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.

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!

Hera is witty, kinda lazy, charming, and a mistress. She is every married woman's nightmare, yet for some reason, in this story we are rooting for her. It shouldn't work this way and yet, here we are.

Hera is a young 24 year old who doesn't have a whole lot of ambition in life, but knows she needs to do something because that is what is expected of people her age and part of growing up. When she lands a pretty mindless job and gets to know the office she meets an older, good looking co-worker and the connection is almost immediate. There's only one issue... he's married. Thus begins a tale of all-encompassing love, but is it reciprocated?

Man, I really wish I could say that I disliked the main character because obviously she's a bad person if she can date a married man, but really, I just feel bad for her. This story, unfortunately, is so real and messy and it's scary how easily it could actually happen. It's so frustrating and you just want to shake her so that she wakes up and realizes all the time she's wasting. At the same time, it's also heartbreaking seeing her so desperate and wanting this love to work out. While this is not something I personally have experience with, I feel like it's a story a lot of people will sadly be able to relate to.

Pub. Date: Feb. 27, 2024
Thank you Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for my early copy!

Normally, I do not share my full review that I plan to post on my blog. However, this novel deserves it (Full Review to be posted January 26th on duffrunstough.com)

The Review

The first few pages of 'Green Dot' by Madeleine Gray sparked a sense of familiarity that I couldn't quite pinpoint initially. It soon became apparent that Gray's prose carried a conversational tone reminiscent of my past creative writing essays. Narrated in a long flow of chaotic consciousness, 'Green Dot' unfolds as Hera grapples with the transition to the workforce, applying for a job as a community moderator. The narrative takes a turn when she encounters Arthur, a journalist, leading to a whirlwind infatuation.

Hera emerges as a complex, likable but frustrating, character, challenging societal norms while still succumbing to stereotypical expectations. Her sarcastic nihilism is on par with Camus, and her stylistic delivery is comparable to Rupi Kaur. Above all though, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how stereotypically bisexual she is - the first man she crushes on in years is laughably unattainable and yet she still plans to pursue them. Which is ultimately, the most infuriating part about her. Hera clearly knows what she is doing is horrendous, and yet, even as morally sound as she is regards to the sociopolitical climate, she still fell hard for the delusion.

Had Hera fallen in love with literally anyone else, this novel would have received a much better reception from the public. There was such a heavy focus on Hera's relationship with Arthur, that unfortunately, too many readers were caught up in the lack of "sisterhood" and "support" for "the wife" that they missed the true magic of this novel. However, if you pay close enough attention, what Gray excels at with writing this novel is with what is implied but isn't said.

Ultimately, what made me rank this novel as a 4.5 stars instead of 5 was due to a minor complaint I had based on the stylistic choice of the novel and how it translated on the PDF eARC version of the novel. It was difficult to tell where one chapter stopped, and another began. While this did help achieve the "long flow of chaotic consciousness" mentioned above, it did confuse me because for the first 60-70% of the novel, I thought the prologue was Madeleine Gray writing about how she got the idea for the book based on a time she was the other women. It wasn't until the closer to the end I realized the meta-forth-wall-breaking that occurred meant that the prologue was Hera's POV not Gray's. Which didn't really change the plot of the story, but did change my mind on how I perceived this novel.

Gray's prose as Hera is so raw that it is a true testament of her ability as a writer. When I thought this entire novel was "based on a true-story", a fictional essay rooted in factual ideas, I wasn't sure where Gray's real-life thoughts ended and Hera's began. I was impressed with the metaphorical sentence construction, but was not in awe. The moment it clicked that, this entire debut novel is a fictional author writing a fictional story about a fictional event in their past I was gobsmacked. Gray effortlessly created an entirely fully complex being out of thin air as real as you or me.

In conclusion, "Green Dot" by Madeleine Gray is a compelling exploration of Hera's complex character and her tumultuous journey through infatuation and self-discovery. Gray's raw and conversational prose immerses the reader in Hera's chaotic consciousness, eliciting both frustration and empathy. While the focus on Hera's relationship with Arthur may overshadow other elements of the narrative for some readers, Gray's skillful implication and the novel's thought-provoking nature shine through.

Short Review (AKA TLDR)

The first few pages of 'Green Dot' by Madeleine Gray spark a sense of familiarity, with conversational prose akin to one long chaotic consciousness. The narrative follows Hera's journey into the workforce and her whirlwind infatuation with journalist Arthur. Hera is portrayed as a complex and likable character, challenging societal norms while succumbing to stereotypical expectations. Despite engaging prose and thought-provoking implications, the heavy focus on Hera's relationship with Arthur may overshadow other elements of the narrative for some readers. Ultimately, "Green Dot" is a compelling exploration of Hera's character and her tumultuous journey through infatuation and self-

Green Dot is a phenomenal book that perfectly describes the listlessness and boredom that you can encounter in your early twenties. The book follows Hera, who lives with her dad and doesn't have a job and simply wants to spend her life in school even though she has enough education that she cannot use it as an excuse any longer. She ends up getting a job moderating comments for a news website, where she meets Arthur, an older journalist. Hera is intrigued by Arthur and they begin messaging at work, dancing around what they are, before eventually embarking on a full-fledged affair, as it turns out that Arthur is married. The book is definitely character driven, and it is fascinating to learn more about the characters and their relationships and histories as it goes on. Hera makes incredibly frustrating choices, but she is young and in love, so it is understandable. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh.

I really liked the narrator and MFC point of view and the raw honesty in which it is written. As a reader, you are really involved with the MFC. The narrator speaks directly to the reader, which is different than most books. This story pointed out the generational gaps, for sure….I’m getting old! Although I could understand why choices were made, but I did not agree with any of them. I wonder if this is a personal story, one of the authors that she is now sharing. Why would someone be the mistress? Thoughts and feelings from that point of view. Interesting, but could have been more of a short story for me.
I would give 3 1/2 ⭐️

Endlessly quotable, self-aware, sarcastic. The narrative here is funny and smart and a little bit exhausting: much like one’s twenties. A lot of this book was relatable, but the desire to be seen by someone most stood out to me. I think that’s a defining characteristic of many people’s twenties; it was for mine, at least. Does Arthur see our narrator/protagonist, Hena? Will he? That question kept me reading, and I was compelled by their budding relationship. But what compelled me more was the question of whether Hena would come to see herself clearly. I found her journey, and especially the ending, to be very satisfying. Also, the relationship between Hena and her father was lovely, and I won’t soon forget it!