Mike Gayle – författare

DON'T MISS MIKE'S NEW NOVEL A SONG OF ME AND YOU - AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW!Shortlisted for the British Book Awards Book of the Year: Pageturners. The 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association.A heart-warming novel about family, friendship and human connection.'Hubert Bird stole my heart' Beth O'Leary, author of The Flat-Share and The Switch'Lovely, emotional, uplifting' Libby Page, author of The Lido'A heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting look at isolation' GuardianIn phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun and friendship.But Hubert Bird is lying.Something has made him turn his back on people, and he hardly sees a soul.So when his daughter announces she's coming to visit, Hubert faces a race against time: to make his real life resemble his fake life before he's found out.Along the way Hubert renews a cherished friendship, is given a second chance at love and even joins an audacious community scheme. But with the secret of his earlier isolation lurking in the shadows, is he destines to always be one of the lonely people?Readers love All The Lonely People:'Best book of 2021 so far' 5*'I absolutely adored every page' 5*'Wonderful, moving, emotional and very thought provoking' 5*'An emotional journey' 5*'A beautiful book' 5* 'Heartbreaking and heartwarming' 5*

The greatest adventure is coming back home.Lila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby and she's very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city's Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that's how she meets Connor.Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street and he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.The uplifting and heartfelt new novel from the author of Half a World Away.

The greatest adventure is coming back home.'A beautiful story of love, friendship and community' WOMAN'S WEEKLY'Moving and uplifting' SUN'Told with warmth and charm' WOMAN & HOME'Has all the feels and a whole lot of heart' HEATLila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby and she's very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city's Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that's how she meets Connor.Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street and he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.Readers LOVE the uplifting and heartfelt new novel from the author of Half A World Away:'A lovely, beautiful, uplifting and heartwarming novel' 'Another triumph. Hope Street is a lovely book, you really root for Connor throughout' 'Emotive and uplifting, Mike Gayle gas done it again! Warmed my heart with this fantastic storytelling''The most heartwarming story you'll read this year, Mike Gayle is a master storyteller' 'Mike Gayle's characters stay with you long after the book has finished''A real tonic for the soul. Gayle creates characters you can connect to straight away' 'Will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful!' 'A beautiful, uplifting story of love and friendship, that will stay with me for a long time'

Ian Greening loves his job at the Department of Work and Pensions. It might not be the best paid job in the world but it gives him lots of scope for fun. He loves his girlfriend, Emma, too.But when Emma is made redundant, and gets a temping job in Ian's office, he doesn't like it at all. Emma only knows Home Ian - and Work Ian is a different kettle of fish. Spending twenty-four hours a day together is too much of a good thing. But how can he tell her that without hurting her?Ian comes up with a plan to get things back the way they were. But it puts his relationship at risk and forces Ian to decide which really matters most: the job, or Emma.A sweet, funny novel about love and work.

Freaky Friday meets David Nicholl’s Us. After Sian and Paul drop their youngest child at university, Sian tells her husband of twenty-four years she wants to separate. But things get weird when, the morning after their first night apart, they wake to discover they’ve swapped bodies… ‘Comedy gold’ Clare Chambers ***** After dropping off her youngest child at university, Sian, a menopausal mum of two – rattled at the thought of returning to an empty nest – accidentally tells Paul, her functionally depressed husband of twenty-four years, that she wants to separate. Things get weird, however, when the morning after their first night apart the couple wake up to discover that, somehow, the impossible has happened and they’ve swapped bodies…Paul and Sian have to work together to keep their switch a secret, all while desperately trying to return to their own bodies. The maelstrom of mid-life inevitably gets in their way: work stress, money woes, aging parents and growing kids. Ultimately, however, they learn that along with the chaos, a lot of good can come from walking a mile – or two – in each other’s shoes.Not Quite Myself is a funny, thoughtful and moving romantic comedy with a twist. It’s not about twentysomethings starting out. Or thirtysomethings settling down. But fiftysomethings, members of the sandwich generation, who – thanks to the pressures that come with this stage of life – have lost sight of what’s really important. They’ve essentially forgotten who they are and why they fell in love with each other in the first place.But what they come to understand in the process not only saves their marriage, but the only thing they love more than life itself: their family.

