Books › Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
272 pages
A darkly funny, brutally honest conversation with a beloved star fighting for his life behind the scenes of his greatest success.
What it feels like
Reading this memoir feels like sitting down with an old, deeply troubled friend who is finally ready to tell you the truth. The prose is unmistakably infused with the author's signature cadence—wry, self-deprecating, and quick to deliver a punchline even in the darkest moments. Yet beneath the familiar humor lies a harrowing atmosphere as the narrative plunges into the terrifying realities of severe addiction and medical trauma. It moves at a brisk, conversational pace, pulling you through the dizzying highs of global fame and the crushing lows of isolation. It will deeply resonate with readers who appreciate unflinching celebrity memoirs, offering a bittersweet, intimate experience that strips away the glossy veneer of sitcom stardom to reveal the fragile, resilient human underneath.
- Mood
- bittersweet
- intimate
- harrowing
- reflective
- Tone
- candid
- self-deprecating
- wry
- vulnerable
- darkly comedic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the illusion of fame · the relentless grip of addiction · childhood abandonment · the search for connection · fragile recovery
- The writing
- Conversational, punchy, and deeply infused with the author's signature sarcastic cadence.
- The arc
- Moves from desperate ambition and the dizzying heights of fame into the terrifying depths of addiction, ultimately arriving at a fragile but hard-won peace.
- Who it's for
- Readers drawn to unflinchingly honest celebrity memoirs and those seeking a raw, unvarnished look at the realities of severe substance abuse.
Content notes
- severe substance abuse
- addiction
- medical trauma
- near-death experiences
- depression
About the book
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another 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 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.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
See why they match
I'm Glad My Mom DiedJennette McCurdyA darkly hilarious and devastatingly raw reckoning with a toxic upbringing that finds hard-won freedom in the aftermath of grief.
UnsweetinedJodie SweetinA brutally honest, nostalgia-shattering memoir that strips away the sitcom gloss to reveal the gritty reality of addiction and recovery.
Not My Father's SonAlan CummingA raw, suspenseful, and wickedly funny memoir that balances the heavy trauma of an abusive past with sharp wit and profound insight.
Beyond the WandTom FeltonA warm, nostalgic backstage pass that slowly peels back the curtain to reveal the vulnerable reality of growing up famous.
High on arrivalMackenzie PhillipsA brutally honest, harrowing descent into Hollywood's darkest corners and a desperate, ultimately triumphant claw back to the light.
Maybe You Should Talk to SomeoneLori GottliebA warm, witty, and profoundly human look in the mirror that makes you feel a little less alone in your messiness.