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The Lad-Lit Series #3
BARMAN
Meet the Barman, always smiling, eager to please, he has no past, no future, perpetually in the present, waiting to serve. But behind that barman mask, in his real life, things have gone very wrong, and he has just twenty two pills to tell his story.
This is a story of love, laughter, loss, sex, anger and hatred, each served up in a shot glass waiting for you to sling it back down your throat ready for the next.
So pull up a pew, get comfy, now what y‘avin?
This is a story of love, laughter, loss, sex, anger and hatred, each served up in a shot glass waiting for you to sling it back down your throat ready for the next.
So pull up a pew, get comfy, now what y‘avin?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2016
8 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Rob Radcliffe
72 books17 followersRob Radcliffe was born and raised in Lancashire, England. He is a fiction author and novelist, and newly formed bloggist (it’s catchier than blogger).
He spends the majority of his days with his head in the clouds, sometimes coming back down to earth just long enough to turn those daydreams into stories by actually writing them down.
Rob writes across several genres, ‘lad’ lit (which would be chick-lit’s naughty younger brother), thrillers, and sci-fi.
Despite his appearance in his head shot, Rob does come in colour…and usually with both ears.
Rob’s books are a mixture of coming of age testosterone, action, humour and general silliness. A great place to start would be at the beginning of each book, he feels they work better that way.
He spends the majority of his days with his head in the clouds, sometimes coming back down to earth just long enough to turn those daydreams into stories by actually writing them down.
Rob writes across several genres, ‘lad’ lit (which would be chick-lit’s naughty younger brother), thrillers, and sci-fi.
Despite his appearance in his head shot, Rob does come in colour…and usually with both ears.
Rob’s books are a mixture of coming of age testosterone, action, humour and general silliness. A great place to start would be at the beginning of each book, he feels they work better that way.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2025
Where to start....this book follows on years later after Stu met Chrissy at the end of Escorting Eric. They have a little boy, but not everything is all roses and light in the relationship.
You follow Stu through his past and present in this book, how he got to this point in his life, and oh, doesn't it give you an insight into his life. It's quite the comparison to the first two books.
The fight he has for Archie to keep him in his life after the relationship turns sour, the sadistic ex that is intent on making his life a misery with lies and torment.
Stu gets a job as a Barman, and with that comes said friendships, one night stands, unwanted pregnancy, alcohol infused drug parties, and fun but at what cost.
His cost of happiness ultimately, as all he wants, is to be part of his little boys life.
The ending in this story is a major unexpected turn, which hopefully will become clear in the next book to this series.
This book will still have you laughing, some unexpected laughs for sure, but also will test your emotions.
Saying all the above, I really enjoyed this book, and I couldn't put it down. You just want to keep on reading to find out more about where this journey takes you and Stu.
You follow Stu through his past and present in this book, how he got to this point in his life, and oh, doesn't it give you an insight into his life. It's quite the comparison to the first two books.
The fight he has for Archie to keep him in his life after the relationship turns sour, the sadistic ex that is intent on making his life a misery with lies and torment.
Stu gets a job as a Barman, and with that comes said friendships, one night stands, unwanted pregnancy, alcohol infused drug parties, and fun but at what cost.
His cost of happiness ultimately, as all he wants, is to be part of his little boys life.
The ending in this story is a major unexpected turn, which hopefully will become clear in the next book to this series.
This book will still have you laughing, some unexpected laughs for sure, but also will test your emotions.
Saying all the above, I really enjoyed this book, and I couldn't put it down. You just want to keep on reading to find out more about where this journey takes you and Stu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2023
This is classic British humor, but with a raw twist in Barman. It brings together core characters from the previous books, and follows the latter life of what becomes the Barman. From domestic normality, to drink and drug induced partying, and a final horrific crash, the Barman is the victim of his girlfriend’s isolation withholding contact with his son, and his own mounting personal and physical abuses.
Hold on. It is a well written but raw commentary on the back side of the Bar Scene.
This is reviewing the new, revised March 2023 edition (all series books have been re-released).
I was able to Beta read the manuscript.
Hold on. It is a well written but raw commentary on the back side of the Bar Scene.
This is reviewing the new, revised March 2023 edition (all series books have been re-released).
I was able to Beta read the manuscript.
January 25, 2026
Just wow. All emotions rolled into one book. I laughed and I cried. It has really made me view relationships from the opposing genders point of view. This one is not for the faint hearted with lots of sexual references, suicide, anger and relationships in many forms. As always Rob Radcliffe doesn’t disappoint.
July 26, 2016
Copied from my Amazon review, I was given a copy of this book for an honest review
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There isn't much I can say about this story that isn't already in the blurb or by other Amazon reviewers so instead I'd like to praise the style of writing as something I really enjoyed.
The story takes place in present time and past events leading up to the present in alternating chapters. The juxtaposition of the present chapters where the protagonist is becoming progressively worse and the past chapters where things seem to be looking up for him are what really made the novel. It made you want to read 'just one more chapter' to make you try and understand just what went wrong when his life seemed to be on the up - the Barman always had secrets but it isn't until the final few chapters in the story where the lines seem to blur between past and present that you understand how his life has come to be. Because of this alternation it paces the novel brilliantly; the fast paced and often hilarious tales of his life as an alcopop slinging Casanova to the unhurried man with a broken heart keep you on your toes just waiting to find out what happened next.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could with my only criticism, for want of a better word, would be with the surprise development at the end. It is difficult to word without giving away something important but I would have preferred a couple more ‘hints’ through the novel as it ran the risk of feeling a little tacked on. I’m sure a second read through would prove that to not be the case and I think it’s just personal opinion as it does not detract from the novel.
This novel is hilarious and heartbreaking, completely relatable and utterly unthinkable and well worth the read. Rob has done a brilliant job with this and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
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There isn't much I can say about this story that isn't already in the blurb or by other Amazon reviewers so instead I'd like to praise the style of writing as something I really enjoyed.
The story takes place in present time and past events leading up to the present in alternating chapters. The juxtaposition of the present chapters where the protagonist is becoming progressively worse and the past chapters where things seem to be looking up for him are what really made the novel. It made you want to read 'just one more chapter' to make you try and understand just what went wrong when his life seemed to be on the up - the Barman always had secrets but it isn't until the final few chapters in the story where the lines seem to blur between past and present that you understand how his life has come to be. Because of this alternation it paces the novel brilliantly; the fast paced and often hilarious tales of his life as an alcopop slinging Casanova to the unhurried man with a broken heart keep you on your toes just waiting to find out what happened next.
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could with my only criticism, for want of a better word, would be with the surprise development at the end. It is difficult to word without giving away something important but I would have preferred a couple more ‘hints’ through the novel as it ran the risk of feeling a little tacked on. I’m sure a second read through would prove that to not be the case and I think it’s just personal opinion as it does not detract from the novel.
This novel is hilarious and heartbreaking, completely relatable and utterly unthinkable and well worth the read. Rob has done a brilliant job with this and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
November 16, 2016
After reading Meat Market, I wasn't really expecting this book to be as it was. There was a similarity of blokes, but there was a dark under belly of the novel, that kept on popping up. The story is set in the past & present, with the past creating a light diversion, but then, every so often you think "hold on, what's going on".... but then the past whisks you away into an escapists world. Well worth the read. Even the authors notes at the end made readers of "Meat Market" sit up and think. A good twist at the end is always fun... and one was delivered.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews