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The Book of George: A Novel
From the author of the critically acclaimed Laura & Emma comes a The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. for our times: Kate Greathead's razor-sharp but big-hearted excavation of millennial masculinity, The Book of George.
If you haven’t had the misfortune of dating a George, you know someone who has. He’s a young man brimming with potential but incapable of following through; noncommittal to his long-suffering girlfriend, Jenny; distant from but still reliant on his mother; funny one minute, sullenly brooding the next. Here, Kate Greathead paints one particular, unforgettable George in a series of droll and surprisingly poignant snapshots of his life over two decades.
And yet, it’s hard not to root for George at least a little. Beneath his cynicism is a reservoir of fondness for Jenny’s valiant willingness to put up with him. Each demonstration of his flaws is paired with a self-eviscerating comment. No one is more disappointed in him than himself (except maybe Jenny and his mother). As hilarious as it is astute and singular as it is universal, The Book of George is a deft, unexpectedly moving portrait of one man — but also countless others.
If you haven’t had the misfortune of dating a George, you know someone who has. He’s a young man brimming with potential but incapable of following through; noncommittal to his long-suffering girlfriend, Jenny; distant from but still reliant on his mother; funny one minute, sullenly brooding the next. Here, Kate Greathead paints one particular, unforgettable George in a series of droll and surprisingly poignant snapshots of his life over two decades.
And yet, it’s hard not to root for George at least a little. Beneath his cynicism is a reservoir of fondness for Jenny’s valiant willingness to put up with him. Each demonstration of his flaws is paired with a self-eviscerating comment. No one is more disappointed in him than himself (except maybe Jenny and his mother). As hilarious as it is astute and singular as it is universal, The Book of George is a deft, unexpectedly moving portrait of one man — but also countless others.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
205 people are currently reading
16238 people want to read
About the author
Kate Greathead
4 books136 followersKate Greathead is the author of the novel Laura & Emma. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Vanity Fair, and Moth Radio Hour. She was a subject in the American version of the British Up documentary series, and she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, the writer Teddy Wayne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 706 reviews
January 2, 2025
This is like the origin story for someone’s terrible boyfriend. George is not a monster, but he’s not particularly attentive or empathetic. He leaves the chores—and the breadwinning—to his girlfriend while he spends years half-heartedly working on his unpublished novel. While he thinks he has the potential to achieve his goals, he hasn’t actually gotten around to pursuing them yet. This book follows George from his childhood to his late thirties, watching those around him mature while he remains stagnant.
This is an odd little novel, but I enjoyed it. It sticks close to George’s perspective, so there’s some satisfying dramatic irony when he can’t see how maddening he’s being, but we, the reader, can. If anyone else has read the Adrian Mole books, think of this as their modern American cousin. There were some moments that were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. I’m still not sure how I felt about the ending, but the more I sit with it, the more I’ve come to appreciate it.
I’ve been fortunate enough not to date a George, but I recognized some friends’ exes in his behaviour. Even more alarming, I recognized the ugliest parts of myself. While no one should be a lifelong, full-time George, we all have our moments of entitlement, hard-headedness and laziness. This book is a reminder to work hard and treat people well…because there’s a bit of George in each of us.
This is an odd little novel, but I enjoyed it. It sticks close to George’s perspective, so there’s some satisfying dramatic irony when he can’t see how maddening he’s being, but we, the reader, can. If anyone else has read the Adrian Mole books, think of this as their modern American cousin. There were some moments that were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. I’m still not sure how I felt about the ending, but the more I sit with it, the more I’ve come to appreciate it.
I’ve been fortunate enough not to date a George, but I recognized some friends’ exes in his behaviour. Even more alarming, I recognized the ugliest parts of myself. While no one should be a lifelong, full-time George, we all have our moments of entitlement, hard-headedness and laziness. This book is a reminder to work hard and treat people well…because there’s a bit of George in each of us.
February 2, 2025
The Book of George by Kate Greathead is a Character Study of Millennial Masculinity!
When I began this immersion read, I thought I'd made a horrible mistake by requesting The Book of George. Seriously. I even set it aside for two months deciding if I wanted to pick it up again. Eventually, I did and you might say, George began to grow on me.
George is quite a character and you may recognize him. He's good-looking, smart, witty, and has great potential but he's his own worst enemy. He has tons of opportunities but motivation has never found a home in his life. He's happy one minute, sullen the next, snarky, makes snide remarks, pushes those closest to him away and if anyone knows what a mess he is, it's George. And, he's the first one to admit it...
So why did I enjoy the heck out of this story?
I love the satirical side of this characterization. Let's face it, George is not a star but you can't help rooting for him. For some crazy reason, you care about him. He's that relative, friend, or co-worker who does something eye-rolling or off-putting that you explain away by saying, "Oh, that's just George, being George!" Right?!
Do you recognize George now?
The best of my immersion read was the audiobook and the excellent narration of Blair Baker. She hit all the right notes in all the right places and she nailed the voice of George. I think it's also worth mentioning that this is a book about a man named George written and narrated by women. They brought George to life in a way that made him feel familiar to me.