Freaky Friday meets David Nicholl’s Us. After Sian and Paul drop their youngest child at university, Sian tells her husband of twenty-four years she wants to separate. But things get weird when, the morning after their first night apart, they wake to discover they’ve swapped bodies… ‘Comedy gold’ Clare ChambersAfter dropping off her youngest child at university, Sian, a menopausal mum of two – rattled at the thought of returning to an empty nest – accidentally tells Paul, her functionally depressed husband of twenty-four years, that she wants to separate. Things get weird, however, when the morning after their first night apart the couple wake up to discover that, somehow, the impossible has happened and they’ve swapped bodies…Paul and Sian have to work together to keep their switch a secret, all while desperately trying to return to their own bodies. The maelstrom of mid-life inevitably gets in their way: work stress, money woes, aging parents and growing kids. Ultimately, however, they learn that along with the chaos, a lot of good can come from walking a mile – or two – in each other’s shoes.Not Quite Myself is a funny, thoughtful and moving romantic comedy with a twist. It’s not about twentysomethings starting out. Or thirtysomethings settling down. But fiftysomethings, members of the sandwich generation, who – thanks to the pressures that come with this stage of life – have lost sight of what’s really important. They’ve essentially forgotten who they are and why they fell in love with each other in the first place.But what they come to understand in the process not only saves their marriage, but the only thing they love more than life itself: their family.

Number One bestselling author Mike Gayle returns with this wickedly observed novel about modern relationships: does Mr Irresponsible have what it takes to become Mr Commitment?Duffy is engaged. He accepted Mel's proposal. But the trips to IKEA, dinner parties for couples and talk of babies are giving him itchy feet and now he's not sure if he can say goodbye to his extended adolescence and face up to that final walk down the aisle.How does he know if she's The One? Can he cope with responsibility? Does he have what it takes to become Mr Commitment? Because if he doesn't, he may just find that he's lost Mel - forever...

A witty and touching novel for fans of Tony Parsons and Nick Hornby.Thirty-two-year-old music journalist Dave Harding has got a nice house, a cushy job and in Izzy, his partner, the ideal companion for an intimate dinner for two. But when friends of Dave announce they're having a baby the biological clock he never knew existed starts ticking. Loudly. When the magazine Dave works for folds he is forced to take the worst job in journalism - Agony Uncle for Teen Scene. Suddenly cooler-than-cool Dave is knee deep in the adolescent outpourings of his teenage readership. One letter out of thousands, however, turns his life upside down. Thirteen-year-old Nicola O'Connell doesn't want advice about boys - she wants to know about Dave because she's convinced that Dave Harding is her dad. And she's got the facts to prove it.

A brilliant romantic comedy for fans of Bridget Jones's Diary.A cat. A flat. And a couple who think it's over.From their first meeting at the student union over a decade ago, Jim and Alison successfully navigated their way through first dates, meeting parents, moving in together and more . . . Then they split up and divided their worldly goods (including a sofa, a cat and their flat) into his 'n' hers.Now, three years on and with new lives and new loves, they couldn't be happier. Until a chance encounter throws them back together, and causes them to embark on a journey through their past to ask themselves the big question: where did it all go wrong, and is it too late to put it all right?

'Funny and well-observed, this is another sure-fire hit' HeatWhen Rob's girlfriend asks him to leave London and live with her in Manchester not only will it mean moving cities, it'll also mean leaving behind his best mate in the entire world. Believing that love conquers all and convinced of his ability to make new friends, Rob takes the plunge.Six months in, and yet to find so much as a regular drinking buddy, Rob realises that sometimes making friends in your thirties can be the hardest thing to do. With drastic action needed, his girlfriend puts an ad in the classifieds for him. Three excruciatingly embarrassing "bloke dates" later, Rob begins to truly despair. Until his luck changes . . .There's just one problem. Apart from knowing less than nothing about music trivia, football, and the vital statistics of supermodels, Rob's new friend has one huge flaw . . .She's a girl.

