In "Not Good Enough" by James Robert Moore, readers follow Charlie's journey after his life is turned upside down when he discovers that his long-term boyfriend cheated on him the night before they were supposed to move to America.

This novel captures the essence of a coming-of-age story, reflecting the quarter-life crisis that many people in their late 20s and early 30s experience. It addresses the changes in peer groups, the realities of work life, and the feelings of stagnation/complacency that can pop up.

Moore effectively portrays the themes of self-doubt, comparison, indecision, and uncertainty. In the book, Charlie is compelled to examine his relationships with family, friends, and romantic or sexual partners. He must reflect on his aspirations, consider where he wants to go in life, and determine the kind of person he wants to be as well as who he wants to surround himself with.

This book is relatable and humorous. Thank you to Muswell Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

With a 9 year relationship hitting the rocks on the eve of moving to NYC, Charlie is left homeless, jobless and single once again as he struggles to find himself back in London. With his close knit group of uni friends to support him, Charlie has to navigate the world of dating, new flat shares and exploring the gay scene as a singleton while trying to wrestle with that inner voice that keeps telling he’s “Not Good Enough”.

When I first picked up this book I did so with a broad smile on my face thinking, finally a gay version of Bridget Jones. And to some degree, I was right. On the surface the similarities are all there: the quirky friendship group, navigating single life, awkwardly embarrassing sex, and a dash of self deprecation both the physical and mental. But then I thought, aren’t these just some of the common themes most single gay men deal with? In fact they are common themes for just about anyone, gay or straight. So with that in mind I took a leaf out of Charlie’s book, sat back and just slipped into someone else’s literary adventure. And I’m so glad I did.

From the perfectly described disastrous first night out, layered with melancholy reminisces, to the a dangerously risky BDSM anonymous hookup, Charles life goes from zero to a hundred in a few months. And it’s not long before he starts to see how much of himself he lost during those 9 years with his so-called “perfect boyfriend”.

At first I thought I might struggle with this book as the humour, the rapid one liners and comedic self flagellation hit you thick and fast at the start. But then the author slows down just enough to allow some of the deeper themes to take hold. He never sacrifices Charlie’s comedic voice but the author skilfully adds enough depth to create an emotional bond with his readers. You soon start to care for Charlie and understand why he is so down on himself and where these feelings of ‘not being enough’ come from. Themes of acceptance and self worth start to emerge from the main storyline. He includes expertly written comedic scenes that suddenly morph into moments of self reflection and observation. And there is an incredibly written classroom scene between Charlie and Niamh, that brilliantly shows how to address the issue of being LGBTQ to a group of 10 year olds. Something so simple but which will have a profound affect on the lives of young LGBTQ children.

Sure there are story threads that are introduced but don’t get fully resolved on the page. And Charlie’s journey isn’t one that follows the typical narrative path. There isn’t a resolution to his story most readers will be expecting from a book like this. Instead the author has written a book that shows us how someone struggles to rebuild a life lost in a relationship. He isn’t given a magic pill to fix his problems. There’s no “Pretty Women” montage that shows him suddenly turn things around. This is a difficult struggle with moments of success mixed up with moments of failure. Charlie makes mistakes but eventually starts to rebuild his life. But all this is done with whit, sparkling humour and brilliant observations. In fact I was so engaged with Charlie’s story that when the end came I just wanted more. So here’s hoping we hear more from James Robert Moore in the future.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not Good Enough is an emotionally charged, razor-sharp debut that digs deep into the messy complexities of identity, family, and self-worth. Moore’s writing has that rare kind of intimacy that feels both literary and raw, in the vein of Sally Rooney or Coco Mellors.

The story follows Charlie. A character so vividly real, I found myself flinching at how closely his internal chaos mirrored mine. The emotional weight of the novel stayed with me long after I finished.

This is a debut that doesn’t play it safe. It’s honest, lyrical, and quietly powerful. Moore has something truly magical going on here. I’m obsessed. I already need his next book.

Absolutely loved this story. It was beautiful, funny, and heartbreaking all at once. The book has so many funny and embarrassing moments that make you laugh and cringe (in a good way), but it also dives into insecurities that I think most of us have felt at some point, in one way or another.

I adored Charlie and his friend group. They were such a great example of what true, ride-or-die friendships should look like. The family dynamic was genuinely heartbreaking. I felt so bad for him, but also so proud of how he handled everything as the story went on.

It was beautifully written. I especially loved that it included stories from Charlie’s childhood and past experiences, because it gave so much insight into why he felt the way he did about himself. The character development was spot-on and can't say enough good things about it. It felt real and unforced. No sudden epiphanies or dramatic changes, just a human being slowly figuring things out, feeling deeply, finding himself and learning how to heal. That’s what I loved most about this book.

Charlie’s relationship with his long term boyfriend comes to a messy end the night before they are due to move to New York, what follows is Charlie’s rediscovery of himself and a journey of personal growth. Charlie is in his 30s and at a loss, he doesn’t know who he is or what he wants after basing his entire adult life around his ex, and he is incredibly lonely despite being surrounded by a fantastic group of friends. He attempts to lead the wild life he missed out on when he was younger due to his relationship and starts trying new and drastic things before eventually comes to the realisation that he needs to discover who he is alone before he can be with someone else. There is love, sex, embarrassing situations and I personally think Charlie can be pretty annoying in parts but it is honest and raw.

