Green Dot

A Novel

By: Madeleine Gray

Narrated by: Sasha Simon

“Madeleine Gray takes a scalpel to millennial malaise, office romance, and infidelity, and the result is a brainy, gutsy, nervy—and hilarious—wonder of a novel.”
—Meg Howrey, author of They're Going to Love You

"Simon’s sarcastic delivery captures the emotions of a heroine with the desire to be powerful in a world in which she is powerless. Simon’s narration wavers between the overconfidence of youth and the insecurity of someone who knows she’s in the wrong. This is a perfect audiobook for fans of the show Fleabag." —AudioFile on Green Dot

An irresistible and messy love story about the terrible allure of wanting something that promises nothing

At twenty-four, Hera is a clump of unmet potential. To her, the future is nothing but an exhausting thought exercise, one depressing hypothetical after another. She’s sharp in more ways than one, adrift in her own smug malaise, until her new job moderating the comments section of an online news outlet—a role even more mind-numbing than it sounds—introduces her to Arthur, a middle-aged journalist. Though she's preferred women to men for years now, she soon finds herself falling into an all-consuming affair with him. She is coming apart with want and loving every second of it! Well, except for the tiny hiccup that Arthur has a wife—and that she has no idea Hera exists.

With its daringly specific and intimate voice, Green Dot is a darkly hilarious and deeply felt examination of the joys and indignities of coming into adulthood against the pitfalls of the twenty-first century and the winding, tortuous, and often very funny journey we take in deciding who we are and who we want to be.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

Critic reviews

<p><b>Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by<i> Debutiful </i></b><br><br>“By the time Hera finds out that Arthur is married, it’s already too late—she’s enamored. Gray’s writing skillfully captures the passion of their early trysts. The sex scenes crackle with energy, and the chemistry between Hera and Arthur is believable and seductive. . . A breezy, heartfelt coming-of-age story for Gen Zers concerned with how to grow up without growing cold.”<br><b><i>—Kirkus Reviews</i></b><br><br>“Hera is vibrantly written, and Gray thankfully provides her narration with enough distance for self-clarity. . . . Gray’s unflinching bildungsroman is great fun.”<br><i><b>—Publishers Weekly</b></i><br><br>“This book! What a gutting, funny, smart, smart, smart book it is, one that I absolutely inhaled while almost constantly emotionally bracing myself. Madeleine Gray is a hilarious, humane, and highly perceptive writer.”<br><b>—Claire Lombardo, <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author of <i>The Most Fun We Ever Had </i></b><br><br>"I wolfed <i>Green Dot </i>down over two nights. An incredibly funny book about a woman having an affair that’s a really bad idea. Every sentence sparkles." <br><b>—Caitlin Moran, <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author of <i>How To Be A Woman</i></b><br><br>"Madeleine Gray takes a scalpel to millennial malaise, office romance, and infidelity, and the result is a brainy, gutsy, nervy—and hilarious—wonder of a novel."<br><b>—Meg Howrey, author of <i>They're Going to Love You</i></b></p>

my favorite audiobook purchase!

this audiobook is absolutely hysterical. it is EASILY my number one audiobook now. the narrator really makes the story and i wish they narrated other books.

i will auto-buy ANYTHING that madeleine grey writes because her sense of humor is just perfect.

5 stars!

The side notes and monologues were good, not a fan of plot.

Liked the audible performance, wasn’t a fan of the story itself. Liked the side monologues of Hera but I don’t agree with her life actions. I can see how this is appealing to people in 20s as these feelings are something commonly experienced.

Sharp wit, clear voice

Green Dot delivers a sharp, witty, and emotionally precise voice from the very first page. Madeleine Gray’s writing is startlingly clear—like stepping into a breeze that’s both refreshing and biting.

At the center of the story is Hera, whose entanglement with a married man is as messy and painful as it is recognizable. Through her depressive spirals, impulsive choices, and aching vulnerability, Gray paints a portrait of a woman who is deeply flawed yet deeply human. Even in her most pitiable moments, Hera’s inner monologue is so honestly observed that it’s impossible not to relate to her—whether we want to or not.

The writing is clever and funny despite the heaviness underneath. The humor never undermines the emotional stakes; instead, it brazenly exposes those tiny, uncomfortable truths we often try to ignore.

This is a story of wanting too much from the wrong person, of hanging on to hope long past its expiration date, and of slowly, painfully learning to choose yourself. A raw, compulsively readable novel that stays with you because it dares to speak one's innermost honesty out loud.

My favorite book of 2025

I have listened to 20+ books in the past couple of months, and this one was suggested for those that loved The Wedding People. What a wild ride! Captivating from the first chapter, and the way this author can describe working in an office in the first scene. Her sense of humor is witty, dark, relatable, and definitely resonates if you are a millennial. The way she can describe feelings, circumstances, and the raw honesty of this story is so masterful that I will definitely read anything she writes. It's hilarious but dramatic as well.

great writing but horrible story

This book made me giggle from snarky writing, but ultimately made me sad. I recognize a lot of people in the main character. I wish I didn't.