A brilliant romantic comedy exploring beach basics for the broken-hearted from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle.Their holiday brochure said 18-30 . . . But they've just turned 35.After ten years together Charlie Mansell has been dumped by his live-in girlfriend, Sarah. All he wants to do is wallow in misery, but mates Andy and Tom have a better idea: a week of sun, sea and souvlaki in Malia, party capital of the Greek islands.But Charlie and his mates aren't eighteen any more. Or even under thirty. And it shows.It isn't the cheap beer, the late nights or even the fast-food that's the problem. It's girls. And life. And most of all . . . each other. WISH YOU WERE HERE is a heart-warming, funny and wise tale about love and friendship and how seven days in the sun can change your life forever.

A brilliant romantic comedy about a year in the lives of three couples from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle.Meet Melissa and Paul: Five years after they split up he's still looking for love in all the wrong places while she wants the one thing she can't have: Paul.Meet Chris and Vicky: They're so in tune they even brush their teeth in time with each other. So what is Chris doing risking it all for a meaningless affair?Meet Cooper and Laura: He wants to settle down, she wants to take a grown-up gap year but can their relationship really survive a year apart?Set across a year of leaving dos, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations, Life and Soul of the Party is a warm, funny and moving tale celebrating love, life and those special moments we've all spent in the kitchen at parties.

It's their party... Meet Melissa and Paul: Five years after they split up he's still looking for love in all the wrong places while she wants the one thing she can't have: Paul. Meet Chris and Vicky: They're so in tune they even brush their teeth in time with each other. So what is Chris doing risking it all for a meaningless affair? Meet Cooper and Laura: He wants to settle down, she wants to take a grown-up gap year - but can their relationship really survive a year apart? Set across a year of leaving dos, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations The Life and Soul of the Party is a warm, funny and moving tale celebrating love, life and those special moments we've all spent in the kitchen at parties. Mike Gayle has contributed to a variety of magazines including FHM, Sunday Times Style and Cosmopolitan. His bestsellers, My Legendary Girlfriend, Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty, Dinner for Two, His 'N' Hers, Brand New Friend and Wish You Were Here are available in Hodder paperback. To find out more about his novels, visit Mike's website at www.mikegayle.co.uk

A hilarious and touching romantic comedy about three clueless, charming brothers and the women in their lives from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle.Despite the example of their own parents' enduring marriage, the three Bachelor brothers show no sign of settling down.Adam has a string of glamorous girlfriends, but they aren't suitable wife material.Luke has just proposed to Cassie but his refusal to consider having children looks like an insurmountable barrier.And baby of the family Russell is in love with the one woman he can't have.Then their father announces he has been thrown out of the family home and this forces all three brothers to examine their own priorities.Are all three Bachelor brothers totally hopeless cases or just late starters?

How to turn forty:1. Set yourself a personal challenge.2. Clear wardrobe of all age inappropriate clothing.3. Relax.How not to turn forty:1. Have a complete meltdown . . .High flier Matt Beckford's sole ambition is to turn forty with his life sorted. And with a Porsche on the drive and a job that requires him to spend more time in BA's club lounge than his own lounge, it looks like things are going in the right direction. But when Matt's wife unexpectedly calls time on their marriage, a chain of events is set in motion that very quickly sees him facing forty broke, homeless and completely alone.But all is not lost because Matt has a plan . . .Wise, witty and wonderful . . . a triumph! Jenny Colgan Look out for Mike's new novel, Half a World Away, available to pre-order now!

Would a proper adult ignore the spilt milk under the fridge for weeks?Would a proper adult take three years to post a solitary Christmas card?Would a proper adult have decades-old underwear in active service?Mike Gayle is nowhere near being a proper adult - even though his tenth wedding anniversary is looming; his second child is due any moment; and in less than twenty-four hours he is going to be officially closer to forty than he is to thirty. Appalled by this lack of maturity, Mike draws up a To-Do list containing every single item he's been meaning to do but just keeps putting off... He's got a lot of stuff that needs doing. But unlike previous To-Do lists, he promises himself that this one will actually get DONE. And along the way, Mike will learn stuff about life (323), love (999), friends (1004) and family (9) and finally work out what it means to be a grown up (846).