I enjoyed The Book of George much more than I thought I would when I began and I know this won't be a book for everyone. After all, George is an acquired taste. For me with its satiric humor and ridiculous George moments, it was just what I needed! 4.25⭐
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., Macmillan Audio, and Kate Greathead for a DRC and an ALC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
When I began this immersion read, I thought I'd made a horrible mistake by requesting The Book of George. Seriously. I even set it aside for two months deciding if I wanted to pick it up again. Eventually, I did and you might say, George began to grow on me.
George is quite a character and you may recognize him. He's good-looking, smart, witty, and has great potential but he's his own worst enemy. He has tons of opportunities but motivation has never found a home in his life. He's happy one minute, sullen the next, snarky, makes snide remarks, pushes those closest to him away and if anyone knows what a mess he is, it's George. And, he's the first one to admit it...
So why did I enjoy the heck out of this story?
I love the satirical side of this characterization. Let's face it, George is not a star but you can't help rooting for him. For some crazy reason, you care about him. He's that relative, friend, or co-worker who does something eye-rolling or off-putting that you explain away by saying, "Oh, that's just George, being George!" Right?!
Do you recognize George now?
The best of my immersion read was the audiobook and the excellent narration of Blair Baker. She hit all the right notes in all the right places and she nailed the voice of George. I think it's also worth mentioning that this is a book about a man named George written and narrated by women. They brought George to life in a way that made him feel familiar to me.
I enjoyed The Book of George much more than I thought I would when I began and I know this won't be a book for everyone. After all, George is an acquired taste. For me with its satiric humor and ridiculous George moments, it was just what I needed! 4.25⭐
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., Macmillan Audio, and Kate Greathead for a DRC and an ALC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 7, 2024
Perhaps the dude abides, but lately the dude just slides.
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story lamenting the economic and social descent of guys. According to reporter Rachel Wolfe, “Presented with a more-equal playing field, young women are seizing the opportunities in front of them, while young men are floundering.” They’re more likely than women to be unemployed, undereducated and living with their parents. As a consequence, young men are also lonelier.
How calamitous this development feels may depend on how many hours your once-promising son has spent in the basement watching MrBeast videos on YouTube.
Kate Greathead knows a particular subset of these floundering young men very well, painfully well, hilariously well. Her second novel, “The Book of George,” contains 14 linked stories that serve as a series of time-lapsed photos of a young narcissist failing to thrive.
If you’re honest, you’ll admit that you’ve raised George or dated George or, worse, you are George.
The novel’s epigraph captures the tone perfectly. It’s from a letter written to 19-year-old Arthur Schopenhauer by his mother: “You are not an evil human,” she tells her son. “You are not without intellect and education; you have everything that could make you a credit to human society … but you are nevertheless irritating and unbearable, and I consider it most difficult to live with you.”
When “The Book of George” opens some two centuries later, we find another smart young man with every advantage. In the first story, Greathead moves quickly through George’s....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story lamenting the economic and social descent of guys. According to reporter Rachel Wolfe, “Presented with a more-equal playing field, young women are seizing the opportunities in front of them, while young men are floundering.” They’re more likely than women to be unemployed, undereducated and living with their parents. As a consequence, young men are also lonelier.
How calamitous this development feels may depend on how many hours your once-promising son has spent in the basement watching MrBeast videos on YouTube.
Kate Greathead knows a particular subset of these floundering young men very well, painfully well, hilariously well. Her second novel, “The Book of George,” contains 14 linked stories that serve as a series of time-lapsed photos of a young narcissist failing to thrive.
If you’re honest, you’ll admit that you’ve raised George or dated George or, worse, you are George.
The novel’s epigraph captures the tone perfectly. It’s from a letter written to 19-year-old Arthur Schopenhauer by his mother: “You are not an evil human,” she tells her son. “You are not without intellect and education; you have everything that could make you a credit to human society … but you are nevertheless irritating and unbearable, and I consider it most difficult to live with you.”
When “The Book of George” opens some two centuries later, we find another smart young man with every advantage. In the first story, Greathead moves quickly through George’s....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
March 14, 2024
I haven’t dated a George but I have parented one. Oh the frustration of it all! Kate Greathead nailed it with her portrayal of this young man from age 12 to almost 40. George is smart, handsome, witty yet he can’t seem to propel his life forward. So much potential but going nowhere. He is at times intolerable and its very easy to dislike him, but one can’t quite give up on him. George lives off the kindness of others, especially his mother and long suffering girlfriend Jenny. He is selfish, disregards the feelings of others and self-absorbed, but then in moments of clarity he recognizes these things about himself and is deeply ashamed. When opportunities came his way I rooted for him to grab them and make something of his life. Why can’t he get out of his own way?! I think we may all have a George in our life…maybe a son, a brother, a boyfriend. Kate Greathead doesn’t tell us what to do with George or how to “fix” him, but she presents him true to life with humor and honesty and it allows us to have a little more compassion for our own “George”. This is a five star read! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the ARC.
