A review by eleana
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

challenging emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The first half of the book felt like a slog. I hasten to say this, because I get the impression from the author photo that Maggie may very well be a self insert, but nonetheless I found her incredibly unlikeable. Her complete lack of real self reflection and empathy, probably relatable to some, didn't resonate with me. I kept wishing we'd just get to the part where she actually looks at her behaviour critically, but that took soooo much longer than expected. It was satisfying to finally see her learn something at the end though, despite the first 250 painful pages. I enjoyed the addition of the special chapters. As for the other characters, there sure was a lot of description of them and anecdotes, but I did struggle to bond with any of them as I only saw them through Maggie's detached and jealous perspective. Overall, the book left me with a bit of an icky feeling after finishing it. The prose was descent though.