Dolly Alderton is quickly becoming a must-read author for me! This is her best one yet - funny (as usual), clever and easy to read. Her writing is never too over the top, but it's witty and her characters feel real and flawed.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I thoroughly enjoyed primarily hearing the prescriptive from the male point of view. I’m glad Jen’s history and experience were included at the end so we got a sense of understanding and closure for both characters. Witty, introspective, and all around a delightful read!

Dolly Alderton has been a favorite of mine for years now; first reading her non-fiction articles and Everything I Know About Love, and her podcasts. I couldn't wait for Ghosts when it was announced, was very unsurprised to have loved that one, and was equally if not more excited for Good Material. It almost feels tired at this point to say she's her generation's Nora Ephron, but I suppose it's repeated often because it's so true. Her writing is intelligent but not pretentious, engaging, and ACTUALLY funny. She makes observations on life and feelings that are accurate but not cliche, doesn't try too hard, and in a way that has a tendency to knock me over with how it puts words to feelings in ways I hadn't known how to describe before.

All of that to say, I had high expectations for Good Material, and while it was different than I expected, I ended up loving it. I went in pretty blind, so was surprised right away that it was a male main character, but quickly adapted and was pulled in right away. I haven't read many books with female authors writing male MCs, but was pleased with how realistic Andy seemed to be. I'll admit at about half way through the book I had to read the synopsis again to see if something else was supposed to happen, for some reason expecting more plot, and got tired of Andy after awhile, then reminded myself that that's kind of the point; to be inside his head after the breakup and hear the obsessive thoughts and unanswered questions we all have and the rawness felt in the first weeks and months after a breakup.

Throughout the book, it was probably a solid 4-4.5 stars, but Jen's POV at the end was completely brilliant and brought it up to a full 5 stars. For some reason I wasn't expecting it, and it brought the entire book full circle. While Andy's experience was relatable in many ways, getting Jen's perspective was somehow almost more impactful than everything we got from Andy during the first 85% of the book. It had so many relatable feelings being a woman who's not old, but not young, in today's world. Andy's part of the book took on new facets after reading Jen's, becoming more impactful, and Jen's section wouldn't have been as powerful without Andy's, and how she started appearing as a character and not just through Andy's recollections.

I just sat in silence after I finished the book because Dolly Alderton is just that masterful. Good Material is one of the rare books where you finish it and almost feel like the author pulled one over on you, thinking it's a really solid book, you think you know what's happening...and it is what you think, but then something just hits you like BAM right at the end that changes your whole perspective and makes what you just read even better. Like a twist you didn't see coming, but not actually a twist, but leaves. you with a "whoa, what just happened" feeling. I immediately knew I needed to reread it and see if it reads different after knowing Jen's experience.

A reread will definitely be happening. Once again, Dolly has made me even more of a fan of hers, and I can't wait for whatever she comes out with next. All of the stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of "Good Material" by Dolly Alderton. This was a 5-star read which will personally victimize you if you've ever been through a horrific breakup that you did not initiate. I didn't know much going in and I'm glad of that. It is true that there are two sides to every story and that's definitely true here as well, however you really do feel for our main character Andy by the end. The choice to time this between summer 2019-early 2020 was not lost on me either; what a deliberate, brilliant choice. A very good read that will 100% make you feel something.

The book is written mostly diary/journal entry style from the perspective of a mediocre white man who is a "professional" comedian. That part was tough to get through at time and was slow moving, I didn't love her perspective and was mostly cringe. Had to get until his "canceling" at about 70% of the book before it finally made sense but the first 70% wasn't that exciting. Similar to Fleishman is in Trouble it changes perspective and ends with a feminine POV.

I didn't know how much I would enjoy this book since I have never read a literary fiction/rom-com with a male main character but I really enjoyed it! Andy was funny, a little weird (in a good way), and although I have never been in his specific situation, insanely relatable.

A bit behind the times on posting what I’ve been reading (and a bit late to the party on this one), but I just have to say, Dolly, you did it again. Good Material is a masterclass in character study, told (mostly) from the perspective of Andy as he grieves, unravels, reflects, and rebuilds after an unexpected break-up with Jen. Andy is the perfect protagonist; annoying, flawed, and at times overtly problematic but you still have empathy and are rooting for him to figure himself out. There are beautiful themes of friendship and self-discovery woven throughout this book, with a more subtle undercurrent that makes you consider the impact of gender roles/stereotypes on relationships more broadly. There were so many small, human, vulnerable moments that Dolly perfectly brought to life and I found so many of the passages so deeply relatable. There were moments I was laughing hysterically (the boat!), and moments that felt so raw I teared up (subcultures!). Honestly, what more could you want in a book?

