Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (Review)

SUMMARY:

“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 book fans have been waiting for.

MY THOUGHTS:

I listened to the audio version as I needed to hear his story told from his voice. This isn’t a humorous book. This is the sad truth about addiction and how it can physically and mentally destroy a person.
 I respect Perry for having the balls to share as much as he did. Most celebrities do their best to hide their demons from the public eye. He lets you in on his relationships, his career, and his addiction. 

If you aren’t a Matthew Perry fan, I could see your opinion being very different from mine. I don’t want to say I “loved” this book because who could love hearing a person go through such misery, but I enjoyed listening to his truth.

Amazon: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing