Zaffre signs up for two ‘raucously funny and brilliantly observed’ romcoms from screenwriting duo
Photo credit: Ruth Crafer
Zaffre, the flagship commercial fiction imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has signed a two-book deal with authors Simon James Green and screenwriting partner Sarah Counsell for two “raucously funny and brilliantly observed” romantic comedies. Publishing Director Melissa Cox acquired UK & Commonwealth (exc. Canada) rights from Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn .
All The Men We’ve Never Slept With, the first book in the deal, is a chaotically funny, messy, romantic comedy following two best friends, Ben and Charlie, as they try to perfect their life in time for a school reunion. It’s a love letter to the relationships between straight women and gay men that flips the traditional romcom on its head, from a unique writing partnership, YA writer and screenwriter, Simon James Green and his screenwriting partner and housemate, actress Sarah Counsell.
Sarah Counsell has worked extensively as an actress with credits including Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, Fish Tank & Les Misérables, before working in casting on productions such as The Crown, Midwich Cuckoos, Joan and Save Me. As a screen writer Sarah has co-written Rules of Love (BBC) with Simon James Green and Cubicle Two (Official Palm Springs Film Festival Selection). All the Men We’ve Never Slept With is Sarah’s debut novel.
Simon James Green is the award-winning author of seventeen books for children and young adults. His titles include Finn Jones Was Here (an Indie Book of the Month); Noah Can’t Even (picked by WHSmith as one of the most important LGBT books of the last 50 years); Alex in Wonderland (nominated for the Carnegie medal); Heartbreak Boys, (an Indie Next List Pick in the US); You’re the One That I Want (shortlisted for the YA Book Prize), Gay Club! (nominated for the Carnegie Medal); and Boy Like Me (long listed for the Carnegie Medal, and winner of the Readers’ Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards). All the Men We’ve Never Slept Withis his debut adult novel. He lives in London with co-writer Sarah Counsell, sharing a house, three dogs and endless romantic trauma.
Simon James Green and Sarah Counsell said: “Our entire lives, we’ve managed to date a parade of vacuous, ridiculous, narcissistic and plain-awful men. Nothing has worked out, so we thought we would at least try to get a book deal out of all the trauma and disappointment.
We’re delighted this story about the impossible search for Mr Right, finding love in unexpected places, and the special relationship between straight women and gay men has found the perfect home with Zaffre and the fabulous Melissa Cox – a team who immediately understood how a bottle of Gavi and several bags of Kettle Chips can solve many of life’s problems.”
Melissa Cox said: “I fell for Ben and Charlie the moment they popped open the Kylie rosé - they're loveable, relatable and reminded me of the most important friendships I have in my own life. This book is raucously funny and brilliantly observed, like a post-Hinge Richard Curtis romantic comedy mashed up with Motherland for the childfree and single. Sarah and Simon have landed on something both specific and universal that I think readers will love.”
Zaffre publishes All The Men We’ve Never Slept With on the 8th July 2027, with a second book to follow.