The Last Romeo

Book excerpt: Pre-order the new sharp, hilarious Justin Myers novel, LEADING MAN, now! 'If you liked Bridget Jones's Diary, try this' BBC News ***** James is 34 and fed up. His six-year relationship with Adam has imploded, he hates his job making up celebrity gossip, and his best friend Bella has just announced she's moving to Russia. Adrift and single in loved-up London, James needs to break out of his lonely, drunken comfort zone. Encouraged by Bella, he throws himself headlong into online dating, blogging each encounter anonymously as the mysterious Romeo. After meeting a succession of hot/weird/gross men, James has fans and the validation he's always craved. But when his wild night with a closeted Olympian goes viral and sends his Twitter-fame through the roof, James realises maybe, in the search for happy-ever-after, some things are better left un-shared. Seriously, wherefore art thou Romeo . . . From Justin Myers, author of sensational blog The Guyliner, this razor-sharp and cringingly candid account of one man's quest for The One is as sad, fearless and funny as dating itself. ***** 'If you liked Bridget Jones's Diary, try this' BBC News 'So funny and sharp, yet tender and emotional too. I loved it!' Jill Mansell 'I adored The Last Romeo . . . funny, clever and warm' Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt 'Funny, smart, tart' Russell T Davies, creator of BBC drama Torchwood 'A savagely funny and poignant journey' Red Magazine 'A frothy and insightful debut . . . an all-too-recognisable tale of the horrors and joys of attempting to find that special someone' Emerald Street 'A razor-sharp tale, with fabulously drawn characters, crackling dialogue, real emotional heft and a wonderfully acerbic turn of phrase. Great fun' Sunday Mirror 'A book we can all relate to . . . Myers' original take on modern dating is refreshing and timely' GQ 'Myers has a wonderful style... [his] lines are sharp enough to murder' Independent 'Sex and the City meets Bridget Jones's Diary in this sharp and pacey queer rom-com gone wrong for the digital age' Attitude 'We can't remember the last time there was this much buzz in the literary world over a same-sex love story' Indy100 'It's Bridget Jones meets Gossip Girl, and if you loved those, you'll adore this' Look Magazine 'Insightful, heartfelt and witty' Laura Jane Williams 'Myers is a natural raconteur and The Last Romeo is replete with the sharp wit and tenderness that made The Guyliner such a success' Sydney Morning Herald 'What would you get if you were to combine Adrian Mole and almost any Marian Keyes novel? Justin Myers's brilliant debut novel and its lead, James' Sunday Times South Africa 'Extremely funny, with real heart, depth and resonance' Daisy Buchanan 'Warm, witty, wicked and wonderful . . . What an amazing debut' John Marrs, author of The One 'Justin's writing is razor-sharp and so funny . . . I inhaled it in one sitting' Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of Us 'Hilarious and insightful, The Last Romeo is the perfect blend of heart, spark and snark' Isabel Costello, Literary Sofa 'Predictably wise, beautifully written and enormous fun' Marina O'Loughlin