The beloved star of Friends takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this candid, funny, and revelatory memoir that delivers a powerful message of hope and persistence.

“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 audiobook fans have been waiting for.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

Listening Length

8 hours and 49 minutes
Author

Matthew Perry
Narrator

Matthew Perry
Audible release date

Nov. 1 2022
Language

English
Publisher

Macmillan Audio
ASIN

B09RQ5JJP4
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	8 hours and 49 minutes
Author	Matthew Perry
Narrator	Matthew Perry
Audible.ca Release Date	November 01 2022
Publisher	Macmillan Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B09RQ5JJP4
Best Sellers Rank	#15 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #2 in Actor Biographies #2 in Entertainer #2 in Film & TV

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

13,077 global ratings

5 star		64%
4 star		21%
3 star		10%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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Something about people's lives there are no explanation for what they are facing.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

You think you know someone who has it all, but there are demons in their lives - no matter what they want to do, the demon's calls are like an old pair of shoes or an unfaithful lover to spend the time to cope with.

I hesitate to call the book a memoir because I believe that Matthew Perry has much wisdom to teach us. For example, Perry experienced whether or not he was worthy of love, or able to commit to a woman without being left first. So Perry thought he was not enough to have a meaningful relationship with a person who understood the man. All of us had been there or another at some point in our lives.

Perry's alcohol and drug abuse was not a cry for help; however, looking for happiness and calmness within himself like warm honey. I am not making any excuses for Matthew Perry, but addiction is an unknown place to people who are not educated about this disease. Still, it is a sadistic love affair that you should not be having and you know you will be in trouble. But, unfortunately, the beast wins.

I am thankful that Perry has beaten the odds and striving as an excellent writer and storyteller.

I hope that Matthew Perry finds love because everyone deserves love.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sarah Norman

Amazing Book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

I bought this book, and it stayed in my kindle library for a bit. I've been a Matthew Perry friend for years, he was the guy I held my partners up to in some ways. And Dylan McKay TBH. I suffered through addiction, although not nearly on the same scale, and so has my husband. Reading this book was a Journey, one that I'm glad he shared. I feel like the big crush of my younger years and the Chandler Bing crush in my 20s and 30s is more amazing and crush worthy because of the journey he went through. Thank you for this. For sharing parts of your soul, to a world that has already taken more then it should. I hope you make it well past those 80 years

One person found this helpful

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jenna straub

Repetitive but illuminating

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 4, 2023

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Matthew Perry hides nothing in this book (aside from the odd past lovers real name), and leads readers through his entire life story. Most of the book seems repetitive and stories seem to come back at odd times which can be confusing, but the stories are also deeply beautiful and moving at times.

One person found this helpful

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Nadine Hebert

Captivating reality

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

As I’m reading the pages, you can hear the Chandler Bing within Matthew Perry. Uncensored, honest, and honestly at times shocking. Matthew Perry is very self aware (now), and as you read, you can feel the desperation for love and company within the side of him he hid for such a long time. Bravely, he tells us the story of how Chandler Bing came to life on screen, and the big terrible thing that he tried to hide while the world fell in love with Miss Chanandler Bong, that thing almost took his life so many times… Great read. Great actor. Funny man. Honest man. Deserving of love for who he is and how he shared his story in such an open and honest way. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must have been to publish such details of his darkest days. Bravo!

4 people found this helpful

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karen

Surprising

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 12, 2023

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The book was good, I did not realize how deep his addiction was, so sad. Got a little repetitive towards the end. Could have put out a few chapters

Helpful

Melanie

Good read

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

3/4 of it was impossible to put down. You can definitely hear Matthew Perry’s voice and charm come through. Lots of repeated stories near the end though. Still a good read!

One person found this helpful

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Kimberly

Fast shipping

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

It came with a slight rip but who am I kidding, I would’ve ripped it in not time.

Quick shipping and so far an interesting read!
It’s hard to understand what it’s like in the head of someone with an addiction, this is enlightening.

