I really liked this book quite a lot, but what stands out is the ending. The ending was perfect - which is something that is extremely hard to do, but oh so gratifying. Worth staying up past my bedtime to finish.

I laughed out loud more while reading this book than i have during any book in recent memory. Dark humor and well developed, flawed but realistic characters and a great sense of place make this an incredibly enjoyable read.

I heard a lot of great pre=pub press about this one, but this is not a book I will be recommending. I found Andy, a struggling stand-up, to be entirely unsympathetic and it seemed obvious why his girlfriend had moved on. Alderton did include an interesting twist with the end of the book being from Jen's point of view, but this reader found it to be too little and too late. Maybe if the structure was shifted to more of an alternating POV book the first part would not have been so insufferable.

Grabbed this one for my first read of this author who i knew was a NYT Bestsilling author. Was thirlled that this was also a ReadWithJenna pick. I loved that this was a relatable story of romance and friendship. I have loved reading more of this author since this one. Thanks so much for the early copy!

I'm enjoying Alderton's writing so much. The way she describes falling in love, those little moments in between, and being completely, devastatingly heartbroken at an unexpected breakup is so real and relatable. She describes the complexities of these relationships in an interesting way.

This one was approved, weirdly, after the book had been released and I'd already bought the hardcover . . . and consumed it in 24 hours, because I was obsessed. As in Ghosts, Dolly Alderton goes places in GOOD MATERIAL that few other modern writers do, asking not just "how can you be in a relationship?" or "how is this relationship fcked up?" but "SHOULD you be in a relationship? what's in mean to be? and do you need more than one good reason not to be?" She is in the trenches first with Andy, in the wake of his break-up with Jen which he thought came out of nowhere. But then, beautifully and clarifyingly, we hear from Jen. And it made all those chapters of sad-sack aspiring-comic Andy worthwhile, the glimmer of the light hitting when the prism is turned just right. This book will make you question every traditional narrative you've ever read or witnessed, even your own. Loved it. Ten out of five stars and give me all the Dolly forever.

Took me a while to get into. Really couldn’t relate or sympathize with Andy. I wish the author had included Jen’s perspective throughout the entire book. Not my favorite of Dolly’s and looking forward to whatever she’s working on next!

Dolly Alderton's Good Material is a refreshing take on heartbreak. It offers a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of grief and self-discovery - juxtaposed against the backdrop of comedy. The novel avoids the typical tropes of demonizing the female character, instead exploring the complexities of relationships and the pressures of societal expectations.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I absolutely adore anything Dolly Alderton writes. The way she is able to craft these intricate, imperfect characters keeps me hooked and always wanting more. I found myself reflecting on different stages of my life and genuinely laughing out loud throughout the story. It's not often we get a male POV in rom-coms, and it was refreshing! I love the overarching themes surrounding relationships, and cannot WAIT to see what Dolly does next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Good Material by Dolly Alderton!

This was outstanding! My heart broke, I laughed out loud, and I did some deep thinking, all throughout the course of this wonderful novel. Good Material was my first time reading a book by Dolly Alderton, and it definitely won't be my last. Her writing is flows well and is easy to get pulled into. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a book like this from the perspective of a man, but I did end up really finding myself empathizing with Andy. The ending was fantastic, finally getting to see a little bit of Jen's side of the story. I can't wait to see what Alderton comes out with next!

Dolly Alderton is such a fantastic writer. Her books are always so witty and sharp (even if I don't like the characters or sort of hate all the choices they're making). She's really so good at writing about relationships -- particularly the dynamics of friendship. I wasn't sure if I would like this one but it was so funny I couldn't help myself. If you liked Ghosts, you will definitely like this one.

A brilliantly executed story. Insightful, thought provoking and relatable. Witty slice of life romance that's full bodied and entertaining. A clever, memorable novel

I love Alderton's work. Everything I Know About Love is a book I recommend frequently to my friends, and I really enjoyed Ghosts as well. This one I didn't love as much, The first 3/4 of the book was just so sad and left me feeling so uncomfortable, which I fully understand was its purpose. It's just that it was quite a long time to feel uncomfy and cringey before it picked up in a more positive sense through the ending. I thought that the last 25% of the book was engaging, and I appreciated Jen's chapter. It was nice to hear her side after discovering the unreliability of Andy for so long. Not my favorite of her works but still funny and fresh and enjoyable. I did love the ending. It was bittersweet but appropriate and steeped in reality when so many romance books are just focused on blowing you know what up your you know where. I love that Andy finally made progress in moving on healthily, making a big name for himself in a way that the two of them can both be proud, and that Jen finally went on her trip to travel.

I will read anything Dolly writes. Endlessly clever, humor is always spot on, and there’s always depth that surprises.

A brilliantly insightful and heartfelt exploration of love, relationships, and self-discovery. Alderton's sharp wit and relatable storytelling make this book both entertaining and deeply resonant. It's a must-read for anyone seeking a candid and compassionate look at the complexities of modern romance.

I read this in one day & loved every second. It is endearing, funny, insightful, quirky, & full of excellent dialogue. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy ! One of my favorite books that I’ve read this year!

Dolly Alderton is one of the best writers that we have for interpreting the weird morass of romantic relationships in the 2020s. I loved her previous novel Ghosts, a tender and not at all trite exploration of what it looks like to wind up happy and single and connected to the people in your life who are coupled. Good Material riffs on many of the same themes, but from the perspective of a male comedian who is desperate, actually, to be in the comforting cradle of a long-term relationship. When his girlfriend Jen breaks up with him, Andy spends the next months going through the fits and starts of trying to reorganize his life and future to make sense. he joins a gym, he crashes with his mother and his best friends, he briefly lives on a houseboat. In another writer's hands, all this would be terribly cliché, but Alderton does a beautiful job handling the subject of heartbreak as how it feels in the moment you're experiencing it: an everyday catastrophe. In a bit of a "Fleishman is in Trouble" twist, Jen gets the last word about the break-up, revealing why she went through with it. But no one is really the villain here. It's just two flawed people, doing their best to get what they want out of life.

✨GOOD MATERIAL✨
Rating: 3 ⭐️- It Was Ok

I hate to say it but I don’t think Dolly’s books are for me - similar to her memoir, this one was a complete miss for me.

GOOD MATERIAL follows Andy (loved a “romance” from the male perspective) who recently was broken up with by the love of his life & is on the path of recovery and growth.

❤️ for my LOVERS of CHARACTER driven stories, MALE POV romance, DUAL timelines, stories about GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT

❤️ this one was excellent on AUDIO and would recommend that format for those interested in reading this

💔 I’m not sure what was happening half the time, I felt like NOTHING was going on? - very traditional CHARACTER driven novel!

Big Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for this ARC.

I've seen this book everywhere the last few months and was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.

The last 50 pages of the book got me back, but the rest of the book I couldn't get into. At times I found it hard to read, and it felt quite disjointed.

I can appreciate the concept, but this wasn't for me.