This should not be marketed as a “memoir” or “biography” about Luke Perry. Very misleading and inaccurate- it read more like a fanfic than anything.

As a general rule, I don’t read books about celebrities. I was drawn to this book anyway and am not entirely sure why. I was in high school when Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered and I watched the show a bit at the height of its popularity. I enjoyed Luke Perry’s performance in 8 Seconds and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I think more than anything Luke Perry represented an era to me. His death was more shocking to me than most celebrities. I remember sitting at Murry State University, while my daughter was in a session for potential students, scrolling through my phone when I saw the news and my heart broke just a little bit.

This book doesn’t dive all that deep into Luke Perry’s life. Honestly, I think that’s a good thing since his family and loved ones deserve their privacy. I was able to get a feel for how hard he worked and how kind he was to the people he worked with. As we move through Luke Perry’s life, the author also shares her own experiences during that time which I found interesting. I thought both aspects of the book did a great job of bringing back memories.

I enjoyed this book but I am not sure it is a book for everyone. For this Gen Xer, I had a great time learning just a bit about a man who was gone too soon while enjoying a few memories from years ago. I thought that this was a very readable account and would consider reading more of this author’s books in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Simon & Schuster.

Kind of a slow read. The story mixed in between the chapters about Luke Perry are confusing. Not my favorite book.

What an interesting way to write a book! This was telling stories about Luke Perry's life with many people who were involved with him throughout his life contributing. The other part of the book was the author telling about her adolescence and how the show 90210 affected all of us. This book really brought me back to my teen years and really did make me think about how the shows we watched then shaped a bit of us. Luke overall was a great guy and was taken too soon.

This memoir was truly unique. Margaret Wappler intertwined the story of Luke Perry with her own life during the same period. Perry rose to fame in a 90s sitcom, playing Dylan McKay in the show 90210. His unexpected popularity and impact on pop culture are skillfully described by Margaret, offering a relatable experience for many in Generation X.

I appreciated the nostalgic journey through Luke Perry's life; it was quite moving. Margaret effectively captured the essence of who Luke Perry was as a person. He was an ordinary guy working in Hollywood and remained humble despite his iconic status. After reading this book, I believe that we lost a remarkable individual, and 52 years was far too short for his life.

Thank you Simon and Schuster for a gifted copy for an honest review.

"A Good Bad Boy" by Margaret Wappler offers a poignant and insightful exploration into the life and legacy of Luke Perry, the beloved actor who left an indelible mark on popular culture. Best remembered as the rebellious Dylan McKay from "Beverly Hills, 90210," Perry's sudden death in 2019 at the age of fifty-two shook Gen Xers, serving as a stark reminder of their own mortality. Wappler adeptly captures the essence of Perry's enduring appeal and the profound impact he had on his audience.

Through a unique blend of personal memoir and investigative journalism, Wappler delves deep into Perry's life, uncovering lesser-known facets of his personality and career. She conducts numerous interviews with those who knew Perry intimately, revealing touching anecdotes that illustrate his authenticity and kindness. From his humble beginnings in Ohio to his iconic roles on television and in film, including a resurgence in projects like "Riverdale" and Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood," Perry's journey is portrayed with sensitivity and admiration.

Wappler's narrative skillfully intertwines these personal accounts with meticulous research, painting a comprehensive picture of Perry's evolution as both an actor and a person. She explores his attempts to break free from the confines of his heartthrob image through diverse roles, such as his unexpected stint on the gritty HBO series "Oz." Moreover, Wappler reflects on Perry's lasting influence on perceptions of masculinity, privilege, and the concept of "cool," using her own experiences to mirror how Perry resonated with a generation.

Released on the fifth anniversary of Perry's passing, "A Good Bad Boy" stands as a heartfelt tribute and compelling examination of his artistic journey and personal growth. Wappler's eloquent prose and deep empathy make this book not only a captivating read but also a thoughtful meditation on the complexities of fame, identity, and the enduring impact of a cultural icon.

