| Title | : | Good Material |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0241523672 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780241523674 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 345 |
| Publication | : | First published November 7, 2023 |
Andy's story wasn't meant to turn out this way. Living out of a suitcase in his best friends' spare room, waiting for his career as a stand-up comedian to finally take off, he struggles to process the life-ruining end of his relationship with the only woman he's ever truly loved.
As he tries to solve the seemingly unsolvable mystery of his broken relationship, he contends with career catastrophe, social media paranoia, a rapidly dwindling friendship group and the growing suspicion that, at 35, he really should have figured this all out by now.
Andy has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story.
Warm, wise, funny and achingly relatable, Dolly Alderton's highly-anticipated second novel is about the mystery of what draws us together - and what pulls us apart - the pain of really growing up, and the stories we tell about our lives.
Good Material Reviews
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Being stuck inside the head of a 35 year old man with the emotional bandwidth of a teaspoon is truly the seventh circle of hell. I liked every single character in this book better than I liked Andy. Alas, his character was a clever satire that captures the zeitgeist of our current male dating pool. I was constantly infuriated by him and I was refreshed to finally read the last chapter in Jen’s perspective. Reading Jen’s chapter was like reading thoughts scooped out of my own brain, and Alderton deeply understands the liberation of being a woman satisfied with her own identity who views romantic relationships as add-ons to life rather than necessities.
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5/5.
WHAT. A. MASTERPIECE.
I have lots to say about this book but I’ll keep it to the briefs.
1. Dolly Alderton is the only woman I have ever encountered that writes women’s fiction without hating women. By this I mean, this book is written mostly from the perspective of a man grieving a horrific breakup that, in all honestly, would drive nearly anyone into a deep, dark madness that they may/may not ever completely recover from. But the most compelling part of this story is that Dolly manages to take the reader through the mania, the bargaining, and the desperation of searching for control in a situation that you did not choose to be in, and she does it without making us hate the woman who has caused the breakup.
2. I think it was very important to have a section from Jen’s perspective at the end of the book. It gives so much clarification to much of the breakup, and pulls the reader from the typical pedestalization of a protagonist that inevitably occurs in fiction. Andy is not perfect. Jen is not perfect. I see bits of myself in both of them. Which, as a writer, I know is very very very difficult to accomplish. The complexity of these characters on such a molecular level is stunning and inspiring, to say the least.
3. Finally, a shoutout for womanhood. Jen’s struggle with wanting to exist outside of a relationship and the implication that all women want to have marriages and children struck such a chord to me, as someone who is learning to be in relationships with men while hating being in relationships with men and planning a life without knowing if I ever want to be a mother.
Dolly, you are, as always, my literary hero. -
whenever i'm sad i think about the fact that we're getting a new Dolly book this year and i instantly feel better 🥺
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“Was this a relationship? Was this what being in love was? Is this what all my friends had accepted as their happy ever after?”
Good Material by Dolly Alderton is about 35-year-old Andy, who has just been broken up with by his longtime girlfriend, Jen.
I thought it was interesting that Dolly decided to write from the perspective of the man; however, the part that I liked the most was a glimpse of Jen's perspective of their relationship that we got in the end.
Throughout the novel, Andy was winey. He had a very “why not me?” attitude driven by ego, though he would probably argue it was driven by genuine love he experienced for the last 3 years with Jen.
Though I sympathized with Andy to an extent, and actually agreed with a lot of his feelings about breakups, it felt like everything he did was rooted in ego and the introspection or “work” he did on himself had ulterior motives to “clear his name” of any faults in the breakup, even if none of those efforts directly involved Jen.
What we learned about Jen and her feelings towards the end of their relationship resonated so much with me: how sometimes you can feel lonelier with someone, and how it is better to be single and happy than with someone who's only draining your energy.
Even if you love someone, love is not enough. Nostalgia for the good times and holding out hope for the next time you experience them should not be a reason to stay.
Not letting the fear of getting older and not finding someone more well suited to you keep you with someone who doesn't feel right is one of the strongest things someone can do - especially women, who are made to feel that by age 35 they will be nothing without a husband and children.
