Summary of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, acclaimed actor Matthew Perry takes readers on a captivating journey through his life—from his childhood dreams to his rise to fame, addiction struggles, and eventual recovery after a life-threatening health crisis. Long before his time in rehab and the countless hospital visits, there was a five-year-old Matthew, navigating life between his separated parents in Montreal and Los Angeles. A fourteen-year-old tennis prodigy, nationally ranked in Canada. A twenty-four-year-old Matthew landing a lead role on the much-anticipated pilot Friends Like Us—and the rest is history. Told with candid honesty, heart, and humor, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing offers a behind-the-scenes look at Matthew’s fractured family, his intense longing for fame and recognition, and the internal emptiness that continued to persist even as his career skyrocketed. But Perry’s memoir isn’t just about his struggles. It’s about the peace he’s found in sobriety and his reflections on the cultural phenomenon of Friends. He shares anecdotes about his castmates, as well as other celebrities he met throughout his career, offering readers a glimpse into the complex life of someone who seemed to have it all, but was secretly battling addiction. Vivid, raw, and funny, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is more than just a memoir. It is a testament to the power of self-awareness and sobriety, and an inspiring message for anyone grappling with similar challenges. This intimate and eye-opening story is the book fans have been waiting for—filled with wit, wisdom, and the kind of humor Matthew Perry is known for.