One Night at the Jacaranda

One man dying of cancer. One struggling journalist. A group of single Londoners. One night that changes everything. The trouble with speed dating is that three minutes can last a lifetime, and ever since he was diagnosed, Sanjay doesn’t have a lifetime to waste. For one booze and hope-fuelled night, the lives of a group of 30-somethings criss-cross. As well as Sanjay, lawyer Laure, divorced doctor Geoff, beleaguered mother-of-four Karen and traumatised ex-con Dan all face each other across the Jacaranda’s tables in their quest for love, solace or amazing sex. Undercover journalist Harriet is after a by-line, not a boyfriend. She’s a struggling freelance with a live-in lover, who unexpectedly has to choose between the comfortable life she knows and a bumpy road that could lead to happiness. As Laure, Sanjay, Geoff, Harriet, Karen, Dan and the rest of the bunch discover, it’s not just about finding someone who’s dynamite between the sheets. It’s about finding yourself, and that’s not always where you expect. “A gripping story about a group of people searching for love, sex and everything in between. Cooper's ability to depict characters and situations that feel real is superb. Not just a household name as a medic, Cooper clearly has a future as a great fiction writer. At times dark, at times laugh out loud funny, this snapshot of dating in London stays with you long after the final page.” Martel Maxwell, author of Scandalous. “It’s sassy and classy in equal measures, and written with real medical knowledge. A must.” Dr Pixie McKenna, media doctor and presenter on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies. “Contemporary fiction for intelligent grown-ups. The characters are real, the medical details are spot on, and the sex scenes are utterly believable – which doesn’t often happen in novels. There are some dark and difficult issues, but they are dealt with in a sympathetic and readable way. An absolute joy." Christine Webber, author and psychotherapist.