Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for my advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this non-fiction all about Friends and a brief history of sitcoms.

I'm a big Friends fan – and, yes, I can admit it has plenty of pitfalls and shortcomings – so this made for a light, easy and fascinating end-of-summer read. In it, Hagan expertly delves into the success of Friends and how it came to be, but also what it became. The author shares behind-the-scenes snippets that add weight to her opinions, and it felt like a well-researched book. What's more, it's interwoven with the fabric of sitcom life in the US and UK. I appreciated the backdrop of other sitcoms that were popular at the time – especially understanding some of the cameos in the show! I liked that Hagan criticised the diversity and inclusivity of the show, the awful sexism and fatphobia, and picked up on other issues too. An insightful and compelling read.