It's been a long time since I last read a David Nicholls book but "You Are Here" was like welcoming an old friend back. Bound to pick up a few new fans after the outstanding series of "One Day" on Netflix, Nicholls is definitely on top form with his latest novel. Plot was easy going with enjoyable characters - a thrown together bunch of people on a walk in the Lake District. One by one they drop out due to various excuses and we are left with Michael and Marnie. Will they? Won't they? Who cares when you are living in the moment. Just enjoy it for what it is!

If you heard a agonised 'Noooooo' from somewhere in Greater London, that was likely to have been me reaching the end of this novel when I wasn't ready to say goodbye. Not that it wasn't the perfect place to conclude the narrative – it was – but I was so absorbed and so invested in Marnie and Michael's journey, both literal and emotional, that I couldn't bear to leave them behind.

I loved everything about this book, from details of Marnie's job to Michael's backstory and the way that this developed across the course of the novel. In You Are Here, Nicholls displays real mastery in getting into the warts and all psyche of two people who, for whatever reason, have had a rough time and deserve more. This book is beautiful in its quietness and its illustration of the imperfections of both characters and locations. – in short, it is a wonderful read and I absolutely loved it.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I am new to David Nicholls and have only recently read One Day and absolutely loved it, so I was really looking forward to reading this new one.

I spend a lot of time out walking and in the Lake District so this book seemed perfect for me.

I obviously really enjoyed the setting and the description of the views and landscape. I could also relate to some of the struggles on the walks and the changing weather conditions.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Marnie and Michael, and I liked how the each chapter alternated between both of their points of view. It was really easy and enjoyable to read, easy to pick up when I had a spare 5 minutes.

Although I wouldn’t necessarily describe this book as humorous, it definitely made me smile a lot. A really relatable, feel-good read. I have already recommended this to friends to keep an eye out for when it's published.

I enjoyed this book. Marnie and Michael are living lonely lives following the end of their marriages. Marnie is a copy editor living in London and has lost her social life since Covid but feels safe working from home in the comfort zone of her flat. Michael is a geography teacher living in York who can't bear to be at home since his wife left so spends his spare time walking alone.
They meet through their mutual friend Chloe to join Michael on a coast to coast walk. They get to know each other while walking together, both of them fund it hard to talk much at first, but as they relax with each other the conversation gets deeper. Every time it looks like things could take a more romantic turn, something happens to prevent it. They are lovely characters, and the book is very informative about teaching geography and copy editing that makes them both sound like exciting jobs. Recommended.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

Michael, a 42 year old geography teacher, separated from his wife and struggling. Marnie, a 38 year old proofreader, divorced and also struggling. When they meet via mutual friend Cleo to do the coast to coast walk they connect... eventually, Could this be the new beginning they both need?

Wow, David Nicholls is an absolutely genius! I really cared about Michael and Marnie within the first few sentences and rooted for them all the way to the end. Absolutely loved the dialogue and chemistry between Michael and Marnie... and the other characters too. Loved the story, the smart, witty observations on modern life, the sensitive portrayal of so many issues, the poignancy of Michael and Marnie's backstories... I could go on and on! An absolutely WONDERFUL book, it's going to be a huge success and deservedly so. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I’ve only read two books by Nicholls, One Day and Us, but I loved both of them. I love his very British banter and observation of society and human nature and relationships. I also love his unconventional structure he takes in storytelling. So I jumped at this ARC when I saw it and I am really glad I’ve read it.

There is Nicholl’s signature sense of humour and British banter throughout the book. It is not a laugh out loud sort of humour but it made me smile and chuckle. The banter between the two MCs are great. Both of them are middle aged, but there is a sense of nostalgia to their teenagehood (as you often find in his books) and I loved that part too.

Highly recommend this wonderful book that reminds you that life will set you back sometimes, but take time to heal and wait for the time you’re ready to move on.

5*. You Are Here by David Nicholls is 5 star brilliance, I was in it from the first word and then every step of the way.

Cleo contrives bringing people together for several days to do the start of the Coast to Coast walk (the breadth of the UK from Cumbria to N Yorks). Her old pal Marnie, divorced London living copywriter who enjoys a quiet life is coming, along with Conrad the London based pharmacist. Tessa the triathlete is invited, along with single geography teacher Michael who is a keen hiker. Let the walking and potential sparks begin.

