Really Good, Actually

By: Monica Heisey

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

THE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

LONGLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE 2025

The Times Popular Fiction Book of the Year

‘A heartbreaker of a book’ THE TIMES

'Alarmingly relatable' MARIAN KEYES

‘Hilarious and profound’ DOLLY ALDERTON

The hottest debut novel of 2023 from Schitt’s Creek and Smothered screenwriter and an Observer debut author of the year, Monica Heisey.

Maggie’s marriage has ended just 608 days after it started, but she’s fine – she’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s alone for the first time and can’t afford her rent and her obscure PhD is going nowhere… but at the age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new status as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée™.

As Maggie throws herself headlong into the chaos of her first year of divorce, she soon finds herself questioning everything, including: Why do we still get married? Did I fail before I even got started? And how many 4am delivery burgers do I need to eat until I am happy?

Really Good, Actually is an irresistible debut novel about the uncertainties of modern love, friendship and happiness.

'Hilarious, heart-warming, wise' PAULA HAWKINS

‘Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ ROB DELANEY

‘A Sex and The City for social media-obsessed millennials … Irresistible’ METRO

‘Wry, modern, self-deprecating’ INDEPENDENT

‘One of the most talked-about releases for 2023’ EVENING STANDARD

©2023 Monica Heisey (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Book Club recommendation

This was an insightful look into modern day dilemmas when faced with a romantic break up. It was poignantly funny at times.

Not for me

I sympathise with the main characters friends who eventually can't cope with her self obsessed grieving over her failed marriage