British journalist and author Dolly Alderton has garnered a fiercely loyal following in recent years, both through her much-loved Sunday Times column, ‘Dear Dolly’, and her growing collection of best-selling books. Celebrated for her honest and witty take on modern love and relationships, she’s no stranger to sharing the trials and tribulations of life as a millennial woman. But, for her latest novel, ‘Good Material’, Alderton put her own experiences to one side and instead took on a new viewpoint – this time writing from the perspective of her heartbroken male protagonist, Andy Dawson.
Andy is a 35-year-old struggling stand-up comedian who has recently been dumped by the love of his life, Jen. Blindsided and in denial, we follow him through his messy, newly single life as he tries to navigate his breakup and all the emotions, drunken nights out, social media stalking, rebound dating, grief and introspection that come with it.
Funny, tender and desperately relatable, ‘Good Material’ is a novel about heartache, adult friendships, self-discovery, and the idea that there are always two sides to every story. While the majority of the book plays out from Andy’s perspective, Alderton closes on Jen’s point of view – a brilliant way of re-examining the story and seeing the breakup from her position. Andy isn’t the most likeable character (in parts, his self-absorption was almost unbearable) but I warmed to him as the book went on. Even so, I was pleased to have this change of perspective, which neatly tied up the satisfying storyline.
Bursting with Alderton’s characteristic wisdom and wit, ‘Good Material’ perfectly captures the ups and downs of early adulthood with both humour and vulnerability. And true to style, Alderton wasn’t afraid to rewrite the romantic fiction rulebook, throwing out conventional endings for something much more poignant.
As someone who loves reading anything Dolly Alderton writes, ‘Good Material’ had been on my TBR pile for far too long. But, when I finally got around to reading it, it was easy to see why her highly-anticipated second novel became an instant best seller. If you’re looking for a unique and refreshingly frank read with the whip-smart observations that Alderton has become so well known for, this one’s for you.
