Name: Kyra's review of One Day by David Nicholls
Item: One Day
Rating: 3.5
Author: Kyra

David Nicholls

'This perfectly executed novel is a reminder that reading can be the finest entertainment there is' Guardian Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY. The multi-million copy bestseller that captures the experiences of a generation. 'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?

10th Anniversary Edition

One Day

'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY. From the author of the massive bestseller STARTER FOR TEN.

Hannah Dee

… you start out wanting to change the world through language, and end up thinking it's enough to tell a few good jokes. 

Eva Marquant

‘Wees gelukkig en goed en ga door met je leven!’

En dan sterft Emma Mayhew en alles wat ze dacht of voelde verdwijnt en is voor altijd verdwenen. 

“Ik hou van je en we komen er wel uit, oké?” 

‘Ik ben geen troostprijs, Dex. Ik ben niet iets waar je je toevlucht tot kan nemen. Ik denk toevallig dat ik meer waard ben dan dat.’

Rose Donovan

“I had a massive crush on you. Not a bit of a crush, a massive crush actually. For ages.” 

“I suppose it was something you get over in time. Like shingles.”

Hun vriendschap was een verlepte bos bloemen die zij per se nog water wilde geven. 

Helena-Elisabeth 

»Ich glaube, das Wichtigste ist, irgendwas zu verändern.« sagte sie. »Du weißt schon, wirklich zu verbessern.« »Wie, meinst du etwa die Welt verbessern?« »Nicht gleich die ganze Welt. Nur das kleine Stück um dich rum.«

“Je kunt niet jaren van je leven weggooien omdat je er een grappig verhaal aan overhoudt.”

Ze ademde zijn heerlijke warme en ranzige geur in en voelde tegelijkertijd een angstige rilling door haar schouders trekken bij de gedachte daaraan: het onafhankelijke volwassen leven. Ze voelde zich geen volwassene. 

‘Ik hou van dat geluid,' mompelde hij in haar haar. ‘Merels in de ochtendschemering’

‘Ik heb er een verschrikkelijke hekel aan. Ik ga altijd denken dat ik iets gedaan heb waar ik spijt van krijg.'

‘Daarom ben ik er zo dol op,’ zei hij. 

Hij wilde extreem leven, maar dan zonder rotzooi en gedoe. Hij wilde zijn leven op zo'n manier leiden dat het, als daar op een willekeurig moment een foto van werd gemaakt, een gave foto zou zijn. Het zou er allemaal goed uit moeten zien. Lol, er zou een hoop lol moeten zijn en niet meer triestigheid dan absoluut noodzakelijk. 

Emily fowler

I loved the idea and the show was fantastic but the book. Not so much…

If I had to summarize the book in one sentence, it’d be: Just kiss already! And not in a good way.

Kyra

This was a tough read.

I loved the idea and the show was fantastic but the book. Not so much…

If I had to summarize the book in one sentence, it’d be: Just kiss already! And not in a good way.

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.

Ian Brakspear

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.

Jana Barkova

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. 

Andrew

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

Iben engeseth

‘então, emma mathew morre, e tudo o que ela pensou ou sentiu se desfaz e desaparece para sempre’

Emma amou cedo demais e Dexter amou tarde demais. esse livro me fez chorar, me fez rir, me fez pensar em como a vida realmente é assim! a felicidade nunca vai ser um estado constante e muitas vezes ela vai te acertar como uma bala quando você menos espera! o que esperamos dos outros diz mais sobre nós do que sobre eles.

assim como pessoas normais acho que todo jovem-adulto deveria ler esse livro pelo menos uma vez, pra entender a fragilidade da vida e como ela merece ser vivida.

Samile

‘então, emma mathew morre, e tudo o que ela pensou ou sentiu se desfaz e desaparece para sempre’

Emma amou cedo demais e Dexter amou tarde demais. esse livro me fez chorar, me fez rir, me fez pensar em como a vida realmente é assim! a felicidade nunca vai ser um estado constante e muitas vezes ela vai te acertar como uma bala quando você menos espera! o que esperamos dos outros diz mais sobre nós do que sobre eles.

assim como pessoas normais acho que todo jovem-adulto deveria ler esse livro pelo menos uma vez, pra entender a fragilidade da vida e como ela merece ser vivida.



Ainsley Jeffery

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.

Anjorin Molayo 

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 ⭐️

Emotionally destroyed me. I loved this book but idk if i could read it again 

Maleesha Fernando

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. 

Jordan Dodsworth

Hayley Allen

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring ANNE HATHAWAY and JIM STURGESS It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself. "One of the most hilarious and emotionally riveting love stories you'll ever encounter." —People #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

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

Annabella

It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.
--back cover

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.

taryn

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

gabby jusoy

Mia Caven

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

Jazelle H

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.

Sintia

** 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.

Amy Thibodeau

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.

15th July 1988: Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.

So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that?

And every year that follows?
--back cover

High Fidelity

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.

Sian Wadey

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.

Natalia Hernandez

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.

Vilde

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.

Allison Garrett

This book has been so hard for me to get into. I got through the first 70 pages and quit.

Emily fowler &
One Day by David Nicholls

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