July 30, 2024
I'm having a hard time rating this one. I liked the writing style and structure, and enjoyed following along through different periods of George's life. I do think this was well told, realistic, and authentic, but I did not like George at all. He had no redeeming factors for me. I found him selfish and inconsiderate and he had no character growth. I would have much rather read about Jenny the entire time, who was complex and interesting. A lot of reviewers claim that you either know a George or have dated a George, but I am neither because I cannot stand this type of incompetent personality. It was still a good read, but I would have rather followed a different character.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 16, 2024
4.5 Stars
This was a very interesting character study of "George". We follow him as he boards at college and navigates life into his late thirties. A drug that is given for anxiety and depression is mentioned a few times in the book, so we get a glimpse into the fact that he "has issues". He can't seem to focus on a plan of any sort and execute whether it's meaningful employment, romantic relationships, or even to box up his childhood bedroom when the house is being sold and the movers are coming tomorrow. He'd most likely get caught up in playing a game on the GameBoy device he unearthed until he passed all the levels, or taking a long nap. He takes people for granted, makes snarky jokes/comments rather than give kudos to people who deserve it, and has philosophical insights- albeit often cynical. He can also be thoughtless and selfish. While this all sounds negative, this realistic composite of a man with psychological issues was very thought-provoking, as these unattractive traits can be found in many people we know, and even inside ourselves. His long-suffering girlfriend Jenny played a great counterpoint to George's personality, as well as his mother Ellen, who both held George to account for his failings. It was possible to sympathize with George's character because he received the criticism, understood his imperfections, was apologetic...although he was apt to fail again. Many of his cynicisms rang true and were humorous. This was a book that exceeded my expectations.
Thank you to the publisher Henry Holt & Company who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
This was a very interesting character study of "George". We follow him as he boards at college and navigates life into his late thirties. A drug that is given for anxiety and depression is mentioned a few times in the book, so we get a glimpse into the fact that he "has issues". He can't seem to focus on a plan of any sort and execute whether it's meaningful employment, romantic relationships, or even to box up his childhood bedroom when the house is being sold and the movers are coming tomorrow. He'd most likely get caught up in playing a game on the GameBoy device he unearthed until he passed all the levels, or taking a long nap. He takes people for granted, makes snarky jokes/comments rather than give kudos to people who deserve it, and has philosophical insights- albeit often cynical. He can also be thoughtless and selfish. While this all sounds negative, this realistic composite of a man with psychological issues was very thought-provoking, as these unattractive traits can be found in many people we know, and even inside ourselves. His long-suffering girlfriend Jenny played a great counterpoint to George's personality, as well as his mother Ellen, who both held George to account for his failings. It was possible to sympathize with George's character because he received the criticism, understood his imperfections, was apologetic...although he was apt to fail again. Many of his cynicisms rang true and were humorous. This was a book that exceeded my expectations.
Thank you to the publisher Henry Holt & Company who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
February 15, 2025
I like this one more than I thought I would at the beginning.
Full review:
I didn't like The Book of George at first, as I thought it was going to deal heavily with themes I find triggering. I do not like stories about unavailable and uninvested parents and the damage they do to their children, especially if the text gives this kind of parenting a pass. Only a few pages into this one, and already I didn't think I would like it or finish it. By the time he and Cressida were teenagers, Ellen seemed to view them as fully formed people who were going to do what they were going to do. She supported their endeavors and applauded their successes, but their accomplishments were not a particular source of pride for her. Nor was she inclined to interpret their struggles as a referendum on her mothering. p7 But clearly the writing is good, and I tend to give books at least 50 pages.
But, I was very wrong about where this story places its energy. It's still about crappy parenting, if you read between the lines. I actually love the way the suthor writes the MMC's mother, omnipresent while never there, her mark left on him long into his adulthood.
If you need a book about somewhat crappy people who were produced by truly crappy parenting, you will probably love this book. As it turns out, I do love this book, despite an ambiguous ending and a lack of resolution. Sometimes those elements are the *right* way to end a book!
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I like the expressions Greathead uses. They are not idioms but they feel familiar like idioms do. He had a sad, Sunday feeling, though it was still Saturday. p96
2. These characters make me sad! George is just like my M (whose middle name is actually George). It hurts me so much how the author and all the other characters disapproves of him. They always want to be something morw than what he is. But the secret to Georges is to show them acceptance. Love of the unconditional sort, since they probably have never experienced it. Some people just end up...affected...by their parents' shortcomings and other traumas they dealt with in childhood. I feel like I love George more than I'm supposed to, more than the author meant me to, more even than the author is maybe capable of loving a George. It's a very weird reading experience.
3. Like many mentally ill people are, George is very aware of how his symptoms affect the people around him, and he cares about it. “I just want to make sure you know how much I appreciate you. And how supportive you are. You’re the wind in my sails.” Jenny made a sound that was like a laugh. “I mean it,” George said. “I know I’m a lot. I don’t know how you put up with me sometimes.” p180
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. "...make things that look like things." The worst kind of redundancy – the intentional and unclever kind.
2. Ellen, George's mom, is such an unreliable character. I'm not sure what to make of it yet. *edit The development of this character (?) turns out quite cleverly. Best thing about the end has to do with this character. It's the only resolution the book offers.
Rating: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 /5 insensitive characters.
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Oct 20 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
❤️🩹 dysfunctional love
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
🧑 boy's coming of age
🔥 slow burn
Thank you to the author Kate Greathead, publishers Henry Holt & Co., and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of The Book of George. All views are mine.
