David Nicholls is the bestselling author of Starter for Ten, The Understudy, One Day, Us, Sweet Sorrow and You Are Here. One Day was published in 2009 to extraordinary critical acclaim: translated into 40 languages, it became a global bestseller, selling millions of copies worldwide. His fourth novel, Us, was longlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. On screen, David has written adaptations of Far from the Madding Crowd, When Did You Last See Your Father? and Great Expectations, as well as of his own novels, Starter for Ten, One Day and Us. His adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was nominated for an Emmy and won him a BAFTA for best writer. The Netflix adaptation of One Day was executive-produced by David.
The Remains of the Day crossed with Michael Winterbottom's The
Trip, only with more Gore-Tex . . . You Are Here is a triumph, a
real gift of a novel, and it deserves to join One Day on the
bestseller charts immediately
*Sunday Times*
I'm helplessly competitive and highly irritated that I can't
remember all the books I've read since 1 January. I'll just name my
three favourite novels from the first half of the year. No. 1 is
You Are Here by David Nicholls, a love story between two unlikely
characters, the oldest plot in the book, but written with charm and
wit. It even made me consider walking the Northumberland Coast Path
- though I've yet to buy my walking boots
*Spectator*
Captivating . . . Nicholls is rightfully attached to his central
couple and their baggage of cherished neuroses, until he accepts
that he has to decide on a happy ending or something more
bittersweet, and how to earn either. He succeeds beautifully.
Nicholls's dialogue is flawless (he's also an experienced
screenwriter) and even his descriptions of bogs and muck can
enchant. The novel is sharp-tongued and irresistible, the most
intelligent treat
*New York Times*
A great comic novel . . . The reader becomes so invested in the
outcome of this unspectacular, everyday, cagoule-clad romance that
it makes the whole world shimmer with a kind of secret possibility,
as if such narratives are everywhere, just out of sight
*Observer*
David Nicholls, the maestro of the modern rom-com, has had a big
year: first came Netflix's nostalgic adaptation of his 2009 hit One
Day and now there is this sweet and stylish love story for
grown-ups . . . Nicholls's most satisfying love story yet
*The Times*
A master of his particular craft. This is a novel that will make
you feel terrific
*Financial Times*
The trouble with having a hit novel is that your work will forever
be compared with it. But You Are Here is just as good - and
possibly even better . . . it makes you want to get out and walk;
to seize the day; to do something significant with your life; to
not only believe in second chances but to make them happen. It
makes you want to tell someone - anyone - that you love or care
about them. I can't think of a better testament to the power of a
David Nicholls novel than that
*i Newspaper*
For many it will be a comforting antidote to the grimness of our
grim world, a crowd-pleaser and, surely, a TV hit-to-be
*Guardian*
Nicholls excels at writing about the complexities of relationships
. . . There is an appetising tone throughout the novel, which is
full of clever, droll jokes about teaching, relatives, walking,
friendship, pubs and motels
*Independent*
Zip up Heathcliff in Gore-Tex, give Cathy laugh-out-loud lines,
fold in the poignancy of E. M. Forster, embed quaint maps,
blisters, a dash of existential terror and heaps of heartache and
you have David Nicholls's latest novel . . . like all great
rom-coms, the journey that Nicholls takes Michael and Marnie on is
more meaningful than the destination
*Spectator*
As a longtime fan of Nicholls' writing, I had huge expectations for
this book and it absolutely delivered . . . I'm calling it now -
this will undoubtedly be one of my best books of 2024
*Good Housekeeping*
You Are Here is an unusual novel, unusual for our time anyway. It
is amusing and true to life. It is gentle, free from fashionable
extravagance . . . Nicholls is a novelist who brings understanding
to his work; also, happily, he is often very funny
*Scotsman*
Nicholls's latest has the irresistible feel of a classic
romance
*Mail on Sunday*
Nicholls tackles modern loneliness in this witty and warm love
story for cynics
*Grazia*
He has done it again with this lovely, touching story . . .
Nicholls's knack for warm characters, funny dialogue and superb
scene-setting is as spot-on as ever. You'll want to pull on your
hiking boots at the first opportunity
*Daily Mail*
Fans will relish the fact that once again, he has written a love
story with some very good comic set pieces
*Evening Standard*
Funny, emotional and beautiful . . . Nicholls is the king of
creating well-drawn, flawed characters that resonate and tug on
your heartstrings
*Heat*
Everyone loves David Nicholls' marvellously tender and humane new
novel, You Are Here
*Observer*
Few contemporary writers make characters feel as human as David
Nicholls does . . . Nicholls has a knack for finding the magical in
the everyday. It's not a pandemic novel, but its themes of
loneliness and clinging on to moments of connection feel
particularly pertinent after the past few years
*BBC.com*
A poignant love story of first encounters
*Sunday Times*
Refreshing . . . The romance has sincerity and authenticity . . .
There were echoes of Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy, another
book I loved
*Guardian*
2024 is set to be the year of David Nicholls . . . a story of love,
chance encounters and new beginnings
*i Newspaper*
No one does the minutiae of love as well as Nicholls
*Observer*
It's Nicholls' best since the Booker-longlisted Us, and I'm already
dream-casting the BBC adaptation
*Independent*
Witty and moving at the same time, it's a figurative and literal
journey that might even have you hunting for your walking boots
*GQ*
When it comes to love stories, David Nicholls is a master craftsman
and, dare I say it, I loved You Are Here even more than One Day
*Red Magazine*
Nicholls is a writer going from strength to strength - his previous
novel Sweet Sorrow was his best yet - so this is set to be one of
2024's most exciting titles
*Sunday Express*
A slow-burn love story delivered with Nicholls' trademark wit and
warmth
*Grazia*
Oh, how I love, love, love this beautiful story! The observations
David Nicholls makes about people and their behaviour are just so
astute . . . I can't stop recommending it to everyone
*Prima*
Such a lovely book!
*Nigella Lawson*
A witty, touching love story. The writing is magnificent: taut and
vivid. I was so happy while I was reading it and now I'm bereft.
Gorgeous
*Marian Keyes, author of AGAIN, RACHEL*
I think it might be Nicholls' best book ever. He's somehow managed
to remember exactly how people talk when they're falling in love,
which is virtually impossible to do properly
*Caitlin Moran, author of WHAT ABOUT MEN?*
What a rare find this is! Beautiful writing and authentic
characters supported by a dry and honest wit. I loved it
*Bonnie Garmus, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY*
A romantic, funny, hopeful story of what it is to lose and keep
faith in love. The characters became my friends in an instant and I
enjoyed every moment spent with them
*Dolly Alderton, author of GOOD MATERIAL*
A beautiful book. Nicholls perfectly judges the balance between
humour and pathos. I was often on the verge of tears even when I
was laughing
*Tracy Chevalier, author of A SINGLE THREAD*
You Are Here encompasses all of David Nicholls' characteristic
warmth, humour and observational insight. But it also asks
fundamental questions of life, love and loneliness in such a
beautifully delicate way that you don't even realise it's happening
or that the fundamental truth of human happiness has been staring
you in the face all along. I don't know how he does it, but he does
and he's the only person who can
*Elizabeth Day, author of FRIENDAHOLIC*
The genius who gave us One Day has written another classic and
funny love story, set on a ten-day hike. You breeze along and get
caught up in it like a leaf in the wind. Joyous
*Matt Haig, author of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY*
David Nicholls is at the peak of his considerable powers - You Are
Here is not only packed with the delicious observations, profound
truths and moving encounters we expect of him, it's the funniest
thing he has written. Even if it was twice the length, it would
have finished too soon
*Sathnam Sanghera, author of EMPIRELAND*
David Nicholls wears his formidable intelligence so generously and
so lightly that you scarcely notice the skill it takes to write a
book like this: a story at once passionately funny and richly
human. You Are Here is gorgeously witty and joyful, kind and sad: a
book you do not want to be away from
*Katherine Rundell, author of SUPER-INFINITE*
Any love story by David Nicholls is a treat, but this one is
especially tender, wise and joyful. I inhaled it
*Jojo Moyes, author of ME BEFORE YOU*
You Are Here is everything I hope for from a David Nicholls novel:
beautifully observed, very funny, a little heartbreaking, and at
its core, full of hope about people and love
*Monica Heisey, author of REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY*
David Nicholls is a wonderfully gifted writer. His trademark wit
and sensitivity bring light and life to his characters, allowing
him to explore difficult subject matter with an admirable lightness
of touch
*Okechukwu Nzelu, author of HERE AGAIN NOW*
David Nicholls is one of the best writers at chronicling the way
annoyance and resentment are often irretrievably mixed with love
and empathy. This is a love story but never predictable - Nicholls
stays one step ahead of the reader in the sharpest, funniest way.
