Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing

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What to expect

'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

Critics Review

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

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

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 4.5
Narration 4.7
5.0
5.0
Tdk 09/10/2024
5.0
5.0
shopgirl7 08/02/2023
5.0
4.0
david2023 29/11/2023
5.0
5.0
vincenze 22/07/2023
5.0
5.0
Honest, raw and a very real life account from a very brave man. Broken, but put back together with the u201cgoldu201d 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 laughu2026 and still do. Watching u201cFriendsu201d brings me so much peace and joy that I canu2019t 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 timesu2026 may you find the peace and joy in your own life that you brought to so many others. Brilliant booku2026 I will be gifting it to some friends of my own that are also struggling with addiction.
VickyBetta 04/12/2022
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 12/12/2023
5.0
5.0
Leah 08/11/2023
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 06/11/2023
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 21/01/2023
4.0
4.0
The book jumps around a bit, so can be hard to keep up.
Itu2019s 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, itu2019s been on my shelf for a while
kama 07/11/2023
2.0
3.0
Guy making excuses for being a junkie.
nkolov 30/06/2023
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 06/02/2025
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 09/02/2024
5.0
5.0
sioned533 11/01/2025
4.0
5.0
Lana 16/02/2023
3.0
3.0
Was okay. Iu2019m struggling to be more descriptive.
nanajac 12/04/2023
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. ud83dudc94
FBillson71 29/10/2023
5.0
5.0
Jen C 31/03/2023
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 19/11/2022
4.0
5.0
Really interesting read - I had no idea about the depths of the u2018terrible thingu2019.

Amazing someone that you have watched your entire life and see behind the struggles he faced.
Jimmy 08/01/2023

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