I started seeing this book everywhere recently, and I was delighted to get to read it in advance of it publishing thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co.

This book is reminiscent of "chick lit." BUT the writing is**significantly** elevated, so I almost hesitate to say that! I am surprised that this is a debut novel because it is expertly crafted for this genre.

In the first half of the book, we meet Hera, a 24 year old well educated, book smart, but perhaps not so much life smart, woman who falls in love with her superior at work, who happens to be almost 20 years older than her … and married.

This book has a great opening and is full of humor from the start. We see Hera’s self-awareness and how she uses that to curate what side of herself she allows people, particularly Arthur, her love interest, to see.

Hera is young, she has multiple degrees, and she has a father who genuinely unconditionally loves and supports her. She could have anything she wants, and yet, she insists on pursuing this man. Having been with only women before, this is an especially big change for her.

What was most interesting was how Gray turned around the evil mistress trope, as we see this relationship develop from the point of view of the mistress. Especially with this age difference, who bears the blame? Should Hera answer to the wife? Or does the culpability for that ignominy fall on Arthur alone?

Gray deals with all this with so much comedy, but as we enter the second half of the book, it sneaks up on you that at its heart, this is a sad novel. Hera was a bit lost and lonely prior to this relationship, but her world keeps getting smaller as she falls further in love with Arthur and puts her life on hold while she waits for him to leave his marriage so that they can start their life together.

Hera gets lost in her own head, constantly waiting for Arthur’s “green dot” to show he is online so that they can connect, analyzing everything she says and does in an effort to convince him to do the right thing by her, tell the truth and honor his love for her. The story gets darker and darker as this becomes all consuming for Hera.

The story is told from Hera’s perspective, looking back upon this time of her life, so we know the ending from the very first page. And yet, even when you are as shocked as Hera's friends are at her cognitive dissonance about what she's doing, you still want to keep reading.

4.5 stars for now.

Disclaimer: This is another sad, messy, disaster girl lit fic with mostly unlikeable characters making poor, terrible, immoral decisions. If you don't like books like that, steer all the way clear of this one! It also takes place in the last half during the pandemic!

I normally am not one for reading books about affairs. They're triggering in so many different ways. But this novel, from the jump, lets you know that we're following a woman who falls in love with a married man that won't leave his wife (I'm not going to lie, I started this book and then set it down and forgot about that part, so part of me was wondering how it would shake out while also knowing how it would shake out, you know?). And this woman was also very relatable for me, in non-disloyal ways, from the first page, so I wanted to continue reading.

I think Madeleine Gray wrote a really great, observant, funny, and sad novel. I laughed out loud. I cried. I was angry. I underlined and highlighted so many parts of this book because they resonated on so many different levels. I've never cheated on a significant other, and I never plan to, but the way she described friendships and relationships in general were spot-on. How do you navigate those relationships as friends watching another friend make absolutely shit decisions? This book touches on what it means to be a woman in a relationship with a man. Our main character, Hera, is constantly at odds with trying to empower and speak up for herself while walking this fine line of satisfying a man who is promising her true and forever love. The commentary on that, in itself, was so interesting. It explains why she stays in this toxic, terrible situation (not every reader will find that validating--I didn't, but I empathized with it).

Overall, I knew I would more than likely enjoy this novel, but I didn't think it would hit quite the way it did. Another one for the catalogue of disaster girl novels that I'll be thinking about for a looooong, long time.

Green Dot by Madeleine Gray was such a joy to read. I honestly believe that what makes this book so much fun and entertaining to read was the main character, Hera. She's not perfect but she's lovable in her own way. I flew through this book and could not get enough of Hera's thoughts. I think it does a great job of showing how messy your 20s can be and feel. I also think it has a FANTASTIC cover. It's so eye catching. Luckily, this is one of those times where the book cover is just as good as the book itself. I cannot wait to read more from Madeleine Gray.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co., and the author for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Do you like morally gray, sarcastic, quick-witted, darkly-humored, socially awkward, Australian female main characters in your novels? If so, this is the book for you.

Hera is 24 years old and quite possibly one of the most apathetic individuals to ever grace the pages of a book. She has multiple degrees and enjoys learning but has no desire or drive to achieve more for her future. She is disenchanted with the mundanity and absurdity of her everyday life, settling for a menial job as an online community moderator at a news company. Hera is bisexual and has never really had a deep connection with someone beyond the physical - until she meets her dorkishly charming British coworker, Arthur. Not only does she realize she shouldn’t “dip her pen in the company ink”, but Arthur is nearly two decades her senior. Arthur is also married. But Arthur makes Hera finally feel a tingle in her deadened senses, and her future that seemed so bleak is now filled with wanton possibility. The little green dot next to Arthur’s name on her device becomes a welcome distraction from her unmoored existence.

