It’s a romance, all right. But as I used to enjoy reading One Day, I can say that I also likes You Are Here. David Nicholls doesn't just stick to the usual clichés of the genre.
Technically, the book is masterfully crafted, with realistic characters and plenty of emotional baggage. There are no shocking misunderstandings, no grand gestures, and no easy fixes. This is what dating in your forties probably feels like—tentative, complicated, and shaped by the weight of past experiences.
What sets it apart is its honesty. The hike across the English countryside not only feels vividly real but also serves as a metaphor for Marnie and Michael’s individual emotional journeys—journeys they don’t quite complete. The humour is sharp, the dialogue effortlessly natural, and the emotional depth lingers long after the final page. It’s quite different from One Day, but then again, as a reader, I’m older too—and it delivers a warmth that feels all the more real because of it.