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Us: The Booker Prize-longlisted novel from the author of ONE DAY Paperback – 7 May 2015
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*Out now: David Nicholls's new novel YOU ARE HERE*
THE BOOKER PRIZE-LONGLISTED NOVEL BY BELOVED BESTSELLER DAVID NICHOLLS
A brilliant, bittersweet novel about love and family, husbands and wives, parents and children
'Perfect'
INDEPENDENT
'I honestly can't imagine loving a novel much more'
SUNDAY TIMES
'Funny and sweet - a lovely, lovely book'
GRAHAM NORTON
'A sad, funny, soulful joy'
OBSERVER
'I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After'
JOJO MOYES
Douglas and Connie - scientist and artist, husband and wife - live a quiet and quietly unremarkable life in the suburbs of London. Until, suddenly, after more than twenty years of marriage, Connie decides she wants a divorce.
Heartbroken but determined, Douglas comes up with the perfect plan: he is going to win back the love of his wife and the respect of Albie, their teenage son, by organising the holiday of a lifetime.
The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed.
What could possibly go wrong?
ONE OF BRITAIN'S MOST ACCLAIMED WRITERS
'One of the most astute chroniclers of England as it is now'
FINANCIAL TIMES
'An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care passionately about his characters'
DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love'
THE TIMES
'No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does'
EVENING STANDARD
'Genuinely brilliant'
NEW STATESMAN
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSceptre
- Publication date7 May 2015
- Dimensions13.1 x 2.7 x 19.7 cm
- ISBN-100340897015
- ISBN-13978-0340897010
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From the Publisher

Product description
Review
I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After -- Jojo Moyes
A literary and anthropological tour de force . . . astute and packed with brilliant observations, about life, art, culture and the infinite possibilities for human disappointment. I honestly can't imagine loving a novel much more -- Christina Patterson ― Sunday Times
Us is a work of Cheever-esque perfection that absolutely captures the exquisite horror of not being able to do right for wrong -- Damian Barr ― Observer
A perfect book ― Independent
Nicholls, it seems, was born to write about love, in all its sweetness and bitterness . . . thoughtful, funny, authentic . . . Us begins as a sweet read, but evolves into an examination of love's complexities - the battle between the heart and the brain . . . The kind of book that reminds us what it means to be alive ― Good Housekeeping
Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love, this time about a type of relationship often neglected as unsexy - the long-married couple . . . wry, plaintive but ever hopeful ― The Times
Very funny, wise and bittersweet ― Daily Express
As he proved in One Day, Nicholls is brilliant at picking apart modern life with all its hopes, disillusionments and regrets, and marrying it to a gently heartbreaking narrative ― Observer
He doesn't just have a sharp eye for a story, his characters also have real depth and his books are a delicate balance between warmth and edge. No-one ever gets too easy a ride. Us . . . is no exception -- John Crace ― Guardian
Even better than One Day ― The Times
A compulsively readable, formally inventive, extremely funny yet achingly melancholy love story -- Andrew Billen ― The Times
Nicholls has raised his game . . . the clear writing often dazzles with truth . . . a sad, funny, soulful joy of a book -- Matt Haig ― Observer
I read it through tears in maybe two sittings . . . at the heart of the book is one man's plight to just get things right. And whoever you are, however logical, or practical with your emotions, most of us just want to get things right when it comes to the people we love -- Candice Carty-Williams, author of QUEENIE
An emotive romantic comedy, ingeniously structured ― Evening Standard
Us is a quiet joy, written with an undemonstrative simplicity that is hard to achieve ― Sunday Telegraph
Wonderful. A novel that manages to be both truly hilarious and deeply affecting. I loved it -- S. J. Watson, author of BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP
A wrenching examination of a journey through Europe that goes terribly wrong and a consideration of what it means to be a parent today -- Philip Hensher ― Guardian
It's the perfect follow-up to One Day because it takes romance to a middle-aged place. It's funny and sweet - a lovely, lovely book -- Graham Norton
Few authors do messed-up relationships better than Nicholls ― People
Bittersweet, beautifully rendered ― Sydney Morning Herald
