Really Good, Actually cover art

Really Good, Actually

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Really Good, Actually

By: Monica Heisey
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

THE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The Times Popular Fiction Book of the Year

‘A heartbreaker of a book’ THE TIMES

'Alarmingly relatable' MARIAN KEYES

‘Hilarious and profound’ DOLLY ALDERTON

The hottest debut novel of 2023 from Schitt’s Creek and Smothered screenwriter and an Observer debut author of the year, Monica Heisey.

Maggie’s marriage has ended just 608 days after it started, but she’s fine – she’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s alone for the first time and can’t afford her rent and her obscure PhD is going nowhere… but at the age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new status as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée™.

As Maggie throws herself headlong into the chaos of her first year of divorce, she soon finds herself questioning everything, including: Why do we still get married? Did I fail before I even got started? And how many 4am delivery burgers do I need to eat until I am happy?

Really Good, Actually is an irresistible debut novel about the uncertainties of modern love, friendship and happiness.

'Hilarious, heart-warming, wise' PAULA HAWKINS

‘Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ ROB DELANEY

‘A Sex and The City for social media-obsessed millennials … Irresistible’ METRO

‘Wry, modern, self-deprecating’ INDEPENDENT

‘One of the most talked-about releases for 2023’ EVENING STANDARD

©2023 Monica Heisey (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Friendship Literature & Fiction Divorce Marriage Witty Funny Comedy Happiness

Critic Reviews

‘Heisey’s adroit control of her narrative and wickedly funny turns of phrase mean Maggie can become monstrous as she flails from one disastrous choice to the next, but remains heartbreakingly relatableThe Times

A smart and funny coming-of-divorce novel … with a likeable heroine to root for… full of millennial witticisms and reliably regular deadpan turns’ Guardian

Wise and funny … Heisey … announces herself not only as a comic literary voice who articulates the absurdity of finding yourself alone, again, but also as a deft satirist of the many ridiculous trappings of modern lifeDazed

‘The book’s insistence on friendship being just as, if not more, important than romantic love is itself beautifully rendered… this book will be a balm i Newspaper

Wry, modern, self-deprecatingIndependent

‘Sharp and fast, the funniest book I’ve read in a long time’ Raven Leilani, author of Luster

‘You will fall in love with this protagonist and you will fall in love with Monica Heisey's writing. I couldn't put it down’ Dolly Alderton, author of All I Know About Love

‘An absolute effing delight … wildly funny and almost alarmingly relatable’ Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel

‘I absolutely loved it … Hilarious, heartwarming, wise’ Paula Hawkins, author of Slow Fire Burning

'A rare and delicious treat. Monica Heisey is a genius' Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful

‘Monica Heisey is one of the most exciting new voices in fiction’ Kirsty Capes, author of Careless

Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ Rob Delaney

‘A smart, funny and warm debut with such a strong voice’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Everyone Is Still Alive

What listeners say about Really Good, Actually

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Actually, really good.

I really enjoyed this. Shes a hot mess and frustrating as hell at times but perhaps in my 20s I could relate and took comfort in the "dont have it all figured out yet" mind set which seems to be thrown down your throat at 30. Didnt need as many friends as were introduced and why were there double ups and repeat "C" names characters, at times made you double read sections.

All in all would recommend if you havnt yet got all your Sh*t together!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Clever funny poignant

I really loved this book. Brilliantly written, hilariously observed, and absolutely engaging. I could’ve listened to it for another 15 hours and found myself utterly disappointed when it finished.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Slow burn, clean finish

This story has some great comedic moments. But the development of the character’s growth was slow and the lag caused a lot of frustration for me. The ending happened comparatively quickly and wrapped things up nicely with a bow. An easy read with a few laughs.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So funny

A great book - so funny and so insightful. I absolutely loved it and started re-listening to it straight away.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Witty and insightful

I loved this book despite wanting to give the main character a good shake at times. It’s a very believable tale of post break up life and growing up generally.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Predictable holiday reading

This book made for Easy listening. Whilst it wasn’t anything groundbreaking it certainly wasn’t anything offensive either. Just a good old holiday read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Processing what it means to be a millennial

I loved this book, and it’s delivery. Very apt depiction of the insecurities we feel as late twenties / early thirties women. Immersive and cathartic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Like watching Trainwreck the movie

It’s real life Trainwreck movie but with millennial quips and reference that was made it relatable 😄

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Light read with a deeper storyline

Enjoyable with a good satisfying ending. Good character progression. Nothing super deep. Overall 3.5 stars

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Page turner!!

Couldn’t get enough, really good, actually. Lots of ups and downs, gripping throughout the entire book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.