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A review by bookshelfmystic
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Besides not being British, and being slightly less familiar with Instagram than our protagonist, I got the sense that I was the exact audience for Good Material. 30-something millennials living in 2024, like myself, will find it highly relatable. Who among us hasn’t thought “I’m too old for this” while swiping on dating apps or drinking next to undergrads at a college bar? Andy finds himself in this position, suddenly, as the unexpected dissolution of his five-year relationship shines a spotlight on his life at 35. He must grapple with how his age affects his new singlehood, his career, and his friendships: “Thirty-five is the youth of middle age,” he claims, desperately, as he sinks deeper into post-breakup malaise while his friends align their calendars to schedule a lads’ night out months in advance.
Though Andy is heartbroken, he’s still on the search for good material for his comedy shows. He has the fortunate misfortune to find himself in a series of hilarious situations (many self-inflicted), which his droll British self-deprecation makes even funnier. But we start to see a change in him as he reaches rock bottom and finds a path to healing. That’s what makes this book feel so complete: not only is it funny, but it’s got a really clear character arc that never needs to tell the reader “this is when I started to feel better.” We see Andy’s growth like we’d see a friend’s growth, as they slowly come out of the darkness and find themselves again.
Andy’s finally back on his feet by the time hewrites a comedy show about getting over his breakup and invites his ex to watch it, with absolutely no pretense of trying to get back together with her or make himself look like the good guy . He’s finally figured out some truths about his relationship and himself, and we get to see that play out so satisfyingly.
Interestingly, in the book club for which I read this book, opinions differed on theconcluding chapters being told from Jen’s point of view. I thought it was unnecessary and actually took away from Andy’s story of growth. Her narration resolved some plot points and revealed some twists that we wouldn’t see otherwise – like Jen posing as Tash and Avi forging the letter from Julian Assange – but to me these conclusions seemed too neat. I thought the story felt more human before we knew both sides, since each of us only ever really gets to live our own story.
But some of my book club friends thought Jen’s chapters were the best part, especially getting to see Andy’s flaws from the outside. My book club is entirely made up of women, and we certainly felt some commiseration when she reveals the breaking points that led to their relationship ending – Andy’s fragile ego and self-centeredness were definitely tied up in his masculinity. After our discussion, I could see their point, but I still feel that the book would have been more satisfying if Dolly Alderton had found a way to reveal some of that side of Andy without switching points of view.
Besides that minor criticism, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and highly readable. It’s a great light read with some fulfilling emotional depth.
Though Andy is heartbroken, he’s still on the search for good material for his comedy shows. He has the fortunate misfortune to find himself in a series of hilarious situations (many self-inflicted), which his droll British self-deprecation makes even funnier. But we start to see a change in him as he reaches rock bottom and finds a path to healing. That’s what makes this book feel so complete: not only is it funny, but it’s got a really clear character arc that never needs to tell the reader “this is when I started to feel better.” We see Andy’s growth like we’d see a friend’s growth, as they slowly come out of the darkness and find themselves again.
Andy’s finally back on his feet by the time he
Interestingly, in the book club for which I read this book, opinions differed on the
But some of my book club friends thought Jen’s chapters were the best part, especially getting to see Andy’s flaws from the outside. My book club is entirely made up of women, and we certainly felt some commiseration when she reveals the breaking points that led to their relationship ending – Andy’s fragile ego and self-centeredness were definitely tied up in his masculinity. After our discussion, I could see their point, but I still feel that the book would have been more satisfying if Dolly Alderton had found a way to reveal some of that side of Andy without switching points of view.
Besides that minor criticism, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and highly readable. It’s a great light read with some fulfilling emotional depth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content