As the group set off and then disperse to leave Michael to attempt to make the Yorkshire coast, Marnie can’t quite bring herself to get the train home.

You Are Here is brilliant. The characters and the dialogue sing from the page, with the landscape and the dodgy accommodation along the way providing ongoing talking points. This isn’t a plot centred book, the only real peril is the weather, but it is so beautifully told that it is utterly absorbing. As is always the way with David Nicholls, the dialogue is whip smart and often incredibly funny. I eeked it out as I didn’t want it to end.

The only thing that could have made it better was if they had walked the length, rather than breadth of the UK. Fingers crossed that the team behind the wonderful Netflix adaptation of One Day work their magic with this one as well.

With huge thanks to Hodder Books and Netgalley for an ARC. It caused me to immediately re-jig my TBR and I am so glad I did.

A very charming and funny British rom-com that is sure to be a very popular holiday read this summer. David Nicholls is a master of witty dialogue, and protagonists Michael and Marnie are quippy to a fault. I found both characters very realistic - likeable and fun to spend time with, but also just the right amount of irritating to truly capture the feeling of being stuck with strangers on a hiking trip that goes on for slightly too long.

As a fan of Nicholls’ novels One Day and Sweet Sorrow, this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. In some respects it really delivered, and his prose here is as readable as ever - this is an easy read that you’ll fly through. On the other hand, those looking for the familiar gut punch that his other novels provide might feel a bit short-changed; third act revelations aim for that emotional hit but I didn’t feel they totally connected. As a result, the novel lacks some of the depth that I was looking for. It’s also all too predictable, and the story follows exactly the trajectory that you think it’s going to. It’s fun to follow the characters on their journey, but there aren’t gonna be huge surprises along the way.

All in all, this really is perfect for a breezy holiday read. It’s sweet and it’s fun, and I can’t imagine anyone could take against it. This refusal to go near anything controversial is also what stopped me from really loving it though - nothing here is going to challenge you as a reader, nor does it feel like Nicholls was really challenging himself in writing it. It’s all pleasant and there are some genuine laughs, but I can’t quite get past the feeling that Nicholls could have written this in his sleep.

Thank you to Sceptre and Netgalley for the ARC!

The Lake District is on my doorstep and I was so excited to find this on my shelf! I loved One Day, and this was an absolute treat!

From the author of “ One Day” is a very different new novel. I read One Day when it first came out and have recently watched the new series of it, so seeing this I was drawn like a moth to a flame. It’s brilliantly written and cleverly draws the reader in and has maps of the walk along the way. Beautifully described it tells of a group on a walking holiday and mostly about Marnie and Michael. Most have done little walking and even being out in the countryside is a new experience being embraced. It's more about people and personalities than anything else and what drives people or indeed quite the opposite. It's a brilliant observation of human life and as the blurb says about finding the way home- in more ways than one. A compelling, warm, more than thoroughly enjoyable read. One that stands out from the crowd and one I hope becomes a TV programme/film. Stunning, brilliant.

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I only read murder/thrillers so this was a new genre for me. I’d heard his last book was good so thought I’d try something a bit different
It was like that first glass of whiskey on a Friday night. Comforting, refreshing and tantalising. The characters were well formed and relatable. Lots of metaphor (love a metaphor) and a comical element too. A bit of everything. I will most definitely be reading his other work ☺️

I love a David Nicholls' novel and I love a long walk so this book was always going to be perfect for me! The story is of Michael and Marnie, two single adults who meet and slowly fall in love as they complete the coast to coast walk.

The landscapes and sights are brought to life with great texture from someone who has clearly been and done it. I loved the way the weather was more often than not terrible! There were great details such as the themed hotel room names and the wifi passwords which really rang true to anyone familiar with the areas. The other great strength of the novel for me was the way we see the relationship develop through dialogue, the awkward transitions between mindless banter and vulnerability and the way the protagonists slowly become more attractive to each other. The characters can be annoying but the novel is always kind towards them, and is very gentle and thoughtful in its exploration of loneliness.

Four stars, though, for a few reasons. Firstly, the final section feels a bit rushed and needed to breathe a little. Secondly, I found the calendar timeline a bit confusing and possibly even inconsistent in a few places. Finally, I felt that Marnie was not 100% brought to life in a rounded way. I just felt she was a little shadowy, even by the end.

Really enjoyed this novel and would always read anything by David Nicholls, but this doesn't quite match Us or One Day for me.

