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

I really tried to get into this book, but I couldn't. It sounded so interesting too. This one was a DNF for me. I just couldn't handle George which made it difficult to read. I may take another shot at it in the future.

I don’t even know how to rate this book. George is terrible. Is this really someone’s story? What a waste. It was honestly so sad, in a really cringe worthy way. I kept reading on thinking there would be a point in the story where things would take a turn, but they never did. Could’ve guessed Jenny was a double masker from page one though.

3.5 ⭐️ Oh George! Everyone either knows a George or has dated one which makes this book so relatable. He is insufferable, childish, dodges responsibility, yet somehow you can’t help but feel badly for him despite disliking the character. In some ways this felt like Good Material by Dolly Alderton without romance being the main storyline- just the giant baby of a man.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

i know he’s supposed to suck but i am obssesed with george i adore him
he’s insaneeee and insufferable but also? the author wrote this so beautifully you can tell a george inspired this LIVE
thank you netgalley and co for this beautiful novel! 4.5 stars!

This book is Jude the obscure for Gen-Xers. A highly readable tale of the pitfalls of white male mediocrity.

I found this book engaging from the moment I started. I like the flow of the story, the characters were fun and engaging to read about. I like the writing style. All in all quite enjoyable. Definitely recommend.

*SPOILERS*

George, the MC, comes across as a big baby throughout the novel. It's evident his life took a significant turn after his father's passing, yet this pivotal moment is skimmed over throughout the book. I would have liked to understand more about how his dad's passing affected him. The twist of *SPOILER* his actual biological father being a good family friend adds some complexity to George's character but doesn't compensate for his persistent unhappiness and lack of personal growth.

One of the most striking moments of the book is when Connie bluntly calls George out on his behavior. Her words resonate deeply, reflecting my own frustrations with George as an entitled brat who believes he's better than everyone else. His fear of failure and reluctance to push himself only reinforce this negative impression.

George's relationship with Jenny throughout the book is another source of confusion. Although we're TOLD he loves her, his behavior says otherwise. This dynamic makes it hard for me to understand why Jenny continues to stay with him and put up with his behavior. The abrupt shift to Jenny's POV in the final chapter feels jarring and out of place, leaving me dissatisfied and puzzled about the story's direction.

Overall, The Book of George is about a self-absorbed man from his teenage years to his late 30s, who refuses to take control of his life. Despite moments of humor and poignancy, the novel ultimately falls flat.

The Book of George was an interesting book following the early to mid-life of a depressed man aptly named George. I enjoyed the flaws of the main character but thought it could have been stronger in terms of the final plot and what it was trying to say about life. Felt like it was trying a bit too hard to do not that much.

That being said, I really enjoyed the writing style and absolutely devoured the book when George was a child through his college years. I think it’s worth reading and I would give the author another chance in the future.

Overall I’d give it around 3.5/5 but closer to 4 than 3.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

This is a fascinating look at George, an eccentric young man as he navigates life through all the ups and downs of his teen years, his job history, and his crazy family life. It's both funny and often heartbreaking as we see George try to mitigate all that "ordinary" life throws at him. He works as a waiter, later as a hedge fund manager, and eventually lands in a Super Bowl commercial. Through it all we see the lovable side of George as he navigates life and loves even as he often doesn't quite understand the nuances of everyone around him!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks very much to the publisher, Henry Holt, and NetGalley for the eARC of this enjoyable novel. I loved getting to know George through decades of his life, through his ups and downs and attempts (of varying success) to find his footing in the worId. I’m a big fan of novels with protagonists like George—hapless men whom you just can’t help but love, despite their faults. I tore through this book in less than 24 hours and would read it again. Maybe it’s because I know plenty of Georges myself, as another elder millennial of approximately the same age (I’m two years older than George, just like his on-and-off girlfriend, Jenny, which is also my name…). The plot works very well split into short-story-like chapters, and the prose is precise and unpretentious—my favorite kind. I’ll definitely be checking out the author’s other works and buying myself a hard copy of George when it is released. Thank you!