I enjoyed Us immensely. David has a sublime talent for illuminating the murky causeway that most of us have to navigate between darkness and light, happiness and sadness; the place where fatigue is, and restlessness, where love is tested and strained and sometimes broken -- Donal Ryan, author of FROM A LOW AND QUIET SEA
Beautiful, funny and brilliant -- Dan Stevens
Nicholls has captured, with rare accuracy, the hopes, fears, compromises and silly jokes that make up our lives. The title says it all: he really is writing about Us ― Daily Telegraph
Never has a book about the end of a love affair been so heartrendingly romantic and bittersweet. Rich in pathos, humour and steeped in the wisdom of maturity ― Sunday Mirror
Us is an entertaining and clever crossover read . . . one of the best portrayals of the complexities of a long-term relationship I've seen in a contemporary novel -- Viv Groskop ― Observer
Nicholls is a delightfully funny writer . . . Us evolves into a poignant consideration of how a marriage ages, how parents mess up and what survives despite all those challenges ― Washington Post
Nicholls is a master of the braided narrative, weaving the past and present to create an intricate whole, one that is at times deceptively light and unexpectedly devastating . . . this is a funny and moving novel perfect for a long journey ― Kirkus
His organisation of the story is impeccable . . . The narrative neatly weaves present and past with a perfect rhythmic sense of when to leave or revisit a particular strand. The dialogue is always bouncy . . . acute and astute about the dynamics of relationships -- Mark Lawson ― Guardian
Nicholls's superior brand of romantic comedy, shot through with dark shards of truth, gets under the skin -- Rachel Hore ― Independent
Nicholls's ability to create and then subvert the traditional plot for a comedy is the secret of his success. It makes us confront the gap between what we expect from storytelling and what happens in real life . . . it is this frank exploration of some of the unromantic realities of marriage and growing old that makes this book moving and thought-provoking ― Spectator
A spectacularly well observed, funny and often heartbreaking account of the difficulties of marriage and parenting ― Heat
Clever and likeable ― Literary Review
It's funny, moving and, of course, wonderfully written ― Sun
A great combination of laughs and heart -- Sophie Kinsella, author of THE PARTY CRASHER
A happier, lighter, more well-adjusted version of Gone Girl . . . For all of their burdens and battles, Douglas and Connie have moments of real joy in their marriage and while it doesn't always seem like a pleasure, reading about it sure is ― Time
Nicholls again deals with love lost and possibility found, offering an unpredictable ending . . . a poignant story of regret in middle age ― New York Times
Peerless at mixing eye-smarting tragedy with ebullient comedy ― Metro
Well worth the wait . . . A poignant and acutely observed portrayal of a marriage that's lost its way ― Express
A stylish comedy delivered with all of Nicholls's customary aplomb ― Mail on Sunday
David Nicholls has such finesse with character that he can create two central figures who are self-deceiving, funny, awful and touching - and who pull you through the narrative like magnets -- Helen Dunmore, author of BIRDCAGE WALK
A great novel . . . Nicholls is a master of nuanced relationships. He's also a pro at delivering a tight, clever structural narrative ― Entertainment Weekly
Us is the tender, sometimes funny, often heartbreaking journey of two adults experiencing one of those growing-up moments in life that is somehow all the more poignant because they think they're too old to grow up -- Thea Sharrock, director of ME BEFORE YOU
Book Description
A brilliant, bittersweet novel about love and family, husbands and wives, parents and children.
From beloved bestselling author David Nicholls.
From the Back Cover
About the Author
David Nicholls is the bestselling author of Starter for Ten, The Understudy, One Day, Us, Sweet Sorrow and You Are Here. One Day was published in 2009 to extraordinary critical acclaim: translated into 40 languages, it became a global bestseller, selling millions of copies worldwide. His fourth novel, Us, was longlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.
On screen, David has written adaptations of Far from the Madding Crowd, When Did You Last See Your Father? and Great Expectations, as well as of his own novels, Starter for Ten, One Day and Us. His adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was nominated for an Emmy and won him a BAFTA for best writer. The Netflix adaptation of One Day was executive-produced by David.