Helpful

Jenny Lee Green

Laughed, cried, can relate

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

I have read this, not right away, I was a little scared, once an alcoholic and also a pill popper, mostly opiates, I was also a smoker, so this book, I was scared to read, but I eventually picked it up and couldn't stop reading, Hi, I'm Jenny, I am an alcoholic, my last drink was September 2021, hi I'm Jenny, my last cigarette was February 2022, my last pill was 2 weeks ago, every word I can resonate to, my stomach is messed up too, I was just released from the hospital 2 weeks ago, I can relate to the agonizing pain, but after reading this Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, I feel hope, and faith, fill the entire sky, and I am ready to do something important, only time will tell.

Thank you Matthew Perry.

P.S. I actually prayed while in the hospital, and I'm not Christian, that's how terrified I was, not seeing my kids faces terrified me, that I actually cried and prayed, and I kept telling myself while praying, I'm not Christian, but God please, let me see my kids grow up, at least to 100 years old to see grandkids and be there for every second. I never told my sister I prayed.

27 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Steph

Should come with a mental health warning

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

It was a relief to finish this book - I almost didn't. It's presumably based on lots of presentations to AA groups and similar, about the return from the dark place of addiction, except that he's been locked in a cycle of lapsing, recovering, lapsing again. The book is extremely angry. He details his appalling physical damage and rages against various people - Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Aniston both get nasty put downs, as well as various unnamed doctors. There's also a lot of boasting - about money, cars, sex - and the addiction account also seems boastful: the number of pills he took, the huge risks, the ways he defied medical warnings and people trying to help him. Presumably some of this is exaggerated or he wouldn't still be alive. It's distressing to read. I suppose I wish him well but I'm glad I don't know him, and from his descriptions of his relationships, young women would be well advised to stay away from him. He's still hoping to marry a beautiful girl and start a family.

32 people found this helpful

ElRS

Not a very nice man after all.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

I don’t understand why this book has many good reviews. Perry comes across as a narcissist, spoiled person who had a good upbringing from early childhood but can’t help himself from complaining about everything and everyone.
Yes, he suffers from addiction but unlike most people, we’re not, as he puts it “I’m insanely rich” and most people do not have the support he’s been given. I suffer from addiction myself and the NHS support offered to people this day is shocking.
I feel there’s a lot of “oh I’m so great, I’m so funny, my mind is so quick” that it has put me off watching Friends again for life and I do love Friends and watch it all the time, sadly I haven’t been able to watch it anymore because of this book.
Also, book is badly written.
Save yourself disappointment and don’t read this book.

17 people found this helpful

Muma Mia

Wow a really deep, honest and emotional read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

As a big FRIENDS fan, and Chandler being my favourite, I had to get this book as soon as it came out. It did not disappoint.

Wow this was a really deep and honest book from Matthew Perry ‘Matty’ to his friends. He is so brutally honest about his childhood and life experiences that I could not put it down. At the end I just wanted to give him a big hug.

I am rewatching friends now with my daughter and she loves Chandler as well. Who knew that behind the perfect comedy and smile, he was dealing with so much behind closed doors. It’s a miracle he is still alive, the amount of pills he was popping!

Now, after sharing his story and getting his life on track, I really hope he finds what he’s been looking for. He has some real true friends to keep him on track. I look forward to see what the future holds for Matty

16 people found this helpful

Zarla

Didn't like the non chronological narrative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

For some reason Matthew Perry decided on an unnecessary non chronological narrative for this memoir, which makes for a jolting, confusing read and lessens his story's impact. Non chronological can work well in fiction, but I don't think it's appropriate for an autobiography.

Some of this book is truly shocking and it's a miracle that he's alive today. One Vicodin tablet contains 500mg of paracetemol and he was taking 55 of these a day for years.

13 people found this helpful

Beena Vale

Deeply unlikeable.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

The nasty, insensitive swipes at Keanu Reeves are baffling - why on earth did Perry or his editor think any good would come of that?? But they're the tip of an iceberg of unpleasantness that makes one wonder exactly what calibre of therapist Perry has been paying. It's as if he's been so preoccupied by self-pity over his addiction that he's done nothing to address the personality issues that underlie it. The book is full of grudges, mean-spiritedness and self-praise. Whatever help he's getting, he needs a different kind. Depressing read in every way.

12 people found this helpful

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Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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