This is the first book I have read from Greathead. I adored the story about George's life. The writing was so captivating. I flew through the pages. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

Kate Greathead proves that growing up does not guarantee emotional maturity. George shows time and time again that he is incompetent and emotionally stunted, yet, he is never ill-intentioned. He’s hard to love as a character but he’s relatable enough that you do find yourself loving him just a bit.

Not being completely and totally fed up with George is a testament to Kate Greathead’s clever and skillful writing. Everyone has come across a George, whether they were a classmate, boyfriend, relative. It’s not difficult to see why some people may not love this book. George is hard to love, but that’s the point.

I thought it was an excellent read.

Oh, George! Did I find him completely unlikable and frustrating most of the time? Yes. Am I giving THE BOOK OF GEORGE four stars anyway? Also yes. This book shows how sharp, witty writing and strong character development can make a story so compelling. Beyond the titular George, I appreciated how well-developed the other characters were, from his college friends to work colleagues to family members and more. I particularly loved reading about Jenny, George's on-again, off-again girlfriend, Ellen and Cressida, George's mom and sister, and Carrie, an old friend from college. The story provides snapshots into brief moments in time, different years in the life of George and those around him, but despite only getting to know these characters for a short while, readers still get a real sense of who they are. Kate Greathead's prose is smart, humorous, and compulsively readable even when it's depicting the most cringe-inducing situations—I flew through most of this book in one sitting! The last chapter was a definite highlight for me and the perfect way to bring the story together, reminiscent in some ways of Dolly Alderton's GOOD MATERIAL, a recent release I also loved. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Greathead does next! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the ARC.

Highly recommend this one!! This is my first time reading one of their books but it won't be the last! This book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

I really enjoyed this one! Kate Greathead is an amazing writer and she has a talent for using absurdly banal situations to illustrate a larger point—but never in a boring or lecture-y way. The toilet paper scene immediately comes to mind. It’s such a weird, cringey, random little incident that completely encapsulates the main character’s entire personality…. which brings us to the novel’s namesake. I was thinking about how to describe George, and my mind kept going back to Adrienne Brodeur’s Little Monsters, which (IMO) is a profound and well-executed example of toxic masculinity. George isn’t *that* toxic, but he’s not non-toxic either. He’s… mildly toxic? Semi-toxic?

The novel is pitched as The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. for today, and as a fan of that novel, I’d say it’s an accurate comp. If you’re a fan of character-driven novels, give The Book Of George a try!

🗓️ Release date: October 8, 2024

📚 Thanks so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt for my review copy!

I feel quite neutral in my feelings towards this book. Kate Greathead is a talented writer, however the characters in this book were so unlikeable it was sometimes unbearable. George actually had the personality and likability of a stale piece of bread.

This book was a light read but I found myself not really connecting with the characters or caring what happened to them.

This book was cute and light, I just found it generally pointless. It was all vibes no plot, which is fine and dandy, but overall left me on motivated to learn more about my main chapter George. I felt bad for George throughout the book, and yet, I didn’t really think he was a victim of his circumstances. He never made a grave attempt to pull himself up by the bootstraps and fix the issues in his life.

A pleasant enough child turns into an intensely disagreeable man - self-indulgent, thoughtless, indolent, foolish, egomaniacal . It’s a horrifying portrait, and the comedic aspect and didactic dimension don’t convince. I don’t see anything universal here, just a loaded character, heavily underlined. Yes, I kept reading, hoping for a resolution of some inspired kind. Didn’t come.

The Book of George is an all-too real character study in frustrating stagnation. We trail behind George, a man who excels at making poor choices and dodging responsibility, and the equally flawed individuals in his world.. I stayed in this book, rooting for a breakthrough! an ah-ha eureka! But every character felt addicted to the self-destruct button. And maybe that was Greathead's whole intent – to paint a claustrophobic portrait where growth feels impossible.