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bookishsamsch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
David Nicholls is one of my favourite authors and this is the last book of his left on my TBR. I read One Day when it first came out 20 years ago, a time when I was as prolific a reader as I am now. I had a big chunk of years between that when I hardly read anything at all. (Bad men, mostly, but that is another tale!) Everything I've read of his, I adored, so I don't quite understand how this was off my radar until recently.
Charlie is a troubled 16 year old, who is living with his Dad, his Mum left years ago, taking his sister with her. She's still on the scene but not really there, leaving Charlie to take care of his Dad's addiction to booze & prescription pills whilst battling depression. He's also drifting apart from his high school friends, some not entirely likeable kids who spent most of the time messing about. In the summer between exams and results, he meets Fran, who is beautiful, clever and funny. She convinces him to join a theatre group performing Romeo and Juliet and so their own love story begins. It flips between Charlie then and Charlie as an adult - about to get married and finally settle down.
There are some tough bits to get through and his Dad's battle was hard to read as was his mother's indifference. I really hated her! But it's also very funny, nostalgic and sweet.
I'm bereft that I have nothing left of his to read but I might have to pick One Day up again soon in honour of the anniversary.
Charlie is a troubled 16 year old, who is living with his Dad, his Mum left years ago, taking his sister with her. She's still on the scene but not really there, leaving Charlie to take care of his Dad's addiction to booze & prescription pills whilst battling depression. He's also drifting apart from his high school friends, some not entirely likeable kids who spent most of the time messing about. In the summer between exams and results, he meets Fran, who is beautiful, clever and funny. She convinces him to join a theatre group performing Romeo and Juliet and so their own love story begins. It flips between Charlie then and Charlie as an adult - about to get married and finally settle down.
There are some tough bits to get through and his Dad's battle was hard to read as was his mother's indifference. I really hated her! But it's also very funny, nostalgic and sweet.
I'm bereft that I have nothing left of his to read but I might have to pick One Day up again soon in honour of the anniversary.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit
laurataylor's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
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