Full review:
I didn't like The Book of George at first, as I thought it was going to deal heavily with themes I find triggering. I do not like stories about unavailable and uninvested parents and the damage they do to their children, especially if the text gives this kind of parenting a pass. Only a few pages into this one, and already I didn't think I would like it or finish it. By the time he and Cressida were teenagers, Ellen seemed to view them as fully formed people who were going to do what they were going to do. She supported their endeavors and applauded their successes, but their accomplishments were not a particular source of pride for her. Nor was she inclined to interpret their struggles as a referendum on her mothering. p7 But clearly the writing is good, and I tend to give books at least 50 pages.
But, I was very wrong about where this story places its energy. It's still about crappy parenting, if you read between the lines. I actually love the way the suthor writes the MMC's mother, omnipresent while never there, her mark left on him long into his adulthood.
If you need a book about somewhat crappy people who were produced by truly crappy parenting, you will probably love this book. As it turns out, I do love this book, despite an ambiguous ending and a lack of resolution. Sometimes those elements are the *right* way to end a book!
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I like the expressions Greathead uses. They are not idioms but they feel familiar like idioms do. He had a sad, Sunday feeling, though it was still Saturday. p96
2. These characters make me sad! George is just like my M (whose middle name is actually George). It hurts me so much how the author and all the other characters disapproves of him. They always want to be something morw than what he is. But the secret to Georges is to show them acceptance. Love of the unconditional sort, since they probably have never experienced it. Some people just end up...affected...by their parents' shortcomings and other traumas they dealt with in childhood. I feel like I love George more than I'm supposed to, more than the author meant me to, more even than the author is maybe capable of loving a George. It's a very weird reading experience.
3. Like many mentally ill people are, George is very aware of how his symptoms affect the people around him, and he cares about it. “I just want to make sure you know how much I appreciate you. And how supportive you are. You’re the wind in my sails.” Jenny made a sound that was like a laugh. “I mean it,” George said. “I know I’m a lot. I don’t know how you put up with me sometimes.” p180
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. "...make things that look like things." The worst kind of redundancy – the intentional and unclever kind.
2. Ellen, George's mom, is such an unreliable character. I'm not sure what to make of it yet. *edit The development of this character (?) turns out quite cleverly. Best thing about the end has to do with this character. It's the only resolution the book offers.
Rating: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 /5 insensitive characters.
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Oct 20 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
❤️🩹 dysfunctional love
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
🧑 boy's coming of age
🔥 slow burn
Thank you to the author Kate Greathead, publishers Henry Holt & Co., and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of The Book of George. All views are mine.
September 28, 2024
A third person narrative about a bumbling, lazy, charming and inconsiderate guy named George. This is really the story of his long suffering partner, Jenny. Jenny is a lawyer, mature and kind hearted, and deserves so much better. The story begins as they are servers at a restaurant, going through a decade of life. I file this under “cringe fiction” as it is so well-written and creative. In many ways it’s actually a great book. But at the same time I disliked George so, so much. He is selfish, self-centered, arrogant and OBLIVIOUS. There is one chapter in particular, in which George’s mom is selling the house and he needs to come home to clean out his childhood bedroom. I was so angry at George I wanted to throw the book across the room. Which is saying a lot because I listened to the audiobook. George, you need therapy, my dude.
I appreciated that the audiobook has a female narrator, although this is explicitly written about George. This really solidified the fact that we are Jenny, we are trying to make sense of George through a female lens.
Thanks to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks and @macmillan.audio for the ARC. Book to be published October 7, 2024.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #thebookofgeorge
I appreciated that the audiobook has a female narrator, although this is explicitly written about George. This really solidified the fact that we are Jenny, we are trying to make sense of George through a female lens.
Thanks to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks and @macmillan.audio for the ARC. Book to be published October 7, 2024.
#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #thebookofgeorge
November 11, 2024
At the end of this book, I noticed that the author thanked someone named “Teddy” and right way I thought, that must be the writer Teddy Wayne. Sure enough, turns out she and Wayne are married, which I had not known. The reason I immediately thought of Wayne is because their books remind me of one another’s in some ways: when I finish, I’m like, I don’t quite know exactly what that was, or why it was, but I appreciated it and thought it was well-executed. Their books leave you feeling a bit off-center - well, a bit more off-center than usual these days - which I value. This one skewed a bit more realist than Wayne’s, whose work I find an unsettling mix of the mundane and something just short of uncanny (and whose characters slip more overtly into being outright insidious or malicious rather than just cluelessly ineffective or mildly destructive), but the detail and characterization were all subtly but closely observed and the quality and impact of the writing quietly snuck up on you in a way I appreciated. By the way, I plowed through this book primarily during a (uncomfy, too warm, cramped, departing at 5 AM on little sleep) plane ride, and while it doesn’t seem like a nuanced and mostly plotless character study would make for great airplane reading, especially under those conditions, I guess that just speaks to how skilled, natural, and engrossing a writer Greathead is.
I will say I am surprised by how many readers relate to knowing a “George” - I can honestly say I do not, but that’s not to say it did not seem like a realistic character or archetype. I think it’s partly that the people I know well did not have the combination of privilege and ineptitude it would take to be a George, and partly that I would tend to run in the opposite direction of a prospective George or probably not be able to tolerate any extended proximity to one.
