R.J. Gould – författare

Warm, witty British fiction about a man in his forties whose marriage and career have both curdled, and the arts café he dreams of opening as a fresh start. Character driven and hopeful, with second chances, family friction, midlife reinvention and late blooming love.His wife left him for his best friend. His boss thinks kindness is a character flaw. But David’s not done dreaming yet.At forty-three, David Willoughby’s life is a mess. He’s stuck in a soulless job, navigating his daughter’s simmering anger, his boss’ biting sarcasm, and his ex-wife’s meddling, while living in a house that feels more like a museum of mistakes than a home. Then, at a school reunion he nearly skipped, he sees Bridget—and remembers what it’s like to dream.Armed with a list titled How to Change My Life, the top point being opening an arts café and winning the heart of the gorgeous Bridget, David sets out to realise his dreams. But to rebuild his world, David must first figure out who he is without the life he thought he’d always have.Dream Café is the first book in the At the Dream Café series—perfect for readers who love witty, character-driven fiction about second chances, messy families, and finding love (and laughter) the second time around.Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award for first novel, 2016 (Dream Cafe)Feature contributor for various publications, including Writing Magazine and Pen to PrintVarious presentations covering The MAN in RoMANce eg Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference and regional workshops, University of the Third Age, PentoPrint, Cambridge WritersPraise for Dream Café:★★★★★ "Dream Café is exactly the kind of story I love—funny, heartfelt, and rooted in the ups and downs of real life."★★★★★ "You don’t have to be middle aged to read it... those of an age or older will recognise the feelings, hope, embarrassment and enlightenment."★★★★★ "I followed along and couldn't stop reading. It was true life and I could see myself in some of the situations."★★★★★ "A witty, warm tale of love, life and fresh starts."★★★★★ "This is a warm tale, easy to read, totally relatable and well-written."★★★★★ "A man facing life’s problems and not giving up."★★★★★ "Richard Gould has the dreaded mid-life crisis down to a T."★★★★★ "The main characters are totally believable and drawn with wit and insight."★★★★★ "This story definitely held my attention!"★★★★★ "It was fun, lighthearted, and I would read more by this author!"

A sharp, warm comedy of marriage and midlife set on one north London street, where two ill-matched couples and a quietly curious new neighbour upend each other's carefully arranged lives. Witty British fiction about reinvention, friendship and the lives we build by accident.They moved house. The baggage came with them.Emma and Andrew have finally bought their dream home. Just two doors down, Kelly and Darren are reluctantly downsizing — and not exactly doing it gracefully. While the wives bond over wine and daydreams of faraway places, their husbands chafe at every interaction.Andrew quotes Shakespeare and avoids confrontation. Darren thinks Muswell Hill is “Wokeland” and has strong opinions about recycling bins. Then Mrs Hall moves into the house in between them—a quietly curious neighbour with a knack for asking the wrong questions—and nothing on the street can ever stay the same.As fences go up and tempers fray, long-buried frustrations rise to the surface. Vows are questioned. Friendships are tested. And everyone starts to wonder if the life they’ve built still fits who they are.Darren, Andrew and Mrs Hall is the second standalone novel in the At the Dream Café series—perfect for readers who love real life, wit, and a whole lot of heart, where midlife messiness meets unexpected connection.Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award for first novel, 2016 (Dream Cafe)Feature contributor for various publications, including Writing Magazine and Pen to PrintVarious presentations covering The MAN in RoMANce eg Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference and regional workshops, University of the Third Age, PentoPrint, Cambridge WritersPraise for Darren, Andrew and Mrs Hall:★★★★★ "Brilliant story, well-rounded characters—I love all his books."★★★★★ "The wives’ friendship was endearing."★★★★★ "Through the ups and downs I just wanted to see where these couples were going to end up."★★★★★ "Full of depth. The writing brought each character to life and I felt like I could see the story play out in my mind’s eye."★★★★★ "This is a feel-good book."★★★★★ "The plot of this book had me curious and it did not disappoint."★★★★★ "It explores relationships through good times and bad."★★★★★ "It reminded me of The Odd Couple, but with actual couples."★★★★★ "I enjoyed the gentle turbulence shared between the couples."

