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Mike Gayle

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My Legendary Girlfriend

by Mike Gayle (Author)

3.6 505 ratings

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Andrew Lincoln reads Mike Gayle's hilarious, original and Number One bestselling story for anyone who has ever been dumped, dumped or lived in a dump...
Meet Will Kelly. English teacher. Film fan. King of sandwich construction. Still in love with The One, desperately searching for An-Other One. In his decrepit flat, Will's lifeline is the telephone. There's Alice (who remembers his birthday), Simon (who doesn't), Martina (the one-night stand), Kate (the previous tenant of his rented Archway fleapit) and of course his ex, Aggi - the inimitable Aggi. His Legendary Girlfriend. Or is she?

Two men, three women and a donkey called Sandy...basically it's your classic love hexagon.

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3.6 505 ratings

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3.6 out of 5

505 global ratings

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Shelley Lake

Book

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've already read the book. No problem with the book.

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2011

I loved this book. I thought it was hilarious and engaging. I've read quite a few unfavorable reviews for 'My Legendary Girlfriend' but I honestly don't get why. Yes, the main character is a bit of a whiner but he's endearingly so. He's like that sad cousin(or friend) that just can't quite seem to get his life together and continues to make stupid mistakes that you somehow find a way to love anyway.

I definitely recommend this novel. It cracked me up and maybe it will make you laugh too.

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2010

I find Mike Gayle's books (Wish you were here, Life of the party, His 'n Hers) engaging so of course I wanted to read My Legendary Girlfriend aswel. I was even offended to see the book in a Dutch bookstore (in Dutch) for a very low bargain price. As a wannabe writer I was hurt on Mr. Gayle's behalf. When I started reading I became worried how long it was going to take the main caracter Will Kelly, to get his act together. I could relate to his suffering because around the same age I had a similar heartache. So in that regard I got tight up in the story. But upon further reading I became annoyed. Time was moving soooo slow. When was he actually going to do something? At times I just lost interest in the book for some days and continued reading in other books. But I kept some interest in the story so I returned. Today I finished it. I have to say that I applaud Mr. Gayle's convincing way of discribing Will Kelly and his troubles. It has proved, based on the comments here, that it is very tricky to discribe four days in a book of 368 pages. Than it probably comes done to personal likes or dislikes. I think sixty pages less would have improved the book. Even better would have been a visit by an interesting caracter. That most likely would have put or kept some pace in the overall story. I see the comparison with Bridget Jones Diary. I myself was thinking about "Adrian Mole's Secret Diary" and "Growing pains of Adrian Mole."

One person found this helpful

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BCB & More

NOT such a legendary book

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012

Okay, my first foray into the world of Lad Lit came only in November 2011 with a self-published book that had me literally crying with laughter. The book was so good that I immediately started looking at other male `Lad Lit' authors and Mike Gayle was one that I had heard of and was incredibly popular.

With that in mind I decided to try his debut novel My Legendary Girlfriend that he first published back in 1998. Very early on we are introduced to Will Kelly, the only real `character' so to speak in the book. We get the lowdown on his truly depressing life, his awful flat and his agony over his ex-girlfriend.

Very early on I found myself disliking Will, all he seemed to do was moan about literally everything, and I had no sympathy for him whatsoever. I figured that this must be the lead up to where the character develops and the reader ends up seeing the turnaround. No such luck for me on that front.

The most frustrating thing is that nothing much happens. I get the impression this was meant to be a mans take on the Bridget Jones style kind of diary; however this is the furthest from that example in my opinion. Seeing as I was over halfway through the book and not feeling anything towards the character, I gave the book a break for a day and hoped I would return with a better feeling.

Sadly, when I returned and ploughed through (that's what it felt like), I finished it with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. The writing was good, and there were certainly moments that made me chuckle, but that alone was not enough for me to actually feel like I enjoyed the book.