I just devoured Not Good Enough, and wow - what a gem! James Robert Moore delivers a dazzling debut that’s equal parts heart-wrenching and joyfully liberating. The premise is delightfully refreshing - we meet Charlie, whose nine-year relationship collapses, and he suddenly finds himself navigating the queer scene of London with zero guidebook and zero confidence.

What follows is a rollercoaster of tender or awkward dates, side-splitting mishaps, and soul-baring self-discovery. Moore’s portrayal of the LGBT+ community - found family, late-night chats, the thrill of new connections - is so vivid you can almost hear the laughter and feel the warmth. It’s more than just romance; it's a celebration of embracing your authentic self even when that inner voice whispers, “you’re not good enough.”

Emotional, funny, sexy - in the best possible way - this story had me cheering for Charlie from page one. The pacing is perfect, the characters leap off the page, and the honest, hopeful tone is utterly irresistible. Simply put, Not Good Enough is a triumphant, heartwarming journey of self-love and reinvention - proof that it’s never too late to start over and shine.

Five stars isn’t enough - this one truly stole my heart.

I received the book as an e-ARC from net galley in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It's refreshingly millennial, and I found myself somewhat called out by certain sentences. The supporting characters were a little bit cliched in my opinion, but I could easily see myself getting along with them in real life. A couple of scenes felt a little bit like wish fulfilment, with the characters saying the sorts of thing you think of days after the fact, but that doesn't detract from the overall point of the book.

It's an easy read even with certain dramatic elements that made me roll my eyes a little; could certainly be a good poolside book this summer.

The most beautiful thing in this book is the way the queer community is depicted. Really, it was so good I wanted to cry (okay, I cried. A little). It’s a love letter to the community and it’s showed. Love it so much.
The story is funny. Charlie is a whirlwind of dates and match and all the exhausting things we have to put ourselves through when we wanted to put ourselves out there after a break up. A devastating break up in this case.
Charlie is a millennial who just want to do what we millennials do best: lie in bed at home, hoping the world don’t notice us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book hit hard when I read it. The main character is sympathetic and it is really easy to invest yourself in his story. The side characters are interesting and I really enjoyed the way that information was revealed about them as the main character recovered from the relationship that he had so fully invested himself in. The plot is engaging and well-paced with a really satisfying resolution. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

This title took several chapters to hook me, but there was something that told me that it would be worth my investment. In the end, I read the last third of the novel in one sitting. The main thing that I want to highlight is that I found 'Not Good Enough' to be laugh-out-loud funny; something which is very rare for me. The humour, however, contrasts well with the moments of deep pathos and the author manages these two extremes very well for a debut novelist. The secondary characters are sufficiently well-fleshed out for their roles and the protagonist's main circle of friends are brought to life through the dialogue.

What has kept me from giving five stars is that I felt that the novel left some things unresolved which meant that the ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd have liked. To be clear, I am usually a fan of "unresolution", but there were some aspects that kept being hinted at that led to me wanting to know how these resolved. On the other hand, secondary plot points -- such as Charlie's relationship with his mother and sister -- were resolved, even though this would have been perfectly satisfactory if left open.

Overall, a fun and enjoyable read, with likeable characters.

Overall it’s an easy fun read. Charlie is a super reliable character. I think we’ve all had the rug pulled out from under us at some point in our life and had to find our footing again. The characters in this book were by far my favorite part. I like that they felt like real people who are a little bit messy and imperfect. One thing I didn’t like is that I felt the pacing to be a bit slow for my liking. It felt like it was dragging on a bit in some spots.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review:
Not Good Enough is an absolute breath of fresh air in the queer contemporary fiction space. From the very first chapter, I was rooting for Charlie. After a devastating breakup shatters his nine-year relationship, he’s suddenly thrown into a world he never thought he’d have to navigate: the London queer scene. Apps, dating, labels, Charlie has no idea where to start, and that’s exactly what makes this story so relatable and heartfelt.

James Robert Moore perfectly captures the vulnerability of starting over later in life. The writing is warm, witty, and full of those awkward, tender moments that make you laugh one second and clutch your heart the next. Charlie’s journey isn’t just about finding love—it’s about finding himself and embracing the friendships and community he never knew he needed.

What I loved most was the authentic representation of queer life, the highs, the struggles, and the sheer joy of chosen family. Moore handles heavy themes like self-worth and identity with such care while still delivering plenty of humour and heart.

If you’ve ever felt “not good enough,” this book will remind you that you absolutely are. Highly recommend for fans of uplifting LGBTQ+ stories full of heart and humour!

✅ Tropes/Elements I Loved:
✨ Self-discovery
✨ Found family
✨ Queer community representation
✨ Humour + heart

This book had me feeling many emotions as it moved from disastrous dates to one brilliantly chaotic flat share, stumbling into self-worth, friendship, and the kind of healing that doesn’t come with neat answers. It’s warm and painfully honest.