I really enjoyed this book, and in true Dolly fashion, it gave me lots to think about. -
I’m sorrrrry but this was a miss for me. Just because the last 20% was good doesn’t make up for suffering through the first 80%. I hold out hopes for Dolly’s next one.
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Fucking excellent. Loathed the first 200 pages - I now realise it’s because I absolutely hated the Andy character, and it was the point. Last 150 pages were a joy, couldn’t put it down. Dolly has the most unreal ability to put the female experience into such articulate writing that has you thinking ‘yes yes this!!!!!’ after every single sentence. And her acknowledgements at the end always make me cry. Love love love
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4+
I really like Dolly Alderton‘s writing and this is another very well written novel. We first meet Andy when in 2019, he lists the reasons why he is not good with Jen. Yes, Andy I get it, she does sound pretty awful, but inexplicably, she breaks his heart when she dumps him. However, hold your horses, this is Andy‘s point of view so let’s just rein in the sympathy for now. The pair meet in 2015 at his best friend Ari’s birthday bash and all seems well until an ill-fated trip to Paris. Andy tells us his “progress” in a sort of journal form as he negotiates the different stages of the break up.
This is such a good read as at times it’s tender, at others it’s very amusing but throughout it is very perceptively observed. I really like the authors turns of phrase, she can be poignant but also droll, very witty and sometimes laugh out loud funny which is a clever combination as it keeps you turning pages.
The characterisation is excellent. Although Andy is definitely obsessive especially about Jen, he is so likeable. You do feel sorry for him as things in his life spin out of control but at the same time you want him to pull himself together. He needs “Dear Dolly“ though there is some wisdom imparted here often from his pals, though not necessarily when sober, and Andy comes to self realisation. Andy is a part-time stand-up comedian and there are some very lively and colourful scenes and characters around the comedy circuit and of course, it explains the title. In addition, some pub/club sections where Andy tries to laugh out or drown his sorrows, accompanied by some snappy dialogue, further entertains. It’s hard to pick out the best sections as there isn’t a dull moment, but these are perhaps some of the best in the book. Also worthy of note are Andy’s interactions with his landlord Morris to whom one act of kindness is very touching.
The last section is Jen’s point of view, whilst it may not be especially long it is very illuminating and explains a lot. I’m glad we got this as it gives a broader understanding of their relationship. The ending is extremely satisfying.
In addition to following the progress of Andy’s recovery and meeting some very good characters along the way (Ari and Jane‘s children are hilarious for example), there are some excellent music references, some hair obsessing and hair envy, some other ventures where Andy tries to reinvent his 35-year-old self, with limited success.
All in all, Dolly Alderton once again delivers in this thoroughly enjoyable and diverting read.
PS, thanks for not going too far into 2020, best forgotten.
With thanks to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. -
live laugh love dolly alderton! i will kiss the ground you walk on
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There were times when I wanted to thrash Andy against the wall and be done with his whining over his breakup with Jen. But I kept plodding and was rewarded in the end when Jen's PoV came. All the crying, mopping, and why Jen broke with him, who truly loved her, had some funny moments here and there. But the saving grace for me was Jen's story and why she did what she did. Loved every moment of it. Alas, she was there for only few chapters.
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take a photo of this book and add it to the BALD photo album because there’s not much back there
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If I had to choose one word to describe Dolly Alderton’s storytelling, I would choose insightful. She completely gets inside the heads of her characters, but not over detailed or overwhelming. It’s a clever way of sharing their emotions, and in the case of Good Material, this is a love story with two endings! Yes, two!
About the book: “From the New York Times best-selling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love: a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both.”
Good Material is the love story of Andy and Jen. It begins with their breakup, shared through Andy’s voice. He cannot wrap his head around why she left. Everything had been so perfect. He’s determined that if he thinks on it long and hard enough he’ll find the answer. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been there. Overthinking can be really reinforcing when you are right once in a while.