Since reading this, I’ve had such wonderful chats with friends about it and I think this would make a perfect book club pick- light on the surface but keeps you thinking and talking for a while. And now I’ll just wait (not so) patiently for her next masterpiece ❤️

I was lucky enough to get to read this book with my book club for the Read with Jenna portion of the Today Show, and I just want to start off this review by saying that Dolly Alderton is every bit as warm, funny, and kind as you would expect her to be.

This is the story of the aftermath of Andy and Jen’s breakup, told mostly from the perspective of Andy, a struggling stand up comedian. I absolutely LOVED Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts, but the description of this book gave me some pause; was I going to be interested in being in the head of a 35-year-old man? The answer, it turns out, is YES, and I shouldn’t have doubted it for a minute. Dolly Alderton has such a keen sense of the human condition and such an eye for detail. I was constantly suppressing a smile, or cringing, or clutching my chest because the heartbreak felt THAT real to me. Andy—on paper a character with whom I don’t have much in common—was so relatable, so human. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted for him, but I knew I wanted him to get off that houseboat and find happiness again.

The last 1/5(ish) of the book was my favorite part. The perspective shift was so interesting and I wanted to go back and read the book from the beginning, with the knowledge we’d gained at the end.

LOVED this.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of “Good Material” by Dolly Alderton. All opinions are my own.

I have seen Alderton’s book “Everything I Know About Love” all over the internet and in every bookstore I walk in. I finally got a copy to read it and loved her style of writing.

Immediately after I went to this book “Good Material” and read it in 24 hours. I was annoyed at times with the main character but he was a very real flawed man. I am impressed how she was able to write that so well.

The last 10% of the book from the ex was SO good. Pushed up my review to 5 stars. It wrapped up their relationship so well and gave us the insights that Andy didn’t even see. Perfect example of how the little things over time in a relationship are what build it and can threaten it.

Also her explanation of not wanting marriage or children (at that time or perhaps ever) was so beautifully written and really spoke to me. It described feelings I’ve had myself but couldn’t put into words so I thank the author for that.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. The story is told from the perspective of Andy, a 30-something failed comedian in London who is in the throes of post-breakup heartbreak in the late 2010s/2020.

The author writes such believable male characters. She writes in the acknowledgements that she followed Nora Ephron’s lead by interviewing male friends in order to create these characters. Andy and his friends have hilarious banter and believable dialogue, and this contributes mightily to the story.

The depiction of the role of technology post-breakup is spot-on in this book. The story nails what it is like trying to avoid (and occasionally intentionally seeing) your ex’s social media posts after a breakup.

The book ends with a lengthy chapter from Jen’s point-of-view, which helps shed some light on the breakup from her perspective.

I highlighted so many sentences in this book and found myself laughing out loud and shedding a few tears while reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Alderton book and by the time I was half way through I started requesting her backlist because I was in love. She made me care about the most basic, mundane, day-to-day tasks of the main character, who also happened to be male. So many cringe worthy moments, but that is what made it all the more believable.

I loved that she gave us an alternate perspective at the very end of the book. I don’t think I would have loved the book as much as I did without it. I also loved that the characters breakup while in their mid thirties, a point of view that isn’t written about all that often.

Witty, charming and relatable, Good Material had me laughing out loud and tearing up. Recommend picking this one up!

A relationship is over and we usually only get the one perspective. Here we’re offered quite the expanse of the aftermath. It’s a more than welcome delineation. Dolly Alderton’s writing once again draws you in pretty immediately and you don’t want to put it down until you’ve completely read it through to the ending.

I stopped reading this at 10%. I think this style, similar to Sally Rooney's books, just aren't for me. I liked but didn't love "Ghosts," and just wasn't feeling good while I was reading it or the urge to keep reading. I know I'm in the minority though!

