I read this book in the late 1980s, and really enjoyed it, despite finding his wife slightly infuriating.

The story started in the 1960s, and went through to the 1970s. On his first date at a diner with his (red headed? maybe?) girlfriend whom he marries, she tells him the salt and pepper shakers like him and she likes him. Their meeting when they decide to divorce is also in a diner, where she tells him that the salt and pepper shakers love him and he’s breaking their hearts. He leaves her for another woman, whom he marries.

I think that most of the story takes place in California, and during the summer they drink Orange Julius. He may have met his wife at uni.

It’s a quite funny novel, as I recall, and I really enjoyed it. I just cannot find it, even with all my powers of Googlefu.

I have no idea of the name, or when it was written, though I suspect it’s late 1970s or early 1980s, and I think it’s written by a man. The novel is first person from the man’s POV.

If you can find it for me, I will be eternally grateful. I know it isn’t much to go on.