I had only known of Luke Perry from Riverdale and from my mom (yes I am from that generation)but reading this inspired me to start watching Beverly Hills 90210, and now I’m hooked. (You can stream on Pluto TV for free if you do not have Paramount+).

This book is like a love letter to the late Luke Perry from a fan. The chapters alternate between Luke’s life and Margaret’s life, growing up and the importance he and the show held on her and just the time period she was growing up in and as she continued to grow into her adult years, as he did too.

I enjoyed the anecdotes told by co-stars and people he met over the years, and how it was just all consistent on how good of a soul he was. I felt like I learned quite a bit about 90s culture too. The Bieber chapter felt random but also fun. I do see the segue that was used in that the “Bieber mania” is similar to the frenzy Perry caused in his heartthrob days.

I don’t normally read memoirs, or even semi ones like this was, but I enjoyed it and felt like I learned a lot not just about Perry but the era too. The author’s personal chapters may seem random, but the last page summarizes why, and it all just kind of clicked. In short, Perry was private about certain parts of his life, so in exchange she offered up her own.

Thank you Simon Books Buddy for the gifted copy!

In A Good Bad Boy, Margaret Wappler creates a memoir of Luke Perry's life as well as her own. She weaves their two stories together, sharing what many others have shared about the late actor and her own personal life story. This is an interesting idea as she and Perry had never met. She was a fan, growing up during the 90210 years, as many of us of that generation were. I enjoyed the parts about the actor and didn't mind that she interspersed her own life in the book. It is definitely worth the read! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

<strong>What a beautiful insight into his life.</strong>

Woow this was unexpectedly good. I will admit that although I didn’t grew up with “Dylan Mckay” (I know, I know) I did know who Luke Perry was and knew him more from his role on Riverdale. I also know he didn’t contribute to this book but it is a really interesting way to get a glimpse on who he was as a person and an instant actor success.

It is also really cool to hear about the author’s life intertwined in the story, I found myself wanting to cry for both of them. Luke was an incredible person, described through this book and it made me wish and hope that he knew that.

I feel like he deserved so much more recognition, I didn’t know he struggled to get past the shadow of his 90210 character, it made me think of Matthew Perry.

I read this in companionship with the audiobook and it really made all the difference, really well done. I honestly loved it.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

As a child of the 80-90's, who, looking back, was probably way too young to be watching Beverly Hills 90210...I couldn't wait to crack this one open. Luke Perry already felt like something special but this book made it even more clear just what a rare gem he really was.

I wish this had been advertised as being a memoir rather than a straight up biography. I was expecting to just learn about Luke Perry so when I was hit with chapters about the authors Gen X life I was surprised. It could have just been its own book, but I feel like the author added the parts about Luke Perry to get people to pick up the book.

Luke Perry was a key player in the TV series, Beverly Hills 90210. He played the character, Dylan McKay. He also starred in Riverdale and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Margaret wrote this book by speaking to people close to him and researching his life. He first got the gig by auditing for Dianne Young, the director. His character, Dylan lived in lonely hotel room alone and he was in search of finding his father. He was the first one to admit to read the part in French the rest would just read over it. The director knew he would be prefect for the role. He first began staring in plays at age four. He had a fly malfunction and the zipper kept falling down. He didn’t let this stop him and he kept chasing after his dream to become a professional actor. The book also covered his death. He died of a stroke in 2019 at the age of fifty-two. They had to do a hero send off on Riverdale.


I liked how this book covered all of the life of Luke Perry. He never wrote an official autobiography so this is the closest thing we have to his life. I thought she did a wonderful job in tying everything together and looking at different key events in his life. It was interesting to learn about how he got into acting and took on different roles. I would recommend this book to anyone is a fan of Luke Perry and they are curious to learn more about his life.

Growing up I had a crush on Luke Perry on 90210, who didn't. The book was okay, I wish it went into more detail about Luke Perry's life, I wanted to know more. The book was also part of the author's memoir; not a fan of that aspect. I found the way this book was written to be quite odd, as practically ever other chapter were these chapters that had zero to do with Luke Perry.