Andy is a comedian, and as with Alderton’s other novels, there’s humor infused throughout. I’m not sure I’d read a breakup story from the male perspective, and I enjoyed that. I also loved how the reader hears Jen’s side of the story, or at least part of it, towards the end of the novel. It reminded me of something I’ve often thought about- everyone has a story and it’s their own truth and reality. Andy and Jen each certainly did.
I recommend Good Material to, of course, fans of rom coms. You will be delighted with this refreshing story. I also recommend it to those who aren’t quite sold on the genre because this one hits different, too. I kind of think Dolly Alderton is in a league of her own. Solid, layered characterization, clever satire, and on point insight; I highly recommend.
I received a gifted copy of the book.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog:
www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram:
www.instagram.com/tarheelreader -
Good Material by Dolly Alderton was a witty novel following amateur comedian Andy as he reenters the dating world mid-thirties after splitting with his long-term girlfriend Jen. 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. I was laughing out loud throughout the entire book and enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end, especially with being able to read from Jen's perspective a bit. I think this book also did a great job of including realistic adult relationships and showing how they change as people get older, which is definintely one of Alderton's specialties when it comes to writing. I loved seeing Avi and Jane's relationship with both Andy and Jen after they broke up, and how supportive they were of both friends. I found Jen's perspective on her break-up with Andy to be something a lot of women struggle with, it really reminded me of Sylvia Plath's fig tree analogy. Overall, it was another win from Dolly Aldterton, I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Randomhouse Canada for the advanced reader copy of Good Material by Dolly Alderton in exchange for an honest review! -
3.5
I hated the first half so much and loved the second half - and Jen’s perspective - so much. Andy is good hearted but insufferable and, hate to say it, just such a classic man. His moaning nearly led me to abandon the book but Vanessa Kirby’s Jen and the lovely plot loops at the end saved it - I thought the ending was perfect. It’s just annoying that Jen’s section felt like a different book, I wish it had been 50/50 (or 90/10 because Andy’s such a whingebag)
As always for a Dolly book, there were so many funny lines and bits. The Morris-Julian Assange story killed me. Just a bit of a mixed bag for me but like most people I loved Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love so I guess you can’t gel with EVERYTHING from one of your favourite writers -
men will really do anything but go to therapy
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okay I enjoyed this but the ending elevated this book for me I gotta say
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OUCH OUCH OUCH
I would trust Dolly Alderton with my life and I’m convinced she can see into my soul. -
was like the male perspective of Really Good Actually
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Every now and then a book comes along and wraps itself around your heart. This isn't a story, it's a human experience. I inhaled it. I won't ever forget it. And I am Dolly Alderton's new biggest fan.
Bye, I'm off to go listen to all her interviews. -
3.5 stars
Deeply enjoyed the last 150 pages or so of this novel, felt so bored by much of what came before that though. In Good Material we follow 35-year-old comedian Andy, who was recently broken up with by his girlfriend. After Jen breaks up with him, Andy struggles in all sense of the word – to find a place to live, to resuscitate his failing stand up career, and to get over Jen at all. We follow him through his meandering messy life post-Jen as he tries to cope with a new fitness regime, a new situationship, and eventually maybe a new perspective on what transpired in his old relationship.
One of my favorite things about this novel was that when I finished it, I had a renewed sense of empathy for my friends going through breakups. Ending relationships, even when it’s the right move, is tough! I thought Dolly Alderton did a great job of honestly portraying the messiness of the post break-up stage.
I really did struggle to get through the first half of this novel though. For the majority of the novel we’re in Andy’s head, then we move to Jen’s for the last bit. Andy… wow. He really was a self-absorbed white man who pitied himself and had little empathy for others. It was hard to get through his perspective and I can’t help but think Alderton wrote his point of view in an intentionally annoying way. I’m still not sure how much of my “eh”-ness about the first half of the novel stemmed from Alderton making Andy intentionally unlikable versus the actual writing quality lacking a bit. The first half felt repetitive to me and I was leaning toward two to three stars max.
