Book Review: Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

 

Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing - Matthew Perry 

I've decided not to rate memoirs anymore but I hearing about his life and story was so thought provoking. I truly hope people will continue to become free from addiction after reading his struggles. I never knew how much he went through with his addictions, especially when he was on the show Friends. Friends was show my family and I would watch all the time growing up. It was a staple in the household, as I am sure it was for many of you. But Matthew Perry didn't want to first be remembered as Chandler Bing - he wanted to be remembered for helping others living in their addictions to get clean. I have read many have checked into rehab after reading his book and I am so glad to hear that.

His discussions about how God saved him from his addictions were very interesting to hear about. Some of what he stated with the use of language in regards to God were not exactly what I felt was appropriate but I hope and pray he truly had a relationship with the Lord and is with Him today.

I think many will be inspired by his story regarding addiction. It was sad to hear about all the trauma he went through and even after so many tries in rehab, hospitals etc., he still struggled with the addiction - it had a hold on him and he spent so much time and money trying to get clean. Your heart breaks for him as you read through it. Some of the reviews mention he blames many others for what happened to him - I can see some of that - as ultimately we are responsible for our own actions but I admire how he was so open and honest about his struggles with alcohol and drugs. I did not personally care for the "lovers" part of this book where we learn all about his sexual partners, sex life and how he treated other women. BUT in a lot of celebrity memoirs, that is something very common we see so it is what it is. I was more interested in learning about his recovery than those things personally.

Trigger warnings for content: As I mentioned, He does discuss a lot of his sexual relationships. He also uses a ton of language - lots of F and S words - so be warned. I don't really discredit his story for the use of language because this memoir did feel very real, raw and just truly who Matthew Perry was, what he went through and how he overcame addiction in the end in recent years. Other content: He does also discuss the hospital experiences in detail and severe alcohol/drug addiction/trauma but that was part of his true story and what he went through.

Overall, I am glad I listened to the audiobook (as he narrates it) and got to know more about who he was and what he went through.

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5951839147

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SyQSV0

YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_MGwskxR4&t=

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