Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Books | Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts

3.8

(141)

Matthew Perry

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER The BELOVED STAR OF FRIENDS takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this “CANDID, DARKLY FUNNY...POIGNANT” memoir (The New York Times) A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK by Time, Associated Press, Goodreads, USA Today, and more!“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”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 traveled 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 humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening—as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.

Memoirs

Comedy

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More Details:

Author

Matthew Perry

Pages

272

Publisher

Flatiron Books

Published Date

2022-11

ISBN

1250866448 9781250866448

Ratings

Google: 5

Community ReviewsSee all

"The story is interesting. But I didn't enjoy the layout or his writing style. "

Kylie Ercit

"Interesting to learn what he was going through for so long. Depressing though."

Samantha Nuanes

"It was very interesting to learn what he was going through all that time. He is a fighter. "

Danielle Stapp

"I can relate to so much of this story and it touched my heart ❤️ "

Susan Sheby

"Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing is Matthew Perry’s autobiography. I would highly recommend the audio version of this because he obviously narrates it. I knew he battled drug addiction, but I had no clue how bad it was. I’m not addicted to anything, so it was very eye opening for me to hear his descriptions of what he was willing to do for the drugs and alcohol that he craved. His struggle involved him getting sober so many times and then relapsing. He is very self-aware, which makes his inability to effectively deal with his addictions all the more fascinating. He uses his trademark humor throughout (along with a large sprinkling of the f-bomb) to tell stories of his childhood shuffling between split parents, his talent as a nationally ranked tennis player, and his Friends co-stars. He is open about his love life, his career, and his addictions. I thought it was very interesting. My only complaint is that the timeline is a little hard to follow becomes he flips back and forth. But the story flows well and his current peace that he’s achieved feels like a hard won victory. He has you rooting for him, even as he admits that his issues are all his fault. If you like biographies at all, this was very good."