Product details
- Publisher : Sceptre; 1st edition (7 May 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0340897015
- ISBN-13 : 978-0340897010
- Dimensions : 13.1 x 2.7 x 19.7 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 19,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 282 in Film & Television Tie-In
- 388 in Later in Life Romance
- 570 in Love, Sex & Marriage Humour
- Customer reviews:
About the author

David Nicholls is the bestselling author of Starter for Ten, The Understudy, One Day, Us, Sweet Sorrow and now You Are Here. One Day was published in 2009 to extraordinary critical acclaim: translated into 40 languages, it became a global bestseller, selling millions of copies worldwide. His fourth novel, Us, was longlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.
On screen, David has written adaptations of Far from the Madding Crowd, When Did You Last See Your Father? and Great Expectations, as well as of his own novels, Starter for Ten, One Day and Us. His adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was nominated for an Emmy and won him a BAFTA for best writer.
He is also the Executive Producer and a contributing screenwriter on a new Netflix adaptation of One Day. His latest novel, You Are Here, will be published in spring 2024.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's sense of humor and likable characters. The story is described as heartwarming and poignant, with themes like love, responsibility, and family life. Readers also praise the insightful and clever writing style.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They describe it as an interesting story about a relationship. The narrative is convincing throughout, making it worth reading.
"...I have had the great fortune of meeting him at events and he's an incredibly nice and humble man, Im delighted for his continued success with Us and..." Read more
"...It is both charming and poignant and at times I was reliving parts of my own life because of the accuracy of the observation and emotions." Read more
"...to really engage with emotion meant this was a pleasant journey, whimsical, but a bit too lacking in grit to really grab the heart and guts of this..." Read more
"...Douglas narrates, and he really could be anyone we know...." Read more
Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the author's ability to create believable characters and a realistic love story.
"...And very well done, there is a kind of harmonious predictability about the plot, a tying up of loose ends, satisfying but not ever edge of the seat...." Read more
"This is a hard book to review. It is brilliantly written: great plot, vivid characters, lovely set-piece scenes -- but I found it hard to..." Read more
"...Once again, Nicholls has managed to create a very real love story that doesn't fit all the usual cliches and allows the reader to identify himself..." Read more
"...The writing is superb. It paints the characters so clearly that one can see and understand them and their possible quirks and incompatibilities...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the writing witty and engaging, with a sense of humor that keeps them laughing. The narration is wry and likable, with great quotes. Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of family dynamics over time.
"...And some of the funny bits are just brilliant - actually laugh out loud. Nicholls is such a talent of British writing...." Read more
"...I enjoyed the gentle delivery of serious issues and the low key humour that pervades the book...." Read more
"...and past trajectory of this family's dynamics, with a deal of warmth, humour and light touch, what for me is missing is a certain depth...." Read more
"...Douglas narrates, and he really could be anyone we know. He comes across as mostly likable, but like any of us, in moments of stress (or distress),..." Read more
Customers find the book heartwarming, funny, and poignant. They say it builds an emotional punch while still revealing genuine feelings. Readers appreciate the author's ability to tackle themes like love, responsibility, family life, and honesty. The book is described as an easy read that is thought-provoking and captures modern day attitudes and behaviors well.
"...It is both charming and poignant and at times I was reliving parts of my own life because of the accuracy of the observation and emotions." Read more
"...is a modern love story, in all its joyous, ecstatic, monotonous, heartbreaking, gut wrenching honesty...." Read more
"...It is hilariously funny, frustrating, happy, sad and bittersweet all at the same time...." Read more
"...Extremely funny and extremely sad and provocative...." Read more
Customers find the characters believable. They appreciate the author's skill in portraying their conversations and capturing the main character's foibles and weaknesses. The narrator has a strong, believable voice with sensitive views on human nature. Overall, readers find the book provides an insightful character study of middle-class life.
