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 . This witty, warm and moving book examines a wealth of different relationships with an honesty and reality that is Mike Gayle’s trademark.

A Song of Me and You by Mike Gayle | Goodreads

empathetic, there are light touches of well-placed humour*, it’s moving and very poignant, especially at the end. Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold. Despite the example of their own parents' enduring marriage, the three Bachelor brothers show no signs of settling down. Twenty years later, mother-of-two-teenagers Helen is still in Manchester, a part-time primary teacher, stunned by the behaviour of her love-rat husband.Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur. I've loved every Mike Gayle title I've tried, and though I really liked this too, it constantly felt very cliché, as though I knew what every future step was going to be for the characters, and a better-class Mills and Boon. The past is about to catch up with both of them in a way that which will change their lives forever, unexpectedly. I became so engrossed in Helen and Ben’s story, learning about when they were teenagers and each others first loves. Knee deep in the adolescent outpourings of his readership, Dave opens one letter from a girl who doesn’t want advice about boys – she wants to know about Dave.

A Song of Me and You: The escapist pageturner of the summer A Song of Me and You: The escapist pageturner of the summer

Luckily, however, his mother-in-law Linda is there to pick up the pieces and look after his two struggling daughters, Evie and Lola. 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. Now, twenty years later, Helen is a mother of two teenagers, still living in Manchester and working as part time teacher, whilst at the lowest point in her life, stunned by the behaviour of her love-ray husband. The ending was also a letdown as it meanders into unnecessary unrealistic threads and failed to salvage what little was left.I love the idea that he is attempting to come back to his roots in this book in a sense but only subconsciously, consciously he has made a decision to try and escape it all and I think that was incredibly brave of him. It is heartwarming to be part of Ben and Helen’s story and see if they can rekindle their friendship and love for each other. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. She is surprised to say the very least to find a man she hasn't seen for decades- Ben- someone she used to go out with in her teens. What I wasn’t prepared for was the shocking turn in the narrative that sent it spinning off in a direction I didn’t want it to.

A Song of Me and You by Mike Gayle | Hachette UK A Song of Me and You by Mike Gayle | Hachette UK

This is a book that made me smile with nostalgy at the teenage love, nod my head at the family dynamics so well captured and in the end made me shed some tears. There’s so many moments in this story that make you laugh, make you angry, make your heart hurt and make you smile. Feiner added: “To celebrate 25 years of being published is a phenomenal achievement and it is wonderful to see the plans coming together for this special anniversary year. He's trying to escape the negative aspects of his life in Los Angeles and just wanted a quick catch up with Helen before moving on with his life. I did occasionally feel a little bit like Adam was being made too much the villain, because why on earth did she ever marry him if this is who he was?We are so excited about the paperback of Mike’s brilliant novel The Museum of Ordinary People, and then A Song of Me and You, which is heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, will take things to another level again. Until a chance encounter throws them back together and 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 right?