Overall, I can honestly say that this book was unmemorable at best and boring at worst. The writing and moments of humour are enough for me to try another Mike Gayle, after all as this was his debut novel and he now has a solid fan base I would like to give a newer book a try and hope that maybe it was just this particular book that wasn't my cup of tea.

One person found this helpful

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Fan of Michael Gayle

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Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023

I have always been looking for Michael Gayle books since I first started reading them back in the late 90s when I lived in London. To this day, my sister hates it that I have to look at every international airport for his books every trip we take.
I can see how he reflects topics that are indicative of what a person is experiencing in life....it's obvious he is telling a life story as he moves through life lessons and, unless I am wrong, I've appreciated his sharing...titles over the years alone tell that story.
I was always obsessed with reading each and every novel he produced but became not so interested when the topics because of a more serious nature....but that is not to say he isn't a great writer. The best novels were when he had that brit spin on relationships. Classic! So true.
I am still a fan but would like to see a lighter side....because the humour in Michael is really stellar and apparent in his earlier writings.

Helpful

Steph B.

Love ain't supposed to hurt

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2006

I fell head over heels in love with Mike Gayle's sophomore release MR. COMMITMENT, so when I stumbled across MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND - which happens to be his first book, I had to read it! I was not disappointed!

As usual Gayle takes his time when telling a story. There are many parts of the book that will have you screaming "hurry up!", but his well thought out characters and plot is what makes this book a hit!

Will is the ill at ease, sarcastic protagonist in this delightful novel. It's been three years and he still hasn't gotten over the day his ex-girlfriend Aggi dumped him - on his 23rd birthday -- without rhyme or reason.

There hasn't been a woman since who has come and knocked ol' Aggi down from that tremendously high pedestal Will has put her on. He obsesses over her day and night, and beats himself up trying to figure out what he could've done differently. He just cannot get her out of his system. That is until he gets a phone call from the girl who lived in his flat prior to him moving in. Could this stranger be the one who helps Will come to grips on the true meaning of love?

In just one weekend, he learns what usually takes a lifetime for some. Maybe there is someone out there that can measure up to his "legendary girlfriend".

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

L Clarke

Excellent read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

Read this when it was first published, bought on kindle as I realised I couldn't find my copy and I need this in my book collection!

Emma's Biblio Treasures

Warm, witty and heartfelt

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2023

Verified Purchase

Warm, witty, and heartfelt, My Legendary Girlfriend is a story about life, heartbreak, and unrequited love. It introduces us to Will Kelly, an English teacher whose life isn’t going the way he’d hoped. He’s about to turn 26, totally skint, living in a run-down flat, and still pining after his ex-girlfriend, Aggi. Over the course of a weekend we get to know his deepest, and often darkest, thoughts as he agonises over whether he will ever find a love like he had with his Legendary Girlfriend.

I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Gayle’s books ever since reading All the Lonely People - yes, I know I was late to the party - so I couldn’t wait to finally read the book that started it all. And, as with all his books, reading this felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. It envelops you, comforts you and soothes your soul. It is a more melancholy book than any other I’ve read by him yet, but Gayle has a talent for offsetting the more serious and sombre elements of a story with dry, dark humour that lightens the mood.

So, we need to talk about Will. Lovestruck doesn’t quite cover the way he is about Aggi. Totally and utterly obsessed is better. Look, we’ve all had that relationship that’s hard to get over, where you were sure they were The One, but they didn’t agree and ripped your heart out, but to be this obsessed after three years seemed quite ridiculous. And that pedestal he’d got her on was so high I’m surprised she didn’t get dizzy. I wanted to grab hold of him, shake him, and tell him to get a bloody grip! But love isn’t rational, is it? So I did have some sympathy for him. Not that he made it easy. Because this guy wasn’t likeable most of the time. He was self-centred, moody, pessimistic, and his outlook was as bleak as the flat he lived in. Everything revolved around him and his feelings, and he certainly made sure everyone knew about them. But yet there’s something about him that is still engaging, making you keep reading and not quite give up on him, even if you’re shouting at him in your head the whole time.

