Good Time Girl

by Heather Gay

The instant New York Times bestselling author of Bad Mormon and breakout star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City returns with a hilarious, illustrative, and deeply reflective book about life and love as a former Mormon, mother, and reality TV star.

In Bad Mormon, Heather Gay pulled back the veil on her orthodox adolescence and marriage in the Mormon Church, and the painful process of leaving it all behind. Becoming a successful business owner and reality TV star gave the single mom of three a second lease on life. After years of living in an insular bubble, Heather emerged bright-eyed, eager to take on the world…no matter how ill-equipped her upbringing may have left her.

Now, in this provocative and laugh-out-loud funny book, the mother of three proves that she isn’t just a Bad Mormon; she’s also a Good Time Girl!

With her “thoughtful, smart, and funny” (Kirkus Reviews) writing, Heather recounts the humorous trysts, mishaps, and serendipitous success she’s found as a life-long reveler in all things indulgent. Coming off the heels of the most-watched RHOSLC episode of all time, Heather gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the receipts, proof, timeline, and screenshots of that fateful night in Bermuda. From illicit high school trips to Tijuana and awkward dates set up by her overzealous costars, Good Time Girl is a charming and intimate meditation on community, love, independence, womanhood, and—most importantly—second chances.

Genres: Audiobook, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Celebrity

1 pages, Audio CD

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Heather Gay is the New York Times–bestselling author of Bad Mormon and a breakout star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She is also the founder of Beauty Lab + Laser, an innovative cosmetic medical practice based in Salt Lake City, and the executive producer and host of the docuseries Surviving Mormonism. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Gay lives in Salt Lake City and is the mother of three daughters.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m giving it 5 stars because some RUDE person gave it one star when it’s not even out yet! Heather Gay is an absolute rock star and idol!

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Heather's first book, so naturally I had to pick this one up too. It's a good companion to Bad Mormon, and covers different periods in her life, with even more interesting stories. There's even a Housewives chapter, which I'm sure everyone has been looking forward to.

I enjoyed listening to her narration once again and I'm seated for whatever she puts out next.

[Derek Driggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

My guilty pleasure (should that even be a thing?) is reality tv, and Real Housewives is the fakest and most fabulous reality tv of it all. I was pleasantly surprised by Heather’s first book. She’s a good writer (Heck, she actually wrote the damn thing, and a non-ghost-written tv memoir? Gold.), she’s funny, and her transition out of Mormonism resonated with me. But this one felt largely unnecessary. The last chapter was entertaining for me as a fan of the show, but it could have been a blog post.

Still, I support her writing endeavors and think she’s smart and fun.

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a rough read. The majority of the book is Heather talking about how horrible LDS is, and then immediately talking about how she has benefited from it and raised her daughters the same way. Then, she goes into railing against beauty standards and how impossible they are, but barely acknowledges that she literally owns a Med Spa. This book has little substance and even less self-awareness, and I’m convinced it was only written so Heather could have a 39 page chapter about hating Monica.

[Marla Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

was this necessary? no

did I go to this book signing at a gay bar to see Heather in the flesh? yes

[Emmanuel · Rating 1 out of 5]

what i imagine the meeting with her publisher was like:

book bigwig: so bad mormon did well. do you have more to write about for a second book?

heather: ummm, sure, i can write about how, three days after my wedding, i knew my marriage was doomed because my husband let out a very loud and long fart.

book bigwig: hmm, that’s … specific. anything else?

heather: …and i guess i could dedicate two full chapters to my undying hatred of monica garcia.

book bigwig: you’ve got a deal.

[Paige Engebretson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love you girl but this book gave me nothing. Some people don’t need a memoir let alone two. Giving two stars for Monica drama, but other than that bleh

[Madison Barr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t think there is anyone more miserable than Ms. Gay. This book is just a rehashing of her first book with several (presumably largely exaggerated or even blatantly false) stories, most of which blame Mormonism for every wrong she’s ever faced. And her whole chapter about cosmetic work? Bullshit. She insists she doesn’t want to get work done, she just feels like she has to and she doesn’t actually enjoy it. Coming from the woman who has undergone every procedure under the sun and whose livelihood is dependent solely on the insecurities and imperfections of women? Sure, Jan. She’s not a bad Mormon or a good time girl, she’s a victim through and through.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Gay is one of my top two favorite Housewives (Jill Zarin is the other) so my review is tainted.
Some of the most iconic references in this book include:
- Waiting for Guffman
- Dr. Laura
- BuzzFeed quizzes
- Austin Powers
- “How could you do this to me question mark” Countess Luann
Heather Gay also has more respect for HIPAA than some of my past supervisors.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I’m mentioned in the acknowledgments and I’ve worked with Heather for five seasons now, so there might be bias here, but I loved this book.

