On a gray Monday morning in L.A., six professionals — all divorced, all “of a certain age” — arrive at their offices in the same Century City high-rise. Over the next two pivotal months, we’ll join them as they move toward their brighter futures… though each is traveling at different speeds and hitting different potholes. 

“GOING UP — a sexy romantic comedy about bouncing back,” is the debut novel from network television comedy-writer Barry Gold. It’s an engaging, emotional, laugh-out-loud story about navigating the ups and downs of romance, career, family, and health. 

The six include Christine, bogged down at work but suddenly aware that a hot young waiter is flirting; Howie, finally reinvigorated and ready to dip a toe into the roiling waters of online dating; Kara, struggling at a new job while balancing being a mom and roommate to her college-aged daughter; Ted, hoping he can control his personal demons to regain his TV writing career and his marriage; Diane, whose new man offers a dream life… if she’ll compromise her principles; and Paul, ditching his post-divorce sexual feeding frenzy because he’s finally met The One — only to have a diagnosis put everything in doubt. 

On their journeys our six will encounter a horrible boss, masturbatus interruptus, sex education over the internet, a panicked 911 call, some bedroom failure, lots of bedroom success (including via FaceTime), a breakthrough “I love you,” discussions of pubic hair and Kegels, a declining parent, sex tourism, a best friend’s betrayal, and lots more. 

GOING UP is filled with heart, humor, and snappy dialogue. It’s a standalone with HEA times six…