This novel was shortlisted for the first HQÑ award.

There are some things a man should simply never permit. He shouldn’t allow his hair to fall out before his thirtieth birthday, it’s inadmissible that football’s ...

This novel was shortlisted for the first HQÑ award.

There are some things a man should simply never permit. He shouldn’t allow his hair to fall out before his thirtieth birthday, it’s inadmissible that football’s no longer on TV, a girl can never beat him at a videogame, no-one is allowed to buy his personal copy of Playboy from the newsstand on the corner, and his mother can’t stop doing his washing. All this is totally inacceptable, but there’s something even more important that he simply can’t allow: never, ever, in his whole life, under any circumstances or on any occasion should any man worth his salt allow his girlfriend to meet the more attractive, more clever and more successful person than him who just happens to be his best friend. And much less allow them to talk in private! And much, much less to sleep with each other.

My name is Carlos Martínez, the woman I’m talking about is my girlfriend, he’s my best friend too and everything I just mentioned happened to me. But fortunately I’m not alone in this melodrama. There’s Rey, my friend, spiritual advisor and constant support, and Oscar, who’s quick to put out any fires in my emotional neighbourhood. Because when your girlfriend sleeps with one of your best friends it’s not just a fire, it’s an atomic bomb going off, requiring special attention. And my friends are experts when it comes to stoically putting up with my dramatic explosions. Obviously, not everything’s what it seems and I may have got the wrong end of the stick in all this. Which is what tends to happen when it’s a man telling the story. We get lost among all the emotional paraphenalia. Or maybe it’s just what happens when it’s me telling the story - I’m a man and on top of it all I’m me. I don’t know. Anyway, you’ll just have to read this story to find out.

“A fresh and contemporary romantic novel with the very interesting distinction of having been written by a man and from the perspective of the lead male character. It doesn’t matter what your gender is, if you’re looking for an entertaining book, don’t miss out on Carlos, Paula and Company, a streetwise comic novel about relationships with no pretentions. Fernando Alcalá knows what he’s doing and has achieved a sincere, spontaneous voice that avoids raucousness and vulgarity. This appealing, fresh and addictive tale demonstrates that good romantic comedy can be born outside the English-speaking market.” Devoradora de Libros

“Written with pace and a light touch. But above all, I love this novel’s honesty. Carlos is a genuine character not trying to be a superman. If he needs to cry, he does, if he needs to run and buy cake, he does. I recommend reading this book. It’s good to know how men think from time to time.” La Ventana de los Libros