If you haven’t had the misfortune of dating a George, you know someone who has. He’s a young man brimming with potential but incapable of following through; noncommittal to his long-suffering girlfriend, Jenny; distant from but still reliant on his mother; funny one minute, sullenly brooding the next. Here, Kate Greathead paints one particular, unforgettable George in a series of droll and surprisingly poignant snapshots of his life over two decades.

And yet, it’s hard not to root for George at least a little. Beneath his cynicism is a reservoir of fondness for Jenny’s valiant willingness to put up with him. Each demonstration of his flaws is paired with a self-eviscerating comment. No one is more disappointed in him than himself (except maybe Jenny and his mother). As hilarious as it is astute and singular as it is universal, The Book of George is a deft, unexpectedly moving portrait of millennial masculinity.

Dating is…hard. The most creative method I’ve seen lately is a wall of Polaroid photographs you can visit in my local park to post your own, peruse, and find a local match. If all goes to plan, you’ll find the love of your life—no fear of commitment, no communication issues, no unbearable quirks. Ask anyone who is currently participating in it, and you’ll know the odds aren’t great. Most of the time, you’ll find someone much like the man at the center of The Book of George.

Kate Greathead’s new novel is a strikingly realistic portrait of a guy who just can’t seem to get it right. He should have everything in his life ahead of him—a long-term girlfriend, sharp wit, and intelligence—but he consistently gets in his own way. In a dazzling New York City setting, George self-destructs: hurting the people around him and luxuriating in his own self-cynicism. It’s not that George doesn’t know what he’s doing—he’s a painfully self-aware character that just can’t seem to exit this cycle.

The Book of George is a brilliant character study that perfectly captures the millennial experience. While George’s actions are often hard to watch, Greathead manages to infuse every page with a satisfying and infectious dose of dark humor. I kept turning pages, waiting for a great reckoning in George’s life—and trust me, it came. Everyone out there knows someone like George, and this book is an incredible—and hilarious—emotional catharsis that you must read.