But, Andy does grow a little by the end of the novel which was nice to read. And I loved when the perspective shifted to Jen’s point of view. As a more femme gay man/genderqueer person who’s not into the whole get married and have kids thing, I related a lot of Jen’s perspectives and experiences. I also found the writing in Jen’s section fluid and entertaining, while still feeling grounded and convincing.
So, mixed feelings about this one. I wonder if Alderton could have done anything differently to the first half of the novel – maybe actually exploring Andy’s emotions more in-depth like with some of his father stuff? Still, after thinking about it I think I will at some point read more of her work, especially given how people in my Goodreads community seem to be a fan of hers. -
Hearing a 35 yr old man’s perspective after a break-up is an intriguing premise.
It’s important to remember we are inside of Andy’s head through most of the book. Yes he can seem whiny but who wouldn’t be thinking these thoughts after the break-up of a long term relationship? Especially when given no explanation.
Toward the end we hear Jen’s perspective, which did nothing to endear myself to her.
My thoughts after I finished:
1. It’s not ok to end a relationship without an explanation. If a man did this, he would be thrown under the bus
2. It’s 2024 people! Do not demonize women who make different choices in order to justify your own. Single vs married, child-free vs motherhood, career vs SAHM….who cares?? It’s all valid and one isn’t better than the other.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and a complete miss for both of us! -
GOOD MATERIAL was my first Dolly Alderton book but won’t be my last! have you read this buzzy book yet?
🎧 i reco the audiobook! the British narrator >>> you should read this if you like: quick books, stories from a different POV, coming of age type stories, funny books
all i knew going into GOOD MATERIAL was that it covered a breakup from a man’s POV. color me intrigued! this story felt fresh and unique to me bc of this since most POVs are written from a 3rd person or women’s POV.
Alderton has a comedic, effortless way of writing and she evokes many emotions for readers—laughter, sadness, empathy, understanding and more. it almost feels like a coming of age novel in a way—the MC is reallllllly going through it after a breakup and it takes you along for the ride.
i devoured this on audio (i think i finished in 3 days) which is so rare for me, but it was addicting! some of it got monotous and a bit repitive, but i think that goes to show how mundane and confusing the days/months after something like this can be. this book would be a very fun book club pick to discuss!
GOOD MATERIAL follows a 35-year-old man named Andy who has just been dumped by his girlfriend of 3+ years and is totally blindsided and confused. why did she do it? what does he do now? will they ever get back together?
i’m not going to lie, i was terrified i’d go through 300+ pages of this book just for them to get back together 😅😂 i’m not going to comment on that either way, but i was pleased at the ending—there is a surprise waiting for you that was semi-jarring on audio. if you know, you know 👀 i think it tied up the book nicely and without it, the book would have felt incomplete for me. but now with it there, i found myself wanting more of it the entire book!
this is vague but i’m trying to keep it spoiler free. come back and chat with me about this when you’re done or comment your thoughts!! 🩷 -
I think this was meant to make us realise that men are just like us, but I’m more convinced of their inferiority than ever before
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I would give the last chapter 5 stars on its own
‘Good Material’ by Dolly Alderton takes us on a unique and refreshingly honest journey of a breakup. We meet Andy, an amateur comedian in his mid-thirties as he is freshly dumped by the love of his life, Jen. Blindsided and in denial, we follow as he navigates all the emotions, social media stalking, revenge body, rebound dating, grief, and self-discovery that make up the healing process of a breakup.
“You don’t let go once. That’s your first mistake. You say goodbye over a lifetime. You might not have thought about her for ten years, then you’ll hear a song or you’ll walk past somewhere you once went together — something will come to the surface that you’d totally forgotten about. And you say another goodbye. You have to be prepared to let go and let go and let go a thousand times.”
It was a unique journey to read about heartbreak from a male’s perspective. Dolly did a great job highlighting all the rollercoaster emotions and realities of moving on and repairing your life with humor and vulnerability. I did hit a wall with Andy after a while but it was great to see his redemption and I especially loved all his interactions with his 80-year-old roommate Morris — so wholesome and funny.
