Simone Goodman | Bibliotica

About the book, Flowerpot Romeo

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cloudesley Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
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Warning: this is not a romance (but it is a love story)

Sebastian Wilson wasn’t aspiring to be anybody’s hero. He just wanted to be an actor.

Instead, spurred on by his unimpressed agent, he pretends to be an Irish busker. Charmingly drifting through London’s Islington, burdened by an inability to face himself, he unwittingly changes the lives of the women he meets.

A lonely dame of the stage and screen.
A single mother making ends meet.
An underworld wife on the brink of divorce.
And Fiona, whose best friend he’d sooner avoid…

Life rarely consults the script — especially when Romeo the cat enters the scene, a tiny agent of chaos.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Goodreads

About the author, Simone Goodman

Simone Goodman is a London novelist, reluctant romantic, and full-time CFO who spends her days in spreadsheets and her evenings turning questionable experiences into taller tales – always in the hope that things will somehow work out.

Connect with Simone:

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Giveaway

Win a £25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)

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My Thoughts

Some books grab your attention with dramatic twists. Others win you over because you simply enjoy spending time with the people on the page. Flowerpot Romeo is firmly in the second camp—a warm, funny, and quietly thoughtful novel about identity, belonging, and the unexpected ways our lives intersect.

Simone Goodman was a new-to-me author, but I slipped into her writing almost immediately. Her pacing is spot-on, allowing the story to unfold naturally without ever feeling rushed or dragging. Even with multiple storylines weaving together, everything remains easy to follow.

Sebastian Wilson is an aspiring actor whose latest “role” leads him into the lives of a wonderfully eclectic group of people. What I found especially interesting is that the male lead is a catalyst rather than the center of everyone else’s story. Without even realizing it, Wilson becomes exactly what several people need at pivotal moments in their lives, even as he struggles to accept himself for who he really is.

The characters are the heart of this novel. Each one feels like a fully realized person rather than a supporting player, and I found myself invested in all of them. There is plenty of humor throughout, but Goodman also explores universal questions about where we belong, whether we can truly be ourselves, and whether we’ll ever find the people who see us as we really are.

I also loved the layered nature of the title. As the story unfolds, you’ll find yourself wondering whether “Romeo” refers to Wilson, the mischievous cat, or perhaps both. It’s a clever touch that reflects the novel itself.

If you’re looking for a book driven by memorable characters rather than nonstop action, Flowerpot Romeo is a delightful choice. It’s charming, funny, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful—a reminder that sometimes the greatest changes in our lives come from people who have no idea they’ve changed us at all.

Goes well with: Irish breakfast tea, a generous slice of lemon drizzle cake, and a dog (or cat) curled up beside you who occasionally insists on helping you turn the page.