A novel about Luke Perry. Which was why I picked it. I was a huge fan of 90210 and of Luke Perry’s work. Wow, this was a bit disappointing and boring. Seriously, it took days to read. I didn’t realize until the end of the book but she didn’t have any personal information about him from his immediate family. Which now I feel bad reading this because they never approved this book. And since his death was recent I believe they should have some imput. The author wrote about his life and fame, but also discussed her own life. Which again now makes sense since she didn’t know him personally. I enjoyed the interviews of the individuals that worked with Luke. He was highly regarded as an actor and as a human being. He was kind and considerate to so many people. I just didn’t care for her personal information but I understand why she did it. Overall, I wish I never picked this book. I feel so bad about it. Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I am afraid I am probably not the target audience, which is something I didn’t realize when I requested it. I assumed that this would be a biography on Luke Perry, and also some insight on how television stars influence teen and young adult culture. It was instead part biography of Perry and part memoir-type story telling by the author, which was only very loosely related to Luke Perry. I am about ten years younger than the audience who likely watched 90210 in real-time. I know all the actors and the roles they played, but I couldn’t relate to the author’s feelings about the show - which were really only sparsely sprinkled in. The back and forth between the biography and memoir styles felt very choppy. Maybe someone who grew up specifically watching 90210 would appreciate this more, and I was wrong to assume there would be commentary on other similar shows based on the title. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy and the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I loved everything about this man when i was growing up . His voice, his smile, his eyebrow. I just wanted to read abut his life and hear his voice in my head again. Taken too soon but severely missed by all.

Of course I had a crush on Luke Perry’s iconic character Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210. I mean, I used to be a warm-blooded preteen when I first saw the troubled brooding rich “bad boy” with the heart of gold, a white t-shirt and a pompadour, and a full forehead of furrows that gave me very unrealistic expectations for how sixteen-year-old teenagers should look and act. And that former teen girl in me was definitely not about to miss Perry’s biography.

“His sorrows are many, but it’s much cuter to be sad driving around in a Porsche than in a broken-down Chevy.”

And I’m not even ashamed that I knew almost exactly every detail of Dylan scenes from the first three seasons or so that the book mentioned — those first seasons that were so endearingly sincere and not yet soap opera of the rich and famous. (Out of his other roles, I’ve seen a couple of movies and that’s it).

“The squeaky-clean Midwestern twins, Brandon and Brenda (played by Jason Priestley, a Canadian actor cast at the eleventh hour, and Shannen Doherty, a child actress who’d gone edgy with Heathers), needed a dark counterpoint. Enter Dylan McKay, whose antecedents included Judd Nelson, Matt Dillon, and James Dean. And before them, all the tortured poets who’d tried to catch ecstasy through adventure and verse: Rimbaud, Lord Byron, Bukowski. Dylan was a pocket version of those larger-than-life types, scaled down for high school.”

Margaret Wappler is clearly a fan, and she shows Luke Perry as an unequivocally good man who’s made a positive impact on a variety of people he came in contact with; a down-to-earth guy not corrupted by fame; a professional taking his job seriously; a colleague friendly and respectful to everyone on set; a dear friend always ready to give support to those who needed it. Gone way too soon from this world, just at 52 from a stroke, he left a big empty space in the hearts of those close to him.

I think I would have genuinely loved having Luke Perry as a friend.

“There was “never a diva move” from Luke, Fontana says. “I don’t think he was capable of it.”

But it’s not just a book about Luke Perry. I should have been clued in by the second part of the title —“How a Generation Grew Up”. Well, not quite a story of a generation, really, but one person - Margaret Wappler herself, with chapters on Perry alternating with Wappler’s memoir (or at least memoir-like story), with no connection to Perry other than she watched the show when she was a teen, and little there of interest to me. And the addition of this memoir just did not hold my interest, leaving me thinking that these pages could have been instead spent on a deeper dive into Perry’s life as this book, even though respectful to Perry, often seemed much too superficial, and in the end I learned more about Wappler than about Perry — which wasn’t what I was expecting. (But maybe there was not that much material there, given that Wappler mentions that Perry’s family and his 90210 colleagues declined participation in this book — and therefore maybe it needed padding to be more than a long magazine piece).

