Kate Greathead’s The Book of George follows two decades in the life of George, a man whose endless potential is matched only by his knack for falling short. Through his relationships — with Jenny, his endlessly patient girlfriend, and his mother, who offers support despite her exasperation — George’s story unfolds with moments of wit and unexpected depth. Caught between self-awareness and self-sabotage, George’s journey offers a glimpse into the messiness of human connection and the challenge of living up to one’s own expectations.

I think the important thing isn’t that George is a man or that you might know a George. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Maybe *you* are a George, or maybe you’ll meet a George someday. Actually, I think this might be a misstep in the publisher’s summary of the book — the point isn’t about whether you know a George. The point is to see George as a person navigating our society…and examine society through that familiar and hopefully sympathetic but critical lens.

It’s about the expectations we place on ourselves around success — what it looks like, how it’s measured — and the idea of happiness, and whether it aligns with those expectations. Throughout the book, we see these little pockets of community that shape George’s journey: his family, his college buddies, his girlfriend, and then his family again. George is goofy but tender. The potential that he’s meant to have, is it something he genuinely sees brimming within himself, or is it the idea that’s placed there from others and societal expectations? Sure, he’s bumbling. Sure, he’s a little helpless. But he’s also earnest, caring, and tries so hard to figure things out, constantly self-analyzing. Isn’t that what we’re all doing, in some way?

The Book of George was quietly sharp, with funny moments generously peppered throughout and beautifully bridges the gap between lighter fare and heavier themes. It’s a story that lingers, and I found myself reflecting on the people we are and the people we might become — at any time in our lives.

The Book of George by Kate Greathead* is a train wreck you can't look away from. George is a grown man who can't quite get his life together. He's funny, he's endearing, he's enraging, he's hard to be around. Many of us know a George in real life and this novel dug deep into how a person can turn out this way. I couldn't put it down! It felt a little Katherine Heiny mixed with Dolly Alderton's Good Material.

Oh George... What a dysfunctional, flawed, commitment-phobe, frustrating character you are! This story is charming and whimsical, told from a very unique male perspective and while I wouldn't want to date George, I was quite taken by his story. Literary fiction lovers who enjoy coming of age stories should give this a read; I'd love to read more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this ARC.

I am so thankful to Henry Holt Books, Kate Greathead, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

A relatable read for millennials out there who are still searching for the one… if you haven’t had the “pleasure” of dating a George, then certainly one of your friends has. This book perfectly captures the millennial struggle of dating and all the other real-life struggles. Highly recommend for some LOL and relatable moments!!

Everyone knows a George: smart and filled with potential, but non committal and only in his own way.

This is a quiet, real life-like story that follows one man from the age 12 to late thirties. I loved this book because while fiction, it felt so real. It’s really just about life, as George encompasses what it’s like to live as a white male in NYC in modern times. George is smart and funny, but lacks focus and drive. George is a mix of Toby Fleishman and Holden Caulfield.

“I guess that’s part of growing up. Coming to terms with your mediocrity.”

The Book of George comes out 10/8.

The Book of George is a whole book about George, a pretty unlikable man-child, who seems stuck in place waiting for the world to discover his amazing potential.
He's a crappy son, a crappier boyfriend, and an underperforming member of society. Rinse and repeat.
Thanks to #netgalley and #henryholtandcompany for this #arc of #thebookofgeorge in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting and thought provoking read, even if I’m not sure I fully agreed with the message.

First, this is a much more dynamic and well-paced book than I expected, and despite it being a fictional monograph of sorts, it is strangely enthralling. Greathead’s writing is lovely and the characters are both substantive and compelling.

The initial impression you get of George is that you like him. He is, in his heart of hearts, a capital G Good Guy. And as you sit wondering what all the angst is about (both his and that of those around him on his behalf), the other shoe drops.

George is nice enough, smart enough, caring enough, but he’s also consistently apathetic and not especially ambitious. It’s enough to drive a driven gal batty, and while I agree with that sentiment, it’s also where the book lost me a bit.

