until the epilogue。

Casey

I received an ARC of this book through a giveaway and immediately loved the cover art。 I found this book and it's cast of quirky characters funny, and maybe it's the millennial in me but also highly relatable。 The filling up of online shopping carts。 The overpriced impulse buys, and followed by the shameful returns when we come to our senses。 It isn't the kind of story I normally seek out, but I enjoyed it none the less。 I received an ARC of this book through a giveaway and immediately loved the cover art。 I found this book and it's cast of quirky characters funny, and maybe it's the millennial in me but also highly relatable。 The filling up of online shopping carts。 The overpriced impulse buys, and followed by the shameful returns when we come to our senses。 It isn't the kind of story I normally seek out, but I enjoyed it none the less。 。。。more

Marcela (marcereads)

4。5 stars 🌟 In this hilarious book full of dry, dark humour, we follow Maggie as she navigates a separation and divorce from her husband at the age of 29。 From downloading Tinder again to exploring weird time-filling hobbies to maxing out her credit card by going on online shopping sprees, we see how she evolves after having to exit the comfort zone that was her marriage to John。This is millennial lit at its best。 A 29-year-old feeling completely lost in life, not particularly career-driven, try 4。5 stars 🌟 In this hilarious book full of dry, dark humour, we follow Maggie as she navigates a separation and divorce from her husband at the age of 29。 From downloading Tinder again to exploring weird time-filling hobbies to maxing out her credit card by going on online shopping sprees, we see how she evolves after having to exit the comfort zone that was her marriage to John。This is millennial lit at its best。 A 29-year-old feeling completely lost in life, not particularly career-driven, trying to keep her balance between panicking about being alone and not finding love again, and feeling like a hashtag strong, independent woman who doesn’t need to be in a relationship。It’s also an accurate depiction of depressive episodes, where you’re drowning so much in your own sorrow you can’t quite see the light nor be there for the people in your life in their big moments。The more you read, the more your empathy for Maggie is tested as she plunges deeper into her sadness, adopting toxic coping mechanisms and becoming an unpleasant and unsupportive presence in her friends’ lives。 Her character arc is so well done – despite her being unlikeable at times, she’s also very real, imperfect, insecure, self-centred, but also capable of change and growth as a person。And honestly this book is so hilarious I would 100% recommend it if you’re going through a tough time。 It’ll put a smile on your face, I promise。 I now need a screen adaptation of it!!! Thank you to 4th Estate for sending me a proof copy! 。。。more

Jane Dennish

What I liked about this book: All of the sections in between the regular chapters were hysterically funny! So the main character goes through a divorce。 Not funny…。I know。 But throughout her experience she does things we all do during breakups。 She sends unwanted text messages, she spends time on the Internet to occupy her free time and searches for the craziest topics。 There are also excerpts from emails, conversations with her food delivery person, emails with her divorce lawyer and emails wit What I liked about this book: All of the sections in between the regular chapters were hysterically funny! So the main character goes through a divorce。 Not funny…。I know。 But throughout her experience she does things we all do during breakups。 She sends unwanted text messages, she spends time on the Internet to occupy her free time and searches for the craziest topics。 There are also excerpts from emails, conversations with her food delivery person, emails with her divorce lawyer and emails with her ex。 These parts of the book, in my opinion are the strongest and funniest parts of the book。 I would have liked to see her make more progress as the book neared the end, but those extra parts in between were pure genius!Thanks so much to BiblioLifestyle and William Morrow for a gifted copy of this book that comes out on January 17th! 。。。more

Katie Mac

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review。2。5, rounded up。 As a millennial woman and lover of Schitt's Creek--the show for which Monica Heisey wrote--I felt like I should love protagonist Maggie, but I couldn't stand her most of the time。 There are plenty of laugh-out-loud one-liners in here, and the reflections on heartbreak are oddly poignant, but there's also plenty of wallowing and self-destruction。 Some self-pity is human, but without I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review。2。5, rounded up。 As a millennial woman and lover of Schitt's Creek--the show for which Monica Heisey wrote--I felt like I should love protagonist Maggie, but I couldn't stand her most of the time。 There are plenty of laugh-out-loud one-liners in here, and the reflections on heartbreak are oddly poignant, but there's also plenty of wallowing and self-destruction。 Some self-pity is human, but without any reflection, follow-through, or focus on other events the book ends up feeling like a whiny slog of diary entries and Google searches。 By the last quarter of the book--during which there is *spoiler alert* some positive character development--Maggie began to feel like this generation's Carrie Bradshaw to me: a narcissistic train wreck with a decent writing style。 。。。more

Putin

nice books to read。

Roman Clodia

Not Really That Good, ActuallyThere'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 w Not Really That Good, ActuallyThere'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 。。。more