This is not a unique plotline and we know how this is likely going to end. But I did enjoy following Hera’s self-absorbed monologues as she navigates this controversial role of playing the side chick. The characters in this book are wholly unlikeable but there were also many relatable moments. Her relationship with her dad was endearing for someone who struggled immensely with interpersonal relationships. The writing was clever and funny and I laughed out loud many times at Hera’s self-deprecating humor. As I read, I looked back at my own life as a twenty-something professional and reflected on the insecurity I felt trying to fake-it-'til-you-make-it as a fledgling adult. And who of us hasn’t tried to fill a void in ourselves with a partner who we know probably isn’t the best for us?

Yes, Hera’s a homewrecker. But the author also paints her as more than a caricature of a trope - Hera feels very human despite her immoral actions. Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age story about a girl who wants to want something. Splendid debut that I would recommend to fiction lovers of all walks of life.

Agh, this is such a bummer. I was really looking forward to this one and couldn't get past the first 40 pages. Everyone enjoys a slow burn from time to time, but I just couldn't get into this one at all. I am still very thankful to the publisher and author for sending this one my way, but it just wasn't for me.

I loved the main character - she’s really the star of the show in this novel. She is a very relatable morally grey character who engages in unlikeable activities - not an easy character to write and get people to relate to. While I maybe wouldn’t make a lot of the same choices, I was able to understand the MC’s rationale and it made her much more real. This was funny, sad, tense, and messy all at the same time. Reminded me a lot of Thirst for Salt and No Hard Feelings, two books I greatly enjoyed. Overall, a great read that was relatable, funny, and devastating all at once.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“An irresistible and messy love story about the terrible allure of wanting something that promises nothing.”

Ugh, I loved this book more than is probably healthy. Although I am well out of my 20s, this book took me right back to trying to find yourself and grasping at anything or anyone who promises to make that journey easier - even if they’re actually making it much more painful.

Hera has just joined the workforce and hates it, but her days are made more bearable when she embarks on an affair with her married co-worker. So many of Hera’s choices will have you begging her to stop, but it also endeared her to me more. This book is razor sharp, laugh-out-loud funny and touching. In short, it has everything!

I knew from the epigraph that I was going to love this one; quoting Ginsberg's Howl and Taylor Swift's "Blank Space"? Yes please!

It's interesting reading this at this point in my life. Hera's thoughts felt universal for women in their 20s. Gray captured that feeling so well. I had to keep reminding myself that not only am I not in my 20s, I'm actually Arthur's age. Bland, generic, terrible Arthur.

I thought the book was paced well, and I appreciated that Hera was telling the story in hindsight. To me, it made it feel like the reader and Hera were on the same team, journeying to the story's inevitable end.

Hera’s story is one I think many women can sympathize with. She’s attracted to a guy at work. He’s attracted to her. He’s married, but they start up a relationship anyway. She wants him to leave his wife and he says he wants that too. But he won’t leave her. And of course, there’s a baby coming. Hera knows the relationship is doomed, but continues anyway. At one point she moves across the world to get away from it. We all know where the story is going, it just doesn’t feel too good getting there.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

GREEN DOT by Madeleine Gray. Woof! What a book. I absolutely love the header of the plot description so I'm going to just copy and paste it here: An irresistible and messy love story about the terrible allure of wanting something that promises nothing.

Hera is a struggling 20 something in Sydney. It's 2017, she has no career, and a few close friends. She's bisexual, but hasn't been with a man in a while. That is until Arthur wakes her up from her doldrum office job. He is 40 something, quirky and adorable, but has a secret. He's married, and it's not until they begin an affair that Hera finds out.

Most of the book is you screaming at Hera in your head saying: don't do this! Do not continue with what you are doing! But of course, she does. The affair goes on for years and we experience each and every high, low, disappointment, You will see yourself in Hera, and it won't be pretty, but Gray's incredible writing style (loved ALL the subtle pop culture references) will give grace to both yourself and Hera. It's a somewhat simple book, but a daring one that will stay with me.

3.5 stars for me
I struggled to like the main characters, even though I really wanted to like them. Despite not loving the characters of Hera and Arthur- I did find parts of the book and Hera’s banter funny! The plot (young 20-something female falls in love with an older married man) showcases her personal journey into figuring out who she is.

For fans of Conversations with Friends and Fleabag, Green Dot was magnificently written. About a third of the way in, I was totally hooked. Despite knowing where the relationship in the story was likely headed, like the main character, I maintained hope. That's Gray's power in telling this story. I felt for and with Hera as she navigated the depressing expectations of her workplaces, compared herself to her friends, and navigated a love that was probably bad for her, right from the start.

On another note, Hera's dad is a shot of sunshine and the dream supporter for literary millennial sad girls.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy.

