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Maybe it's an "it's not you; it's me" situation, but I never really got into this novel. I laughed a few times, but it doesn't feel like "good material," I can't imagine it being a funny comedy show, and the MC---a man---doesn't read like a man to me. I finished it, so I didn't dislike it, I just didn't love it, either. A #tob25 longlist title that I don't mind not making the shortlist.

Am I in a reading slump? I feel like I might be in a reading slump. But for me that looks like audiobooking (the tagged) but not constantly and not really getting into any of my print books for...gosh, like 5 days. Maybe it's too early to declare a reading slump, but it feels slumpy for me.

This week I journeyed “north” to Essex, Vermont and visited Phoenix Books there. Among the books on the new paperbacks table? These gems. You really want to read GOOD MATERIAL and THE FROZEN RIVER. Also? I signed so many of my books! Thanks, Phoenix!

Breakups can make anyone go a little crazy but that doesn‘t mean I want to spend a lot of time reading about the mindset of a wallowing and completely unself-aware man trying to figure out his life after the unexpected end of his relationship. Hearing the other side of the story was clever but too little, too late to make this a pick.

Read in 2024. For most of the story you hear Andy talk about his break up with Jen. At first I felt bad for Andy as he tells his side of the story. He‘s struggling with his career of being a stand up comedian & he‘s having a hard time understanding why Jenn broke up with him. Then the very last part of the book you hear Jenn‘s side of the story. It made me understand more about why you heard so much about Andy‘s story. To me it spoke to the bigger

This one was on a few Best of '24 lists, but I'm left a bit underwhelmed. It was alright, but nothing stand out, and ultimately I suspect forgettable. I like the idea of reading about the aftermath of a relationship from one perspective, then flipping to the other side, but the balance here was out of whack. I would have preferred more of Jen, less of Andy. While I liked where Andy ended up, it took a lot of pages of just not much to get there.

This one took me a bit to get into, but it did start to pick up mid way through. Alderton has a nice blend of introspection and humor in her writing that makes her characters feel real.

Soft pick. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

#12Booksof2024 @Andrew65

February

I really liked this one even with all of Andy‘s hapless male foundering. It was funny, smart, and I loved all the British-isms. But the ending just floored me and turned this from a 3-star to a very high 4-star read. #botm

Jen breaks up with Andy. The majority of the book is spent with Andy as he tries to deal with the loss. I liked Andy and sympathized with his struggle. Heck, I can be an Andy myself. But I can also be a Jen. I appreciated what she had to say.

I often find that if I‘m not really enjoying a book, it‘s worth it to finish it to see if the ending saves it. Honestly, the ending did just that. It made the reading of the book a rewarding experience.

I so enjoyed this one. Dolly Alderton writes from a man‘s perspective after his break-up with Jen and it felt completely believable and funny. I felt for him and felt sorry they didn‘t make it.
Then the perspective changes and we learn Jen‘s take on things. All the pieces fell into place. A light and hopeful read. Recommended! #ToB25Longlist

This one was just ok to me. I found the central story of a man struggling to get through a breakup fairly dull. And by the time we got to the former girlfriend‘s breakup aftermath, I just didn‘t care. Where it shines is with some of the supporting characters and stories, like the flatmate Andy ends up with and the houseboat bit. I don‘t think I would have made it through in print. #TOBlonglist

#WeeklyForecast 50/24

I am reading both The Butterfly Girl and The History of Sound, cherishing each story. I am glad it made the #ToB25 shortlist. I‘ll also continue to read from the longlist. The tagged book will be my next one.

This was fun and a bit light for a typical #tob25 choice. I enjoyed it though. Struck a nice authentic chord.

A down-on-his-luck comedian is dumped by his long-term girlfriend. He struggles because, at 35, all his friends are married - most with kids. He wants that life so badly. He goes to hilarious lengths to figure out why Jen dumped him while getting a strange housemate and cobbling together jobs to keep his comedy career alive. #toblonglist

Great questions! I don‘t have a fave song atm, but I‘m enjoying the 90s Alternative subreddit crowdsourced alphabetical playlist that has the top ten vote getters for each letter. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0XLGgFmT10ZiXbIPEnpuC8?si=GPsRxt-yRxiD2nY3BIVH... it‘s reminded me of many favorite songs!

I hope the MC of Good Material takes a cue from Swift‘s “We Are Never Getting Back Together”! 😬

IYKYK

I found this really entertaining, perhaps because I am close in ages to the characters and have experienced the same angst about life that forms the backbone of this book. I kept wanting to hear more about HER side of the story, and the 'big reveal' about her feelings just felt a bit ordinary. Maybe that was the point. The strength of feelings we have in ordinary situations. Like him, an entertaining read, but quiteforgettable now I have moved on!

