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The Cheesy Dips
SIMON W - Five Stars - VERY FUNNY!"Loved it from the word go and read it in one sitting. Gives hope to failed middle aged blokes everywhere!" Middle-aged Martin has a sexless meal-for-one life and a boring job in a Black Country DIY centre. Following a chance in-store reunion, he persuades his old pal Craig to form a covers band and save him from an unwelcome bromance with Nigel, his nerdy supervisor. Who has a thing for irritable Polish women but still lives at home with his elderly mother and a fridge full of soft cheese.Meanwhile, down in London, the Dafoe twins are busy wrecking their once stellar musical career with a rock-and-roll lifestyle guaranteed to finish them too. Until their exasperated manager stages a furious last ditch intervention. Forcing them to quit London and record on a North Sea island hideaway. Safely tucked away from everything that turned his lucrative cash cow into an absolute nightmare! When these two worlds collide, a hilarious tale of sex, violence and chicken curry unfolds. Resulting in a meteoric rise, right from the bottom, straight to the very top, as the laughs just keep coming!
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
About the author
Eddie Lancaster
9 books19 followersI was born in one of the small towns where Birmingham collides with the Black Country, making me a ‘Yam Yam’. I write comedy novels aimed mainly at my own generation, for folks who enjoy a laugh and don’t take life too seriously; anyone from toilet readers to bored van drivers and those poor souls sitting in a doctors waiting room hoping it’s not bad news. Plots as thin as cigarette paper, held together by a thousand dad gags. Vintage humour from a time before everyone got offended by everything and the difference between a joke and an insult was the expression on the face that said it.
My influences are the ‘golden years’ of film and television - Bless This House, George and Mildred, Carry-On, Man About the House, and more recently, Still Game, Bottom and The Young Ones. There’s a smattering of bad language and the odd knob gag, but very little sex, mainly because I think you have to be good at something in order to write about it! So I usually concentrate on characters who are skint and use them to poke fun at things I probably shouldn’t, subjects I know a lot about, to laugh at a time when life isn’t very funny…
My influences are the ‘golden years’ of film and television - Bless This House, George and Mildred, Carry-On, Man About the House, and more recently, Still Game, Bottom and The Young Ones. There’s a smattering of bad language and the odd knob gag, but very little sex, mainly because I think you have to be good at something in order to write about it! So I usually concentrate on characters who are skint and use them to poke fun at things I probably shouldn’t, subjects I know a lot about, to laugh at a time when life isn’t very funny…
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 8, 2023
So near but so far!
I really should have loved this story, "a hilarious, laugh out loud, comedy page turner....." or so the blurb would have me believe. I read the ratings, mostly 5 stars but, for me at least , it was a damp squid. There were a few moments of quiet amusement but nothing in the laugh out loud category. The plot was original and good but, for some unknown reason, I just couldn't engage with the story. Sorry!
I really should have loved this story, "a hilarious, laugh out loud, comedy page turner....." or so the blurb would have me believe. I read the ratings, mostly 5 stars but, for me at least , it was a damp squid. There were a few moments of quiet amusement but nothing in the laugh out loud category. The plot was original and good but, for some unknown reason, I just couldn't engage with the story. Sorry!
June 19, 2024
A riot of a read with a belly laugh on each page. If you're easily offended, get over yourself by reading this book. Yes, the humour is vintage. But it's good, clean, honest fun. And you can't ask for more than that. Comedy is a difficult genre to master. Eddie Lancaster has managed it. Highly recommended.
April 7, 2025
A good read. A bit daft but I enjoyed it
April 20, 2021
Funny
The characters are all of my own age so I could relate to their escapades. Well written and very readable. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Excellent
The characters are all of my own age so I could relate to their escapades. Well written and very readable. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Excellent
October 23, 2022
Need a LAUGH
Read this story of a mixture of Carry on, Monty python, Confessions of AND a tale guaranteed to make even a millennial smile.
Unsustainable farcical mayhem. Observer
Good old fashioned sexual undertones. The Sun.
I actually finished it. The Financial Times.
Alright the last three lines I made up, but if they reviewed it that is what they would have said.
I loved it.
Read this story of a mixture of Carry on, Monty python, Confessions of AND a tale guaranteed to make even a millennial smile.
Unsustainable farcical mayhem. Observer
Good old fashioned sexual undertones. The Sun.
I actually finished it. The Financial Times.
Alright the last three lines I made up, but if they reviewed it that is what they would have said.
I loved it.
