My Legendary Girlfriend

Summary: On the eve of his 26th birthday weekend, Will Kelly could be having a quarter-life crisis... He's been an English teacher for less than a month and he's bumming cigarettes off students. His best male friend is an insufferably self-absorbed rock frontman type who just scored a record deal. His best female friend is incredibly grown-up and sucessful and lives too far away. He's going to have to beg for another student-banking overdraft extension. He's avoiding a clingy one-night stand, and his one-room London flat is a cesspool. And worst of all, it's three years on- and he's still hopelessly obsessed with his 'legendary' ex-girlfriend Aggi.

Will thinks he's just going to lie in and be pathetic this birthday weekend, but instead show more events conspire that will make him re-evaluate his life, transform all his major relationships, fall in love - and maybe, just maybe, finally get over Aggi.

Review: My Legendary Girlfriend is a very dynamic story... that happens primarily over the phone! This is where Mike Gayle really shines, with snappy and funny and revealing dialogue between the characters. Will Kelly may be unhappy and obsessive- but he knows it- and Gayle really plays up the humor of the desperate situation while also being true to the very Will's very modern existential concerns.

What is he going to do with his life? His career? What really makes or breaks a friendship? What is love and what is simply selfish fancy? How much do we really want to be not lonely?

I think these topics are very relatable and universal to anyone who has ever felt rather lost in life. And I really ended up rooting for Will and cheering him on when he finally navigates out of these murky waters: shaping up, re-orienting- and finally starts living his life rather than miring on auto-pilot. show less

My first encounter with this novel was reading an advance review copy over the shoulder of a fellow tube traveller. I so enjoyed the few pages of snappy dialogue that I read before the owner left the carriage that I bought the next copy I saw. It transpired that the dialogue was the book's greatest strength, but the characters were also entertaining and I found that I belived in them. The plot, however, was the stuff of the most hackneyed romance and although the book is laced with witty irony there was no sign that the author was making some droll post-modernist point as the star-crossed coincidences lumbered towards me.

Was a bit disappointed by this. At least it was an easy read and quick to get through. If you like books about a guys sitting around his flat for a whole weekend feeling sorry for himself, then this is the book for you. The "humour" wasn't really my style and the characters really not that engaging or people I could identify with. Found the main character not at all likeable... will try another of this authors books before I give up on him though. I think he has potential and this was only his first book. I do like the blurbs of most of his books so will give more a try.

Was a bit disappointed by this. At least it was an easy read and quick to get through. If you like books about a guys sitting around his flat for a whole weekend feeling sorry for himself, then this is the book for you. The "humour" wasn't really my style and the characters really not that engaging or people I could identify with. Found the main character not at all likeable... will try another of this authors books before I give up on him though. I think he has potential and this was only his first book. I do like the blurbs of most of his books so will give more a try.

My Legendary Girlfriend
By Mike Gayle

Will Kelly is an English teacher, that is, not an extraordinary good one. He doesn’t like his job, but he would need further education to do something else and he’s not interested in further education. In fact, he hasn’t been interested in anything since his girlfriend left him three years ago.

Her name is Aggi and to him she’s the best girl in the world, although she left him. They didn’t stay in contact, because the very minute they split up, Aggi was over him. What she didn’t know was that it wasn’t as easy for Will. He still thinks about her all day long and hopes for her to come back to him.

The only one who understands him is Alice. She’s his best friend who is always there show more for him although they don’t meet regularly. Still, the phone each other all the time and of course she’s also the one who makes his dismal birthday, the very day Aggi dumped him, a nice day.

However, on his birthday weekend a lot of unbelievable things happen. His one-night-stand announces to be pregnant, Alice and her long-term boyfriend split up, Will gets to know the previous tenant of his apartment, who he decides to marry and he calls Aggi, after all. It’s probably the most chaotic weekend in all his life, but also a legendary one.

“My Legendary Girlfriend” is a funny book that is all about finding and losing love. The critics compare it to “Bridget Jones”, saying it’s the male version of that famous diary. It’s the obviously the same kind of girly humour and a good match for everybody who likes a bit weird but amusing love stories. show less

I never would have found Mike Gayle had it not been for my flatmate insisting I read one of his books. I have to admit I wasn't too sure at first. The blurb read a bit too much like chick lit novel for my liking. I'm a man, and I like manly things dammit! Luckily I got past my silly male ego and embraced my metrosexuality, and a good few years later and I'm one of Mike Gayle's biggest fans.

My Legendary Girlfriend was Gayle's first novel, having spent time as a journalist and features writer. This book was a huge success as Gayle followed in the footsteps of fellow lad lit author Nick Hornby to write a book about relationships from a male perspective with very high praise indeed.

To read the full review of this book please click here: show more target="_top">http://stevenscaffardi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/steves-book-reviews-my-legendary.h... show less

Harmless and witty enough. Though certainly not thought-provoking nor re-readable.