She left Idaho chasing a dream. What she found was unexpected love.Jennifer believed Hollywood would be her big break. Instead, she’s waiting tables in a crumbling LA diner, wondering how she ended up serving toast to hungover B-listers. Enter Gareth: quiet, clever, and unmistakably Welsh. A connection sparks—improbable, but oddly irresistible.From California and the Carolinas to a chilly London flat, their story unfolds. But when Gareth’s tangled past finally surfaces—his job, his marriage, his version of the truth—Jennifer finds herself penniless, heartbroken, and stranded in a country where she doesn’t even understand the sarcasm.Now a regular at the Dream Café and slowly rebuilding a life of her own, Jennifer is no longer simply that woman who left Idaho. But when Gareth resurfaces—full of apologies and good intentions—she has to decide: can you forgive the person who helped you believe in yourself again… but then let you down?The American Woman is the third standalone in the At the Dream Café series—witty, emotionally layered fiction for readers who love second chances, romantic misfires, and finding your footing far from home.Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award for first novel, 2016 (Dream Cafe)Feature contributor for various publications, including Writing Magazine and Pen to PrintVarious presentations covering The MAN in RoMANce eg Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference and regional workshops, University of the Third Age, PentoPrint, Cambridge Writers__________________________________Praise for The American Woman:★★★★★ "I was rooting for her to achieve her dreams."★★★★★ "A fantastic book… loved the travelling around part of the story."★★★★★ "Jennifer was brave to do what she did, and I was happy where she ended up."★★★★★ "The flashback chapters were handled beautifully."★★★★★ "Loved the community feel."★★★★★ "I found Jennifer to be really interesting."★★★★★ "It was inspiring to see her muddling through her difficult times."★★★★★ "This book works as a standalone perfectly (although now I want to read the others)."★★★★★ "The author is very good at sharing descriptions of places and characters."★★★★★ "I’m definitely going to look out for more books by this author."

Laurie’s running the club. Helen’s running out of patience.When the chairman of the tennis club resigns in disgrace, reluctant Laurie finds himself in charge—paired with the razor-sharp Helen as his new deputy, and an unexpected spark between them that neither is quite ready to acknowledge. Their first challenge? Moving club meetings to the Dream Café while the clubhouse gets a long-overdue rebuild.What could go wrong?Try a builder who’s stopped answering his phone, a WhatsApp group veering into scandal, and a middle-aged flirt who treats the club like a dating app. Then Helen’s ready to move things forward with Laurie, but he keeps pulling back—and not just because of tennis politics. There’s something weighing on him, something he’s not ready to share.As late night meetings turn into something more, Laurie and Helen must figure out what teamwork really means—on and off the court, in love and in life.Team Spirit is the fourth standalone novel in the At the Dream Café series—ideal for fans of dry wit, romance and the beautiful chaos of trying to hold a community together.  Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award for first novel, 2016 (Dream Cafe)Feature contributor for various publications, including Writing Magazine and Pen to PrintVarious presentations covering The MAN in RoMANce eg Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference and regional workshops, University of the Third Age, PentoPrint, Cambridge Writers________________________________Praise for Team Spirit: ★★★★★ ""Brilliantly written and exactly the sort of thing that happens in clubs of all kinds."" ★★★★★ ""The people are true to form."" ★★★★★ ""A couple that met through tennis grow together as they solve problems."" ★★★★★ ""Another gem from Richard Gould."" ★★★★★ ""Back and forth of the barbs during the meeting reflected a hard-fought tennis match."" ★★★★★ ""Characterisation was spot on… but how many of them would you want to play tennis with?"" ★★★★★ ""The pace is brisk."" ★★★★★ ""I liked Laurie and Helen and following their bumpy road to success."" ★★★★★ ""It’s super interesting to get a male author’s take on the world of ‘romance fiction.""

A satirical, warm-hearted romantic comedy about a marriage that implodes after twenty-three contented years, and the chaos of two people trying to find their way back. Humourous British fiction bursting with home truths about midlife, family and forgiveness.Twenty-Three Years of Marriage. One Unexplained Exit.Liz has no idea why she walked out on Hugh. Is she having a midlife crisis? Should he be having one too? Oh dear. Marriage. Just when you think life is sorted.When Liz flees their comfortable family home in Cambridge after twenty-three years of contented marriage, a baffled Hugh is left to figure out why his wife has abandoned him.A succession of twists and turns keeps getting in the way of the normality the couple increasingly crave, as their children, parents and friends discover that immaturity isn't solely the preserve of the young.Mid-life follies is a standalone novel in the Second Chances series, a satirical novel about the fragility of even the most robust relationships, for readers who love marriage-in-crisis comedy, home truths, and humour shot through with compassion. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella.“A tale of self-doubt, adultery and forgiveness shot through with humour and compassion. A most enjoyable read.” David Lister, The Independent“Warm, witty, poignant…characters that stay with you.” June Flath, author of A Secret Affair and Lost and Found“An insightful and enjoyable novel about relationships and life’s changes. Lovely!” EmmabBooks“Modern life is captured in a completely recognizable way, the style is accessible, vivid and entertaining. Best bit of fiction I've read on this theme.”“Laugh out loud funny and completely moving at the same time.”