Not Good Enough by James Robert Moore was made available to me thanks to @netgalley and @muswellpress and I’m so glad I read this one! This was a great book about starting over when you never thought you’d have to, and all the joy that can be found in finding yourself again. I loved the MC’s friends and this book had me laughing out loud more than once in the first few pages!

Charlie's life seems to be going well, he's got good friends. A long term boyfriend of 9 years and they're about to leave the country and move to New York together. Only Charlie's boyfriend betrays him the night of their going away party by cheating.

After breaking up and having to leave his apartment Charlie is sent adrift. Not sure what to do with his life, where to live and dipping his toes in the dating pool after being in a relationship for 9 years.

I really enjoyed the Charlie's voice in this story. He has a very silly and often honest inner monologue not only about his life but also about those around him. It's so awkward seeing him how to try and date again, at times the second hand embarrassment was almost too much! Poor Charlie makes so many bad choices, it's sometimes hard to read. I will say that the general fatphobia in the story was a little over the top.

I really enjoyed Charlie's friends, they are very much his found family. I love when a story can show that you don't need a significant other in your life to be fulfilled. Charlie was extremely likable and you can't help but root for him. It was a joy to watch him grow and figure his life out.

This was a fun debut novel, I flew through it!

Thank you NetGalley and Muswell Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not Good Enough is a funny, heartfelt debut about starting over when everything falls apart. After the end of a long-term relationship, Charlie is left to navigate London’s queer scene solo (scary!), and the result is a sharp, relatable story full of awkward dates, emotional lows, and found-family joy.

The author did a great job to balances laugh-out-loud moments with deeper themes like self-worth, identity, and the long road to healing. Charlie’s voice is painfully honest and millennial in the best way. The classroom scene on LGBTQ+ identity was a standout—simple, impactful, and beautifully done.

While not everything is neatly resolved, that’s part of the book’s charm. Growth is messy, and this story captures that perfectly. A great read for fans of LGBTQ+ contemporary fiction with humor and heart.

Charlie met “Gorgeous” George in uni and they immediately began dating. They graduated several years back and still share a house with two uni friends, Dylan and Niamh. Charlie took lesser jobs to support George in his career, even though they hadn’t gotten engaged or married, despite being together for nine years. George moved up in his finance career, so much so that he was offered a promotion to the New York City branch of his London-based company. Charlie was excited to accompany him for this adventure, and gave up his cafe job, packed their bags, and arranged their going away bash, only to be devastated by George’s betrayal.

So, instead of jetting off to America, Charlie has jettisoned his life in an attempt to figure out who he is without being “George’s boyfriend.” He feels like George’s careless act turned Charlie’s adulthood spent taking care of George into a waste, and he doesn’t know how to cope in his new singlehood. He’s scared, frustrated, and hurt, but determined to get out and be a single gay man in London, for the first time ever at age thirty-one.

This is a pretty deep dive into the “what comes next” phase of unraveling a long-term relationship. Charlie’s depression is present, but so is his determination to carry on and find himself. Small flashback vignettes reveal the underlying insecurity he’s struggled with, and how he’s never felt very good about himself, outside of how he felt with George. Despite his enormous inferiority complex, Charlie persists. He applies for a bookshop position and gets it. He deepens his friendships. He figures out Grindr. He clubs, and pulls, and embarrasses himself, and lives through all of it. I wish he lived a little better, but he does find companionship, and comes to the realization that he’s a good person and worthy of love–even if he’s still looking for it when the book ends.

The book isn’t very uplifting. I felt it was sadly realistic, and wished for more moments of lightheartedness where Charlie didn’t feel crushed by the weight of his experience, or lack of it. There’s some humor, usually at Charlie’s expense. He’s been put down by those closest to him for a long time, and those emotional scars speak in his mind often. I liked how he stuck to his convictions and rebuilt his life, but the tone is subdued, and I wished he had a better growth arc than drinking a lot and searching for…satisfaction, I guess. I kind of felt like Charlie was mainly marking time, looking for the next best thing, with the wrinkle that it was at least on his own terms now. That he sought help for his depression was good, and I liked how his friendships were growing, but it took a lot of page time to get there. I think that was why the resolution of the story was so abrupt and frustrating.

The resolution has from some poignant moments at Halloween, where Charlie sets some healthy boundaries and plans new steps for his future. And then, the next page literally kicks the reader to next year’s Pride fest. Eight months summed up in a couple of paragraphs. Charlie seems to finally–after more than a year apart–seek closure on the end of his relationship with George. There are some hints about how he’s possibly moving his life forward, all of which felt tacked on and incomplete. Having suffered along Charlie’s sad journey, this ending felt like an abandonment and was entirely unsatisfying.

I enjoyed this book and some of the characters actually reminded me of how me and my friends behave sometimes. The book is incredibly human and so the characters do not behave perfectly or even how you would actually want them to behave but we have all done things that are stupid or embarrassing so it felt very real to me. There were some parts i got second hand embarrassment really bad though but still enjoyed it