2️⃣3️⃣ Saturday night with Mai Tai tinnies 😂and a book 🎊 Interesting to read a book from a male‘s perspective for a change! Not my favourite by Dolly Alderton but still I would recommend this to a friend and have already passed it on.

Been waiting for this to come out in paperback. Hopefully a little more lighthearted after Brotherless Night which was tough going.

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 💔

A delight of a book. Story of grownups going through a breakup. Strong writing. Recommend! 3.5 🌟

Such an adorable read!

I loved the dry British humour. I loved seeing the protagonist‘s self-discovery journey. I loved the trajectory. The little part at the ended told from his ex‘s perspective was unnecessary but worked well! A nice cute summer read.

Really liked this book about the breakup of Andy and Jen, a couple who love each other, but Jen just can‘t be with him anymore. Andy narrates the book and it could seem too much about his life after the breakup but it doesn‘t. He‘s a standup comic and he‘s forever trying to be a good one along with making sense of the end of his relationship with the woman he loves. A great ending as well!

3.5/5 🌟

This book is about a breakup told from two perspectives. The majority of the book is narrated from his point of view, with only the last 40 pages dedicated to her perspective. This is a shame because I absolutely loved her perspective—it was so relatable and heartfelt. If the majority of the book had been from her pov, it would have easily been a 4.5🌟 read for me.

I wanted to like this book more than I eventually did, but overall still enjoyed it. Listened to the audiobook through my Spotify subscription. Being inside the mind of a sad, self-pitying 35 year old struggling comedian, who is reeling from a recent breakup, for 10 hours was frustrating at times. Probably what I appreciated most was the accurate depiction of mid-30s millennial life, when everyone around you is getting married and having babies.

Good Material is about a break-up. Except for the last chapter, it‘s from Andy‘s perspective. He‘s a struggling stand-up comedian in his mid-30‘s who‘s just been dumped. It‘s got real High Fidelity vibes. The last chapter grants the reader access into Jen‘s mind. I‘d never read Dolly Alderton before & almost *immediately* became a devotee. Her writing feels so natural. The way her characters think, OVERthink, speak & act is modern & true-to-life.

The main character Andy is a bit annoying in that he wallows in the breakup with Jen for a long time. As a standup comedian he's not that funny. He can't seem to get out of his own way. However, the ending redeemed the novel for me. I enjoyed the perspective it gave with a couple plot twists thrown in.

3 stars out of 5. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

6-7 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Reminiscent of High Fidelity, most of Good Material is told from the perspective of Andy, an unsuccessful standup comic, dealing with the breakdown of his relationship and subsequently his life. It humorously looks at the difference between female and male friendship, and the reality of reaching middle age without having achieved success. The last quarter provides Jen‘s perspective, which is an enlightening counterpoint.

This is best read when in the mood for a 35 yo struggling comic suffering the breakup from the love of his life - I didn‘t think I was in that mood, but since I purchased a physical copy I stuck with it, and darn if Andy didn‘t grow on me. I especially liked how the last chapter 31Jan2020 pulled it altogether. Also, Andy‘s mom provides some great insight for anyone grieving the end of a relationship.

Dolly Alderton really gets into the heads of her millennial characters and her portrayal of romantic disasters and the weaknesses of adult friendships in busy lives is apt to say the least. It was refreshing to read a novel about a man undone by his feelings, the likes of which I‘ve not read since High Fidelity. A really compelling story that‘s honest about flaws which will be recognisable to us all.

I‘m such a fan of Dolly Alderton! Though this is not usually my type of read, I jumped on the huge hold list for the audio because I knew there‘d be quality dialog and great characters and I was right! Nothing out of the ordinary, it‘s a story of a relationship and the aftermath. The surprising part is that it‘s mostly from the man‘s point of view. Excellent commentary about being “on the wrong side of 35”! Expert narration to boot!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you‘d like a different take on a romance for the month of love, this book is like an autopsy of a relationship. Being in Andy‘s head was relatable, funny, and cringeworthy. I also really enjoyed Morris‘ character. Although this story is about a breakup, there is a lot of love found in these pages.🎧

#52bookclub24 - 30 - Picked without reading the blurb

Andy and Jen broke up. Andy still loves Jen and can't fathom what went wrong. Over the course of the months after the breakup he needs to find not only a new home, he needs to find out who he is.

I enjoyed this story about a breakup mainly from the man's POV.

The writing was good and the narration (80% by Arthur Darvill) excellent.

This book will move onto the favourites pile for this year.

A story of a relationship post-break-up and what comes next.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️,5/5

#DollyAlderton #novel