A tender, humourous novel about a man whose life bottoms out spectacularly, and the two forthright women determined to drag him towards a fresh start. Uplifting, character-driven British fiction with warmth, realism and a wry smile.One Man in Need of an Overhaul. Two Women Determined to Deliver It.Neville Watkin's life is so dismal that surely things can't get any worse. Yes, they can: his wife leaves him, he loses his job, he has a car crash and ends up in hospital.Feisty Laura, the other party in the car crash, befriends him and sets out to turn his life upside down. For reasons he struggles to understand, Caroline, her equally feisty mother, seems to like him. Rather a lot.All in all, things are looking up. But is Neville courageous enough to seize these new opportunities?Nothing Man is a standalone novel in the Second Chances series, a tender and humorous quest for a fresh start, for readers who love underdog heroes, later-life romance, and humour wrapped around real emotion. Perfect for fans of Nick Hornby, Beth O'Leary and Marian Keyes.“More than a feel good read, it’s a feel great read.”“Interesting, funny, sad and so very enjoyable.”“A wonderful observation of life that’s uplifting, humorous and realistic.”“There is a wonderful realism and humanity to the book.”“Utterly refreshing throughout.”“Addictive, well written and full of memorable characters.”“A book that leaves you with a smile on your face.”“An absolute gem told with the perfect amount of humour and emotion.”“A completely unique funny, heartwarming contemporary novel.”

A witty, poignant novel that follows one couple from love at first sight at university through career catastrophe and a marriage on the rocks. Real-life British romance about what happens after happily-ever-after falls apart.They Had It All. Then Came the Hill.There's passing amusement when they discover that their names match those of the nursery rhyme, but any connection with the children's story is long forgotten as their relationship takes off.With their student days over, life couldn't be better: successful careers, a dream home, and top of the list, a marriage made in heaven.Then it starts to go wrong. Very wrong. The nursery rhyme plot is mirrored in reality as Jack falls from grace, his stellar career at the investment bank diving as quickly as it'd soared, and Jill tumbles from her promising teaching career with one crazy act that leaves her reputation at school in tatters.Saddest of all, their marriage is on the rocks. Once they were so close; now they're so distant. Is a second chance possible?Jack and Jill went downhill is a standalone novel in the Second Chances series, a witty, poignant story about love and second chances, for readers who love true-to-life love stories, marriages tested by failure, and humour that lightens the darker moments. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Mhairi McFarlane and Beth O'Leary.“It's not a fairy tale – it’s probably the closest to a real life experience I've ever read.”“A fun, uplifting novel.” David Lister, The Independent“I adored everything about it. An absolutely brilliant true to life romance novel.”“What a refreshing read. A true love story but with a twist.”“Recommended to those with a heart and feelings.”“The characters are real and believable and there is humour to lighten the darker moments.”

Three friends whose university bond was shattered by tragedy meet again after fifty years of silence for one weekend reunion. Reflective, warm-hearted contemporary fiction about ageing, regret and whether an old wound can still be mended.Sandy is about to retire following an illustrious career as editor of an upmarket fashion magazine. Michael can't retire; he thinks his work explaining the dangers of climate change is far too important. Jonathan would like to retire from running his fundraising consultancy, but a family crisis is getting in the way.These three were the best of friends at university before a tragedy wrecked their friendship. That was fifty years ago, and they haven't spoken since.Sandy urges the other two to join her for a weekend reunion. Together they reminisce about their student days, a wild era with its heady mix of free love, drugs and ground-breaking music. They share their life journeys since the Swinging Sixties: the successes and failures, the happiness and despair, their optimism and fears for the future.The reunion is drawing to a close. Dare they tackle the incident that tore them apart, the event that's carried guilt for so many years? If they're to have any chance of reconciliation, they have to. And their time together is nearly up.Then and now is a standalone novel in the Second Chances series, a tale of love, loss and the chance to put things right, for readers who love reunion stories, sixties nostalgia, and friendships given one last chance. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Anne Tyler and Maggie O'Farrell.‘I didn’t just ‘enjoy’ this book. I rapidly became mesmerised by it, lost in it, consumed to the extent that I couldn’t put it down and had to stay up all night to finish inhabiting this timeless take on life, love, risks, wins and losses.’What book review bloggers are writing about the novel:“A gorgeous ray of sunshine of a book. I can’t put into words how much I love this author’s style of writing. The characters truly feel like people you know and their stories are very real but also captivating.” Wrong side of forty‘Loved it all. Enjoyed it. Devoured it. Recommended.’ Between the Pages Book ClubFull of humanity and gentle humour – another wonderful and thought-provoking read from R J Gould.’ Ceri’s Lil BlogA poignant and life affirming read – I absolutely love this author’s books and writing style.’ Rachael, NetGalley reviewer‘Fiction at its best with the characters in the story living on in the reader’s thoughts after the book is read.’ Reading High Reviews‘An amazing book with lives examined, the past slowly revealed, and most of all, the truth told.’ NetGalley reviewer‘I was gripped by this emotional and true to life story.’ Beyond the BooksA fantastic read – a book that really pulls on the heartstrings.’ TBHonest‘I loved Then and now. I was utterly hooked and thought the characters were brilliantly written. A great and superbly written, almost life affirming read.’ Niki, Professional Book Reviewer