Really Good, Actually

Maggie is twenty-nine and facing an unwanted divorce after a brief marriage. As she navigates post-marriage life in Toronto, she cycles through self-improvement schemes, dating apps, and attempts to maintain her academic career. Her support system includes loyal friends and family who try to help her move forward. She documents her experiences through social media posts and text messages, recording both her missteps and moments of clarity. The narrative follows Maggie's path through modern dating culture, therapy sessions, and career uncertainties over the course of a year. Her voice remains frank and self-aware as she confronts the gap between her expectations and reality. This debut novel examines millennial relationships, the performative nature of social media, and the pressure to construct a perfect life narrative. Through humor and candor, it questions what it means to start over in an age of carefully curated personal brands.

Readers describe this book as a raw portrayal of millennial divorce, with many noting its balance of humor and heartbreak. The narrative voice resonates particularly with readers in their late 20s and early 30s. Readers appreciate: - Sharp, witty observations about modern dating and social media - Authentic depiction of grief and healing - Relatable friend group dynamics - Email and text message format sections Common criticisms: - Main character can be frustrating and self-absorbed - Humor sometimes feels forced - Plot meanders in the middle sections - Too many pop culture references Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 (400+ ratings) One frequent reader comment notes: "It's like reading your own anxious thoughts but funnier." Others mention it's "too real to be completely comfortable." Several reviews compare it to "Fleabag" in book form.

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📖 Author Monica Heisey drew from her own experience of divorcing at age 28 when writing the novel 🎬 Before becoming a novelist, Heisey worked as a TV writer for shows including "Schitt's Creek" and "Workin' Moms" 💫 The book sparked a bidding war between publishers, with HarperCollins ultimately securing the rights in a significant six-figure deal 🌟 Despite its heavy subject matter, the novel incorporates humor through modern elements like Instagram posts, Google searches, and therapy transcripts 🗽 The protagonist Maggie's journey through divorce parallels the author's real-life move from Toronto to Brooklyn during her own marriage's end