Tiffany Breyne

This book made me laugh out loud at some parts。 Sometimes I loathed the protagonist and sometimes she's endearingly odd (though, IDK if post-divorce depression is really odd or just generally earth-shattering)。 Listening to the audiobook was fun, because Julia Whelan narrated, though I wonder what the print edition looks like, since sometimes there's just a list of Google searches the protagonist has made (with absurd yet relatable progressions)。If you don't mind sometimes rolling your eyes at t This book made me laugh out loud at some parts。 Sometimes I loathed the protagonist and sometimes she's endearingly odd (though, IDK if post-divorce depression is really odd or just generally earth-shattering)。 Listening to the audiobook was fun, because Julia Whelan narrated, though I wonder what the print edition looks like, since sometimes there's just a list of Google searches the protagonist has made (with absurd yet relatable progressions)。If you don't mind sometimes rolling your eyes at the protagonist or reading about a person making somewhat disastrous choices, this is a good read。 。。。more

Aubrey

Sometimes you are Maggie and sometimes you are Maggie’s friends and you just have to accept that reality。

BookBagDC

This is a story about starting over。  Maggie’s life is not going how she’s expecting it。  Her marriage to her long-term boyfriend ended after less than two years。  She is making little progress on her graduate thesis and, even if she did, she’s not sure how she’ll find a job in her field。  Her work as an “adjacent professor,” as her ex once described it, is middling at best。 As she faces single life as a “young divorcée” she must figure out what she wants from a life that looks nothing as she an This is a story about starting over。  Maggie’s life is not going how she’s expecting it。  Her marriage to her long-term boyfriend ended after less than two years。  She is making little progress on her graduate thesis and, even if she did, she’s not sure how she’ll find a job in her field。  Her work as an “adjacent professor,” as her ex once described it, is middling at best。 As she faces single life as a “young divorcée” she must figure out what she wants from a life that looks nothing as she anticipated and without a partner who, while often frustrating, was at least familiar … and there。On her journey, she relies on her four closest friends from college; her new friend, Amy, also divorced, who serves as her sort of sherpa into life as a newly divorced woman; and her thesis advisor, Merris, a tough older woman who seems to have her life together and has a soft spot for Maggie。  Through fits-and starts and more downs than ups, complete with dating apps, first date fails, figuring out where to live, and looking for advice (or at least snacks) wherever she can get it, Maggie’s first year of single life is unlike she — or those in her life — could have ever guessed。 I loved this book。  Maggie is one of most indelible characters of recent fiction — alternatively self-aware and oblivious, relatable and incomprehensible, hilarious and tragic。  The author offered deep and often quite funny insights into both marriage and friendship。 The book captures how one’s identity shifts in a marriage, where each partner is often defined in relationship to each other (such as the “the Bookish One”) even if they would never be described that way in another context。  It also captures what can hurt the most when one loses a partner is missing someone to share the most mundane aspects of your life with and to dissect any social situation。  I also thought the author’s treatment of Maggie’s relationship with her friends was spot on as she goes through her arc following her separation, where they are at first totally supportive and willing to stop anything to be with Maggie but over time reasonably expect Maggie to treat their friendships as a two-way streeet and growing frustrating when she does not。  This captured well the dynamics among friends in this situation and the challenge that Maggie felt when she senses her friends pulling away but not knowing how to get out of her own downward, self-focused spiral。   The book also had so many fun pop culture references — for instance, describing Merris’s housing situation, where she lived with two other women, as “kind of highbrow Golden Girls situation。”  With these references and Maggie’s hot takes, this book had me laughing out loud frequently in what was a heartbreaking and heartwarming story。 Very highly recommended! 。。。more

Afton Lindhorst

The main character's only personality trait was that she was divorced and nothing else。 Honestly, she made me mad for the majority of the book because she's kind of a narcissist and didn't care about anyone else and lost friends because of it。 The book didn't need to be this long。 The main character's only personality trait was that she was divorced and nothing else。 Honestly, she made me mad for the majority of the book because she's kind of a narcissist and didn't care about anyone else and lost friends because of it。 The book didn't need to be this long。 。。。more

Stephanie

28-year-old Maggie's marriage has just broken up and her husband, who she's been with since college, has left her catless and struggling to afford their small Toronto apartment on her own。 What follows is Maggie going through the Suprisingly Young Divorcee stages, which is something along the lines of: hope, despair, watching too much TV and ordering too frequent food delivery, the Dating Apps, exploring new hobbies, and generally trying to discover just who you are as an individual。Really Good, 28-year-old Maggie's marriage has just broken up and her husband, who she's been with since college, has left her catless and struggling to afford their small Toronto apartment on her own。 What follows is Maggie going through the Suprisingly Young Divorcee stages, which is something along the lines of: hope, despair, watching too much TV and ordering too frequent food delivery, the Dating Apps, exploring new hobbies, and generally trying to discover just who you are as an individual。Really Good, Actually is a humorous late coming-of-age story。 Maggie is chaotic and messy and relatable。 Author Monica Heisey is a writer and comedian who has written for television shows such as Schitt's Creek, to give you an idea of the humor。 I found the humor here a bit heavy handed and nearly tedious at times (same with Schitt's Creek TBH), but there is also depth to be explored and moments that bring the story back to balance。 I think there are plenty of readers who will really enjoy this one。Thanks to William Morrow and Bibliolifestyle for providing a review copy。 。。。more

