An Observer Best Debut of the Year ‘Hilarious and profound’ Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love ‘Wildly funny and almost alarmingly relatable’ Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel ‘Hilarious, heart-warming, wise’ Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train ‘A rare and delicious treat. Monica Heisey is a genius’ Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful One of the most hotly anticipated, hilarious and addictive debut novels of 2023, from Schitt’s Creek screenwriter and electric new voice in fiction, Monica Heisey. I feel like when you get a divorce everyone’s wondering how you ruined it all, what made you so unbearable to be with.

If your husband dies, at least people feel bad for you. Maggie’s marriage has ended just 608 days after it started, but she’s fine – she’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s alone for the first time in her life, can’t afford her rent and her obscure PhD is going nowhere .

. . but at the age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new status as a Surprisingly Young Divorcee (TM).

Soon she’s taking up ‘sadness hobbies’ and getting back out there, sex-wise, oversharing in the group chat and drinking with her high-intensity new divorced friend Amy. As Maggie throws herself headlong into the chaos of her first year of divorce, she finds herself questioning everything, including: Why do we still get married? Did I fail before I even got started? How many Night Burgers until I’m happy? Laugh-out-loud funny, razor sharp and painfully relatable, Really Good, Actually is an irresistible debut novel about the uncertainties of modern love, friendship and happiness from a stunning new voice in fiction, Monica Heisey. ‘A smart, funny and warm debut with such a strong voice’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Everyone Is Still Alive ‘Monica Heisey makes me laugh hard and often’ Rob Delaney