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    Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir
    Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir
    Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir
    Audiobook8 hours

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

    Written by Matthew Perry

    Narrated by Matthew Perry

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    "Going into his "why," Perry's audiobook is a fascinating listen."- AudioFile

    This program is read by the author.

    A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY TIME, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, GOODREADS, USA TODAY, AND MORE!

    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 audiobook fans have been waiting for.

    A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

    Editor's Note

    Behind the scenes…

    Perry is best known for portraying Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom and cultural phenomenon “Friends.” Like Bing, who hid his insecurities behind self-deprecating humor, Perry silently battled plenty of demons before, during, and after the show’s heyday. Most notably, his memoir explores his struggles with substance abuse and depression, while seamlessly weaving plenty of humor throughout. “So much has been written about me in the past,” Perry writes on Twitter. “I thought it was time people heard from me.”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateNov 1, 2022
    ISBN9781250867070
    Author

    Matthew Perry

    Matthew Perry is a Canadian American actor, executive producer, and playwright.

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    Reviews for Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

    4.5/5

    2,178 ratings184 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a heartbreakingly sad and honest memoir that offers a raw and powerful perspective on addiction. Matthew Perry's narration adds a personal touch and makes the book even more impactful. The book is recommended for those dealing with addiction or wanting to understand it better. Despite the tragic ending, readers appreciate the hope and inspiration that Perry's story provides. Overall, this book is seen as a must-read for its honesty, compassion, and the legacy it leaves behind.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      It was good. A narrative of his life. It gave me a different perspective on addiction.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      So very brave to tell it all. Thank you for sharing your story and struggles. May you find success and peace through your challenges.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Being an alcoholic in recovery, I could totally relate to Matt’s story. What courage it took to continue to fight. And we addicts know you never stop the fight.
      I read the book in one day, could not put it down.
      Thank you for opening yourself up and giving others hope.
      Guess it truly shows that all that glitters is not gold.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Heartfelt and honest. It takes a soul with stamina to walk through trauma and addiction. I’m glad Matthew made it to the other side and has shared his story. A good listen.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very uplifting who would have known he hid it so well

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      WOW, what an open and honest account of a very dark and scary journey! It is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. Matty leaves nothing out about his addictions, the paths he traveled through those addictions and how he miraculously came out the other side.
      Well done, sir. Keep living your best life - you deserve it!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This was so enlightening. Matthew Perry was so brutally honest with his personal story raw and emotional. It really opens the door up to understanding a little of what people with addiction go through. I had no idea. I also think it will help many who struggle and feel they are alone with their struggles. A great listen.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Anyone who has suffered through addiction will be able to relate to Matthew Perry's story, whether or not it was to the extreme of the challenges that he had. Anybody who knows someone who has faced the challenges of addiction, and that person sought help, didn't seek help, made excuses, hurt people, hurt themselves - will likely gain a better understanding of how terrible the disease of addiction is. Perry offers fascinating insights, and while his challenges are nothing to laugh at, the prose still includes a fair amount of the Matthew Perry humor and anecdotes we might expect on occasion. I thought it was a fascinating, eye opening read. You may never look at Chandler the same again, but maybe you shouldn't. Everybody has their challenges, and I think that was part of the point.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Amazing book. Learned lots about him. Hes too funny. Was remarkable.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very unflinchingly honest it took a lot of courage and he's a naturally gifted writer

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very real and humble. Enjoyed this very much. Highly recommend.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Being a fan of FRIENDS, and have watched some of Matthew Perry’s movies & TV shows, I knew that I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to listen to his book. What I like about memoirs is that it’s narrated by its author — can there BE any more interesting than to listen to Matthew Perry’s voice himself?! Okay, kidding aside, I do have now more respect and compassion on what he has been through and how he looks at his future. Addiction is such a frightening demon that he dealt with (and perhaps an ongoing process) so he can finally achieve his longtime hopes& dreams aside from fame. He did say the book is not for the audience to feel sorry for him, and while I felt that over the course of reading this book, it instantaneously changed to being purely hopeful for him. Worth the read, go grab this book! Let’s give all the love to Matthew Perry, everyone!:)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      One of the best books I've ever listened to, Matthew Perry's story touched me deeper than I expected. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Friends forever!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Brutal, raw and honest. Matthew Perry for all of his brushes with death, shows incredible insight into his personal demons. Not to be missed.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Wow. What an honest portrayal of addiction at its absolute most terrifying. Thank you Matthew for telling this story as a way to help others. I for one am so glad you are still here with us. You ARE enough...you are more than enough. The proof is in these pages.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Pretty good memoir detailing Mathew Perry’s life and struggles. Never realized he had so many struggles and addictions throughout his career. Clearly, Perry is mostly know for Friends. However, you don’t have to be a Friends fan to read this. I’m not a Friends fan, but I could really appreciate this memoir.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thank you MP for sharing your heartfelt struggles with us. Addiction is a miserable journey. God loved you before, during and after, and your fans appreciate your honesty.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Wow. What an honest telling of the absolute hell that is addiction, and doing it in the public eye adds a whole new level of pressure. Extremely well written and gut level, stripped down honesty. By the end I felt like I was listening to a dear friend (no pun intended).

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      It's very hard to admit and very hard to open up. Thank you for sharing your story. It was inspiring. You are an amazing human being. Lots of love and thank you again.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Raw, honest and somewhat inspiring look at the life of someone famous that I never suspected has gone through so much.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I could not stop listening to this audiobook So good

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      An incredible story of Matthew Perry’s life. Well written, eye opening, and entertaining. Loved it

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Really good story about a killer addiction that finally was fatal to Perry. His fascinating story of downs and the relativity few times he was totally sober is full of humor that makes this book very readable despite terrifying circumstances.
    • 5/5
      Such an open and honest look back at the tortured life of such a visible icon. The money, the fame didn't fix his life. It's so heartbreaking to hear him say he doesn't want to die. I watched every episode of friends when it was airing originally and besides the yo-yo weight gain you could never know that he was being chaperoned to the set to do the episode then carried back to a treatment center. So very sad.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed hearing a bit about Matthews’s life. I wish he had talked about how addiction isn’t always as extreme as his and the book had the string of addiction and abandonment throughout each segment. Without giving spoilers, the ending was sad knowing that he passed away shortly afterwards and that he was just starting to look forward to (in his 50s) things most men and women are in their 20s and 30s.
    • 5/5
      I'm about to cry my eyes out and I feel this emptiness in my stomach. It's hard to describe but I never had a book made me feel this way before. I'm sure that part of me died listening to Matthew's story.
    • 5/5
      His voice, his story, his soul will remain in so many hearts to cherish! Thank you, Matty! ❤️
    • 5/5
      Bless his heart. ?
      Who knew how much he struggled, and yet he remained brilliant throughout.
    • 5/5
      Incredible life changing story! Absolutely a must read/listen ? wow
    • 5/5
      Good book! I encourage people to read this book! Great book!