I loved reading about a breakup from the perspective of the male. It was touching, funny, and maddening as he spirals into grief without a solid emotional support system. Alderton doesn’t hold back—we see Andy’s faults plainly—but she is also sympathetic and we feel for him as he experiences lows and highs and tries to find his way in the world alone. Highly recommend!

I could talk about the whinny little dude who is constantly checking his bald spot and scream about how he is lonely and unwanted, but I prefer pulling quotes from Jen. Her chapter was more powerful than anything came before it

📕”But when I turned thirty, it all changed. My lack of long-term relationship could no longer be seen as an accident and instead became a problem. Everyone wanted to talk to me about my "attachment style," each of them asking if I'd read the book or done the quiz like they were the first person to suggest it. "I just don't understand it," my mum would say, every time she said goodbye to me. "You're such a fabulous girl—so clever, so attractive. I don't understand why they're not lining up."”
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📗”My work didn't stimulate me, but the fear and stress and competition that came with it did. I saved and planned for a travel sabbatical, but every time I felt it was the moment to do it, I would be offered a new role or head-hunted for a new job at another company. It was like my career was my bad boyfriend—it sensed every time I was going to leave it”
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📘”"I suspect you will never have a husband," she said, looking at me intently from her bed. "Would you be upset if that happened?" I asked. "Your mother would be," she said, then lowered her voice. "But I think you would be wise not to." This surprised me as I had always thought that she and my grandfather had been very happy together. "Why do you say that?" I asked. Her hand, spotted in soft-brown splodges, the rails of her bones protruding, flapped gently at me to take it. I cupped it in both of mine. "You have a home that is yours," she said. "And your own money. Don't you?" "I have a bit of money, yes." "And you have your education. And you have your career." I nodded. "Then you have everything," she said.”

English thirty somethings, Jen and Andy, have broken up and both are recovering. Most of this book is about Andy's point of view, and it's rather sad. He is a professional comedian, and not doing especially well in the pubs. He's depressed, and really wanting to get back together with Jen. On the other hand, Jen, also somewhat depressed, and searching for her own identity, has a completely different view of the breakup. The story continues for several months. The book ends in a satisfying, but sad way. I suppose I was hoping for a more joyful resolution.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Good Material.

I read Dolly Alderton’s Dear Dolly last year, and I liked it. That is nonfiction and a collection of advice and answers to questions about dating and love. I’ve never read her fiction before, but as soon as I read a couple of pages of this, I got hooked.

Good material about Andy and Jen. Andy is reeling from their recent break up. He is still head over heels in love with her and cant figure out what happened in their relationship. He moves out and is trying to find a new home, while also waiting for his stand up career to take off. It’s extra complicated because his best friend is married to Jen's best friend, so in addition to the loss of their relationship, the dynamics of their friend group have definitely shifted. This is how he navigates love, dating, breakups, and friendships in his mid 30s- and there is a surprise ending that I loved.
I got hooked right away with this- its funny w/o being too over the top. It opens w/ reasons I should be glad not to be w/ Jen, it's a list of her semi shortcomings that hes writing to try and get over her. The audio was excellent- very well narrated. I surprised myself by getting emotional in parts- the author did a great job writing about loss and transition. Shes a female and wrote the male MC very well- though i do wonder what male readers would think. Theres a great side character, andys roommate morris, and i liked reading about how many friends support each other through breakups. I think if you were a single person in your 30s, this might make you feel seen.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I love Dolly Alderton's ability to accurately describe and observe relationships, especially those in your 30s. I found it fascinating that she chose to tell this story through the male point of view. She manages to spend an entire book on the aftermath of a breakup without making you hate either character, though I was certainly frustrated by both of them at various points in the book. They are surrounded by a great cast of supportive characters. What keeps me from giving this 5 stars is that while I wouldn't consider this plot driven, I much preferred the parts where Andy is interacting w/ people, doing something, rather than just reflecting on his thoughts. Especially as the book came to a close, I was eager for more movement. I am normally someone who doesn't care if nothing happens in a book at all, but because the entire book is based around one subject, it did get to be a bit much. Still, highly highly recommend this book and Alderton's previous one as well. 4.5.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

Something wonderful to recommend to romance readers who want something more sophisticated, because this book delivers all the absorbing satisfaction of a rom-com, but without the "set" tropes and cliches. Like all the best books, it has a lot of serious things to say and to get readers thinking, but it is at the same time, very funny and engaging.