Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir

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."

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.
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272 pages

Average rating: 6.96

487 RATINGS

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38 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Bookworm4evr!
Sep 08, 2024
It was deep
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CStrauss
Aug 10, 2024
7/10 stars
Good book. Sad though knowing that he is no longer alive. Gives you a real insight into his addiction and how he tried many times to overcome it. Cool tidbits about Friends too, which I appreciated! But there is a lot more to this man than that incredible show. RIP
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katsreadingbooksnstuff
Aug 05, 2024
5/10 stars
Had it's interesting moments, and he's a good writer, but it seems like he thinks a lot of himself, claims to change the way Americans spoke and be everyone's favorite sitcom star...yikes lol.
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Jenn Queenbee
Aug 04, 2024
7/10 stars
It was good and interesting especially since his death recently. So sad how tortured he was but helps to see how even people who seem to have it all still have demons.
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Shahna
Jul 18, 2024
10/10 stars
I love him.
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