June 22, 2021
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m always a bit suspicious when a book is described as ‘hilarious, laugh out loud’ as they’re often not nearly as funny as claimed and in many cases, not funny at all. However, although I didn’t exactly laugh out loud, I did enjoy the humour in this book, although some of it may well not be understood if you’re ‘not of a certain age’ to fully appreciate some of the remarks. However, it was a happy experience, which, given some of the story-line, it probably shouldn’t have been, but such is the author’s way of putting things, you can’t help being amused instead of horrified. I completely revoke some other reviewers’ opinions that the plot was too involved or there were too many characters and story lines to make sense, or that the later part of the story didn’t tie up; I thought it was brilliantly thought through and was very easy to follow. Yes, it was far-fetched, but honestly, who cares? Most good fiction is far-fetched! It shows the author’s imagination and, as I have an author’s imagination, I connected with it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes (or often) we need far-fetched and good clean amusement (well, I admit sometimes it was a bit messy!) to help us through life, especially in these days when life is a bit of a challenge for many of us.
March 14, 2025
one of the funniest books I have read in a long time there are basically two stories being played out alongside each other but at the end, they crash into each other, so an ex-musician, ex electrician and ex-husband is not working at a DIY store one day when he is late for work he tells his supervisor a little white lie, that escalates into a huge snowball
at the same time, one of the biggest bands around is losing the plot and their manager has to rein them in
through into the mix, a love story and a lot of humour and you have a good read
at the same time, one of the biggest bands around is losing the plot and their manager has to rein them in
through into the mix, a love story and a lot of humour and you have a good read
July 12, 2021
one of the funniest books I have read in a long time there are basically two stories being played out alongside each other but at the end, they crash into each other, so an ex-musician, ex electrician and ex-husband is not working at a DIY store one day when he is late for work he tells his supervisor a little white lie, that escalates into a huge snowball
at the same time, one of the biggest bands around is losing the plot and their manager has to rein them in
through into the mix, a love story and a lot of humour and you have a good read
at the same time, one of the biggest bands around is losing the plot and their manager has to rein them in
through into the mix, a love story and a lot of humour and you have a good read
February 6, 2022
A great light hearted read
I read the reviews as if not heard of the author before. LOL some said. I didn't really believe them but after finishing the book I can concur. Loved it right from the start. A few characters to get used to but the story was well put together. I'm of the same age as the author and main character and found the retro stuff funny and accurate. I recommend
I read the reviews as if not heard of the author before. LOL some said. I didn't really believe them but after finishing the book I can concur. Loved it right from the start. A few characters to get used to but the story was well put together. I'm of the same age as the author and main character and found the retro stuff funny and accurate. I recommend
April 9, 2022
This was a fun read with a few actual laugh out loud moments. Some lovely turns of comic phrases, my favourite being describing someone as 'dead as Sooty and Sweeps legs'.
Hardly a classic piece of writing but for an easy and hysterical read Eddie Lancaster knows how to entertain.
I will be reading more of his witty works.
Hardly a classic piece of writing but for an easy and hysterical read Eddie Lancaster knows how to entertain.
I will be reading more of his witty works.
June 10, 2021
Amazing
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and intend to read another. Lighthearted, well written and no typos that I noticed. Really.good story line, engaging and a good read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and intend to read another. Lighthearted, well written and no typos that I noticed. Really.good story line, engaging and a good read
August 29, 2021
Loved this, very funny. Eddie lancaster 's books make me laugh and make me remind me of my youthful unrealised dreams now I'm middle aged.
September 29, 2021
Laugh out loud
Excellent side splitting stuff.would love too read a follow-up. Would highly recommend. Read two books by this author, both Excellent.
Excellent side splitting stuff.would love too read a follow-up. Would highly recommend. Read two books by this author, both Excellent.
September 4, 2024
Close but no cigar. I was tempted to read this laugh out loud hilarious page turner because of the oodles of positive reviews. I didn't give me the same experience that other people evidently got though.
The story is primarily about a guy that wants to change his life and relive a musical career from his youth that never really got off the ground. He's stuck in a dead end job, single, and without many friends in his life. After falling into a couple of lies and bumping into an old friend his life changes. There are other stories intertwined within the book too, the main one seeing the most successful pop synth duo trying to change their booze and drug fuelled ways and try to find the love of music again. All the stories cross paths towards the end.
I didn't really laugh out loud. I struggled to connect with the characters. I did snigger at times and I did feel pangs of nostalgia having had a small fling with music and having visited Holy Island in the North East of England, but I didn't love the story. I also struggled with some of the writing too, it felt like when the characters were talking the text had all been sanitised by autocorrect - making it feel a little robotic. Still, this was an easy and quick read. The whole story was fairly original. 3/5.
The story is primarily about a guy that wants to change his life and relive a musical career from his youth that never really got off the ground. He's stuck in a dead end job, single, and without many friends in his life. After falling into a couple of lies and bumping into an old friend his life changes. There are other stories intertwined within the book too, the main one seeing the most successful pop synth duo trying to change their booze and drug fuelled ways and try to find the love of music again. All the stories cross paths towards the end.
