We Are All Completely Fine

By: Daryl Gregory

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Harrison is the Monster Detective, a storybook hero. Now he’s in his mid-30s and spends most of his time not sleeping. Stan became a minor celebrity after being partially eaten by cannibals. Barbara is haunted by the messages carved upon her bones. Greta may or may not be a mass-murdering arsonist. And for some reason, Martin never takes off his sunglasses.

Unsurprisingly, no one believes their horrific tales until they are sought out by psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer. What happens when these questionably-sane outcasts join a support group? Together they must discover which monsters they face are within, and which are lurking in plain sight.

©2014 Daryl Gregory (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

2015 World Fantasy Award, Best Novella

Great story!

I loved this story. It was both subtle and engaging in typical Daryl Gregory style. A great study of characters and a lovely take on the hero's (heroes') journey. And for once! a decent portrayal of a psychologist. It seems like books and movies are always showing psychologists acting like psychiatrists or having sex with their clients (probably because therapt is not very exciting to watch as a bystander). The one is this book, however, seems to actually understand ethics and professionalism... at least for the most part; otherwise it wouldn't be very exciting ;)

Wow

This was so good. That’s all I’ve got. This was so good. Audible just wants more words.

I loved it!

This is the second book by Daryl Gregory that I enjoyed very much. I can't waite to reed moore.
The narrstor was great as well.
Daryl Gregory reminds me of Stephen King in is wrighting, bat he does not make me cringe like king doe's.

great short listen

this was on a darker track than Spoonbenders, but it was just as good, definitely a good book to listen to on a lazy afternoon

Just okay?

Perhaps, because it was short, I expected more of a punch to it? I like the scenes of the therapy group the most and thought the ending was kind of meh?

Soooky

Spooky and kinda weirdly fun. I recommend.
I listen and read a lot and I can usually figure out the plots but, this one was a surprise. Weird scary story!

Not fully fleshed out

It's a good idea but seemed rushed and half the story is missing. I felt like I was joining a story already in progress and wanted way more information on the event and everyone's back story.

original and unique

We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory is original and unique. I love Urban Fantasy and was drawn to this book because of the unusual way the narrative is presented; it’s told from the point of view of several characters attending a support group hosted by the only psychotherapist, Dr. Jan Sayer, who believes that their experiences are real and not mostly a result of some sort of psychosis.

All the characters are sole survivors of supernatural traumas which cause them to live as social outcasts and Dr. Jan Sayer seems to set the support group up to encourage healing through the sharing of their inexplicable and traumatic experiences. What is particularly enjoyable is the way that Daryl Gregory reveals each character’s experiences and character; because of the support group setting I expected there to be more ‘telling’ but Gregory cleverly presents us with what we may initially consider as stereotypical personalities only to develop them through the novella into rich and unique people. It’s incredible just how well all these unique characters are developed within what is a fairly short narrative. I was initially rather irritated by Stan, he seemed to love being a victim and demanded a certain amount of recognition for his fame as the sole survivor of a strange cannibalistic attack. His story proved to be quite horrific as did Barbara’s; Barbara, a survivor of an attack by a supernatural psychopath, seemed to be the most ‘collected’ of the group, and perhaps she was, I’m still pondering on that point. Harrison, a Monster Detective, whose experiences are largely believed to be fictional is cynical and seems uninterested and of course there is also the seemingly selfless and empathetic Doctor, again she may be exactly that… I hate to give away too much in my reviews, I prefer them not to be an analysis and summary of the plot but rather an encouragement to read or listen to the book yourself. I recommend that you do exactly that.

The audiobook is narrated by Tavia Gilbert, to start off with I was distracted by the way all the male characters sounded angry and gruff and all the female characters sounded apologetic, especially the psychotherapist, I would have expected her to sound more assertive. However, Tavia adds a lot of emotion into her narration, it is very clear and once I got used to her particular style I conclude that her narration does add to the narrative.

Daryl Gregory’s novella is certainly surprising, although it is a complete story in itself I hope there is a sequel, Dr Jan Sayer’s personal story still has lots to reveal and personally I’d love to meet Stan and the rest of the group in a continuation of their story.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.

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Don't Bother

This is so boring. I was hoping for at least the humor of Spoonbenders but highly disappointed.