Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Really Good, Actually
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Really Good, Actually
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
THE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
The Times Popular Fiction Book of the Year
‘A heartbreaker of a book’ THE TIMES
'Alarmingly relatable' MARIAN KEYES
‘Hilarious and profound’ DOLLY ALDERTON
The hottest debut novel of 2023 from Schitt’s Creek and Smothered screenwriter and an Observer debut author of the year, Monica Heisey.
Maggie’s marriage has ended just 608 days after it started, but she’s fine – she’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s alone for the first time and can’t afford her rent and her obscure PhD is going nowhere… but at the age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new status as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée™.
As Maggie throws herself headlong into the chaos of her first year of divorce, she soon finds herself questioning everything, including: Why do we still get married? Did I fail before I even got started? And how many 4am delivery burgers do I need to eat until I am happy?
Really Good, Actually is an irresistible debut novel about the uncertainties of modern love, friendship and happiness.
'Hilarious, heart-warming, wise' PAULA HAWKINS
‘Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ ROB DELANEY
‘A Sex and The City for social media-obsessed millennials … Irresistible’ METRO
‘Wry, modern, self-deprecating’ INDEPENDENT
‘One of the most talked-about releases for 2023’ EVENING STANDARD
Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘Heisey’s adroit control of her narrative and wickedly funny turns of phrase mean Maggie can become monstrous as she flails from one disastrous choice to the next, but remains heartbreakingly relatable’ The Times
‘A smart and funny coming-of-divorce novel … with a likeable heroine to root for… full of millennial witticisms and reliably regular deadpan turns’ Guardian
‘Wise and funny … Heisey … announces herself not only as a comic literary voice who articulates the absurdity of finding yourself alone, again, but also as a deft satirist of the many ridiculous trappings of modern life’ Dazed
‘The book’s insistence on friendship being just as, if not more, important than romantic love is itself beautifully rendered… this book will be a balm’ i Newspaper
‘Wry, modern, self-deprecating’ Independent
‘Sharp and fast, the funniest book I’ve read in a long time’ Raven Leilani, author of Luster
‘You will fall in love with this protagonist and you will fall in love with Monica Heisey's writing. I couldn't put it down’ Dolly Alderton, author of All I Know About Love
‘An absolute effing delight … wildly funny and almost alarmingly relatable’ Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel
‘I absolutely loved it … Hilarious, heartwarming, wise’ Paula Hawkins, author of Slow Fire Burning
'A rare and delicious treat. Monica Heisey is a genius' Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful
‘Monica Heisey is one of the most exciting new voices in fiction’ Kirsty Capes, author of Careless
‘Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ Rob Delaney
‘A smart, funny and warm debut with such a strong voice’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Everyone Is Still Alive
What listeners say about Really Good, Actually
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bryde
- 31-01-23
Loved it!
So witty, funny and the attention to detail is brilliant! I listened to it super fast and was hooked.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss Emily Turner
- 29-01-23
Absolutely loved it.
Clever and so so relatable, I loved every minute of this book and have told all my friends about it. Thank you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- jan jaggard
- 24-01-23
Loved it!
This was the perfect cold weather read . A warm, charming, hilariously funny look at devorce . The realisation that friendship and relationship are two entirely different things. We can be messy , life is often messy but even when it is there is laughter to be had.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Merewyn
- 04-02-24
Pretty depressing
I found this book self indulgent, slow and quiet boring. I continually hoped it would pick up but unfortunately it didn’t.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Hannah
- 17-07-23
Really just ok
Really wanted to like this but wasn't anything special - dislikeable characters throughout, with few redeemable features
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-11-23
Sweet listen when you’ve just recovered from a breakup
I have just recovered from a divorce and found the book very comforting. A lot of things the main character does we’re things I’ve done and I loved finding myself in it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liz
- 19-01-23
Fabulous
I inhaled this book in one sitting (it only came out this morning) - I really enjoyed it. so often stories like this while enjoyable can feel a bit paint by numbers, this is well written, entertaining and actually funny. Well rounded characters, witty dialogue and a breakup described without getting entirely romcom about it.
Excellent narration of course, from Julia Whelan brings the whole thing together.
I'm not a Schitts Creek fan, but you can see the hand of a confident writer, and the dialogue is, as you'd expect, snappy and moves the plot along. Definitely a fun well written read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ellen GM
- 07-03-23
10/10 recommend
I loved it. Funny, smart, relevant (for me), cool and charming. Just really good tbh
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- ros
- 15-05-23
Hilariously funny
Loved the acidic humour and dark side of marriage, divorce and dating. Want to be friends with her friends in this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- fatsoknacki
- 28-11-23
Love love love
I loved everything about this book. It made me laugh out loud so many times and made me look like a weirdo walking the dog with my headphones in. I have recommended it to anyone who stands still enough in my company for more than five minutes. My favourite book of the year. Even better than Lessons in Chemistry x
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!