[Brooks Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Listen for RHOSLC Fans ❄️

As a longtime fan of Heather Gay, I couldn’t resist picking up the audiobook of her latest release when I saw that she narrated it herself. She absolutely *shines* here, bringing the same charm, humor, and warmth to the book that we see on screen.

Heather opens up about her upbringing in a strict, ultra-conservative Mormon household, offering candid, personal stories that add depth to her journey. I especially appreciated her raw reflections on her previous marriage—hearing her first-hand experience made this week’s *RHOSLC* episode, where she connects with Bronwyn on the yacht in Mexico, feel even more meaningful.

At just the right length, this book is a short, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable listen. It’s perfect for Bravo fans and anyone who loves a behind-the-scenes look at Heather’s life beyond the cameras. Highly recommend!

P.S. she does give more deets about the whole Reality Von Tease drama 😬😬

[Sofia Santos · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

oh Heather, you are just something else. I found that the first 80% of the book was very repetitive and similar to her previous book. Ex Mormon trying to find her way.

The last bit though? The new tea on Jen Shah and Monica? I ATE IT UP.

[Maddi Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt so pointless, I am confused why it was written. The stories felt out of place, there was no true reason for each anecdote to be told. It felt like a waste of time.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***

I went into this memoir completely blind. I had no idea who Heather Gay is and I've never seen an episode of Real Housewives (any city) in my life. I've got biases, naturally, but love reading a surprising memoir and learning about people so that drove me to pick this one up.

The author is such an interesting person! She was raised devoutly Mormon and in this book she tells stories of various points in her life when her internal "good time girl" bumped against the good Mormon she strove to be. Then, later, as she tried to figure out who she was outside of her Mormon identity. She has some really good insights into what makes people tick and how to find joy in your life. She knows who she is and what she wants and that's something I highly respect.

Unfortunately, the memoir got weird towards the end as she talked in great detail about an incident that happened in Season 4 of her Real Housewives show. It didn't seem to fit with the overall theme of the book and I was a bit confused as to why she spent so much time on it. I suspect people who are fans of the show might have more insight but it just wasn't for me.

Overall, a decent memoir. Nothing life changing, but a good reminder of all our humanity.

[Sophia Phillips · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is the second heather gay book i could not finish the whole monica chapter made me realize heather really thinks she is the main charchter. i think her and monica are from the same cloth but for some reason she thinks she is above her. it was not a good look im sorry

[Raychel Rondash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this novel was a collection of essays rather than a composed memoir. I enjoy her writing style, as it does feel like you're chatting with a girlfriend. I did enjoy the novel, but missed the connection throughout the novel

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time. Felt like made up stories to write a book. Silly and dumb

[Maria Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ there was nothing in this book that wasn’t explored in the first. Except all of the details about Monica !!! So that was fun! This did rejumpstart my love for rhoslc.

[Molly Steiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The purpose of this book was very confusing to me given that Heather had already written a memoir like two seconds ago. Mostly this is a compilation of stories that feel very unrelated from chapter to chapter. I really enjoyed the parts about her marriage and it made me hate her ex, but a lot of the other chapters include stories I would take to the grave (ex - forgetting about your friend on the beach all day in California while ur in Tijuana) or have a very convoluted message (ex - chapter on dating and looks).

Also, I don’t think the Monica / Jen Shah story was hers to tell in its entirety. Of course I enjoyed hearing the ins and outs but it didn’t start involving Heather until Monica was cast on the show. Overall this book is only worth the read if you’re a RHOSLC Stan and want to hear more about Monica and season 4.

Last, her veneers are dog walking her in this audio.

[Elizabeth Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to Bad Mormon, and I really loved it (here's my review of BAD MORMON: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...), but I actually think GOOD TIME GIRL is better!