"...fortune of meeting him at events and he's an incredibly nice and humble man, Im delighted for his continued success with Us and already look forward..." Read more
"...Us is an outstanding character study of the middle class middle-age...." Read more
"...It is brilliantly written: great plot, vivid characters, lovely set-piece scenes -- but I found it hard to read...." Read more
"...I found all 3 protagonists very easy to dislike...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's insightful writing. They find the themes fascinating and relatable. Readers praise the author's intuition, wit, and emotional depth. The book is described as an engaging, easy read that helps uncover characters' personalities.
"...One of the beauties of One Day is the mass appeal and how relatable the characters are to people of different ages but I felt as a younger female..." Read more
"...I love the observations delivered with a deft touch. I enjoyed the gentle delivery of serious issues and the low key humour that pervades the book...." Read more
"...Whilst Nicholls brilliantly charts, forward and backwards in short, interlocking chapters, the current and past trajectory of this family's dynamics..." Read more
"...fails to keep my head nodding in agreement as he describes fears, insecurities, social awkwardness, and even the occasional small victories...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline. Some find it epic and poignant, with a nice touch of the main protagonists in the final chapter. They describe it as a pleasant journey with recognisable moments. Others feel the plot is strange and ebbs and flows, with an irritating chapter structure and difficulty in relating to the characters.
"...I didn't. I found it heart-breaking, sad, with some painful / embarrassing scenes...." Read more
"...And very well done, there is a kind of harmonious predictability about the plot, a tying up of loose ends, satisfying but not ever edge of the seat...." Read more
"...If I had to make one criticism of the book, it would be that I struggled to relate to the way the two characters ended their relationship...." Read more
"...This truly is a modern love story, in all its joyous, ecstatic, monotonous, heartbreaking, gut wrenching honesty...." Read more
Customers find the book boring and unsatisfying. They mention it's disappointing, with unbelievable characters and plot. The protagonist is portrayed as distinctly likable initially but gradually becomes much more. They find the book annoying, not exciting, and they skim read an awful lot.
"...the trips to each European city read like a tourist guide with nothing insightful, clever or subtle to say about the settings...." Read more
"...Overall. an enjoyable book which made ne laugh but was also somewhat unstisfying as it was hard to summon up any affection for either Conne or..." Read more
"This book is a puzzle. It's very wordy, mainly narrative with little conversation and it requires attention to read it...." Read more
"...It would be interesting to know whether the author meant her to be an unlikeable, callous, self-centred, boring old stereotype and that he was..." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 December 2014Im a huge fan of David Nicholls and like some was nervous about this follow up to the huge success of One Day (although I also liked his previous books). The important thing to establish is that this is a very different book, and I think thats a good thing.
Its a very different situation and very different characters and my main concern was attraction to the plot. One of the beauties of One Day is the mass appeal and how relatable the characters are to people of different ages but I felt as a younger female reader I was not immediately drawn to the story of an older man faced with divorce. Its not something Im familiar with or can relate to, and so it took me a little while to get into the story because of this. Yet the writing from the first line had all the appeal of Nicholls - real and honest and funny and observant. I loved an early comment about taking the Eurostar through dark and dull tunnels but feeling disappointed as though you expected to see fish through the glass case! He writes how a real person thinks and really gets inside your head.
Before I knew it I was hooked. It took me a while to read (largely due to general life and lots of other things I had to read) and therefore these characters and story were really with me for a long time, to the point of not wanting to let go. I actually slowed down towards the end, keen not to finish and worried about the outcome for characters I'd really come to care for.
Its well worth a go and as long as treated as a very different book you will enjoy it. I had no choice but to give five stars as its a wonderfully told story with very real and flawed characters. One Day has glimpses of sentimentality at the edges - inevitable with will they wont they romance - and I found this much harsher, found myself expecting the worse. Again, I think this was a good thing - these are real people in real situations. Warts and all. It made the sweet and happy parts mean all the more the way they do when they crop up in real life. And some of the funny bits are just brilliant - actually laugh out loud.
