Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

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On this episode of TGE’s Current Read, Sam touches base with comedy writer Monica Heisey, author of one of Elle Magazine’s most anticipated reads of 2023, Really Good, Actually. This fresh take on break-up comedy fiction chronicles a year in the life of 28-year-old Maggie as she separates from her husband after only 608 days of marriage.

Heisey is no stranger to comedy, having contributed to some of our favourite moments as a writer on shows like Workin’ Moms and Schitt’s Creek. It’s therefore no surprise that this book, which can be described as a quintessentially millennial ode to becoming an adult in the 2020s, is a laugh a minute, with relatable moments on every page that will have you choking on your double short.

On the face of it, Really Good, Actually might look like a humorous take on ending a relationship that you thought was “forever”, but Heisey’s comedic spin on modern young adulthood cuts deep into the millennial psyche, with relatable home truths punctuated by sharp witticisms.

At the heart of it, this is a story of self-actualisation. It’s about one woman’s journey back to the self she never knew she’d lost. It’s also inspired by the author’s personal experience as a young divorcee, and explores what would’ve happened had Heisey acted on the spur-of-the-moment impulses she’d had during the lowest lows of her divorce (assuming she were she as unsupported and, frankly, unhinged as her protagonist).

Monica chats with Sam about what she wanted to explore with the book, how it differs from the average coming-of-age millennial novel, and what she’s working on next.

#currentread #darkcomedy #comedy #darkhumor #funny #breakupfiction #divorcefiction #darkhumour #funnymemes #netflix #darkhumourmemes #drama #debutnovel #TGECurrentRead #parentingpodcast #bookstagram #booktok #2023releases #reallygoodactually
13 Mar 2023 English South Africa Books · Entertainment News

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