This is her life story. Lots about Mormonism, which I found fascinating. Throughout the chapters, Heather was vulnerable and honest about her marriage. GOOD TIME GIRL was well written and funny but also eye-opening.

The post-divorce "whore phase" and the section about being sex positive and ugly sex and dating after fame ... Heather is awesome! Like she says in the book, it's "about embracing the absurdity of life without judgement and shame."

The last part of the book is about Housewives -- and Heather includes SO MANY details about Monica. If you're a RHOLC fan, this section is amazing!!!!

Heather alludes to writing a third book and I HOPE SHE DOES IT!

[Kerri Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this sequel to Heather’s first memoir because I love Heather, but while Bad Mormon was a fantastic read, this was mostly mediocre. However, the RealityVonTease deep dive was top notch and saved the book for me. I learned a lot about that saga that I hadn’t heard before, and cemented it for me as one of the wildest stories in Housewives history, across any franchise.

[Lily Spar · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT: the last line of the book is this:

“Being a good time girl isn’t about baring your tits; it’s about baring your soul”

So yeah

[Robert Lambregts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank god for audio books, otherwise I would not have been able to finish this.
I've heard this book was bad, but my god, Heather Gay knows how to get bad to a whole other level.
I was contemplating giving it 2 stars, because of the Monica Garcia drama, but let's face it, Heather is calculated in every single word she uses and how to deliver the story that, if you watched the whole trainwreck, you already know everything she's telling here.
On high speed this was fun for one gym session, but nothing more than that. I don't understand she gets to write a third book full of absolutely nothing.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Gay is one of the few authors I prefer to enjoy in audiobook format. Her mischievous, hilarious, and self-deprecating personality shines so strongly through the narrative, it would be a shame not to hear her tell it.

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I....this was...what....clearly I gotta think some more so stay tuned for an in depth review

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to enjoy this one, but it fell pretty flat for me. There were some interesting stories within, but nothing that changed your perspective about who Gay is as a person. The last chunk of the book is dedicated to the now iconic season 4 finale of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, but it feels more like a character attack than the receipts, proof, timeline, and screenshots that Gay had. I understand that Gay is more than what she portrays on the show, but this book didn’t offer much more than we’ve already seen, which I think is the most disappointing thing, since her first memoir really showed us who she is off the show. It’s an interesting read for anyone who is devoted to the series, but sadly isn’t anything close to her first book.

[Karl R · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Heather Gay, star of the reality show The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC), and I loved her first book (the memoir 'Bad Mormon', which I gave 4 stars on Goodreads). But when the publishers came to her and asked if she had any stories left for a second book her answer should have been No. This book is the definition of scraping the absolute bottom of the barrel.

The stories are boring and completely irrelevant. The first few chapters are from childhood; Heather tells of a random family vacation where she collected frogs and has an entire chapter on bed wetting. Then there's a few chapters from her college years where the most exciting things to happen are her going to Mexico and kissing a bartender for a free shot of tequila, and creating an entire relationship in her head with one of her college professors only to find out he didn't even know her name.

Moving to her adult years we get chapters... not pages... full chapters on how she knew her marriage was doomed on her honeymoon when her husband broke wind in front of her and shortly after the honeymoon when he threw away her CD collection. Considering she went on to have three children with her husband before divorcing him much later, you can't help but feel her stories of knowing the married was doomed are exaggerated for entertainment purposes. Following the marriage chapters there is a chapter on how hard dating is (with no personal stories or experience, just a general sentiment that dating is hard), and a chapter on how upset she is with the beauty standards expected of and held against women (which she attempts to twist into why she started a business (Beauty Lab) offering the very services she is taking offence to).

Then there is a full chapter on pet cats she has had over the years. Already unimpressed with the book, this was a new low. Just reading the chapter I was embarrassed on her behalf, for its inclusion in the book. Surely there was something, anything else even remotely interesting that has happened in her life she could have talked about. Anyone who watches RHOSLC knows Heather likes a bit of spice and scandal so when she initially started talking about cats, I thought it was going to be a chapter of euphemisms (think pussycat without the cat part). But no, she just wanted to discuss several feline house pets of which she describes her relationships to as indifferent, and seemed to believe it would intrigue readers immensely. It was at this point I started to doubt a publisher had actually signed off on the book and researched to see if Heather had self published it independently. I was horrified to reach the end of the book and find an editor thanked in the acknowledgements, meaning this book had a professional editor that read it and said 'yes, great, send to print'. Shame. On. Her!

The last few chapters are related to RHOSLC. For the most part the stories are not new or interesting. There is a chapter on her ex-costar Jenn Shah (currently in prison for federal financial crimes). Heather just rehashes a moment from the show (from several years ago) in which Jenn 'may or may not' have given Heather a black eye (the answer to which appears to have been left purposely vague in the book despite Heather confirming on multiple TV shows since that Jenn did not give her a black eye), and voices her shock at Jenn pleading guilty at trial after pleading innocence prior. Then there is an odd chapter on another costar, Angie K, about how Angie hates people being single and attempts to play match-maker for Heather at any given chance, with Heather looking at Angie and her long and successful marriage as aspirational. This chapter did not age well considering Angie recently announced her divorce amid rumours of her husband cheating (the most shocking part of which is that he cheated... with a woman - fans of the show will understand).

For me the only chapter of any interest or substance was the final chapter concerning the RHOSLC scandal involving another ex-costar Monica Garcia. For anyone that doesn't watch RHOSLC, Monica was revealed to be secretly running an online trolling account leaking hurtful stories about the rest of the cast. On the show this was the 'big reveal' on the season finale, however in this chapter Heather gives a much more detailed account on how the situation started, progressed, and was eventually discovered. It was actually quite fascinating to read about how Monica hid her past from the shows casting and production, and created an entirely fake background for herself, achieving her goal of being cast on a top rated TV series that she was secretly destroying from the inside. This was the only part of the book where Heather seemed to come alive and evoke passion in what she was writing. Heather would have been better off writing an entire book about this scandal and just throwing in some additional RHOSLC stories to pad it out.

By trying to pass this second book off as another memoir, it almost taints the success of her first book and her skills as a writer, suggesting the first book was a one-off exception that cannot be replicated and that maybe literature is not her true forte'. I read the book in a day, but that was only because I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible so I didn't have to waste anymore time that I could have spent reading something else. I wouldn't recommend this book. If you read Heathers first book and enjoyed it... stop there, and allow yourself to continue seeing her as a witty and talented writer that put out one fantastic book then dropped the mic and left it at that.

[Shannon Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Bad Mormon but I’m not convinced it needed a follow up. Most of this was pretty banal and the criticisms of the beauty industry were kinda weird… like girl you literally own a med spa but go off I guess. But Heather is hilarious and the chapters at the end about the Monica drama redeemed it, I could have read a whole book on that!!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

i mean i knew this wasn’t going to be great but it really could have been a substack post. but i enjoyed the full chapter dedicated to how amazing greek angie is.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely LOVE many of the Bravo housewife shows, not all of them, but most of them. When Real Housewives of SLC was announced I was so damn excited! I had been living across the country from my hometown of SLC (no I am NOT mormon) and seeing it on TV just warmed my heart. I really enjoyed Heather Gay's first memoir where she talks a lot about her religious struggles and what finally led her to realize this was no longer for her.

This memoir discusses more about her marriage and her feelings with all of that. Honestly, as she is talking about her honeymoon and wanting to see the sunrise together and his shit attitude and her instant regret, I felt almost relieved. I know that sounds strange, however, I felt relieved and heard because that is exactly how my last relationship was and I appreciate feeling more validated that I ended it for the right reasons, I did not want to go through all the dog and pony show of bs for it to end in divorce. It was so unhappy for almost half of the relationship for me and hearing what the author went through makes me feel like I get her and understand and we are two women who are not alone at all with this. That part of the book was just amazing and really opened my eyes and made me feel more validated.

Then, we got to some SERIOUSLY juicy housewives stuff! The last few chapters of the book made me think of Not All Diamonds and Rose and I loved hearing all the stuff concerning, "receipts, timelines," and so forth. That was just WILD!

I don't read a lot of the housewives books but Heather Gay has made me really love what she has to say and I will absolutely always pick up her books. Totally worth the read because I blew through it!