Love Over Gold: the Story of the "Gold Blend" Couple

by Susannah James

If you think you know the story...try reading between the lines

It began as a flirtation over a jar of coffee. It became one of television's most famous romances. But what do you really know about the Gold Blend couple?

They're stylish, they're sophisticated, they're obviously successful, but even their names are a mystery. What exactly do they do for a living, and why are two such attractive people still searching for love? Does he have a dark secret in his past? Is she on the rebound from a disastrous affair?

Here at last is the novel you've been waiting for, and it's irresistible. Sparkling, witty and shamelessly romantic, LOVE OVER GOLD answers all your questions and more, including the big one ... will they or won't they ever see eye to eye about anything other than their favourite coffee?

Genres: Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is better than it has any right to be. The familiar scenes from the ads are nicely blended into a larger slow burn romance that’s pretty by the numbers, but still quite fun to read. It’s definitely too long though, I think 25% of it could have been shaved off easily. Still, if you’re nostalgic for the early 90s you could do worse

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm starting this book because I like to read the books I give away, and I've promised this one to a BMfriend in Zambia who had her account suspended when an 'angel' sent her a whole batch of romantic books she had wishlisted. I couldn't imagine how we had it, except perhaps it came free with a jar of coffee, but Mark, yes my husband who hates romantic books, said he'd read it and it was 'quite amusing', so we shall see...
Well it is light romantic reading but I must say it was a good read and much more enjoyable than I expected. .. and off it's gone to Zambia.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came off the rails a bit towards the end, but otherwise gloriously good fun and clichéd in the best of ways.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fleshed out version of the Taster's Choice commercial series where a man and woman started a romance over a cup of coffee with cliff hangers at the end of each ad with plenty of stumbling blocks along the way that made soap operas proud.

Novelizations of games or cartoons don't usually work out well. I don't know if it was ever done with a series of commercials before or since. However, I thought it was well done. The writer established the people with successful careers and a pre-commercial story that sets the scene of their first meeting. There was chemistry between the characters on screen so it was easy to picture them in the roles as the romance built in the book. The connecting narrative didn't feel artificial between the commercial scenarios. It was nice to have an ending to the story because there wasn't one in the commercial series.

For some reason this one I particularly remember that the male character was working in Italy for his job and realized he truly had become fluent in the language when he dreamed in Italian and that he searched for the English words.

[Richard1955 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much fun! If you loved the Nescafe Gold (Taster's Choice in America) commercials, you'll love the novel that incorporates them in the story. I'd also add that the novel is sometimes quite funny, as well as being romantic. And if you want to read a roughly contemporary (1990s) light novel set in London, this serves well - with its references to shops and workplaces, restaurants and bars, etc.

Of course as in most romantic novels, all the characters are wonderfully affluent - and well-travelled, sophisticated in their tastes in food, drink, clothing. The novel reminds me of the TV movie "Me. and Mrs. Jones" with Caroline Goodall and Robson Grey - the plot is wholly different, but the mood - buoyant with moments of self-doubt - is similar.

The book leaves one joyful and amused, not profoundly moved.

[Zac Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sheesh.
It was readable I guess. The writing was not any good, but only mediocre, not actually bad. Technically capable, but unimpressive.
I was pleased that the Nestle Tasters Choice Gold Blend product placement was not too painfully overt - but the love for coffee was poorly demonstrated.
The love for each other was similarly poorly shown.
I like that the gratification is so delayed.
I liked that the man has several realistic doubts. He seemed more realistic than any other character.
I hated the wannabe feminism and pseudo body-positive lip-service.

As I read, I thought the book was written by a man (who read a poorly-done treatise on feminism). The women were two-dimensional and unconvincing.

Would have been improved by sex, for sure.

[Jo Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read this when it first came out and loved it. However I was young and in a bad relationship. Fast forward nearly 25 years (gulp) and re reading whilst in a happy marriage with children, it was less good. I noticed the editorial errors ( Barry becomes Derrick) and being older and wiser I felt it lacked depth and surely the couple would have seen more of each other before deciding they were in love. However despite this it reminded me of the adverts we all loved so much and was a fun read.

[Aleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a romance novel with a few details dictated by a series of instant coffee commercials, so drama with a happily ever after. My wife and I read it together and were definitely entertained by this book, which was, of course, the goal. There were some characterizations that were painful in their gender stereotyping. Some fairly big plot points were left hanging, which felt kind of rude after sticking through all the random tangents about badgers and whatnot. But it was fun.

[Anneli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, Only bought cus I learned it was a thing.
Fills in the spaces between the ads. (my all time favourite ads).
I started out reading it for a laugh wound up liking it.
But a very of it's time story (late 80s to early 90s) and it doesn't reinvent the wheel in any way.
It is more than OK though.

But it is for the fans of the ads most definitly. (and possibly fans of Anthony S Head and Sharon Maughan)

[Leila Anani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah in the days before fan-fiction and widespread internet....
Yes this is a PUBLISHED novel fleshing out the romance of the couple from the Gold Blend coffee Commercials of the 1980's/90's. It's not particularly well written, hugely predictable and rather dull really. A nice light read, but honestly would never have got published today.

[Virendra Mistry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly palatable, now as for the coffee...