If you're looking for a great comic novel, You Are Here
*Katherine Heiny, author of GAMES AND RITUALS*
A stunning, funny, frank and beautiful look at loneliness,
friendship, and the risks taken to love and be loved. In a career
of standout books, You Are Here takes its place at the top. David
Nicholls is my favourite writer
*Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE END*
For anyone who has pounded a pavement or even climbed a mountain,
wrangling with the stuff of life, love, loss, loneliness, betrayal
and failure, or simply destiny's strange peculiarities that can
upend life, this book is both journey and destination. It will make
your heart soar with the climb. It's so tender and wise, that I
found myself walking every step of the way with Marnie and Michael,
through the rain and shine, hoping, praying that they would find
one another, and at last see the view. It has pain and bliss in its
pages, and does what David Nicholls does best: cracks open your
heart, to show love in all its infinite beautiful chaos, imperfect,
funny yet always true. Loved it
*Abi Morgan, author of THIS IS NOT A PITY MEMOIR*
I loved this book. A story about loneliness and the beginnings of
love, with the backdrop of England's lakes and fells and
relentlessly changeable weather. As a read it is warm,
unsentimental, hilarious and SO acutely observed. Nicholls has
given us a masterclass in writing. I want to buy it for all my
friends
*Annie Macmanus, author of THE MESS WE'RE IN*
I finished this novel in two breathless sittings, as invested in
its outcome as I would be in the happiness of a friend. This is the
magic of You Are Here: warm, generous and funny, it invites readers
into the world of Marnie and Michael with the promise that everyone
is welcome, and that choosing happiness and being courageous in any
small way we can is always possible. I loved this book
*Kaliane Bradley, author of THE MINISTRY OF TIME*
You Are Here is a gorgeous, grown-up love story. I fell for Marnie
and Michael hard and fast - this book is honest, raw, yet
profoundly hopeful. This is the work of a writer at the peak of his
enormous powers - it's one of the saddest stories I've ever read,
and one of the funniest. A future classic
*Daisy Buchanan, author of INSATIABLE*
Pure and utter delight! You Are Here is a fun, poignant
post-pandemic romantic comedy that takes us across the hills and
moors of northern England, grapples with loss - of people, of
direction - and reminds us vividly and viscerally what it feels
like to fall in love
*Lily King, author of WRITERS AND LOVERS*
What a beautiful, beautiful novel, sensitive, witty, and
brilliantly insightful and kind about us messy, stupid humans. I
loved every single step of it. I will miss it now that I'm finished
and I know that it will be one of those rare novels that will dwell
in my memory and my heart
*Donal Ryan, author of THE QUEEN OF DIRT ISLAND*
Marnie and Michael are two characters who I will carry in my heart
for a long time. This is a love story for all ages, an epic
journey, a moving tale of second chances. I don't know how David
does it but his characters are real to me, and I know I will want
to go back to them, to re-read You Are Here, the way I have his
other novels
*Georgina Moore, author of THE GARNETT GIRLS*
Brilliant: just perfect and exquisitely written. Every page is a
delight
*Jill Mansell, author of PROMISE ME*
You Are Here is David Nicholls' funniest, warmest and most
addictive novel yet. Perfect
*Clare Chambers, author of SMALL PLEASURES*
David is the laureate of the modern love novel, and this is his
best yet
*John Niven, author of O BROTHER*
Oh this book! What's better than rooting for two shy, once-burnt
characters to recognise that love is within reach? I stopped often
to reread and savour its sparkling, wry sentences. You Are Here is
both up-to-the-minute and old-fashioned in the best way: sharp, yet
so very kind, funny, and bittersweet
*Elinor Lipman, author of Ms Demeanor*
A wryly heartwarming tale of second-chance romance . . . the
dialogue crackles off the page . . . pure pleasure
*Bookseller*
PRAISE FOR DAVID NICHOLLS
'One of the most astute chroniclers of England as it is now'
FINANCIAL TIMES
'An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care
passionately about his characters' DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love' THE
TIMES
'No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory
in the way he does' EVENING STANDARD
'Genuinely brilliant' NEW STATESMAN
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