One fine St Swithin's Day in 1988, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley meet cute, hook up and - in the way that most end-of-university relationships go - walk away in the morning promising to stay in touch.
Except that in this case, the two really do, and form a kind of weird best "friendship" that lasts them the better part of a couple of decades. Through the novel, we get a voyeuristic peek into their lives every July 15 as they banter, bicker, fight and make up - always with that electric charge of unfulfilled sexual tension between them.
Handsome, suave, hedonistic Dexter is the perfect foil for awkward, bookish Emma, who toils away as a waitress at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant for a few years while Dexter's star soars in the TV industry, helped along by his good looks and silver tongue.
As the years pass, the two gradually swap places, with Dexter succumbing to the price of fame and Emma becoming first a teacher, then a semi-successful published author.
This could have turned into a mawkish read, but David Nicholls avoids this by his use of non-linear time - we see only one day in their lives over 20 years. So we're not subjected to the kind of wistful glances exchanged over coffee cups or accidental hand brushings that friends who are romantically attracted to each other indulge in.
I have to admit that I had a wee sniffle when I first read this novel. The film doesn't pack the same punch, mainly because you don't get the feel for how funny and witty Nicholls' writing is. It's a cliché, but this is a book that will make you laugh, cry and wish you could knock some sense into Emma and Dexter.
It's so clear they belong together that it's painful to read about the missed chances, the bumbling mistakes and all-too-human miscommunications that keep pulling them apart. But that's what also makes their story so believable and relatable - because it's what happens to people in real life.
How many of us have let opportunities slip by because of youth, pride, ambivalence, arrogance or stupidity? How many of us have regretted that one moment when change could have occurred but didn't, because we simply missed the signal and took a different turn?
One Day advocates the message that the choices and decisions you make in life matter as much, if not more, than fate or destiny. It is a heartbreaking read, and one that I think appeals to both sexes - because whether you're a man or a woman, everyone has been or met an Emma or Dexter at some point in their lives.
If you've read One Day, what are your thoughts on the book?
Next week's book club title is High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby.
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Loved this book, movie was brilliant too, such a refreshing story.
I've read the book, but I haven't seen the movie yet and I don't think I will - Anne Hathaway is a great actress, but I've heard she butchers the British accent she just doesn't have. Plus I always find myself disappointed in the book to movie adaptations. I think I will keep what I've pictured in my head after reading the book :)
I enjoyed this book but did I ever want to clout the two of them around the head. Especially Dexter. I also read a fair bit of this book peeking through my fingers.
I guess this book is one of those 'ouside looking in' ones where you can see everything that's going wrong and how to fix it, but they can't see it themselves. It was a good read but it did make me squirm.
Loved the book, although thought the ending dragged on somewhat. Movie was not at all worth the time, I dont like Anne Hathaway at the best of times and struggle to understand why Americans continue to be cast in British movies when there are some amazing British Actors/tresses around, particularly if the American in question fails to put on a believable English accent, wheres the logic in that?!
Loved this book! I thought it was very true to life, and David Nicholls is so great with the little details - it really does seem like you know Emma and Dex by the end of the book. I also think he did well to make it a love story that wasn't too mushy, so I think men and women would both enjoy it. I cried, and remember thinking I am so lucky to be with the one I love. It's nice to read a book that reminds us of this from time to time! I also really liked the movie adaptation, even though you lose that special something when it moves to film. I actually thought Anne Hathaway was really good! (though I'll admit, her accent did slip a couple of times).
Loved the book and must remember to re-read it. The movie wasn't so flash, I like Anne Hathaway as an actress but couldn't get away from her terrible accent which kept slipping.
I'm going to go against the tide here, but I hated the book. Dex...just wished that Emma would of smacked him one.
Dexter took such an awful long time to grow up! Must admit that I rather fancied Emma, even though she did allow some real dropkicks into her life. Was really glad when she got it together as an author, saw she was awesome and zoomed ahead.
I agree with #8 - I hated the book too. Couldn’t stand Dex and the ending just made it even worse for me.
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Took some doing but I got through it.( I'm male) Lots of soppy stuff from her. Annoyed me that she didn't tell him to eff off and get on with her life. He was a git. Lovely book, beautifully written, loved the way the characters changed as time went on.