Nicholls is such a talent of British writing. I have had the great fortune of meeting him at events and he's an incredibly nice and humble man, Im delighted for his continued success with Us and already look forward to the next one.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2025This is the first novel by David Nicholls that I have read. I saw One Day and this drew me towards the author. I love the observations delivered with a deft touch. I enjoyed the gentle delivery of serious issues and the low key humour that pervades the book. At times I felt the delivery was rather on a single note. However, I was carried through the book by a genuine desire to know how the characters, all vivid and adorable, would resolve their lives. It is both charming and poignant and at times I was reliving parts of my own life because of the accuracy of the observation and emotions.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2014David Nicholls crafts a fine story here, a tale of 25 years of a marriage.
Connie is a wonderfully attractive, vivacious artist, with a disastrous history of relationships with egomaniac, `bad-boys', all artists or would-bes.
Douglas is a scientist, involved in genetic research, stolid, solid, repressed, steady, anal-retentive. He is passionate about his work, centred around the humble fruit-fly
Connie and Douglas meet, and she embarks on a rebound relationship with him. Jump forward over quarter of a century. Connie and Douglas are at a crucial point in their relationship. And they have an 18 year old son, Albie, very much a chip off his mother's block, about to leave the nest for University.
And the family are about to embark on `the grand tour' which was fashionable in the nineteenth century - in this case, all based round a whistle stop tour of major European galleries - Albie has followed the arts, like mum, and is possibly going to be a photographer of genius. Or not, hard to tell whilst he is absolutely inhabiting the stage of rebellion and identity searching. Albie and Douglas do not get on. At all.
Whilst Nicholls brilliantly charts, forward and backwards in short, interlocking chapters, the current and past trajectory of this family's dynamics, with a deal of warmth, humour and light touch, what for me is missing is a certain depth. Pain there undoubtedly is, but Nicholls, and his central character don't take the reader there and really engage them with it. It is a very balanced, thought through book - a kind of Richard Curtis romance. And very well done, there is a kind of harmonious predictability about the plot, a tying up of loose ends, satisfying but not ever edge of the seat. The inability to really engage with emotion meant this was a pleasant journey, whimsical, but a bit too lacking in grit to really grab the heart and guts of this reader
There is one other major flaw - it's absolutely easy to see why Douglas falls for captivating Connie, and remains captivated. I could not, however, other than cerebrally, see what was in it for Connie. Sure, the rebound from the dangerously attractive, unreliable one to safe Douglas, but Douglas is never shown as particularly attractive, even though he is clearly a good man. It seems all to come down to `he makes me laugh' which we are repeatedly told, Connie tells Douglas how much he makes her laugh, Douglas tells us that Connie says he makes her laugh - but there isn't much obvious humour, or wit or funny in Douglas himself. Whatever humour is there is in Nicholls. Connie and Albie seem much more likely to be amusing company than the apparently laugh making Douglas. I wanted to see his fabulous ability to amuse, rather than repeatedly be told about it.
Top reviews from other countries
- amrittReviewed in Canada on 30 March 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Novell review
The was a fabulous read.
- Ms Sara McGrathReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 26 November 2022
2.0 out of 5 stars Book is fantastic but arrived in poor condition!!
Low rating as I was shocked to recieve this book in clearly read condition, spine and pages bent. I have it on my kindle and love it so wanted to buy it for a friend (it's a fantastic book, highly recommend!!) So I sent it back and ordered another...the next one arrived in better condition but still clearly second hand. This is not stated anywhere so you would assume you're getting a new book. If this doesnt bother you, get it as the book itself is great, but if it's a gift definitely do not!
- Joana CurvalReviewed in Spain on 26 February 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars David Nichols is a genious
Wonderful book, so moving and funny at the same time. Great for a holiday reading!
After reading "One day" (one of my all-time favourite books) I had high expectations and this one did not disappoint! Really recommend the mini series as well, very well made!
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Henriqueta MarsiajReviewed in Brazil on 21 March 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom desde o início
Personagem principal muito bem construído, com suas angústias , conceitos e ações. O livro se passa em vários países, já que a família sai em viagem e por isso a leitura se torna muito prazerosa. Recomendo!
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AdolfoReviewed in Italy on 15 January 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars La qualità
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