What will stick with me the most is the last chapter. It caught me by surprise and redeemed the whole reading experience for me. We normally read about societal pressures and self-discovery in your twenties but I loved this story more because it tackled it from the perspective of those in their thirties+. The complex emotions of not being on the same path as your friends/family and isolating other’s expectations to figure out what you want from life is difficult and takes time to realize. Dolly explained it so well and it’s a great reminder of how we should empathize more with others and normalize all the different ways you can have a happy and fulfilled life.
Overall, I would recommend! Thank you Knopf for the copy in exchange for my honest review. -
The last 40 pages made this entire book so much better, wow. I liked it the whole time...but THOSE LAST PAGES!!!!!!!! I hope her next book is from the female perspective again. Being in Andy's head was fine, but being in Jen's head is where I want to be!!!!!
Did I want any of it? Did I want to be someone's girlfriend? Was it something I could do? In my years of being single, I had said as much to friends, which was always taken as an expression of insecurity or fear. "You just haven't met the right person," they'd assure me. But, there I was, with the right person. He wasn't perfect, but I was in love with him and he was in love with me. And yet I could never really understand whether I was in a good relationship or not. I couldn't measure what the reality of long-term love was; what was settling for something when I should be asking for more. -
Absolutely positively hated it! Probably the most inane and irrelevant book I have ever read.
Jan and I were flabbergasted over the awful portrayal of both main characters, a man without any ambition, drive, or determination, and a woman who throws insults at those who chose to be mothers.
I am so over these feminists that have done more harm than good to the case for women. -
For the first 85% of this book, I thought it was a perfectly serviceable story about a vaguely endearing but mostly unlikeable British man going through a breakup and drinking too much along the way…and then those last 40 pages really kicked me in the nuts as a 30-something single woman! Okay, Dolly! This book found me not a moment too soon.
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Hallelujah!!! I finally like (actually LOVE) one of Dolly Alderton’s books. Let’s just say me and Dolly haven’t had a good track record and by that I mean I have disliked every one of her books so bad I couldn’t bare to finish it 😂 but this one I finished and wanted MORE!
I can honestly say this is the best romcom book I have read in a very long time!! The only fault I can find is I wanted more at the end…but is that really a fault?
I found it so interesting and insightful reading about a harsh break up from man’s perspective. Which is strange because usually I prefer female narrators in general but there was something about Andy you just felt for. He was like a dog looking up at you with big brown eyes, just wanting to be loved. Okay sometimes he was an idiot but hey we all do stupid things sometimes.
I loved how Dolly changed her style of writing throughout the book, including letters and texts - it made the story seem all the more raw and real somehow.
Any other thing I loved was when Andy moved in with Morris. It was like cuteness over load. They had a strange relationship but it worked. I do sort of wish there was more to this section of the book - I think Dolly could have made a lot more of this relationship…maybe there’s another book to come…I truly hope so!
Overall, this is such a wonderful read, you will not want to put it down. It is relatable and ever so real to typical young love these days. I was constantly on an edge of laughing and crying. Talk about a rollercoaster. But overall, fantastic book! Highly recommend. -
I loved this so much! Sobbed at the end even though it wasn't a sad ending lol I just felt so emotional. Throughout most of the book you think of Jen was so distant and cold but when after getting a short snippet of her version of events and what was going on in her head you end up relating to her so much. I liked reading about a breakup through a male perspective as I don't think it's something I've read much of before, and then to get both sides you see how two people who are meant to be so close can actually be on such different wavelengths. I think so many people would relate to this book and hopefully also really enjoy it.
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Before the last part this was going to be a 1 star review. I know you’re supposed to find the main character annoying but he was utterly insufferable. And I know enough insufferable men I don’t want to read a book 80% from their pov. I guess it’s smart to write a large part of this from the POV of a mediocre person, because it excuses the eye-rolling-y mediocre writing. Not for me.
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boutta be Sisterhood of the Travelling Book w my book club (we read the same physical copy and annotate in a different color then pass it along to the next person)
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if he likes blur, kanye west, and comedy, he hates women. you can thank me later for providing you with this vital piece of knowledge
