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.

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.

This book was hard to get through. If you have an embarrassment squick, pick something else. I kept reading, hoping the MC would change/grow at some point and the ridiculous behavior would end, but no, it just kept going and going and going and GOING (so much overdrinking, so much vomiting, so much self-inflicted humiliation)... and then, all of a sudden, it was over. I think we're supposed to believe that the MC grew up in the last, what, two pages? But why would I believe that, after the however many hundred preceding pages of not-growing?

For me, this passage summed up the book: "This exact scene could be taking place in the first year of university. In ten years absolutely nothing has changed. Niamh and I are still in a messy kitchen making mistakes and changing our minds about who we like and what we like"—yes, that's exactly the problem, but then it ends—"and in this moment I'm so glad we're here. We are exactly where we're supposed to be." What? You haven't grown a bit in ten years and that's great? Count me out.

This book had a lot of interesting ideas, but for this reader, at least, the balance was waaaaaay off. I kept feeling as if it wanted to be <i>Boyfriend Material</i> but had been baked by someone with the cooking skills of Luc's mum. Okay, now I'm just getting mean, but... this had the potential to be so much better. It really did.

Also, I fervently hope the many homophone errors (peels/peals, Scarlett/scarlet [twice], naval/navel, rouse/ruse [okay, that's not even a homophone], Van Gough [wtf?], Ralf Lauren [ditto], hoards/hordes) are corrected before publication.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

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.