Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
〰️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 〰️
Synopsis
When I saw this book came out, I was so excited to pick it up! I have been a Friends stan for as long as I can remember so this was huge. I took my time getting around to it, until a year later when Matthew Perry passed. As I’m sure many others did as well, I finally picked up his book. It’s been sitting amongst my TBR pile since and has yet to be picked up. While browsing through audiobook options, I saw that this was narrated by Matthew Perry himself, and I was sold.
The man behind the beloved Mrs. Chanandler Bong, Matthew Perry dives into the most intimate and complex moments of his lifetime within this memoir. From his broken childhood, to his ill-fated relationships, the journey to fame, and his catastrophic addiction, Matthew explores each topic with both humor and charm.
Touching upon the depths of emotion and tragedy, Matthew describes his realities of stardom and struggle. Casting calls, detox facilities, charity events, and hospital stays - become acquainted with the man who brought so much happiness to the world while he himself suffered “the Big Terrible Thing.”
“Addiction, the big terrible thing, is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”
Favorites
The first thing I said about the writing style as I begin this book was, “Oh my god, this is just Chandler Bing.” Then, Matthew Perry confirms that Chandler Bong, is in fact just a filmed version of himself. I was so pleased to know that the goofy, charismatic, kind man we all grew to love was real. Matthew Perry was an angel on Earth and truly deserved so much better. I also adored the way he spoke of his friendships and past relationships. You can tell within his words that he truly loved with his whole heart, even if he wasn’t capable of sharing it. The confirmation of the Friends cast being so close was also a highlight for me. My comfort characters are truly best friends in real life! He highlights personal traits that he admired within each of his castmates, and by doing so, reintroduced me to a more homey vast than I knew was possible. Celebrities often feel so out of reach to those who’ve never experienced fame and yet Matthew Perry challenges every assumption that could be.
“If you spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror, you will crash your car.”
Final Thoughts
This is the first memoir I have read on my own accord and I finished it in less than three days. Matthew Perry’s ability to capture an audience, both on screen and on paper, is truly remarkable. I respect him so much more after reading about his story and wish he could have lived the happy-ending he deserved. Friends will forever be one of my favorite shows and I have no doubt that Chandler Bing will be cherished for decades to come. After reading Matthew’s memoir, it is clear that he as an actor will also never be forgotten. His kind soul and compassionate heart will be long admired by anyone who picks up this book.
“The one thing I got right was that I never gave up, I never raised my hands and said, “That’s enough, I can’t take it anymore, you win.” And because of that, I stand tall now, ready for whatever comes next.”
