Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible..., Matthew Perry
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible..., Matthew Perry
225 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $17.82
Club: $13.49

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
A Memoir

Bestseller

Author: Matthew Perry

Narrator: Matthew Perry

Unabridged: 8 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/01/2022


Synopsis

"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.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh ~catching up slowly~ on September 14, 2024

In a Nutshell:An exposition of the actor’s experiences with FRIENDS, lovers, and the ‘Big Terrible Thing’ – his battle with alcohol and drug addiction. Honest to the point of being disconcerting. Dark and disturbing. Poorly edited. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editing to add: 28th October 2023: A da......more

Goodreads review by paige (ptsungirl) on January 01, 2024

"I didn't need an Oscar, I just needed one more day." Matthew writes, "There were times I just acted Chandler out for them [his friends] and told them to copy what I'd done, so sure was I that it was the right way to play him." He wrote that before he knew that he would not only play Chandler, but em......more

Goodreads review by Vida on December 03, 2022

It is brave to expose your deepest, darkest feelings for all to see, but this is not exactly what happens. The way this book is marketed is as an unflinchingly honest look at addiction. And while it certainly talks about addiction, what happened in actuality is that Perry revealed who he is, but by a......more

Goodreads review by Khurram on May 16, 2025

A very good book. I wanted to rate this book 4.5 stars, but for me, it definitely deserves a round-up instead of a down. If you are expecting a funny book, you might be disappointed. There is some dark humour to take away some of the darkness Matthew Perry has faced. This shines a light on the much-......more

Goodreads review by Basic B's Guide on October 28, 2023

Im glad I listened to this so I can join in the discord around it and I did binge it in a day. Is it a must read celebrity memoir? Nope. Read Jessica Simpson’s instead. The non linear timeline left me confused as to where and when we were in his life. It needed some editing and it was repetitive at t......more


Quotes

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


"Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is a raw, unflinching memoir that took courage to write. As it turns out, Matthew Perry has a lot of courage. He takes us through his addiction, his illness and his paralyzing loneliness. Somehow, during the course of his life, Matthew was able to turn his pain into comedic joy for others, but, he tells us, it was at a cost. Matthew takes us through his “hell” but doesn’t wallow. Ultimately, this book is filled with hope for the future. If you want to know about who Matthew Perry is, stay away from the rags and read this." —Marta Kauffman, co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends


Awards

  • Amazon.com Best Books of the Year
  • Chapters Indigo Best of the Year
  • Audible.com Best of the Year