I will say I am surprised by how many readers relate to knowing a “George” - I can honestly say I do not, but that’s not to say it did not seem like a realistic character or archetype. I think it’s partly that the people I know well did not have the combination of privilege and ineptitude it would take to be a George, and partly that I would tend to run in the opposite direction of a prospective George or probably not be able to tolerate any extended proximity to one.
September 30, 2024
The Book of George by Kate Greathead. Thanks to @henryholtbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everyone knows a George: smart and filled with potential, but non committal and only in his own way.
This is a quiet, real life-like story that follows one man from the age 12 to late thirties. I loved this book because while fiction, it felt so real. It’s really just about life, as George encompasses what it’s like to live as a white male in NYC in modern times. George is smart and funny, but lacks focus and drive. George is a mix of Toby Fleishman and Holden Caulfield.
“I guess that’s part of growing up. Coming to terms with your mediocrity.”
The Book of George comes out 10/8.
Everyone knows a George: smart and filled with potential, but non committal and only in his own way.
This is a quiet, real life-like story that follows one man from the age 12 to late thirties. I loved this book because while fiction, it felt so real. It’s really just about life, as George encompasses what it’s like to live as a white male in NYC in modern times. George is smart and funny, but lacks focus and drive. George is a mix of Toby Fleishman and Holden Caulfield.
“I guess that’s part of growing up. Coming to terms with your mediocrity.”
The Book of George comes out 10/8.
March 20, 2024
The Book of George is an intensive study into George, a guy limping his way through life. Sometimes witty, often depressing, following this man throughout his life is nostalgic in many ways, we all knew a George, but mostly cringe inducing and frustrating. While realistic, it was hard to not see beyond his unlikability.
In The Book of George, you’re never going to believe this, but we follow George. From his birth to about present day. We sit with George, experiencing things with him, making choices with him, and dealing with the consequences of those choices. And boy are there consequences. George is a second child born in the mid 80s to an upper middle class suburban family. Immediately dealing with the strained relationship between his parents, George kicks off his life with a level of anxiety and depression. Awkward in youth, he seems to find his footing a bit more with an active social life during his college years, despite the tumultuous state of the world in the early 2000s. He then loses that footing post-college as he struggles with relationships, mental health, ambition, and finding his place in the world.
Technically, this was a well executed book. The writing is simple, but still interesting, never boring. I liked the chapter structure with each one being a new age somewhere in the future. There isn’t a strong overarching narrative, just a sequence of life events, but I don’t think that was a negative here. As you might expect, the characters were extremely well fleshed out, and I appreciated how distinct many of them were. Aside from George who we would expect to know the most, Jenny, Ellen, Cressida, and even Carrie all had distinct voices and very well developed personalities that complemented George’s.
I’ll be honest, based on the description of this book, I was expecting it to be funny. Like a comically cringe guy, landing himself into awkward situations that he has to dig himself out of, but through charm and ineptitude, we the reader can’t help but to root for him.
This was not that book. This was a book following an extremely unlikable main character as we get front row seats to his questionable life choices. We do get a seemingly never-ending sequence of supremely awkward social encounters which George seems to fumble and make worse time after time, but never with charm or humor. Just a deeply sad guy who can’t get a handle on his life.
I know that George isn’t supposed to be likable. I don’t need my protagonists or even side characters to be likable. But I do need something compelling to keep me interested in the story, and cringing chapter by chapter at the unfortunate circumstances George gets himself into was not an enjoyable experience. But again, I don’t necessarily need the reading experience to be enjoyable as long as it is compelling or thought provoking in some way. But there really was none of that here, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to reflect on or take away from this book.
I actually found the last chapter to be the most interesting and well executed. Being able to see George from another’s perspective and the complicated feelings one has after a life of knowing him I found to be rather emotional. Despite this sad guy constantly trying to find his way, there was still a level of love and appreciation for him by those around him. I can’t help but to feel like the whole book would have been stronger if we actually viewed George from others’ perspectives throughout. It wouldn’t have made him more likable, but I think we would have felt more deeply his impact on others in his life despite his never ending questionable decisions.
This book isn’t what I expected, and I didn’t find it to be an enjoyable reading experience. But I certainly wouldn’t say that it is bad. But while the execution is good, I found myself just not caring about it. Without a compelling narrative, I just found this to be, frankly, a pathetic slog through sad life events of a sad man. If that’s the kind of book you enjoy, pick this up, but I need a bit more substance than a series of cringe events.
In The Book of George, you’re never going to believe this, but we follow George. From his birth to about present day. We sit with George, experiencing things with him, making choices with him, and dealing with the consequences of those choices. And boy are there consequences. George is a second child born in the mid 80s to an upper middle class suburban family. Immediately dealing with the strained relationship between his parents, George kicks off his life with a level of anxiety and depression. Awkward in youth, he seems to find his footing a bit more with an active social life during his college years, despite the tumultuous state of the world in the early 2000s. He then loses that footing post-college as he struggles with relationships, mental health, ambition, and finding his place in the world.
