Us

A Novel

By: David Nicholls

Narrated by: David Haig

Now a PBS Masterpiece television miniseries starring Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves

“I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After.” — Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You

David Nicholls brings the wit and intelligence that graced his New York Times bestseller, One Day, to a compellingly human, deftly funny novel about what holds marriages and families together—and what happens, and what we learn about ourselves, when everything threatens to fall apart.

Douglas Petersen may be mild-mannered, but behind his reserve lies a sense of humor that, against all odds, seduces beautiful Connie into a second date . . . and eventually into marriage. Now, almost three decades after their relationship first blossomed in London, they live more or less happily in the suburbs with their moody seventeen year-old son, Albie. Then Connie tells him she thinks she wants a divorce.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Hoping to encourage her son’s artistic interests, Connie has planned a month-long tour of European capitals, a chance to experience the world’s greatest works of art as a family, and she can’t bring herself to cancel. And maybe going ahead with the original plan is for the best anyway? Douglas is privately convinced that this landmark trip will rekindle the romance in the marriage, and might even help him to bond with Albie.

Narrated from Douglas’s endearingly honest, slyly witty, and at times achingly optimistic point of view, Us is the story of a man trying to rescue his relationship with the woman he loves, and learning how to get closer to a son who’s always felt like a stranger. It is a moving meditation on the demands of marriage and parenthood, the regrets of abandoning youth for middle age, and the intricate relationship between the heart and the head.

This is a Gem!

US is the best book I have read in a long time. I am a very fussy reader and return almost as many as I keep. David Haig is a master of dialog, making subtle adjustments for younger characters. When will the next book by David Nichols be available?

Ann Gordon

Very candid, witty, poignant

I will immediately look for other books by this author and reader. At times depressing, a little too close to reality for comfort at moments, but so funny at times that I couldn't listen to it while my husband was sleeping next to me because I shook with belly laughs. Nails the absurdity of raising a teenager. I'd recommend it to people who've had long marriages and any young person wonderful enough to care about their parents' point of view if any exist.

I LOVED Douglas ❤️❤️❤️

I really enjoyed this book! It never had a dull moment! I really liked the male character, Douglas. Though, I do not feel he gave himself enough credit, I loved his resolves & epiphanies.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Probably even to couples who are in discovery points of the marriage. But to anyone this would be a great read!

OK not that great

humour is good, at least some of it. its quite a drag towards the end.

Unexpected delight

Dryly funny with wonderful clear characters and insights into human behavior, I totally enjoyed this story of
Douglas, his wife, Connie, and their son, Albert. Truthful, hilarious, and worth a tear hear and there. No formulas used in this gem about a biochemist and his loved ones.