Green Dot

by Madeleine Gray
Green Dot cover
Good Books rating 3.95
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 451
  • Added: 2025-09-11
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781250890580
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
  • Published: 2024-02-27
  • Formats: 12
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £8.49 Hardback • £18.99

At twenty-four, Hera is stuck in a fog of unmet potential and existential malaise, navigating a mind-numbing job moderating online comments and a confusing personal life. When she meets Arthur, a middle-aged journalist, she falls headlong into an all-consuming affair that promises nothing but consumes her entirely, despite the complication that he is married and unaware of her existence. Madeleine Gray’s debut novel uses a daringly intimate and specific voice to explore the joys and indignities of coming into adulthood today. It is a sharp, funny, and sometimes painful examination of identity, desire, and the winding, often tortuous journey of deciding who we are and who we want to be amid the pitfalls of modern life.

Reviews
Grattan Street Press · Lisa Mclellan · 2024-04-30
engaging 4.20

The novel offers a witheringly funny and sharply honest portrayal of a young woman stuck in a dreary job and complicated love, capturing the struggle of investing in a flawed relationship while navigating early adulthood.

Lisa Mclellan highlights the protagonist Hera's complicated emotional situation and her struggle to find meaning in a monotonous life after school. The review praises the book for its sharp humor and candid depiction of Hera's infatuation with a married man, alongside the bleakness of corporate life, making it a relatable and darkly comedic exploration of young adult life and love. The humor and the cultural setting come together to vividly represent a precise moment in time, engaging readers with its raw and honest voice.

Quick quotes

    Such is the case with Hera, the protagonist of Madeleine Gray’s debut novel, Green Dot, who is open about her own complicated situation right from the first line.

    Her account of this process is witheringly funny.

    The only lighthouse amid the grey-suited darkness of corporate Sydney? An encounter with a middle-aged British journalist from her company named Arthur.

duffrunstough.com · 2024-01-26
compelling 4.00

The novel is a compelling and raw exploration of Hera's complex character and her tumultuous journey through infatuation and self-discovery, with prose that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The reviewer emphasizes Madeleine Gray's skill in creating a vivid and complex protagonist whose chaotic consciousness is conveyed through raw and conversational prose. They note how the intense focus on Hera's relationship with Arthur might overshadow other aspects, but overall, the novel is a thought-provoking and immersive exploration of personal identity and emotional turmoil. The review appreciates Gray’s ability to construct a fully realized fictional character that feels deeply authentic and relatable.

Quick quotes

    Gray’s prose as Hera is so raw that it is a true testament of her ability as a writer.

    Gray effortlessly created an entirely fully complex being out of thin air as real as you or me.

    ‘Green Dot’ is a compelling exploration of Hera’s complex character and her tumultuous journey through infatuation and self-discovery.

Sam Still Reading · Sam Still · 2023-10-17
introspective 4.10

Gray masterfully captures the conflicted emotions of Hera, whose affair with a married man is portrayed with raw honesty and a compelling inner dialogue.

Sam Still appreciates the novel’s deep dive into Hera’s thoughts and feelings, presenting her as a flawed but relatable character who struggles with guilt, hope, and desire. The relationship with Arthur is depicted with nuance, showing his weaknesses and Hera’s projections onto him, making their dynamic complex and psychologically rich. The reviewer also notes a desire for more background on Hera’s family life, which would have added further depth, but overall finds the book a strong exploration of emotional power imbalances and the messy realities of adult relationships. The writing’s emotional realism and Hera’s fascinating character arc are especially praised.

Quick quotes

    Madeleine Gray does feelings very well.

    Hera is painfully aware of how her relationship is likely to turn out, but still puts her all into trying to prevent it.

    Hera tries so hard to take some of that power back, which is why her character is so fascinating.

Debbish · 2023-10-13
thoughtful 3.50

The story explores the moral complexity of an affair with a married man, avoiding clichés by presenting deeply human and flawed characters who confront judgment and emotional honesty.

This review appreciates how Madeleine Gray avoids simplistic portrayals of the affair by crafting characters that are aware of their faults and societal judgment, yet deeply emotional and sincere in their love. The reviewer finds the narrative compelling because it doesn't shy away from the difficult realities of love and infidelity, showing Hera's desperation and Arthur's honesty about his marriage without false promises, making the story resonate with authenticity and emotional depth.

Quick quotes

    Gray doesn’t take the easy way out by making our leads cliches.

    Hera knows she will be harshly judged by others for her behaviour.

    Arthur – doesn’t make a lot of false promises. He doesn’t diminish his relationship with his wife.

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