Good Material By Dolly Alderton | Book Review
Fun fact. The very first book I reviewed on this blog many years ago was the memoir Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton.
At the time I was looking for some witty and immersive writing to get me back into reading, and it did not disappoint. I can still remember giggling as I flipped the pages hidden in the yellow paperback and was transported into a relatable series of events I was excited to see unfold.
I have read many books since then, fiction and otherwise, but there’s something about Dolly Alderton’s books I never get over. That said, picking up Good Material by Dolly Alderton was a no-brainer. I just knew I had to have it…
When I heard that the award-winning writer and journalist was releasing her second novel, I knew it wouldn’t take too long for the hardcover to join her first – Ghosts – on my bookshelf.
What is Good Material about? Is Good Material by Dolly Alderton worth reading? After high expectations and a couple of hours of flipping through the pages, I can now answer these questions.
Let’s dive into my honest review of Good Material.
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“There are so many hidden miniature break-ups within a big break-up.”
Good material by dolly alderton
Good Material: Book Summary.
Andy is going through the worst time of his life. The rug is swept from underneath his feet when his long-term girlfriend Jen just broke up with him. Unexpectedly she does so after they return from what should have been a romantic getaway to Paris. And the crazy thing? He absolutely has no idea why.
Andy finds himself with nowhere to live, a stand-up comedy career that seems to be going nowhere, and homeless feelings for a woman who declared she no longer wants to be with him. In addition, the discovery of a bald spot he can’t stop obsessing over, and a few ‘FML’ embarrassing interactions do not help either. In the chaos, Andy relies on he’s friends Avi and Jane, while searching for the answer to the BIG question. Why did Jen break up with Andy?
Undoubtedly, Andy is not where he imagined he’d be at 35 as he’s left to pick up the pieces of all the broken fragments of his life. Did I mention it’s the worst time of his life?
Good Material by Dolly Alderton explores the complexities of life at 30-something, the endless spiral caused by unanswered questions, heartbreak and friendships in adulthood, and the expectations about how our lives should turn out.
To Read Or Not To Read?
There’s just something about Dolly Alderton’s writing that I absolutely love. It’s witty, smart, conversational and never gets boring. She writes in a descriptive way that brings a vivid picture to life and places the reader directly in the scene as though they’re part of it. It’s never bland or disingenuous, but rather human and raw with the right amount of humour.
Good Material is candid, engrossing and funny. Being in the mind of a 30-something-year-old man in crisis isn’t something I imagined I’d enjoy, but the emotions were palpable and honest which made for an enjoyable read.
While I liked the story from the very first page, I think Good Material picks up somewhere in the middle. The pacing was just perfect at that point, and I couldn’t put the book down.
As the story draws to an end, Dolly Alderton gifts the reader the answers they so desperately crave – Jen’s side of the story. It’s a known fact that there are always two sides to every story and Jen’s is a vital piece of the puzzle. Reading Jen’s words from Jen’s perspective is just what Good Material needs to take the story to the next level.
You know how to be alone without being lonely. Do you know how rare that is?
good MaTERIAL BY DOLLY ALDERTON
Is Good Material worth reading? I’d definitely recommend it! The novel sucks you into the story in an instant in a relatable way. It sometimes sways toward the British side in its setting and conversation style. However, I loved this fact as it gave it even more character.
We’ve all experienced heartbreak and shifts within friendships in adulthood. Therefore, I think Good Material is a novel many will see themselves in one way or another.
Your restless romantic roamer
Rachy’s Rating
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