In this heartwarming and hilarious novel, Andy is reeling from his breakup with Jen, the woman he thought was his forever. Now he’s homeless, struggling to launch a stand-up career, and grappling with the realization that everyone around him has grown up while he’s still figuring things out. Determined to solve the mystery of why Jen left, Andy dives deep into the painful yet comic process of self-reflection, learning he might not know her—or himself—as well as he thought. Sharp, funny, and incredibly relatable, this novel explores heartbreak and friendship with a warmth that will make you laugh, cry, and feel deeply understood. Perfect for fans of High Fidelity and those who enjoy bittersweet, insightful stories on love and growth.

Dolly on true form. I don’t often read books with men as the central character but this book changed my opinion of this. A lovely look at love and relationships that was incredibly well written!

Andy is a 35-year-old struggling comedian who is blindsided when his girlfriend, Jen, unexpectedly ends their relationship.
As the book explores Andy's attempts to cope with and understand the breakup, his navigation of the challenges of dating (especially finding common ground with a younger partner) and maintaining friendships in his thirties, I really felt for this character.

I would go so far as to say I loved this more than Ghosts.

I struggled a bit with this as there wasn’t really enough that happened although it was an interesting look at the demise of a relationship and the differing reactions and responses from both sides. It felt a little bit inevitable that it would become the basis of his comedy routine and I felt myself inwardly screaming at the protagonist!

I wished I’d loved it more
I think perhaps because this was a book with a male protagonist I found it harder to relate and at times I could not invisage or believe in him
This book had a great front cover - one of my favourites

Dolly Alderton's "Good Material" is a witty, poignant exploration of modern relationships and personal growth. The novel follows a relatable protagonist navigating the messy realities of love and self-discovery with humor and authenticity. Alderton's sharp dialogue and keen observations make for an engaging read, while her vivid descriptions bring the settings to life. Themes of identity and change are deftly woven into the narrative, making "Good Material" a compelling and thought-provoking novel that resonates deeply.

I have, so far, adored everything I have ever read by Dolly Alderton - and not because I was a fan of her before she became an author (I was stunningly unaware of her existence!) - but Good Material did not hit the spot for me.

The best part of this novel was the chapter from the point of view of Andy’s ex-girlfriend; this chapter alone brought my rating up a star. Now I understand that had Alderton written the whole book on Jen’s perspective it may have failed to differ considerably from her previous works; indeed, the fact it was from a males point of view was what gave this the edge, but ultimately it wasn’t for me. Andy is an unlikeable character, but sadly, a dull dud of an unlikeable character. Everything I enjoyed about this - and there were parts - centred on other characters and subplots outside of Andy. Truly. So much so, I do question whether Andy’s character is bordering on satire - was Alderton making a point here, that in one chapter I could resonate so much with Jen, yet a whole novel, feel nothing but mild irritation about anything Andy felt, did or said.

That said, the writing is. of course, stunning: Alderton manages to portray so much never said in simple sentences; complexities without overcomplicating, everyday humours without exaggerating. The millennial point of view is STRONG, which is exactly what I love, but Alderton is also adept at exploring very real themes: identity, autonomy and loss to name but a few.

I will (and have since) continue to read everything Alderton writes, with hope that they never include another Andy. 3 stars from me.

Dolly never misses.
I have been such a big fan of her for so long and this book didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

this book really grew on me and by the end i loved it. as always Dolly's writing is impeccable - knows exactly how to distil emotion, wit and wisdom. there was a huge tenderness to the whole story too, from both character's perspectives in the end. The ending has been discussed at length amongst my friends, all of us with varying thoughts and opinions - but I think sign of a great book! Look forward to the next novel.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton.

Andy is a comedian losing his steam, getting dumped by his long-term girlfriend seems to come from nowhere. And as Andy comes to term with being mid 30s and single he finds himself obsessing over his relationship and the bald patch appearing at the back of his head.

Could he have fixed it? Should he be stalking his ex-girlfriend and someone she's seeing on socials? Will he be able to reverse balding? Will he get his revenge bod? Will his career as a comedian ever get it's big break?

35 and single moving between his mums and sofa surfing before settling to lodge with a cantankerous old man Dolly gives us an amazing look at feeling left behind at an age where people seem to be propelled forward into 'adulting' careers, weddings, families the part of life where we're meant to grow up and do grown up things. Andy watches his friend from the sidelines as he tries to process everything.

The break up coming from a male perspective was a fresh take at how men can cope with the end of a relationship, with a pov from Jen to give us the perspective of falling out of love with someone.

Andy is adrift after Jen ends their relationship, leaving him homeless and uncertain about his stand-up career. As he navigates the complexities of modern relationships and friendships, Andy becomes fixated on understanding what went wrong with Jen. The story delves into Andy's journey of growth and understanding, offering a relatable exploration of love, loss, and the challenges of adulting. A poignant and sharply funny tale of heartbreak and self-discovery.

Andy is a nice bloke. A funny chap, too. But he hasn’t got to grips with life yet, and neither has his ex, Jen.
A great story, funny and sad, in turn. And I had no idea of how it was going to end, right till the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

Disappointing - could not get on board with the whiny entitled main character, and kept waiting to see his comeuppance, but the book didn not take that direction at all. Such a shame.

Good Material is a funny and heartfelt read that plays with your emotions as a reader. One second you will be laughing and the next you will feel the tears silently roll down your face.

I always get excited for Dolly new release and this one was no disappointment. I really enjoyed the male pov, especially in context of man with a broken heart perspective. And it is never a bad thing to see Brummie represented!
4.5 stars.

I completely loved this book! Dolly is a favourite author of mine anyway but I have to admit I was a little nervous when I saw the blurb of this novel- obviously she has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this beautifully written, frustrating at times story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy.

Dolly Alderton is one of my favourite authors so I didn’t walk I ran to request this one.

It’s very rare for a romance book to be from a male point of view or to focus mainly on the breakup of that relationship but “Good Material” proves both is possible and— in this case — it is done really well.

It’s not exactly the most positive romance book but it is real. It shows break ups are messy, confusing, upsetting but also liberating.

It’s a bit of a slow burn in terms of getting into it but it’s raw, real and littered with humour.

I can’t wait for what Alderton does next.

This was a lovely read that was very relatable and had some great passages about love. I would
Fully recommend

I loved this book and have recomended it to countless people in Liber bookshop and to many friends and family.

I found a large portion of this book to be a difficult read, due to the POV of Andy. I just didn't care for him at all. However this was somewhat redeemed when we came to Jen's story and why she did what she did, which was just better overall and just a shame we had to suffer through so much of Andy's whining to get to it.