A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that will warm your heart! Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Marian Keyes, Kathleen Whyman and Caroline James.
Is it ever too late to start again…?
Erika Forde has always played second fiddle to her husband David, the famous novelist. But since their son, Matt, left home for university, cracks have started to show in their marriage.
Erika has long had a nagging suspicion that David may not always have been faithful, and now his latest books are starting to wane in popularity causing erratic moods that are affecting Erika.
But while David’s career starts to dip, Erika’s advertising agency is on the up.
Erika’s creative genius wins the agency a huge client in Stable Denim, but her life is thrown into turmoil when one of the models cast for the campaign turns out to be her ex-boyfriend, Enzo.
Has Enzo been sent back into Erika’s life for a reason? Is it time for her to reevaluate her marriage?
Or should some things be left in the past…?
WHEN WE WERE US is a second chance love story, that shows the ups and downs of family life with buckets of humour and wit.
Purchase Links –
https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-We-Were-Us-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B0CLKX49FM
https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Were-Us-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B0CLKX49FM
Patricia Caliskan’s latest novel, WHEN WE WERE US, will be released in February 2024.
GIRLFRIEND, INTERRUPTED, was released by Sapere Books, June 2018.
Her debut novel, AWFUL BY COMPARISON, was released in August 2016.
Told with mischievous humour, Patricia Caliskan’s stories explore family dynamics, office politics, and the divergent roles of women throughout their lives.
Patricia began her writing career as an arts and entertainment journalist, before joining Reach PLC as commercial editor across a portfolio of magazine titles.
Patricia likes a nice, flouncy scarf, a good pair of boots, and laughter. Lots of laughter. Otherwise life feels far too grown-up for her liking.
Social Media Links –
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/patriciacaliskanauthor/?locale=en_GB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriciacaliskanauthor/
X: https://twitter.com/Caliskaniverse_
~Guest post~
WHEN WE WERE US follows Erika Forde as she delves into questions surrounding her marriage, and revisits choices she made in the past.
As Erika turns forty-two-years-old, her career is on the up, her son, Matt, has happily dived into life at LIPA, but she’s feeling increasingly restless. For starters, her own body is becoming the great unknown as she navigates perimenopause, and then there’s the growing suspicion she feels about her husband, David.
David Daniel Forde is a former best-selling novelist, striving to scale former professional heights as he prepares to release his latest novel. While Erika has always been supportive of David’s career, it’s his increasingly erratic behavior which begins to spark questions.
Aside from his maniacal approach to household recycling, he appears to have moved into the garage without so much as a farewell, and once those initial book reviews come out, she knows her marriage is going to be far from plain sailing. And that’s before Matt gets involved to really add fuel to the fire.
As the novel unravels, Erika’s work and home life begin to collide with the arrival of Enzo Morelli. A surprising face from her past, Enzo soon becomes a confidant, but as we soon discover, he has plenty of questions of his own.
When We Were Us was such a pleasure to write, with the novel spanning twenty years of friendships, relationships, and impulsive choices which are about to firmly embed themselves in the present. Erika Forde is such an interesting woman, with so much to share. I find writing slightly older characters rich with possibility and ripe for offering surprises.
I also took the opportunity to have Erika acknowledge perimenopause, which is especially explored within her friendship with Polly, as is the monetisation of women’s health and wellbeing. It was important to me to write about perimenopause in response to the growing conversation among women, all increasingly frustrated by a lack of support, and a lack of real understanding into how to approach and navigate symptoms. It became vital to talk to readers who might be experiencing this, as will we all, as we eventually arrive at this point.
Aside from David, Erika’s pompous and often ridiculous husband, I also chart a host of midlife male characters. There’s the mischievous and beguiling eternal bachelor, Richard Harrington, who heads up the Linga Franca advertising agency, where Erika delivers creative content. And, of course, Enzo Morelli. Her brother’s childhood friend, Enzo was Erika’s first love, and despite their undeniable spark, things between them never quite lit. Now, both in their forties, they find themselves back in each other’s lives during a time when they could both use a friend.
Erika Forde is not your typical romantic heroine. Erika isn’t looking for a knight in shining armor, or blue jeans for that matter, but seeking out the truth in a life which she starts to discover has been built on so many lies. Just as she least expects it, Erika follows a chain of events which will reveal her past and have a huge impact on the shape of her future.
