Seville By Paul A. Mendelson Takes A Magical Journey Through Love, Time, And Second Chances

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Seville by Paul A. Mendelson is a witty, magical tale of a middle-aged couple revisiting their honeymoon city—only to meet their younger selves and rediscover love, regret, and the courage to start again.

Seville

In the sun-drenched streets of Seville, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Paul A. Mendelson weaves a tender and witty tale of love, memory, and the quiet magic that binds past and present. His latest novel, Seville, follows a middle-aged couple whose faltering marriage leads them back to the city of their first honeymoon, where they unexpectedly encounter their younger selves—radiant, hopeful, and blissfully unaware of the years ahead.

This is no ordinary romantic comedy. Beneath the gentle humor and heartfelt moments lies a profound exploration of long-term relationships: the subtle disappointments that accumulate over time, the enduring affection that persists despite change, and the lingering question of whether love can evolve alongside the people it shapes.

Sent on a “second honeymoon” by their concerned children to mark their thirtieth wedding anniversary, the older couple arrives in Seville weary and disconnected. Yet the city, timeless and enchanting, becomes a bridge between eras. The younger versions of themselves, still on their original honeymoon thirty years earlier, appear vividly in the same spaces—lost in each other’s gaze, overflowing with the possibilities of new love. The older pair recognizes their former selves immediately, but the young lovers remain oblivious, wrapped in their private world.

No one travels through time in the conventional sense; each couple stays rooted in their own moment. Somehow, in this magical Andalusian setting, the boundaries blur, allowing interactions that spark reflection, hope, and a touch of mischief. As the initial shock fades, the older man hatches a plan: could subtle interference with their past alter the trajectory of their present struggles, offering a path to renewal? Or might it unravel everything, inviting chaos into lives already marked by regret?

Mendelson, known for his work on BBC and ITV comedies, defies genre expectations with a story that blends philosophical depth, sci-fi elements, travelogue charm, fantasy, thriller tension, and rom-com warmth. The result is a narrative that feels fresh, imaginative, and touchingly authentic, radiating the heat and drama of both Seville and a decades-long marriage.

At its core, Seville captures the universal longing to revisit beginnings—to view love with clearer eyes and perhaps rediscover its essence. It is a heartwarming reminder of how life can erode even the strongest bonds, yet also a celebration of the surprises hidden in everyday rediscovery. Readers find themselves moved by its wisdom, wit, and wonder, often compelled to turn back to the start upon finishing, eager to experience the echoes anew.

Through sharply observed details and wry humor, Mendelson invites us to see the magic in memory’s pull and the courage required to begin again. In a world where relationships are tested by time’s relentless march, Seville offers a poignant, uplifting affirmation: our past selves never truly leave us, and sometimes, the path forward lies in looking back with compassion.

Paul A. Mendelson

My wife and I happily honeymooned in Seville, Spain during the incredible religious ceremonies of Semana Santa (Holy Week). When it was our 25th anniversary my mother kindly offered us a little trip somewhere and we decided to return to the wonderful place in which we had spent our honeymoon. Everything was exactly the same in this mystical, magical, unchanging city – on that very same Holy Week – except that we stayed in slightly more salubrious lodgings.

As we were walking around and watching the stunning religious processions, I said to my wife, ‘wouldn’t it be incredible if we were to meet our younger selves here?’ When she just rolled her eyes, I knew I had a winner!

I came home and immediately wrote it up as a radio play, my second for BBC Radio 4. (I was already a creator of very successful TV sitcoms – May to December, So Haunt Me, My Hero etc) Gratifyingly the radio play was very well-received and indeed repeated several times. So I thought I should expand it into a novel, as I felt I had a lot more to say and far deeper to burrow into the relationships.

–Paul A. Mendelson

Paul A. Mendelson is an acclaimed BAFTA-nominated screenwriter and author whose television work has entertained audiences worldwide. He is the creator of several much-loved BBC comedies, including May to December and My Hero, alongside the moving Martin Clunes cancer drama, Losing It.

Beyond television, Mendelson is an accomplished author of nine acclaimed novels, four of which are written for middle-grade children. His fiction has seen significant traction, with three novels optioned for feature films. Most recently, his movie script, Seville, reached the finals of the world’s largest romantic comedy contest in LA. Paul resides in London.

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