I quit my job of 25 years to write a book – and now I’m the author some other authors hate

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Jennie Godfrey has a reputation for frustrating other writers, and she admits some likely resent her. It’s not due to her personality or writing skill – in fact, she’s quite likable and talented. The source of their annoyance is simply her success, and how quickly she achieved it.

Her debut novel, The List of Suspicious Things, published in 2024, quickly became a bestseller, reaching the top of The Sunday Times charts and becoming one of the best-selling first novels ever in the UK. It sold an impressive 10,000 copies in its first week—and remarkably, it was the very first thing she had ever written.

Her story is truly inspiring. After spending 25 years working in human resources for major companies, she quit her job to become an author – even before she had a book idea or had begun writing. She describes it as taking a huge leap of faith with no safety net.

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Godfrey admits leaving her previous job was a bit crazy, but it did give her valuable experience. She explains that working in HR meant people often confided in her, giving her insight into what was really going on behind the scenes and the hidden truths about others.

It’s fitting that this is the topic of her new novel, released earlier this month. “The Barbecue at No 9” is set during the famous Live Aid concert in July 1985 and follows the residents of a newly built cul-de-sac as they come together for a barbecue. Throughout the day, long-held secrets begin to surface.

Considering the shocking secrets uncovered about the characters, it’s hard not to wonder if the book contains elements of the author‘s own life. This isn’t surprising, as Godfrey’s debut novel, The List of Suspicious Things, was partly based on the unsettling fact that her father once knew Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.

When I was around eleven or twelve, my family and I moved to a new housing development – similar to the setting in the book. We went from our hometown in Yorkshire to Milton Keynes, and as a northerner, it felt like a really difficult adjustment. However, this experience isn’t as directly reflected in my writing as the connection to the Sutcliffe case was in my first book.

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You know, it’s funny how ideas come sometimes. After my first book did well, I completely panicked about writing another one – I was actually figuring out how to tell my editor I was done for good! Then, I was on a train, and suddenly, the entire concept for ‘Barbecue’ just hit me. Seriously, almost the whole book came to me at once. It was a total out-of-the-blue moment.

The author currently lives in Somerset and occasionally works at her local Waterstones bookstore. She believes all novelists should work in a bookshop, finding it incredibly helpful to understand who reads their work. She’s been surprised by the diversity of her readership, noting a significant number of male and young fans. Interestingly, many assume her novels, set in the 1970s and 80s, are historical fiction, which she finds amusing and makes her feel older!

Find the newest updates on the RT Book Club, including author interviews, Q&As, and reviews of past selections, at The TopMob Book Club.

Authors

Ed GrenbyAssociate Editor, TopMob

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2026-02-23 20:46