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Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing
- Author
- Matthew Perry
- Narrator
- Matthew Perry
- Publisher
- Headline
- Publish Date
- 1 November 2022
- Run Time
- 8 hours 50 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Rating
- 4.3 (22 reviews)
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What to expect
'Funny, fascinating, compelling . . . also a wonderful read for fans of Friends' The Times
'HI, MY NAME IS MATTHEW, although you may know me by my full name. My friends call me Matty.'
So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us . . . and so much more.
In an extraordinary story that only he could tell - and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it - Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he's found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humour, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fuelled it despite seemingly having it all.
'An unflinching and often harrowing must-read for 90s pop culture fans' Guardian
'Written with Chandler's trademark sarcasm and self-deprecation' Telegraph
'A hopeful read . . . I started to think of [it] not as a celebrity memoir about addiction, but as an addiction memoir written by a man who understands his own history through the prism of showbiz' Independent
Critics Review
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Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is a raw, unflinching memoir that took courage to write. As it turns out, Matthew Perry has a lot of courage. He takes us through his addiction, his illness and his paralyzing loneliness. Somehow, during the course of his life, Matthew was able to turn his pain into comedic joy for others, but, he tells us, it was at a cost. Matthew takes us through his "hell" but doesn't wallow. Ultimately, this book is filled with hope for the future. If you want to know about who Matthew Perry is, stay away from the rags and read this.
Marta Kauffman, co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends
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There's never been a more honest or raw memoir . . . and it may just save lives
Daily Mail
-
Funny, fascinating, compelling . . . also a wonderful read for fans of Friends
The Times
-
Harrowing and revealing about the juncture where extreme compound addiction collides with mega-celebrity
Observer
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-
An unflinching and often harrowing must-read for 90s pop culture fans
Guardian
-
Written with Chandler's trademark sarcasm and self-deprecation
Telegraph
-
A hopeful read . . . I started to think of [it] not as a celebrity memoir about addiction, but as an addiction memoir written by a man who understands his own history through the prism of showbiz
Independent
User Reviews
Book 4.3
Narration 4.6
-
1.0 3.0
This is not a good book, you might love Chandler Bing, and enjoy this book because it of who this book is about. But this book is not a good book. It repeats itself numerous times, he comes off as boasting of this money, fame and women, and at the same time wants you to pity him all the time because his life is the hardest life any human on earth has lived, and it is also very repetitive!! ;)
If you want to know behind the scenes of friends, he barely says anything.
I started the book with tremendous compassion for this man, and ended the book exasperated with his ramble.Sandra 2025-11-07 -
5.0 5.0
I enjoyed listening to this book narrated by the amazing Matthew Perry himself but I had a heavy heart as I know the final ending to his story. What a humbling booking. Addiction is a terrible thing and there but for the grace of God go I or you. Rest well Matty
ClareBear1962 2025-02-06 -
4.0 5.0
Gut wrenching at times, but glad I listened to it. I came to Friends very late in life but loved Perry as Chandler Bing. The book is devastating in its details of addiction. I ended up shouting at him at times, as you get so frustrated! By the end of the book he is very serene and I hope he had that serenity in his final moments. It's less a book about Friends and more a book about some of the struggles of being human. Worth reading/listening to!
Reggie 2024-02-09 -
5.0 5.0
Extremely moving story of a remarkable man
Would not have read it myself but have it a go when it was recommended and so glad I did I was totally immersed in it .
Had to stop the car as I was in tears at the end !john r 2023-12-12
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4.0 4.0
The book jumps around a bit, so can be hard to keep up.
It’s great that Matthew Perry narrates this himself, it makes it much more of a personal memoir. So sad that I left his book until after he died, it’s been on my shelf for a whilekama 2023-11-07 -
5.0 5.0
An absolutely fabulous book. I was half way through it when Matthew passed away. It's hard to listen to it now but I'm still listening.
Edit: I just finished the book. I don't think I've laughed and cried this much at a book ever. What a wonderful man he was. Rest in peace. You are missed.kathrynwithay 2023-11-06 -
5.0 5.0
Honest, raw from a brave man. I've been through many struggles and Friends brought me through them. Losing Matthew today made me want to get to know him and his life better as he did so much for me. I've learnt a lot listening to him. It's a huge loss but hope his next journey brings him peace. 💔
FBillson71 2023-10-29 -
2.0 3.0
Guy making excuses for being a junkie.
nkolov 2023-06-30 -
3.0 3.0
Was okay. I’m struggling to be more descriptive.
nanajac 2023-04-12 -
3.0 4.0
I wanted to like it more as I loved Matthew Perry on friends but agree with other reviews about his constant whining being annoying. It was ok
Micayla 2023-01-21 -
4.0 5.0
Really interesting read - I had no idea about the depths of the ‘terrible thing’.
Amazing someone that you have watched your entire life and see behind the struggles he faced.Jimmy 2023-01-08 -
5.0 5.0
Honest, raw and a very real life account from a very brave man. Broken, but put back together with the “gold” of God to create the most beautiful masterpiece. Thank you Matty for telling us your story.
May you find true joy in the remainder of your life and laugh as much as you made so many of us laugh… and still do. Watching “Friends” brings me so much peace and joy that I can’t even fall asleep at night without watching it.. the show and the very real people behind the show has brought so many of us through so many difficult times… may you find the peace and joy in your own life that you brought to so many others. Brilliant book… I will be gifting it to some friends of my own that are also struggling with addiction.VickyBetta 2022-12-04 -
5.0 5.0
I bought this book as im a big fan of Matthew Perry but the book wasnt enough and i bought the audio book too . This was an amazing read , emotional and funny , to hear Matthew tell it like it is was just phenomenal. This is the best book ive read in a very very long time . May everything you wish for come true after all the happiness you brought to millions of people throughout the years and you didnt even realise how much you've meant to people and the impact and indluence you've had . Best of Luck Matty , i hope you are living your best life right now for you truely deserve it . Lots of love x
Katie-100 2022-11-19
Details
- Author
- Matthew Perry
- Narrator
- Matthew Perry
- Duration
- 8 hours 50 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 November 2022
- ISBN
- 9781472295965
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Headline
- Genre
- Memoirs, Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Autobiography: general
- Rating
- 4.3(22 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.6(22 reviews)
Synopsis
'There's never been a more honest or raw memoir . . . and it may just save lives' Daily Mail'Funny, fascinating, compelling . . . also a wonderful read for fans of Friends' The Times'HI, MY NAME IS MATTHEW, although you may know me by my full name. My friends call me Matty.'So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us . . . and so much more.In an extraordinary story that only he could tell - and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it - Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he's found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humour, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fuelled it despite seemingly having it all.'An unflinching and often harrowing must-read for 90s pop culture fans' Guardian'Written with Chandler's trademark sarcasm and self-deprecation' Telegraph'A hopeful read . . . I started to think of [it] not as a celebrity memoir about addiction, but as an addiction memoir written by a man who understands his own history through the prism of showbiz' Independent
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