Such a brilliant love story evolving on a walk across northern England. The two characters resurfacing from failed marriages gradually come to each others rescue.

David Nicholls has a very special gift of making characters come to life in the first pages. They arrive fully formed and as a result I was completely absorbed in this book from the start.

The story sounds quite straightforward - Marnie works from home in London as a copy editor and has realised she feels lonely. Her unhappy marriage and subsequent divorce and the lack of socialising through the pandemic has left her feeling isolated and more uncomfortable around people. Her friend Cleo, a very outgoing deputy Head teacher in York, encourages (forces) her to come on a walking trip in the Lake District with a group of her friends. Also on the trip is Michael, a geography teacher from the same school Cleo works at, who is himself fairly recently separated. The walk begins in Cumbria but all the other walkers fall away until only Marnie and Michael continue - he intends to walk across the country to the Yorkshire coast and she stretches her trip as they walk, talk and grow closer.

Naturally it's not straightforward. These are characters approaching middle age with baggage from their previous relationships and life experiences, caution about beginning again with someone new and practical difficulties along the way. Each of them has understandable and recognisable flaws, none of them especially bad but enough to make them feel human. The internal monologues of each of them has so much that resonates, particularly about being something of an introvert in an extrovert world, perfectly happy in your own company but realising that you want more.

This is an easy read in the sense that the writing is so natural that everything flows and makes sense and people talk and behave in a believable way. There's tension about what is happening between them but it's also a beautiful story about a relationship beginning to build unexpectedly and I was absolutely invested in them as individuals and as a couple. Romantic, real and a joy to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I loved this book, I loved how realistic the characters were and their issues and problems. The Lake District holds a very special place in my heart so to walk with these characters through the lakes was really lovely, I felt like I was walking with them. The dialogue was easy to read and follow. I think what I loved most about this book and no it’s not because of the lake district it was because it wasn’t all about romance, it was about peoples struggles to go outside and socialise and go back out to date again after failed marriages, failed friendships and how it’s okay to want to be alone sometimes, and too say when you are not ready for a relationship yet and you need time to move on properly before committing again and that felt so empowering for the main man character. I would definitely recommend this lovely heartwarming book to anyone.

This is a beautifully written, emotional and memorable read by David Nicholls. The main characters will pull you in and you can’t help but love both of them.
He’s one of my favourite authors and this is definitely one of his best books.
There’s so many comparisons to One Day, but read it and love it for its own merit.
A great read and highly recommended.

David Nicholls is a great author.
I absolutely loved One Day & I absolutely loved this one too.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

The joy of a new David Nicholls book is seldom matched. It's a “drop everything and read” occasion. I was so excited to get stuck into ‘You Are Here’ and the book delivered, on every level. Nicholls really sees people, and he employs the most achingly beautiful turns of phrase to convey just how similar we all are when it comes down to it. This latest offering is excellent on middle-age, loneliness and the unexpected pleasure of walking in nature. I loved the whole premise, the maps and the characters. Given the gorgeous scenery, surely this one needs to be televised too? Pleeeease??

A few years ago, I saw David Nicholls introducing his book 'Sweet Sorrow.' His rationale was that he was writing about first love in youth partly to stop his characters getting older, figuring that if he continued with the 'Connie and Douglas,' stage from 'Us,' he would soon be setting his books in nursing homes. I for one am glad he returning to writing about midlife, if this is the sweet and poignant result.

Marnie is a copy-editor (the author must have done this too at some point, as he writes about it so perfectly) working on a smutty book set in Beverly Hills. Marnie seems older than her thirty-eight years and her life has been shaped, not necessarily for the better, by a messy divorce, a financial rip-off and losing what social skills she had during the pandemic, or at least wondering if they may be gone forever.

Michael is a geography teacher, whose monologues about erupting lava are regularly interrupted by schoolboy hysterics, and who harbours a secret about the night that left him literally scarred. Can these two find love among the lakes on a walking weekend, or are they too far gone?

It's no 'One Day,' but (a) What is? and (b) The ingredients of One Day and all his other books - the humour, the pathos, the forensic understanding of women - are all here. It's just maybe a little *too* realistic, and too keen to move away from the moments of magic that his characters, and the equally battle-scarred readers, need so badly.

Warm, funny and a joy to read. David Nicholls has delivered another excellent book which is sure to find a place in reader’s hearts.