I didn't really laugh out loud. I struggled to connect with the characters. I did snigger at times and I did feel pangs of nostalgia having had a small fling with music and having visited Holy Island in the North East of England, but I didn't love the story. I also struggled with some of the writing too, it felt like when the characters were talking the text had all been sanitised by autocorrect - making it feel a little robotic. Still, this was an easy and quick read. The whole story was fairly original. 3/5.
April 20, 2026
Martin is a middle aged, DIY store employee who teams up with old pal Craig to create a band, reliving their youth. Add in a London gangster & a coke fuelled pair of pop stars and you have the makings of a funny (if somewhat unrealistic) story.
Although this wasn’t laugh out loud funny, it was definitely lighthearted and I could see it being made into a film with a classic British cast. I will be looking out for other books by the same author.
As another reviewer said, the editing is awful, with short sentences that aren’t complete sentences. As a stickler for grammar, this would normally have infuriated me, but it was testament to the quality of the story that I was willing to overlook this & go with it - I just punctuated it myself as I went along!
Although this wasn’t laugh out loud funny, it was definitely lighthearted and I could see it being made into a film with a classic British cast. I will be looking out for other books by the same author.
As another reviewer said, the editing is awful, with short sentences that aren’t complete sentences. As a stickler for grammar, this would normally have infuriated me, but it was testament to the quality of the story that I was willing to overlook this & go with it - I just punctuated it myself as I went along!
October 4, 2023
Didn't enjoy this as much as Negative Feedback, which I found much funnier and more inventive. Eddie writes good characters and authentic dialogue, but this story just didn't grab me. I could see where this was going early on, with the Cheesy Dips/Electric Fondue band name punning, so either he flagged this from the start, or I'm extraordinarily intelligent.
No high brow fiction here, Eddie is a solid writer and entertains. Only downside is he finished the story a couple of chapters short, leaving a lot up in the air,but except the bottle to the bollocks.
No high brow fiction here, Eddie is a solid writer and entertains. Only downside is he finished the story a couple of chapters short, leaving a lot up in the air,but except the bottle to the bollocks.
November 23, 2020
Good set up
Really enjoyed the first half of the book, fun characters and creative storyline had great potential, unfortunately lost its way in the second half and did not quite follow through. Enjoyable enough as diversion
Really enjoyed the first half of the book, fun characters and creative storyline had great potential, unfortunately lost its way in the second half and did not quite follow through. Enjoyable enough as diversion
April 29, 2023
It's Funny Because It's True
The blurb says it all. Genuinely funny and a must-read for middle aged men wherever they are, all sharing the universal fantasy described so well in this book.
The blurb says it all. Genuinely funny and a must-read for middle aged men wherever they are, all sharing the universal fantasy described so well in this book.
February 21, 2026
Gave up about a third of the way through. Written to a set formula (see my review of The Return of the Hippy by David Luddington). Again, PG Wodehouse it is not. Sorry, just got on my nerves rather than make me laugh or even smile.
July 2, 2021
Harf way through just bored
December 16, 2022
Really fun book. Outrageous plot. Very funny.
January 26, 2023
I loved this book and was sorry when it was finished . And yes I did laugh out loud a lot. If you want a break from Freud or Shakespeare and fancy a light read that's entertaining, this is the one.
February 16, 2023
Great read.
A book filled with such humour I sat laughing out loud held together with reflective joy. Putting the Black Country well and truly on the map.
A book filled with such humour I sat laughing out loud held together with reflective joy. Putting the Black Country well and truly on the map.
May 13, 2023
Really Funny.
This is a thoroughly entertaining read. I loved every word of it. Look forward to the next one. Thank you.
This is a thoroughly entertaining read. I loved every word of it. Look forward to the next one. Thank you.
June 14, 2024
A great read! Eddie's books are a treat.
Love this book. Haven't laughed so much at a book in ages. Give it a go, you won't regret it.
Love this book. Haven't laughed so much at a book in ages. Give it a go, you won't regret it.
September 17, 2024
Insane, gripping, brilliant.
What a lunatic story.
I absolutely loved the story of The Cheesy dips.
It ended too soon and I need a sequel!
What a lunatic story.
I absolutely loved the story of The Cheesy dips.
It ended too soon and I need a sequel!
December 30, 2024
Nice story
The usual yarn from Eddie thinks this is the 3rd I've read. As usual takes a long time and effort to set the punchline then stops dead
The usual yarn from Eddie thinks this is the 3rd I've read. As usual takes a long time and effort to set the punchline then stops dead
March 5, 2025
Fun story
Didn't really know what to expect but was chuckling all the way through. Like the characters and how they all seem to get what they deserve, I'll be looking out for more.
Didn't really know what to expect but was chuckling all the way through. Like the characters and how they all seem to get what they deserve, I'll be looking out for more.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews