One Day Book

This is perfect holiday reading. Emma and Dexter are both likeable young people, even though Dexter is a bit of a pratt at times! Written in an interesting format, from each of the characters perspectives, the story unfolds over a couple of decades following Dexter and Emma's apparently unconsummated one night stand on their last night at University. Each chapter starts at on the same date on each consecutive year, deliberately picking up the most interesting developments in their lives, such as Dexter's great job and how he manages to undermine himself, and Emma's increasing recognition of her personal and professional dissatisfaction. Despite both of their shortcomings and their totally different outlooks on life, there is a sexual tension that runs throughout the story, and a plausible feel good ending, following a tragic event. Generations of 'forty something's will recognise the historical markers that occur, which are actually glossed over quite lightly as passing references, and rather than creating nostalgia appear a tad too superficial. Despite this, it is easy to imagine this converted to the screen in the 'four weddings and a funeral' genre and will be lovely, as long as the producer doesn't change the end to be 'happy ever after'.

'I can imagine you at forty ' she said a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years two people ONE DAY. From the author of the massive bestseller STARTER FOR TEN.

One Day, written by David Nicholls, was the Galaxy National Book Awards Popular Fiction Book of the Year in 2010. It follows the lives of Emma and Dexter on every 15 July from 1988 onwards - the day they first met and is a moving, but not too mushy, observation of love in the modern life.