Technically, this was a well executed book. The writing is simple, but still interesting, never boring. I liked the chapter structure with each one being a new age somewhere in the future. There isn’t a strong overarching narrative, just a sequence of life events, but I don’t think that was a negative here. As you might expect, the characters were extremely well fleshed out, and I appreciated how distinct many of them were. Aside from George who we would expect to know the most, Jenny, Ellen, Cressida, and even Carrie all had distinct voices and very well developed personalities that complemented George’s.
I’ll be honest, based on the description of this book, I was expecting it to be funny. Like a comically cringe guy, landing himself into awkward situations that he has to dig himself out of, but through charm and ineptitude, we the reader can’t help but to root for him.
This was not that book. This was a book following an extremely unlikable main character as we get front row seats to his questionable life choices. We do get a seemingly never-ending sequence of supremely awkward social encounters which George seems to fumble and make worse time after time, but never with charm or humor. Just a deeply sad guy who can’t get a handle on his life.
I know that George isn’t supposed to be likable. I don’t need my protagonists or even side characters to be likable. But I do need something compelling to keep me interested in the story, and cringing chapter by chapter at the unfortunate circumstances George gets himself into was not an enjoyable experience. But again, I don’t necessarily need the reading experience to be enjoyable as long as it is compelling or thought provoking in some way. But there really was none of that here, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to reflect on or take away from this book.
I actually found the last chapter to be the most interesting and well executed. Being able to see George from another’s perspective and the complicated feelings one has after a life of knowing him I found to be rather emotional. Despite this sad guy constantly trying to find his way, there was still a level of love and appreciation for him by those around him. I can’t help but to feel like the whole book would have been stronger if we actually viewed George from others’ perspectives throughout. It wouldn’t have made him more likable, but I think we would have felt more deeply his impact on others in his life despite his never ending questionable decisions.
This book isn’t what I expected, and I didn’t find it to be an enjoyable reading experience. But I certainly wouldn’t say that it is bad. But while the execution is good, I found myself just not caring about it. Without a compelling narrative, I just found this to be, frankly, a pathetic slog through sad life events of a sad man. If that’s the kind of book you enjoy, pick this up, but I need a bit more substance than a series of cringe events.
January 14, 2025
genuinely what was the point of this 😭
November 17, 2024
I have no idea what I just read. It felt like a long diary entry—a bunch of sentimental nonsense that might bring back memories for the actual owner and no one else. The ending felt like a cessation rather than providing any actual closure. I would be interested in seeing if anyone truly found George’s story compelling. I didn’t care for or like any of these characters. It felt like small talk—potentially exciting, mindless, and overall just draining, and I’m glad it’s over.
November 23, 2024
Kate Greathead’s The Book of George follows two decades in the life of George, a man whose endless potential is matched only by his knack for falling short. Through his relationships — with Jenny, his endlessly patient girlfriend, and his mother, who offers support despite her exasperation — George’s story unfolds with moments of wit and unexpected depth. Caught between self-awareness and self-sabotage, George’s journey offers a glimpse into the messiness of human connection and the challenge of living up to one’s own expectations.
I think the important thing isn’t that George is a man or that you might know a George. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Maybe *you* are a George, or maybe you’ll meet a George someday. Actually, I think this might be a misstep in the publisher’s summary of the book — the point isn’t about whether you know a George. The point is to see George as a person navigating our society…and examine society through that familiar and hopefully sympathetic but critical lens.
It’s about the expectations we place on ourselves around success — what it looks like, how it’s measured — and the idea of happiness, and whether it aligns with those expectations. Throughout the book, we see these little pockets of community that shape George’s journey: his family, his college buddies, his girlfriend, and then his family again. George is goofy but tender. The potential that he’s meant to have, is it something he genuinely sees brimming within himself, or is it the idea that’s placed there from others and societal expectations? Sure, he’s bumbling. Sure, he’s a little helpless. But he’s also earnest, caring, and tries so hard to figure things out, constantly self-analyzing. Isn’t that what we’re all doing, in some way?
The Book of George was quietly sharp, with funny moments generously peppered throughout and beautifully bridges the gap between lighter fare and heavier themes. It’s a story that lingers, and I found myself reflecting on the people we are and the people we might become — at any time in our lives.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
I think the important thing isn’t that George is a man or that you might know a George. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Maybe *you* are a George, or maybe you’ll meet a George someday. Actually, I think this might be a misstep in the publisher’s summary of the book — the point isn’t about whether you know a George. The point is to see George as a person navigating our society…and examine society through that familiar and hopefully sympathetic but critical lens.
It’s about the expectations we place on ourselves around success — what it looks like, how it’s measured — and the idea of happiness, and whether it aligns with those expectations. Throughout the book, we see these little pockets of community that shape George’s journey: his family, his college buddies, his girlfriend, and then his family again. George is goofy but tender. The potential that he’s meant to have, is it something he genuinely sees brimming within himself, or is it the idea that’s placed there from others and societal expectations? Sure, he’s bumbling. Sure, he’s a little helpless. But he’s also earnest, caring, and tries so hard to figure things out, constantly self-analyzing. Isn’t that what we’re all doing, in some way?
The Book of George was quietly sharp, with funny moments generously peppered throughout and beautifully bridges the gap between lighter fare and heavier themes. It’s a story that lingers, and I found myself reflecting on the people we are and the people we might become — at any time in our lives.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
November 7, 2024
It is possible to like an author's writing, while not enjoying the story she chooses to tell. Such is the case with this novel.
