“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.

Like most people my age, I grew up watching Friends. In fact, it’s my favorite sitcom of all time. I adored everything about it, and continue to rewatch the series in full from time to time. So when I heard that Matthew Perry, aka Chandler Bing, had died, my heart was broken. Of the three men on the show, he was my favorite. His dry, witty, sarcastic humor made him stand out to me. Then, when he got together with Monica, I loved them together and enjoyed seeing the softer side of Chandler. 

Little did I, and I’m sure the rest of the world, know about the dark demons that plagued Matthew Perry in real life. I didn’t know about all the hardships he went through in his life and the problems he had with addictions to drugs and alcohol. From time to time, through Hollywood news, I heard that he was in rehab…yet again, I just thought it was a typical story from a high-profile celebrity. Maybe he just partied too hard and lost control. Maybe he couldn’t handle the pressures of high-level fame and fortune. However, after listening to this audiobook, I found out how deep his wounds went. 

Matthew Perry narrates his own book, which makes this whole story even more heartbreaking and heartfelt. Now that we all know how it ends for him, it was eerie to hear his voice beyond the dead. He does curse a lot, but he’s also extremely vulnerable and raw when he talks about his addiction to drugs and alcohol, which is a topic he covers for the majority of the book. He does talk about his childhood trauma, which instilled negative emotions of abandonment, self-loathing, and worthlessness. We find out that his problems started way, way before his years on Friends. In fact, they started when he was an infant. 

This is the story of a man living a broken life. It was so compelling and thought-provoking. He’s brutally honest but in a sincere way, which was inspiring. 

Like most people, I was more interested in hearing about his time on Friends and afterward. He tells some really funny stories and behind-the-scenes information. I really loved his touching “thank you” messages to his loved ones, co-workers, friends, family, and fans. I’m glad he eventually found gratitude, happiness, and sobriety later in life. He never got married or had kids, but he found love in his life through family and friends. 

It has an uplifting ending that is full of hope, but we all know that it doesn’t last long because he has passed away. I did tear up at moments while listening to him, especially at the end. He sounded so joyous and hopeful for his future, only for it all to be cut short. 

This is a somber book, but it was definitely worth a listen. If you enjoyed Chandler on Friends or any movies with Matthew Perry in them, I think you will like his autobiography, especially if you listen to it, which I recommend. It’s much more captivating and immersive hearing it come from Matthew himself. Just make sure to have the tissue box nearby when you listen to or read this book. But I would recommend it!