Really Good, Actually: A Novel

Maggie relocates to Merris's basement apartment, enjoying a rent-free month in exchange for walking Merris's roommate's Great Dane, Lydia. During the move, the Laurens inquire about Simon, but Maggie is uncertain about seeing him again. To declutter and raise much-needed funds, Maggie orchestrates a yard sale, but Emotional Lauren generously donates Maggie's belongings to college students who have lost everything in a house fire, earning only 50 dollars. Amidst the chaos, Maggie attempts to discard her engagement and wedding rings, but Lauren offers to hold on to them for a while. Later, while she is awkwardly selling clothes at a secondhand shop, Maggie is surprised by Simon's unexpected appearance, which leads to a lighthearted interaction. Simon buys Maggie's lewd bachelorette party shirt, leading her to briefly explain her marital situation briefly, after which they leave together.

Maggie recounts several triggers for her tears that range from minor inconveniences such as forgetting a password or encountering advertisements to more relatable experiences such as feeling judged by peers and grappling with thoughts of mortality. Her reasons for crying also include obsessive moments such as discovering an old postcard from