The book features a millennial named George who lives in NYC. We follow him through his teen years up until age 38. Throughout this time, he remains a boy-man, stunningly immature. He has many opportunities to grow, yet doesn't take them. With each one, I yearned to see him learn and evolve, but this didn't happen. Self-absorbed, George is appallingly inconsiderate of others in his life. He does have a patient and kind girlfriend (Jenny), who hangs in with him for many years.
I evidently prefer books where the central characters show some growth.
3.3 stars
The book features a millennial named George who lives in NYC. We follow him through his teen years up until age 38. Throughout this time, he remains a boy-man, stunningly immature. He has many opportunities to grow, yet doesn't take them. With each one, I yearned to see him learn and evolve, but this didn't happen. Self-absorbed, George is appallingly inconsiderate of others in his life. He does have a patient and kind girlfriend (Jenny), who hangs in with him for many years.
I evidently prefer books where the central characters show some growth.
3.3 stars
January 14, 2025
This one is definitely for fans of books with an unlikable protagonist, and I am that fan. I didn’t like George but I have known a George or two and I liked reading his story in chapters that check in with him over a 20-ish year period, even though it was often uncomfortable. Why am I still thinking about George and his mound of unresolved issues he lugged around with him? Lol. Terrific writing.
March 2, 2024
George is insufferable and at the same time so depressingly relatable!
I really enjoyed The Book of George, it's cringy, it's funny, it's dark and I didn't want it to end.
We've all known or dated a George...but so many of us, 40 somethings, could be George!
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
I really enjoyed The Book of George, it's cringy, it's funny, it's dark and I didn't want it to end.
We've all known or dated a George...but so many of us, 40 somethings, could be George!
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
March 17, 2025
You know an author has done her job well when she creates a character that you loathe. Reading about George was painful most of the time. Sure, he has a few incidents where he attempts to think beyond himself and maybe even does something unbidden for someone else but those incidents are all about how HE will be loved and revered for this teeny little action. Mostly, he is an unmotivated sloth who leeches off everyone he knows.
Ellen, George's mom, hollers this quote in frustration with him at age 30.
Ellen, George's mom, coddles George all through his childhood and into his 30s before wondering why he now lives with her as he nears 40.
I love that Greathead pokes at the idea of 'middle age' being around 35, rather than the mainstream belief that it is closer to 50. George has squandered more than half of his life, just waiting for incentive to get out of bed.
I love this snippet! Talk about hitting the nail of the head for de-culturisation and the lack of mystery in George's world.
Ellen, George's mom, hollers this quote in frustration with him at age 30.
"And then berating Jenny like that, after she'd spent the entire weekend packing your things while you played video games and slept till noon?"Although I would like to blame George for the pathetic donkey that he is, I have to put a lot of blame onto his on-again-off-again girlfriend Jenny. Jenny is driven, intelligent and motivated. Yet Jenny, who is putting herself through law school, enables George's life of navel-gazing by paying his rent, tolerating his inertia and coming home each day to prepare his dinner. She tolerates his constant lethargy and puts all her dreams aside for him. Why??
Ellen, George's mom, coddles George all through his childhood and into his 30s before wondering why he now lives with her as he nears 40.
"I honestly don't know what's happened to you," Ellen continued. "When you were little, you had all these interests. It was such a thrill, as your mother, to watch you doing your things, and imagine the person you'd grow up to be. And I'm not talking about being some hotshot success at the top of his field-just a person who was engaged in the world, who had a thing he was passionate about doing.It feels like the big question here might be whether George will ever grow up. But, for me, George is a lost cause, as are many in his generation. He has been raised to think that he is exceptional but it turns out he is just average - like everyone else - which disappoints him to no end. Since he has never experienced hardship, he has no resilience, staying power or motivation. Hooray for Carrie who says all this out loud to him at age 35.
I love that Greathead pokes at the idea of 'middle age' being around 35, rather than the mainstream belief that it is closer to 50. George has squandered more than half of his life, just waiting for incentive to get out of bed.
I love this snippet! Talk about hitting the nail of the head for de-culturisation and the lack of mystery in George's world.
"As a child, I was fascinated by the idea of 'out West' and 'the South'. I had this romantic notion of these places, this vision of small towns with mom-and-pop shops. But instead, everywhere we went, Walmart."
January 25, 2025
George is a lackadaisical young man who is drifting through life without much of a plan. He is from a privileged background but does not appreciate his privilege. He goes to a respected university, paid for by his grandparents, where he studies philosophy. He has trouble following through or keeping a job. Even as he ages, he seems to be stuck in adolescence.
The story contains serious topics as well as humor. Though George can be annoying at times, I think his character is well crafted, and realistic to today’s times. He seems to represent segments of the Millennial generation who lack motivation and have trouble striking out on their own. He reminds me of a person in my own extended family. If you enjoy character studies, and don’t mind irresponsible characters, give this one a try.
The story contains serious topics as well as humor. Though George can be annoying at times, I think his character is well crafted, and realistic to today’s times. He seems to represent segments of the Millennial generation who lack motivation and have trouble striking out on their own. He reminds me of a person in my own extended family. If you enjoy character studies, and don’t mind irresponsible characters, give this one a try.