Celebrate Mike Gayle's 25th year of publishing with this special anniversary edition of his first ever novel!Meet Will Kelly. English teacher. Film Fan. Pot Noodle expert. Ex-boyfriend.Still in love with The One, Will is desperate to discover if there can be An-Other One. In his decrepit flat where he can't even manage to cook spaghetti hoops without setting off the communal smoke alarm, his lifeline is the telephone. Will realises that with a single call, friends can either lift him from the depths of despair or completely shatter his hopes.There's Alice (who remembers his birthday), Simon (who doesn't), Kate (the previous tenant of his rented hovel). And of course his ex, Aggi. The inimitable Aggi. His legendary Girlfriend.Or is She?A hilarious, original story for anyone who has ever been dumped, or lived in a dump, 'full of belly-laughs and painfully acute observations'. (Independent on Sunday)

There's nothing quite like family. Except family on holiday . . .When Cal loses his beloved wife Nikki, and his teenage step-daughter Zoe moves out to live with her father, his whole world falls apart.But life works in mysterious ways. And when a prestigious university wants to pay tribute to Nikki with a posthumous award in Zurich, Cal sees an opportunity to both honour his wife, and mend things with Zoe.The plan is a European inter-railing trip to Zurich - but what Cal hasn't anticipated is Zoe lying to her father about it, and inviting their other relatives to join too. What starts off as a very awkward family reunion - punctuated with some sightseeing - quickly takes a turn as tempers fray, secrets are revealed, and the pent-up grief they're all still carrying is unleashed. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls and Nick Hornby, ON WE GO is a funny, moving and powerful story about love, loss and what it truly means to be a family. 'Moving and uplifting' THE SUN'Told with warmth and charm' WOMAN & HOME'Has all the feels' HEAT'Mike is the master of heart-warming stories' RUTH HOGAN'One of our times' greatest storytellers' JENNY COLGANReaders LOVE Mike Gayle⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I just adored it'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'No one tugs at the heartstrings like Mike Gayle'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The characters were so real to me'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Emotional, warm and edifying in all the right ways'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'So well written, with such powerful and emotional story lines'

There's nothing quite like family. Except family on holiday . . . When Cal loses his beloved wife Nikki, and his teenage step-daughter Zoe moves out to live with her father, his whole world falls apart. But life works in mysterious ways. And when a prestigious university wants to pay tribute to Nikki with a posthumous award in Zurich, Cal sees an opportunity to both honour his wife, and mend things with Zoe. The plan is a European inter-railing trip to Zurich - but what Cal hasn't anticipated is Zoe lying to her father about it, and inviting their other relatives to join too. What starts off as a very awkward family reunion - punctuated with some sightseeing - quickly takes a turn as tempers fray, secrets are revealed, and the pent-up grief they're all still carrying is unleashed. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, David Nicholls and Nick Hornby, ON WE GO is a funny, moving and powerful story about love, loss and what it truly means to be a family. 'Moving and uplifting' THE SUN 'Told with warmth and charm' WOMAN & HOME 'Has all the feels' HEAT 'Mike is the master of heart-warming stories' RUTH HOGAN 'One of our times' greatest storytellers' JENNY COLGAN Readers LOVE Mike Gayle 'I just adored it' 'No one tugs at the heartstrings like Mike Gayle' 'The characters were so real to me' 'Emotional, warm and edifying in all the right ways' 'So well written, with such powerful and emotional story lines'

The greatest adventure is coming back home.Lila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby and she's very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city's Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that's how she meets Connor.Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street and he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.The uplifting and heartfelt new novel from the author of A Song of Me and You.'Moving, uplifting, unforgettable. Mike always writes from the heart and creates stories we fall in love with' Lisa Jewell'Full of relatable characters and as Mike takes us on a journey through all their high and lows and we're with them every step of the way . . . A wonderful story' Ruth Hogan'Poignant. Powerful. Beautiful' Milly Johnson'Funny, real and unexpected, a story that will keep you hooked to the very last page' Alexandra PotterREADERS LOVE MIKE GAYLE'A heartwarming story of friendship, love and never giving up''Wow what a book! His best work yet in my opinion. I absolutely fell in love with it from the first page''I'm genuinely sad to have finished this book. Mike Gayle has written a beautiful, uplifting and personal novel filled with love, friendship, triumphs and trials and I know I will think about this book for a long time.''Mike Gayle writes to our hearts and he does it better than anyone else I've read. I just want to live in his world forever.'