There isn’t enough space in the world for a planet 100% populated by deeply ambitious, incredibly engaged people. And while if that’s important to you, a George is not going to be your person, I’m not sure it’s the cultural poison pill that it’s presented to be here. It didn’t help that Jenny is exactly the Pollyanna she fears she is, which makes George, flaws and all, a more likable character.

To that end, the author isn’t disputing that George is a nice guy or that he’s likable. She’s arguing that his apathy and unrealized potential is a problem, and one that frequently shows up in men.

I’m not disagreeing with that, though again I would counter that there is a place in the world for a Joe Average, or a George Average if you will, and just because many women (myself included) would ultimately declare his not enoughness to be simply not enough, it’s not necessarily appropriate as a universal condemnation, and it’s hard to make the argument when his female partner is the one who would actually make me run screaming.

This had moments of funny but overall was just meh for me. It just wasn't my jam which was probably a me problem.

I liked this! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it but I loved reading something original. I don’t know how I will describe it when recommending it but I definitely will be recommending this book.

This was a unique and delightful read. The portrayal of the low-achieving modern man was so familiar and relatable, yet I’d never before seen it tackled in a novel. The author captured it perfectly, and I loved seeing George’s “evolution” over the course of so many years. This was incredibly readable, funny, and poignant, and I have continued to think about it long after finishing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for eARC.


I really enjoyed reading this book even though I haven’t dated a George. Author did a good job writing it.

Not for me. The writing here just didn’t flow naturally and made the story seem, stilted as a result. The characters were annoying at best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. Although I liked the way that Kate Greathead told the story, in vignettes at different ages throughout his life, George was just too insufferable for me. I found myself frustrated with him over and over again, as I kept wanting and waiting for him to change. I thought about giving up on it more than once, but I somehow managed to finish it. I know a lot of people really liked this book, but it was just not one for me.

He’s both exasperating and delightful. THE BOOK OF GEORGE features George, a strikingly average antihero!

There’s nothing too remarkable about George or his family. They face their own set of difficulties. George’s mother, Ellen, has grown distant from him. She is currently separating from George’s father, Denis, whose excessive love for high-end fashion has begun to drain their family’s finances. Then there’s George’s older sister, Cressida, who is both candid and critical, regarding him with a hint of contempt, much like their mother does.

In spite of this family friction, the unassuming George seems to glide through their dynamics with nonchalance. This disengagement also characterizes his on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend Jenny, who, like his family, alternates between being patient and finding him tedious.

The story reveals George’s life in a series of episodes from ages 12 to 38. The introductory quote, excerpted from a letter by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s mother to her son, establishes the narrative’s tone: Johanna Schopenhauer tells Arthur that while he has “𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 . . . 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

The author’s writing style is laced with subtlety and ironic humor. I found it completely enchanting. George is surely not your typical heroic main character but I absolutely loved this book.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of a man called George that cannot seem to get anything right. His relationships are strained and his lack of drive in the workplace are causing him to flounder.

George needs a slap... in the face... with a chair....

George is whiny lil b who needs to grow up and get real instead of driving all the women around him crazy. He is the poster boy, flag bearer, badge carrier for all the white American men out there who enjoy mansplaning while wouldn't be able to do the sh*t they explained themselves.

Kate Greathead, kudos to you for creating such a hateable character. You really nailed it with your storytelling, character development, and stage setting. If you want to get annoyed and still enjoy a book, The Book of George is a great choice. It's like book of Joffrey Baratheon.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on October 8, 2024.

Blaming my experience on some personal life stuff I had going on at the time of reading this. I did not enjoy this book in any capacity, but didn't hate it enough to only give it one star. NOTHING happens in this book and I think it's supposed to be character-driven, but how can you call yourself that when your character has no drive? Anyway, thanks Netgalley for this ARC. On to the next one!