One Day

After enjoying a previous David Nichols book and seeing and hearing a lot about this one, I decided that it was time to pick this one up especially after it being in a Kindle Deal! This was an entertaining read and a story that it told in a way that was mixed with humour and sadness.

Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. In the morning, they must go their separate ways.  The first chapter is set Friday 15th July 1988 in Edinburgh and each chapter takes place on the same day but a year ahead.

It’s hard to know what to say about this one without giving anything away as I think that you need to experience this book for yourself, there were hilarious parts, endearing parts, frustrating parts, and parts that were incredibly sad - just like everyone else's lives. You can only look at it as a whole.

Soul destroying 🖤 emotional spiral.

A fine read. The characters are winning and very real, especially Emma. Lots of very fun apercu, and a lot of fun with shifting perspectives. The gimmick is ultimately a bit gimmicky but that’s ok. The nostalgia for that end-of-university feeling, and for young love, is almost painful.

Was a bit difficult to get into at first, but after the few years/chapters it was smooth sailing. Absolutely phenomenal book.

Looking back, I wouldn't say I loved this book. But then why was it that I couldn't put it down or stop thinking about it? Perhaps part of the intrigue was trying to understand these deeply complicated, horrible, and complex characters who projected all these traits onto their relationships with everyone else in the book. A trope that will never get old, the invisible string of it all that keeps Em and Dex coming back to each other time and time again, this story felt like an emotional spiral that kept me invested.

Just wow.

it was definitely a slow burn, but it was sweet and sad and serious and silly and I’m not sure how to feel now that it’s done. 4.75 ⭐️

screaming crying throwing up jumping off a ledge

I’m so glad I read the book before the series. I’m sure knowing what happens will take some of the shine off the slick Netflix production but David Nicholls skill in weaving such a rich story cannot be understated. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. Love is what we live for. And to love and be loved in return is what makes the world go around. In my opinion anyway.

Really lovely x

David Nicholls' "One Day" shines when delving into the nuances of complicated relationships and the realities of aging, but falters with its central romance. While Emma and Dexter are compelling individuals, their feelings for each other feel forced after just one successful day together. The romance detracts from their authentic stories and Nicholls' writing becomes cloying when describing their affections. Though unique in plot, the book's attractive premise can't overcome the underdeveloped romance and occasional longwinded passages. A mixed bag best suited for romance fans willing to overlook its flaws for glimpses of Nicholls' talent.

I don't know how to rate this, because this simultaneously feels like the bare bones of a story and being sucker punched by 25 people

An emotional rollercoaster, leaving me a sobbing mess even though I knew how it would end from watching the film ages ago. I loved the format of telling Dex and Emma's story on the same day each year for 2 decades. The characters are both so flawed and relatable with their individual struggles, dreams, and disappointments. Nicholls' writing is engaging, witty, heartbreaking, and truly did bring the characters to life. Despite knowing the end, I was still crying at the end. Can't wait to be a sobbing mess again when watching the Netflix series.

how real and ordinary this was made it all the more heartbreaking.

Did I wanna die by the end of this book? Yes. In the best possible way? Yes. This book hits close to home for those who have been within an on and off will they won’t they love. And will crush u at the end:) frustration would be the main word id use on top of tears. This book was like a big hug because I loved the film and so it felt so familiar. It’s not the best book ever, just deserves 5 stars for making me sob even though I knew the ending. And the cover<3

I should have read this book a thousand times before. I'm glad I had now. Dex and Em, Em and Dex. Their relationship is a little dizzying, not in the sense of will they, won't they, but when will they? The writer's prose is exquisite, poetic, breathing life and reality to the characters in a way that is often missed in more recent novels. Worth the read, and the reread. One day.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars At the beginning I was not enjoying it that much. I didn't like Dexter and I was feeling bored reading his parts. I could relate more to Emma. The end was sad and I felt sorry for Dexter. I was sad that Emma died and how Dexter was after that. At least, in a way, he had a happy ending.

I didn't love this. It was a quick, light read but I didn't like either of the characters a whole lot and found it to be a fairly conventional, albeit depressing romance-focused novel.

It is warm soup* about maintaining friendship and people. Don't expect perfect characters or romantic moments in conventional way. Emma wants to change the world but she is too afraid to change her life and Dexter's main ideal is to sleep with two women at the same time. They are never even close to the futures they imagine. It is story about skipping opportunities, being stuck in life, character are usually at their worst, wasting precious time. The only truly good time for them is in first chapter. Maybe this doesn't seem like great recommendation but I promise it is PERFECT.

As usual, I'd seen the film before I'd read the book. One Day isn't the book I'd normally go for. I don't read romance novels but seeing the film, with the humour and characters and a recommendation from my friend Helen, I finally picked it up from my shelf. I love the concept. The idea that the story is told through one day over several years is brilliant and is certainly unconventional. You go straight to the interesting parts without the waffle. However, there were some downsides. Any of the early chapters where Emma and Dexter were together was annoying. All they did was argue. I know that it was supposed to be playful etc. but really it just got on my wick. It put me off both characters. Even separately, they were a bit annoying. Emma was hypercritical, disapproving of Dexter's numerous girlfriends but banging the headmaster and Dexter blamed the majority of his problems on his mother's premature death. I just wanted to bang their heads together. However, as they grew older, they became less annoying and finally the inevitable happened and the last chapters are lovely. I came to like Dexter more and more as he tried his best to be a good husband, father and manager. Emma meanwhile was still a bit childish. She still started arguments for the sake of it. At the end, the characters got to me and by the final chapters I was bawling my eyes out. It is exceptionally well written, made me laugh out loud and is full of eccentric and eclectic characters.

I really liked it, from the first page. It was written by the same author of "Started for Ten", which I love; set in Edinburgh (which I adore) and the main character's last name is Mayhew (like my beloved Richard in Neverwhere, my favorite book in the world). So I was bound to love it. It's a really fast read. I liked the language used and the pace of it. I could picture the actors in the upcoming movie as the characters and I honestly cannot wait to watch the film. I think it's going to break my heart just as the book did. Or, well, let's hope it does.

I felt that the novel was by all means a well-written novel and good characters, but the ending absolutely broke my heart. I'm not spoiling anything, but I would recommend this book for the reader to find out the ending themselves, and see if they deem it to be heartbreaking or not.