January 21, 2025
George, George, George. Kate Greathead has written one of the great White Male F*-Up novels, creating a main character who’s annoying and exasperating and at times despicable but manages never to lose us completely. Read for the 2025 Tournament of Books, an event whose organizers introduced the idea of the WMFuN, and I’m glad they did because it’s an excellent descriptor for this book.
March 9, 2024
Oh, George! This was wonderful. The writing is sharp, compelling, and equally critical and fond of George.
George is easy to dislike and yet the author skillfully builds a character you can’t help but emphasize with to some extent (though every time he slights Jenny or takes her for granted, you go back to disliking him once more).
An easy five stars for this entertaining, hilarious, and touching read.
Thank you very much to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
George is easy to dislike and yet the author skillfully builds a character you can’t help but emphasize with to some extent (though every time he slights Jenny or takes her for granted, you go back to disliking him once more).
An easy five stars for this entertaining, hilarious, and touching read.
Thank you very much to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
Read
November 23, 2024Chilling. Hard to stop reading.
June 18, 2025
Idk what I thought this was going to be but it seemed to me like it was just some woman suffering through life with the king of weaponized incompetence. I don’t think George got one thing right until he was 38 years old.
February 9, 2025
What do you know? White male fuck up novels can be a lot of fun when written by a woman.
January 25, 2025
Oh I dated a George or three back in the day. It’s hard to spend so much time in the company of such an irritating character but Greathead just writes this so well that you don’t mind that or that there really isn’t any plot to speak of. Helped for me that it takes place in a very specific Brooklyn milieu that’s co-existent with mine.
June 22, 2025
i think i liked this book but it also just kinda left me with a sad feeling throughout, but it was also wry and funny the whole time. the plot is super interesting — a disgruntled white man is annoyed that things aren’t working out for him when he’s not even really trying — and i love a book that portrays a character over their lifetime. so this is a yes for me 😀👍🏼
July 8, 2024
So many of the reviews mention that George is insufferable at worst and problematic at best. I just didn't get that from him. Not sure what is wrong with me, but I found him just to simply be a human trying to make his way through life without hurting anyone, even if he didn't always succeed. I didn't find him unlikeable, but rather found him quite relateable. This is definitely a character driven story. There is no great plot to pull you along, but rather I found myself just wondering how George was going to grow into his own, which I think he did. I definitely enjoyed spending time with George!!
November 2, 2024
He’s both exasperating and delightful. THE BOOK OF GEORGE features George, a strikingly average antihero!
There’s nothing too remarkable about George or his family. They face their own set of difficulties. George’s mother, Ellen, has grown distant from him. She is currently separating from George’s father, Denis, whose excessive love for high-end fashion has begun to drain their family’s finances. Then there’s George’s older sister, Cressida, who is both candid and critical, regarding him with a hint of contempt, much like their mother does.
In spite of this family friction, the unassuming George seems to glide through their dynamics with nonchalance. This disengagement also characterizes his on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend Jenny, who, like his family, alternates between being patient and finding him tedious.
The story reveals George’s life in a series of episodes from ages 12 to 38. The introductory quote, excerpted from a letter by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s mother to her son, establishes the narrative’s tone: Johanna Schopenhauer tells Arthur that while he has “𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 . . . 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.”
The author’s writing style is laced with subtlety and ironic humor. I found it completely enchanting. George is surely not your typical heroic main character but I absolutely loved this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
There’s nothing too remarkable about George or his family. They face their own set of difficulties. George’s mother, Ellen, has grown distant from him. She is currently separating from George’s father, Denis, whose excessive love for high-end fashion has begun to drain their family’s finances. Then there’s George’s older sister, Cressida, who is both candid and critical, regarding him with a hint of contempt, much like their mother does.
In spite of this family friction, the unassuming George seems to glide through their dynamics with nonchalance. This disengagement also characterizes his on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend Jenny, who, like his family, alternates between being patient and finding him tedious.
The story reveals George’s life in a series of episodes from ages 12 to 38. The introductory quote, excerpted from a letter by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s mother to her son, establishes the narrative’s tone: Johanna Schopenhauer tells Arthur that while he has “𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 . . . 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.”
The author’s writing style is laced with subtlety and ironic humor. I found it completely enchanting. George is surely not your typical heroic main character but I absolutely loved this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2025
WMFuN, but not very FuN
December 30, 2024
I picked this book up at the library because I liked all of the authors who had reviewed it on the back. The Book of George really pulled me in with an easy writing style. Chapters read like short stories. The segments were packed with anecdotes that were clever and relatable in a way that seemed they could really make up a person’s life and form their big decisions. George was probably born in the mid-80s and the story follows him to his early 40’s. The author weaves in events that would’ve happened during George’s [fictional] life and I really like the way in provided context and evoked my own memories and feelings. The reader doesn’t get to know everything about George as the story moves in segments, but there’s enough information to fill in blanks and feel close to characters. This was a funny, dark, kind-of-sad, and sweet story. It felt very honest even though it’s fiction. There’s a lot to learn from George - to be like him in ways and unlike him in others. Overall, I liked The Book of George.
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