"One Day" by David Nicholls, the literary equivalent of watching a rom-com and accidentally sitting on the remote, triggering a tragic documentary. You start off rooting for Emma and Dexter, two graduates who couldn't be more mismatched if they tried. She's the kind of girl who could quote Sartre and then trip over her own shoelaces, while he's the lad who thinks charisma can compensate for just about everything else.
Their story unfolds over two decades, during which we're privy to their annual check-in, like a nosy neighbor peering over the fence to see if the roses have bloomed or if they've been devoured by aphids. The book juggles humor, heartache, and a healthy dose of '80s nostalgia so real you can almost smell the hair mousse.
Emma, our witty protagonist, spends her post-uni years grappling with existential dread (can relate), wondering if her life script got mixed up with someone else's. Meanwhile, Dexter is out living his best life, or so it seems, if 'best life' includes stumbling through a fog of self-importance and alcohol. It's the classic tale of role reversal, where you find yourself mentally screaming, "Get it together, man!" at least once every few chapters.
Their relationship is a rollercoaster that with less of the TV sitcom charm and more of a "someone's going to need therapy after this" vibe.
Now, for the love of all that is paperback, let's talk about that ending. If you're into emotional whiplash, then boy, does Nicholls have a treat for you. Just when you think Em and Dex might finally get their act together, BAM! The plot takes a turn so sharp you'll get literary road rash. It's like Nicholls decided that happiness was just too mainstream and opted for an ending that leaves you staring at the final page wondering if your heart has been used for shot put.
As readers we're left clutching the book, trying to make sense of a world where timing is the ultimate villain… and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is a must read and a must watch (available on Netflix) and soon to be a series.
If you haven’t already, get the book here.
Sharp Plot Twists, Heartbreaks & 80's Nostalgia: Our Review of "One Day" by David Nicholls
Posted by Ive Molinet on
