One Day

By: David Nicholls

Narrated by: Anna Bentinck

Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Dexter and Emma must face the nature of love and even life itself in this page-turning story filled with "heart-melting romance" (Elle). One of the most "emotionally riveting love stories you’ll ever encounter" (People).

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.

"[A] surprisingly deep romance...so thoroughly satisfying." —Entertainment Weekly

©2010 David Nicholls (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

"[An] instant classic....One of the most hilarious and emotionally riveting love stories you’ll ever encounter." (People)

“Big, absorbing, smart, fantastically readable." (Nick Hornby)

"[Nicholls] has a gift for zeitgeist description and emotional empathy that's wholly his own.... [A] light but surprisingly deep romance...thoroughly satisfying." (Entertainment Weekly)

Loved the first 80%.

I think it is worth the download. The characters really grow on you since you are covering a 20 year friendship. I really enjoyed the friendship: the sexual tension, the growth and changes and how at times they were very close then grew apart. I wasn't keen on the ending. It was disappointing and just went on and on...I won't add a spoiler here. Is it worth the download? I think so. Until the end, I couldn't stop listening to it. The narrator is very good and Em and Dex really grew on me, especially Em.

Sweet, intimate story, not sentimental

You get the whole story of this relationship, from when it started, to when it foundered, to when it succeeded, over years and years. It's real life stuff that rings true, at least for me. No happily ever after, no soul mates, but people with a true connection and what they go through despite themselves. If you want the interior view of what "love" (or something like that) is like, this is it. So why not 5 stars? Well, when you go this specific, this particular, you commit to a certain narrowness. It kind of has to be that way, The consequence is that we are muddling through a lot of contextual stuff, for example, substance abuse, which, common though it is, is not really very universal. I'm not sure it could be done better though. What is there is never dull, never off center, and, hooray for this author because the temptation would abound, never sentimental.

Not my cup of love story..

The narrator was great, however the story had a slow start which made me expect the end to be better.

Performance Good

I enjoyed the preformers but the characters began to weigh on me a bit. It got hard to root for them when I was thinking "Those are some interesting choices." Anyhow, there are a few laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately, there are also some please-make-better-choices-moments and some I-don't-think I-like-you-anymore moments.

You Won't Believe the Ending!

I read this book because it was recommended by one of my favorite authors/bloggers (Matthew Norman), even though the description didn't entirely resonate with me. The story moved more quickly than I thought it might, and was much more entertaining than a traditional romance. However, the ending totally shocked me and even made me a little bit angry. Maybe it shouldn't have, but that alone cost this book one star.

Many more days than One Day of enjoyment

Any additional comments?

I discovered the written book two years ago and it became an instant classic for me; it's right up there on my Best Of list with The Godfather and Gone with the Wind. It's a modern take on a timeless relationship~ witty and articulate, dramatic and emotional, as realistic as anything as I've experienced in my own life. The narrator is phenomenal, catching the nuances of the characters, hitting what I believe to be the tone of the author, the magnificent David Nicholls. I'm so happy to have it on digital so I can enjoy it even when I don't have time to read.

Took awhile to get into it then good

It took me quite a few chapters to get into this books. The story was clear and flowed but perhaps it was the narrator who i found a bit dull. But i persisted and eventually found myself having to keep going to find out how the relationship panned out. Its also a movie which i now want to see so i did enjoy .. just took awhile

Returning Reader

I’ve read this book each year for over 5 years and the narration really brought it to life, only reason I gave it 4 is I found some of the accents annoying, but that’s to be expected. Will continue to read yearly and probably add the audiobook to the rotation

Love Love Love

Decided to listen to the audio book after watching the series so my heart can break again 💔

A lovely story, well told.

I saw the Netflix series and wanted to read the book. It's a great listen. What is especially fun about the book is the author's sly humor in describing small moments. Very much worth your time.