Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Narrator: Matthew Perry
Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes
Published by Macmillan Audio
Publication Date November 1, 2022
Date Read November 30, 2023
Source: Library
Genres: Memoir
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
The beloved star of Friends takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this candid, funny, and revelatory memoir that delivers a powerful message of hope and persistence.
“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.
©2022 Matthew Perry (P)2022 Macmillan Audio
Review
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing had been on my radar for a while but, I didn’t pick up the audiobook until Matthew Perry’s death. It did feel like a friend had passed, and I wanted to learn more about him.
I have mixed feelings about this memoir. Matthew Perry is brutally honest regarding his struggles with addiction. I appreciated that he didn’t hold back and it was very eye-opening. Unfortunately, it was his treatment of women that bothered me. I almost felt like he viewed women as conquests or pushing away when someone became too attached. At one point, talking about a girl he was in a longish-term relationship with he said “I would have fucked mud.” Matthew Perry came off as egotistical, to say the least.
Matthew Perry really needed an editor. The book pivoted from one place to another and at times felt repetitive making me question whether I had already listened to this part.
I did like that Matthew Perry flip-flopped between his time on Friends and what at the time was the present day. There were parts of the book that were hard to stomach and having the familiarity of Friends was a welcome pallet-cleansor. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing ends on a high note on Matthew Perry’s road to sobriety and his willingness to reach out, be there and, help others with addiction. It was nice to learn that he had found a semblance of peace and contentment in his life. Friends will always be there for me but sadly, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing was one big disappointment
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