I've started this book probably about three times because it is was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, but even on the third try, I only got about half way through. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn't like the main character at all. This is something that I could look past, but in my opinion, it was also a lot longer of a book than it needed to be. This book has potential, but for me, it dragged.

I was such a fan of Monica Heisey's debut novel that I skipped several restaurant outings to finish it. It's funny, it's generous, it's sharp, and it made me glad that I'll never be in my 20s ever again. Heisey's protagonist Maggie is going through a divorce and handling it badly. She ruminates about plastic surgery, alienates her friends, leaves a truly inappropriate number of voicemails for her ex, rants about capitalism as a cover for her hurt, and is, in general, a lovable nightmare. The slow process of figuring out who you are and what you want after a big break-up has been fodder for so many novels, but Heisey approaches it with honesty and warmth. I liked so much that this story wasn't tied up neatly in a bow—there's no second husband waiting in the wings—but rather, Heisey left it open to the kind of optimistic messy happy endings that most of us get after a bad break-up. We move on. WE reconcile with our past visions of our futures. This book has empathy for Maggie, but she's as much of an anti-hero as she is a hero. When I was reading Really Good, Actually, I kept thinking about Bridget Jones' Diary, and how this book is the much-needed update to that tradition (no more calorie counting diaries in novels dear god). I can't wait for Heisey's next book.

This book, like our literary heroine, is messy and complicated. Going through a divorce at a young age, Maggie finds herself in a tailspin as she tries to make sense of her situation. While she does have a support system, she makes more and more choices that alienate her from her friends and loved ones. I’ll admit that there were parts of this book that were really uncomfortable to read, mostly because her life is realistically messy and she makes a variety of self-sabotaging decisions that make her situation even messier. I absolutely loved the parts where her internal dialogue wavers between feeling like her problems aren’t as big as other people’s “real” problems and understanding that her complicated feelings are just as valid as anyone else’s.

The book was quite bitingly humorous while also having many heartbreaking moments. While I’ve never been in her situation, her character felt relatable and real.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy of this book!

Loved the quirky voice of Heisey's protagonist from the start. However this book, which starts out a little flippant, soon turns into a headlong dumpster fire of a breakup story.

Maggie's supportive friends and self destructive behavior are in a race to see who will prevail. The bad behavior, painfully bleak in the middle, but the conclusion is solid and worthwhile.

While there are many readers who will love this book, it didn't quite hit that sweet spot for me. I think I was expecting more humor, or at least more tongue-in-cheek humor about the absudity and sadness of break-ups and realizing you don't have your life together at the age you thought you totally would have it all figured out. This just felt a bit more down-in-the-dumps and repetitious than I expected, and it wasn't really laugh-out-loud funny the way Schitt's Creek is (the author was a writer for the show, and this book received a lot of early hype because of that) nor did it have the brilliant observational humor of that show, either.

I really wanted to like this book. However, it just felt like a fever dream. I need plot development and/or characters that are relatable. I don't have to like them. I just could not finish this one. Great cover, though.

3.75 stars. This book came as a surprise to me. Upon beginning the book I thought it was going to be a lighter read about a woman going through her breakup. I figured maybe it would be a bit formulaic, and she would find her new awesome man and all would end well. And to be honest, I was OK with that. But the novel didn't follow that trajectory. Maggie is going through a divorce at 29. She is filled with shame, sorrow, and some selfishness as well. Maggie isn't an easy character to like in parts of the book. Like many of us going through painful situations, she struggles to be a good employee, family member, or a good friend. There are times in the book I wanted to shake her and say grow up! But I found payoff by the end. I think this is an interesting read, and for those who have gone through divorce in their twenties you might see parts of your story in Maggie's!

Really Good, Actually is about Maggie, a 29 year old fresh out of a divorce from a short lived marriage, as she learns to exist on her own for the first time in years. Her story almost makes you want to shake some sense into her but also give her a big hug- never have I had so many conflicting emotions for a main character as I have had for her. The book reads almost like a stream of consciousness and my favorite part was the absolutely witty and devastating writing. I’d recommend this for fans of Samantha Irby, Sally a Rooney, and any story that acknowledges that we all struggle with inner turmoil, and sometimes the ugliness is what creates beauty in the end.