My favourite aspect of this book is the phone calls. Much of the story takes place during conversations Will has with various people over the phone that weekend. These calls are a lifeline for Will and he recognises that a single call has the power to shift his entire mood depending on who is calling. These calls were often hilarious and provided a lot of levity in the book, as well as introducing us to some really great secondary characters such as Alice and Kate. They also provided a lot of the book’s nostalgia, reminding me of when I would spend hours on the phone talking to friends or loved ones. And, for me, the nostalgia was something I loved about this book. In 1998 we still had landlines, answering machines, video players, and the speaking clock. It was like being transported to my past and contributed to the sense of comfort I felt while reading.

An enjoyable and funny read with an ending I really loved, I would recommend this book.

Sarah H.

Overall it was an enjoyable read with a really sweet ending.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

Having recently read and loved The Museum of Ordinary People by the author, I was eager to read more by him so grabbed myself a copy of one of his earlier novels. Whilst I didn’t love this one quite as much, it is still a decent read.

We get to meet Will who is just about to turn twenty-six. He is a teacher and lives in a sort of bedsit. As much as I did like Will over the course of the story, I really wanted to grab hold of him and give him a good shake. He is totally obsessed with his ex-girlfriend of which it’s been three years since they broke up. I mean I know people can hold a torch for people they loved but it was a bit overkill for me that he hadn’t yet moved on. He is also very self centred and everything has to revolve around him and what he is going through rather than his friends.

There are some quite humorous parts and you can’t help developing a soft spot for Will. The story mainly takes part in his cramped flat with telephone conversations to people he knows apart from Kate, the previous tenant, who he has never met in person yet spends hours talking to her on the phone. Will actually reminded me a bit of Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole, but a bit older. In some ways it is nice to read a male perspective when it comes to love although I don’t think many men would admit to ever behaving like a love sick teen like Will does through out.

My Legendary Girlfriend by Mike Gayle was a bit melancholy in places but there is also lots to brighten it up and make the reader smile. It’s very much about unacquainted love and putting that someone on a pedestal, so much so that it holds the other person back from getting on with their life. Whilst I was willing Will to snap out of his love sick trance through most of the story, overall it was an enjoyable read with a really sweet ending.

One person found this helpful

BCB & More

NOT such a legendary book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2012

Verified Purchase

Okay, my first foray into the world of Lad Lit came only in November 2011 with a self-published book that had me literally crying with laughter. The book was so good that I immediately started looking at other male `Lad Lit' authors and Mike Gayle was one that I had heard of and was incredibly popular.

With that in mind I decided to try his debut novel My Legendary Girlfriend that he first published back in 1998. Very early on we are introduced to Will Kelly, the only real `character' so to speak in the book. We get the lowdown on his truly depressing life, his awful flat and his agony over his ex-girlfriend.

Very early on I found myself disliking Will, all he seemed to do was moan about literally everything, and I had no sympathy for him whatsoever. I figured that this must be the lead up to where the character develops and the reader ends up seeing the turnaround. No such luck for me on that front.

The most frustrating thing is that nothing much happens. I get the impression this was meant to be a mans take on the Bridget Jones style kind of diary; however this is the furthest from that example in my opinion. Seeing as I was over halfway through the book and not feeling anything towards the character, I gave the book a break for a day and hoped I would return with a better feeling.

Sadly, when I returned and ploughed through (that's what it felt like), I finished it with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. The writing was good, and there were certainly moments that made me chuckle, but that alone was not enough for me to actually feel like I enjoyed the book.

Overall, I can honestly say that this book was unmemorable at best and boring at worst. The writing and moments of humour are enough for me to try another Mike Gayle, after all as this was his debut novel and he now has a solid fan base I would like to give a newer book a try and hope that maybe it was just this particular book that wasn't my cup of tea.

11 people found this helpful

Liz Edwards

Poignant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2023

Verified Purchase

Mike Gales work is alway very close to life. He has the ability to pick up minute details of what happens within relationships. Very real and very true to life and also amusing.

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