When We Were Young

A tender and funny story about wanting to go back - when you know it's time to move on.

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Theo has been living in his parents' shed, nursing a broken heart and a wounded ego, convinced life can't get any worse. Then he gets evicted on his 30th birthday. Theo thinks he's done with the real world - until it shows up on his doorstep...

Joel is a successful TV scriptwriter, still in love with his teenage sweetheart. A proper grown-up - and yet he's falling apart at the seams. He's headed home to reconnect with best friend Theo - except they haven't spoken since the summer they turned 16.

One of them is keeping a secret, and the other is living a lie. But can the promise they once made to walk all 184 miles of the Thames Path help them find their way back to the truth - and to their friendship?

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Your favourite authors have loved reading Richard Roper's uplifting first novel, Something to Live For:

'A magnificent read. Tender, funny, compelling' Lucy Foley

'Funny, moving and thought-provoking - I loved this' Clare Mackintosh

'I adored this! It warmed my heart, broke it a little, then put it back together' Beth O'Leary

'Funny, fresh and achingly tender. Richard's writing hooked me in from the very first page' Cathy Bramley

'A life-affirming novel that simultaneously tweaks your funny-bone and tugs at your heartstrings. Brilliant!' Matt Dunn

'It pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart' Gill Hornby

“A lovely read.”

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG is such a warm, uplifting read. It's a celebration of the bond we have with our oldest friends, and it's so funny, without ever losing its poignancy - Richard Roper writes humour so brilliantly. Beth O'Leary
Following up the wonderfully heartwarming 'Something To Live For', Richard Roper is two for two with 'When We Were Young', an equally absorbing and heartfelt tale of past mistakes and friendship lost but never forgotten. Wholly relatable, with a compelling central pair, this novel will take you back to your past and might make you think about making some changes to your present. A joyful summer read. Owen Nicholls, author of LOVE, UNSCRIPTED
A funny and heartwarming story. -- Claire Frost FABULOUS
A funny, breezy summer read that digs deep into the richly fertile territory of male friendship... The tone is acutely funny, like a hard-hitting buddy movie dreamed up by Nick Hornby and David Nicholls... Roper is very good on the truths men hide from themselves as well as from each other. -- Claire Allfree METRO
BELLA
A beautifully written comedy with strong Withnail And I overtones. -- Wendy Holden DAILY MAIL
Quirky and moving, we iove this tale of secrets and the bittersweet realities of growing up. TAKE A BREAK
Heartbreaking yet uplifting WOMAN'S WEEKLY
Nothing will make you want to grab and hug your best mate more than this heart-warming tale. -- Anna Matheson SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE

Richard Roper grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, before studying English at the University of Sheffield. He now lives in London, where he works as an editor. His first novel, SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR, has been translated into 19 languages. He is @richardroper on twitter and instagram. He can also be found at

A tender and funny story about wanting to go back - when you know it's time to move on. --------- Theo has been living in his parents' shed, nursing a broken heart and a wounded ego, convinced life can't get any worse. Then he gets evicted on his 30th birthday. Theo thinks he's done with the real world - until it shows up on his doorstep... Joel is a successful TV scriptwriter, still in love with his teenage sweetheart. A proper grown-up - and yet he's falling apart at the seams. He's headed home to reconnect with best friend Theo - except they haven't spoken since the summer they turned 16.One of them is keeping a secret, and the other is living a lie. But can the promise they once made to walk all 184 miles of the Thames Path help them find their way back to the truth - and to their friendship? --------- Your favourite authors have loved reading Richard Roper's uplifting first novel, Something to Live For : 'A magnificent read. Tender, funny, compelling' Lucy Foley 'Funny, moving and thought-provoking - I loved this' Clare Mackintosh 'I adored this! It warmed my heart, broke it a little, then put it back together' Beth O'Leary 'Funny, fresh and achingly tender. Richard's writing hooked me in from the very first page' Cathy Bramley 'A life-affirming novel that simultaneously tweaks your funny-bone and tugs at your heartstrings. Brilliant!' Matt Dunn 'It pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart' Gill Hornby

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