This book was so unique and I loved it! Such a great commentary on privileged, friendship and love. If you are okay with not liking the main character then definitely try this book! You are both rooting for and despising the lead in equal measure at times, while also reflecting on when you have been her. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Really Good, Actually is a smart, funny, comedic look at the aftermath of separation, seen from one lonely side of the relationship. Maggie is floundering. Her 605 day-old marriage has dissolved, leaving her alone and truly single for the first time in her adult life. Monica Heisey deftly covers every struggle of Maggie’s first year alone. Maggie struggles with her estranged husband’s indifference, custody of their cat, her uninspiring job, online dating, and perhaps most importantly, whether or not to bleach her hair. At times, Maggie is frustrating in her refusal to accept and embrace her current situation, but the reality of her denial and depression ultimately makes her a sympathetic young woman to both the supporting characters and readers alike.

I think we all probably go a little crazy after a break up. This book normalizes those feelings and allows readers to feel like they're not alone in those feelings. This was funny and just light hearted enough that you don't sink into a depression with Maggie.

The cover was so promising! Alas the book was not for me.

The premise of this book - a young woman is trying to recover from her husband leaving - seemed intriguing. The advance blurbs were all absolutely stellar, comparing this to 'Sex and the City' and calling it hilarious and witty.

For me, however, the heroine Maggie was just completely chaotic, and very irresponsible, which could have been humorous but I found myself skimming large portions of the book. Unfortunately I just could not engage with Maggie's character.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This one was just okay. The main character, at times, could be relatable and actually laugh-out-loud funny, but mostly, she was kind of an awful person. And while this was generally plotless, I did appreciate the haphazard sort of journey that Maggie went on to acceptance of her divorce and of life itself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this advance review copy. A deeply flawed, yet relatable character. There are moments that are laugh out loud funny.

I had to push myself to finish this book. I just could not stand the main character. I know of people that already connect with her, but she was intolerable. The writing is fine, there's nothing wrong with it. I don't know how often I will recommend this, but I am sure the audience is there.

Monica Heisey presents a relatable book, especially for the twenty-something who's feeling all the feels. If the reader is aware that it's not a typical "feel-good read," then they will fare much better with this novel. It's a bit dry and snarky, but the tone keeps everything balanced. The protagonist, Maggie, is inside her head, so "Really Good, Actually" is an introspective read that might not suit everyone. If emotional rollercoasters are your thing (and we've all been there), curl up with this novel and enjoy a few laughs through the tears.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Monica Heisey, and publisher William Morrow for providing me with a free electronic ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book was an absolute rollercoaster of pretty much all emotions the entire ride through. Let me start off by saying that I did end up really enjoying this book, but I can absolutely see how some/most people won't, and I myself really thought for a bit that I wouldn't end up liking it. Maggie is EXTREMELY unlikeable-- I'm not saying "oh she's quirky and kind of depreseed", I'm saying she's unhinged lol. This made pretty much most of the middle of the book hard for me personally to read because as a reader, I really did hate her. I found it hard to root for her because she was so psychotic without even realizing it, making it a frustrating read. THAT BEING SAID, the beginning and the end of this book are *chef's kiss*. As a 25-year-old queer gal with anxiety, I could relate to so much of what was being said. I do think this was one of the best representations of grief, change, and mental illness overall that I have read because of how realistic it is in parts. There is a lot of humor in it throughout, which helps to make the book not as depressing. I loved all of the side characters, and while I understand why we can't see more of them, I do wish we would have been able to dive deeper into some of Maggie's friendships. I also would have liked to see a bit more of Jon to fully understand the storyline. Overall, there is a lot of good in this book, and the writing is phenomenal; I definitely have Heisey on my author radar now. However, I think Maggie is a bit too extreme for the casual reader and will end up scaring people off, which is a shame, because I do think this book has some amazing parts and things to say.

I really wanted to like this title based on the cover and that as it was written by a writer for Schitt's Creek, which is one of my all time favorite shows, However, I had to abandon this about 50 pages in because nothing much was happening. The main character is in her early thirties with no children who is going through a divorce. It seemed to all be stream of consciousness from her point of view about where things went wrong. Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.

I fully judged this one by it’s cover on netgalley, I had recommended it to patrons and the cover was different, I wish they kept the original hot mess cover to keep the pizazz with the book

Divorce is hard, even if you are the one who suggests it; this is what Maggie finds out throughout Really Good, Actually. Monica Heisey writes a character going through grief over the loss of her marriage but is in denial that she needs any help, and it is hard to read at times. Once Maggie’s husband Jon is out of the picture, she loses her sense of normalcy, her sense of being known, and she spirals into chaos. I found myself being annoyed at Maggie, questioning a lot of her choices, and feeling sorry for her throughout this book. I enjoyed Heisey’s writing, and I thought the concept of the book was good, and while on the whole, this book was not for me, I can see that there are readers who would enjoy it, would see themselves in these pages, and that it is important.