That titular generation growing up — yeah, that was pretty much Wappler describing her life which really is a stretch to apply to more than that one specific person.

2.5 stars. More Perry biography and less Wappler memoir, please. It’s wasn’t a good mix. That was my feeling at the end.

(But I do appreciate the instant identification with the ONLY correct way to peel a banana, Luke Perry and I fully agree here:

“And for God’s sake, don’t peel a banana from the stem. When Ari and her sister Camrey Bagley Fox, who also appeared in the film (plus two of their younger siblings), prepped breakfast in one scene, Luke caught them denuding the fruit in this most upsetting manner. Do as the monkeys do, he told them, and start from the other end with a small pinch. A decade later, Bagley says, “every time I eat a banana, I think, ‘Luke Perry,’ and I can’t open one by the stem anymore.”

——————

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and to NetGalley for and ARC of this book.

This book was really strange to me. At first, I thought that I might have picked up the wrong book. The author chose to write about her life as well as Luke Perry. I didn't see why she did that. I really didn't know anything about her, and really felt that this book was marketed as a Biography about Luke Perry, but just was an opportunity for the author to tell her story.

I did enjoy the part about Luke Perry since that is why I picked up the first place. I wish she would have just stuck to the topic at hand. If she wanted to write her own biography, she should have written it separately and not tried to sell it as a book about Luke Perry.

Very disappointed in this one.

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How A Generation Grew Up
By Margaret Wappler
Publication Date: March 5, 2024

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210, Luke Perry was fifty-two years old when he died of a stroke in 2019. There have been other deaths of 90’s stars, but this one hit different. Gen X was reminded of their own inescapable mortality, and robbed of an exciting career resurgence for one of their most cherished icons—with recent roles in the hit series Riverdale and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood bringing him renewed attention and acclaim. Only upon his death, as stories poured out online about his authenticity and kindness, did it become clear how little was known about the exceedingly humble actor and how deeply he impacted popular culture.

In A Good Bad Boy, Margaret Wappler attempts to understand who Perry was and why he was unique among his Hollywood peers. To do so, she uses an inventive hybrid narrative. She speaks with dozens who knew Perry personally and professionally. They share insightful anecdotes: how he kept connected to his Ohio upbringing; nearly blew his 90210 audition; tried to shed his heartthrob image by joining the HBO prison drama Oz; and in the last year of his life, sought to set up two of his newly divorced friends. (After his death, the pair bonded in their grief and eventually married.) Amid these original interviews and exhaustive archival research, Wappler weaves poignant vignettes of memoir in which she serves as an avatar to show how Perry shaped a generation’s views on masculinity, privilege, and the ideal of “cool.”

Timed to the fifth anniversary of Perry’s death, A Good Bad Boy is a profound and entertaining examination of what it means to be an artist and an adult.

📚MY REVIEW:

This book was everything for a Gen Xer like me. 🥹 I absolutely loved the juxtaposition of the stories of Luke's career with the stories of the author's life journey throughout those same timeframes. This brought such a unique perspective to the sharing of the snippets of Luke's life and career -- the personal vulnerabilities shared by the author during her own coming-of-age felt particularly nostalgic when interspersed with his stories too.

This book was filled with memories of moments of 90s television that had slipped from my mind, but these moments were immediately recalled as I read Wappler's words. I was swiftly transported back to those nights in front of my television, fighting for control of the one TV in the house so I could watch 90210. And the book warmed my heart with its little bits and recollections about Luke's life that I'd never known.

Overall, this book left me with a nostalgic sadness for the loss of a talent and a truly good "bad boy" - gone far too soon. A must-read for anyone who crushed on Dylan McKay as he walked the halls of West Beverly High. This was a deeper glimpse into the life of a man who was immensely beloved by everyone who knew him and I'm glad I got to read it. ❤️

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reader's copy, in exchange for my honest review!