Suad Mohamed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Rukia !Mohamed

Sarah

3。5 stars。 A very modern day Bridget Jones。 I think we will all identify with Maggie’s heartbreak on some level。 I loved that it was set in Toronto and could visualize many things。 It sets off a rollercoaster of emotions but I really enjoyed it 😊

Erika

Thank you to the publisher and Libro。fm for an audio ARC of Really Good, Actually。First off, I was very excited that this book is narrated by Julia Whelan! If you like her audio, you won’t be disappointed。 For most of the book, I felt for Maggie。 Her marriage didn’t make it 2 years, and her husband is not helping the process of separation much。 Sure, Maggie can be a lot to deal with, but we have all had hard times, right? Some parts of this book were laugh out loud funny as Maggie navigates dati Thank you to the publisher and Libro。fm for an audio ARC of Really Good, Actually。First off, I was very excited that this book is narrated by Julia Whelan! If you like her audio, you won’t be disappointed。 For most of the book, I felt for Maggie。 Her marriage didn’t make it 2 years, and her husband is not helping the process of separation much。 Sure, Maggie can be a lot to deal with, but we have all had hard times, right? Some parts of this book were laugh out loud funny as Maggie navigates dating, but as the book progressed, I began to get annoyed with her antics。 She went a little off the rails, and while I wanted to toss my phone a few times, I was still invested in her story。 I am a little older than what is likely the target audience of this book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! 。。。more

Soon Perez

-ARC

Morgan Schulman

A very likable novel about a very unlikable person。 If you like the author’s television shows, you’ll love this book。

Jessica

librofm arc

adventuresinabookshop Jo R

Hilarious and touching in equal measures, this books had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions。 With relatable characters and a heroine who you can’t help rooting for, Really Good, Actually is really good, actually。

Jessica

I really enjoyed this book。 When I read that Heisey previously wrote for Schitt’s Creek, I wasn’t at all surprised because her writing is insanely funny while also being heartwarming。 Every few minutes while reading I’d have to pause to re-read a line because I loved it so much。 She also somehow managed to bundle all the neuroses and anxieties of being in your late 20s into one character, highlighting them in a way that is not relatable but eye opening。 In doing so, she pokes fun at the absolute I really enjoyed this book。 When I read that Heisey previously wrote for Schitt’s Creek, I wasn’t at all surprised because her writing is insanely funny while also being heartwarming。 Every few minutes while reading I’d have to pause to re-read a line because I loved it so much。 She also somehow managed to bundle all the neuroses and anxieties of being in your late 20s into one character, highlighting them in a way that is not relatable but eye opening。 In doing so, she pokes fun at the absolutely bonkers time period we live in while pointing out all that is amazing about it and embracing it。 I just found this to be a very fun book that anyone who struggled at all in their 20s/30s can connect with。 If you’re looking for a strict “plot” for lack of a better word, this isn’t for you。 It’s more about the journey for the MC。 But if you like character-driven novels, this one is quite delightful。 4。5 stars。 Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC 。。。more

Maggie Foster

Kinda weird to read a book about a character, with my name, age, and physical characteristics, but hopefully that's as far as the similarities go。 Maggie is wildly self absorbed and wallowing in self pity for a lot of this book。 She makes weird and bad choices often, but she's doing her best。 This isn't my normal type of book, but the cover was so arresting I had to read it。 Kinda weird to read a book about a character, with my name, age, and physical characteristics, but hopefully that's as far as the similarities go。 Maggie is wildly self absorbed and wallowing in self pity for a lot of this book。 She makes weird and bad choices often, but she's doing her best。 This isn't my normal type of book, but the cover was so arresting I had to read it。 。。。more

Tia Fields

Wow what a shit show。 I get life never works out how you want it to, but like this book seemed to get worse and worse。 Gave Sally Rooney vibes and I didn’t like her books so if you like that disregard my review。 The MC was just so boring I really thought I would learn to love her weird and quirky personality but it just became more and more annoying。 Her friends suck, and post divorce she was also a terrible friend, she got on dating apps but clearly has no personality outside of her old marriag Wow what a shit show。 I get life never works out how you want it to, but like this book seemed to get worse and worse。 Gave Sally Rooney vibes and I didn’t like her books so if you like that disregard my review。 The MC was just so boring I really thought I would learn to love her weird and quirky personality but it just became more and more annoying。 Her friends suck, and post divorce she was also a terrible friend, she got on dating apps but clearly has no personality outside of her old marriage。 Which yes that’s the point of this book how hard loosing yourself and your person at the same time is, but this has been written before and better。 This felt lazy。 I give 2 stars because I had high hopes, I really wanted to like the plots but I didn’t! The relationships within this book sucked。 Wouldn’t recommend。 。。。more