Hera has a new job that she finds mind-numbing and boring, until she meets Arthur, a middle-aged journalist there. She finds herself falling for him fast, even after finding out about his wife.

I wouldn’t typically think I’d enjoy a book about a woman dating a married man, but the main character really made the story. Of course everyone thinks they are the exception to the rule. Hera is funny and her inner thoughts were the best part for me. I felt there was a lot missing from the backstory, but I also understood that since it was her story to tell, she didn’t have to include the details. I especially enjoyed the time at the office and the cliche, but hilarious office happenings.

“I understand why people start wars, I understand why people blow up their lives. If the choice is this or not this, I will destroy everything else every time.”

Green Dot comes out 2/27.

Green Dot is a laugh-out-loud character driven novel. Based primarily in Australia, we follow Hera through her new job, meeting a new love interest, and discovering he has a wife. While I found the plot to be slow at points, Hera’s self-awareness and hilarity kept me turning the page.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for an ARC of this novel.

Would you enjoy spending 300+ pages engaged in a slow moving car crash? Green Dot is for you! I am sort of kidding, but the subject matter leaves little to doubt on how this is going to ultimately turn out, even more so that is begins with an older Hera reflecting back on a time in her younger years where she had an affair with a married man. We know it does not work out, so reading how the relationship developed and morphed is a bit like slowly pulling teeth. Red flags abound from the beginning, and you want to scream at Hera "RUN GIRL RUN", and logically she knows what she is doing will not turn out well, but nevertheless, she continues. Perhaps she will be the exception to the rule. Not to dismiss the writing- Madeleine Gray digs into Hera's mindset and does a good job of tracking the decisions she has made and why she has made them. She also provides context into her relationships with her father (loving), mother (complicated- wish she had spent more time on), and friends (supportive, despite their misgivings). If you can get passed the idea on we all know how this is going to end and not internally scream at Hera, Green Dot (named for the green dot that shows someone is active online) is a well-written novel about a young woman unmoored in life, trying to figure out purpose, and love.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

This was not what I was expecting...

I really wanted to like this book, but it was infuriating to be in Hera's head as she navigates this affair with Arthur, a married middle-aged man she meets at work. My main peeve with this book is that I thought the plot was pretty predictable, and that would have been fine if the execution had brought some new element to it, but it just didn't (at least for me).

I did enjoy the author's writing style, so I will check out her future books, but this one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I hated the main character in this book, but I also related to her so much which was so weird to experience. She’s like the epitome of a 20 something kid, thinking they’ve got the world figured out and life owes them something. I think we can all remember a time like that in our own lives, but man it was PAINFUL listening to her and watching her shit on her life, and everyone else’s around her. I wanted to smack her throughout most of this book, even when I could fully understand where she was coming from and how she was feeling. I also hated Arthur. What a complete douche that guy was. He was so happy getting a piece of a young girl and had no intention of ever leaving his wife. He sucked. He took complete advantage and wasted over a year of her life. I think she learned a lot of lessons throughout all of this that we all have to learn at some point, but it was just a series of unfortunate choices. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this, it was an enjoyable train wreck.

A story about coming of age and a workplace affair. I really didn’t like the writing style here. It felt very unstructured in a way that just wasn’t for me. I can definitely see others who like more stream of consciousness or Freeform styles liking this.

Reading from Hera's perspective is like spending time with your best friend and enjoying a day together and then suddenly realizing they are the most insightful, funny, and exciting person you've ever met. The Hera's tangents were so fun to follow, I loved her savviness and quips. I loved this story, I felt enveloped from the beginning. Toward the end there was a touch of fourth-wall breaking that didn't feel totally explained, but I could easily see Hera writing this novel in a journal to process. Gray writes it herself: this book is perfect for the "young, smart-mouthed, female, reasonably big-titted". Reminded me a lot of Dolly Alderton's wittiness and Emily Henry's emotionally resonate characters. I cannot wait to read more of what Madeline Gray writes.

This book captures so genuinely the delusion of one's mid twenties. Madeleine writes with such wry humor and self deprecation that encapsulates the feelings of being off your "set" path, while also having no desire to forge a new one. While I couldn't directly relate to the situational material, I felt so seen by the feelings expressed within this book. I loved the inner dialogue, the reflection on poor decisions, the group of girlfriends- all of it.

This book also revolves heavily around social media and it was executed very well. It is a tricky line to incorporate as many "trendy" themes as she did in this book, but it felt timely and current without being too on the nose.

I read this in one sitting and will now be adding Madeleine Gray to my list of automatic buy authors.

"I want to die but, devastatingly, this does not occur. I am very much alive, and I am sitting on a rolling chair."

Thank you to the publisher Henry Holt & Company for providing an ARC via Net Galley!