Dave Harding''s got a wonderful wife, a beautiful home, and a job he could do in his sleep... So no one is more surprised than Dave when he hears his own biological clock start ticking. Loudly. Unfortunately, his better half, Izzy, has no nine-month plan for fat ankles or a credit line at Baby Gap. With even worse timing, the music magazine Dave writes for folds. Desperate for work, he''s forced to become an advice columnist for a teen magazine. But he''s about to get a serious wake-up call. Wading through letter after letter of adolescent angst is the last thing Dave wants to do, especially since he could use some help dealing with his own. But one letter is about to make all his little problems disappear -- and replace them with one big one. The letter is from a teenage girl named Nicola. But she doesn''t need advice about boys, or friends, or the latest fads. She''s looking for her father, whom she''s never met. She''s looking for a man to call Dad. She''s looking for Dave.

What''s the big deal? Unlike a lot of people, Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. His twenties really weren''t so great...and now he has his love life, his career, his finances -- even his record collection -- pretty much in order, like any good grown-up should. But when, out of the blue, Elaine announces she "can''t do this anymore," Matt is left with the prospect of facing the big three-oh alone. Compounding his misery is the fact that he has to move back in with his parents. What''s it all about, Alfie? Mum and Dad immediately start driving Matt up the wall, and emails from Elaine and nights out with his old school chum Gershwin aren''t enough to snap Matt out of his existential funk. So he decides to track down more old schoolmates and see how they''re handling this thirty thing. One by one, he gets in touch with the rest of the magnificent seven -- Pete, Bev, Katrina, Elliot, and Ginny, his former on-off girlfriend -- and soon the old gang is back together. But they''re a lot older and a lot has changed and, even if he and Ginny still seem attracted to each other, you can''t have an on-off girlfriend when you''re thirty. Can you?

The Stag and Hen Weekend is the story of Phil and Helen, a couple in their thirties about to commit their lives to one another . . . that is of course if they can just manage to get through their respective stag and hen weekends (his: Amsterdam; hers: a country house and day spa in the Peak District) without falling apart. Told in the unique form of two separate stories that have common characters as well as themes and conclusion, The Stag and Hen Weekend can be read from front to back or from back to front putting the reader in the driver's seat as to which story they wish to read first. Feisty, fun and thought provoking.

From My Legendary Girlfriend to Half a World Away, Mike Gayle's bestselling novels have taken his millions of readers through many key times for the modern man - friendship, courtship, stag weekends, marriage, work, holidays, significant birthdays - and Seeing Other People is no different. A heart-warming, heart-stopping, and heart-breaking novel.Joe Clarke is about 78% sure he's just had an affair. Well, that is the beautiful office intern in bed next to him...But, if Joe really has just cheated, why can't he remember anything about it? Confused but mortified Joe vows to be a better husband and father. Until his wife Penny puts two and two together and leaves him.Devastated, Joe will do anything to win his family back. But when he realises that the key to saving his marriage lies in the hands of the mean-spirited ghost of his least favourite ex-girlfriend, Joe knows he's in real trouble. Seeing Other People is a hilarious and bittersweet novel about love, parenthood and fidelity and how easy it is to get lost on the way to your own happy ending.

Unlike most people Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. At last, he thinks his career, finances and love life are all sorted. But life has other plans, and after splitting up with his girlfriend Matt is forced to move back in with his parents.This scenario soon has Matt feeling nostalgic, and desperate for some sanity. So, one by one, he tracks down his old school mates - the rest of the Magnificent Seven.But when you're turning thirty nothing's as simple as it used to be.

A compelling and emotional novel, for fans of Jojo Moyes and Jenny Colgan.'With a style similar to David Nicholls, Gayle's writing is incisive, lyrical and very beautiful . . . It's impossible not to fall in love with the Hope family' Irish IndependentTom Hope is broken. Ever since his wife Laura died he hasn't been the same man, and definitely not the same father. Luckily for Tom his mother-in-law Linda is around to pick up the pieces and look after his two struggling daughters, Evie and Lola. But Tom getting arrested on the first anniversary of his wife's death is the last straw for Linda.In a last bid attempt to make Tom reconnect with his daughters she takes drastic action and leaves for Australia. With two fast-maturing daughters Tom has to learn how to accept his responsibilities and navigate the newly discovered world of single fatherhood - starting immediately. With only himself to rely on, will Tom fall back into grief or finally step up and be the father his girls need?Order Mike's brilliant new novel A Song of Me and You now!