If That Was Lunch, We've Had It


Fiction - Humor/Comedy
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 10/21/2026
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

I have lived on the ocean for many years, I have travelled as sustainably as I can, I have experienced many areas of work from lawyer to merchant seaman to advocate for disadvantaged communities. I have written and performed poetry, I have written drama, fiction and nonfiction, like all of us I have lived, loved and lost. I wrote this book to highlight current threats to our precious planet and the wonder of long-term relationships of any kind. It is a way of saying "thank you".

    Book Review

Reviewed by Makeda Cummings for Readers' Favorite

In D J Colbert’s If That Was Lunch, We’ve Had It, two friends, Will and Rodney, hatch a plan on a beach as teenagers: write a book to dodge regular jobs. They spend decades avoiding traditional labor, bouncing between high-country sheep farming, hospital shifts, retail menswear sales, and maritime work. The story moves between New Zealand, Australia, and Middle Eastern ports, introducing a colorful circle of friends, including a punk named Bryan and a flatmate named Stan. A major problem emerges when their manuscript faces rejection from a publishing company, prompting them to look more closely at a suspicious writers’ group coordinator named Ralph. As the years roll by, they deal with serious health scares and a sudden, terrible accident that lands one of them in the hospital. This story leaves you with a lot to ponder about how long-term friendships withstand the unexpected curveballs of getting older.

D J Colbert’s If That Was Lunch, We’ve Had It is a humorous yarn that keeps a highly entertaining momentum. The author uses an observational, witty style that brings life to odd jobs, like early-morning bakery shifts where dropped sausage rolls become lunch. The chapters unfold nicely through the years, changing from early get-rich-quick schemes to a chaotic hitchhiking journey across Australia featuring eccentric drivers and a night spent in a rainy cemetery. The situation with the predatory publishing scam adds an interesting layer of intrigue, which the author fits alongside the realities of chronic illness and aging parents. It is great to read about a bond between two people that survives so many decades of transition. I think it’s a great read for anyone who wants a funny, realistic look at life’s unpredictable timing.

D J Colbert

Here are some excerpts from other reviews. (I had to click on the rating stars before I could post this comment. Please don't hold that against me!)

D J Colbert ...has a marvelous sense of humor and a sharp and clever wit ...his writing is original and filled with a variety of new ways to look at the world and the people in it ...a fascinating and hilarious story ...exceptional - Don S & TeamGolfwell (Goodreads)

This clever and sprightly tale ...gallops along ...zig-zagging gaily from past to present ...The writing is crisp ...and Colbert has a nice turn of phrase for the ridiculous. He wraps it up in a final chapter that's unexpectedly thoughtful, but which brings the joyride to an emotionally satisfying conclusion. - LyndaInOregon (LibraryThing)

Are you looking for a hilarious book to read? "If That Was Lunch, We've Had It" by D J Colbert is perfect for you! I really enjoyed this book and found the writer to be exceptionally creative and funny. I highly recommend this book ... - Robin Ginther-Venneri (Robin's Review)

A quick, fun read with quirky, likeable, whimsical, yet somehow true-to-life characters ...We definitely need more of this kind of story. Highly, highly recommended! - Nooiniin (LibraryThing)

Irreverent and hilarious. "If That Was Lunch, We've Had It" lives up to its name. I laughed so much reading this book. I hope DJ Colbert makes "squillions" off it! - Deb (Kobo)

And the Author's favorite - "not worth the time" - AnnieKMD (LibraryThing)/Amazon Customer