Summary

One Day by David Nicholls is a critically acclaimed novel that captivated readers worldwide upon its release in 2009. The book follows the lives of Emma and Dexter over two decades, revisiting them on the same day each year. Praised for its wit, depth, and poignant exploration of love and friendship, One Day became an international bestseller and was named Galaxy Book of the Year in 2010. The novel's popularity led to a successful film adaptation in 2011, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, and a Netflix television series that premiered in February 2024.

Plot

One Day by David Nicholls follows the lives of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew over two decades, starting from their graduation night on July 15, 1988. The novel visits the pair on the same date each year, chronicling their evolving relationship and individual journeys. Initially, Emma aspires to make a difference in the world but struggles as a waitress and aspiring playwright, while Dexter travels the globe, indulging in a carefree lifestyle.

As the years progress, their paths continue to intersect. Emma eventually becomes a teacher and later a successful children's author, while Dexter's career as a television presenter flourishes before collapsing due to his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Their friendship endures despite romantic entanglements with others, including Dexter's marriage and divorce from Sylvie. After years of missed opportunities and personal growth, Emma and Dexter finally acknowledge their feelings for each other and get married.

Tragically, their happiness is cut short when Emma dies in a bicycle accident. The novel concludes with Dexter, three years after Emma's death, visiting Edinburgh with his daughter and reminiscing about his first encounter with Emma two decades earlier.

Themes

• Love and friendship over time

• Missed opportunities and timing

• Personal growth and life transitions

• Careers and ambitions

• Relationships and compatibility

• Regret and second chances

• Loss and coping with grief

Setting

Set primarily in the United Kingdom, One Day spans two decades from 1988 to 2007, capturing the essence of late 20th and early 21st century British life. The story begins with the characters' graduation from the University of Edinburgh, offering glimpses into their lives on the same day each year as they navigate the changing social and cultural landscape of the era.

While the novel's focus remains on the two protagonists' personal journeys, it subtly reflects the broader shifts in British society during this period. From the vibrant youth culture of the late 1980s to the technological advances and economic changes of the new millennium, the setting provides a rich backdrop against which Emma and Dexter's story unfolds.

The narrative takes readers across various locations in the UK, with London playing a significant role as both characters eventually settle there. Other notable settings include Edinburgh, where their story begins, and Paris, where Emma pursues her writing career. These diverse locales contribute to the novel's exploration of personal growth and the impact of place on one's life trajectory.

Characters

• Emma Morley: The female protagonist. An idealistic and intelligent woman who struggles to find her place in the world after university, eventually becoming a teacher and author.

• Dexter Mayhew: The male protagonist. A charming and privileged man who becomes a successful TV presenter before falling into addiction and rebuilding his life.

• Ian: Emma's long-term boyfriend, a struggling comedian who works with her at the Tex-Mex restaurant.

• Sylvie: Dexter's wife and mother of his child. She has an affair that leads to their divorce.

• Alison Mayhew: Dexter's mother, whose death brings Emma and Dexter closer together.

• Stephen Mayhew: Dexter's father, who helps support him after Emma's death.

• Jasmine: Dexter and Sylvie's daughter.

• Tilly: Emma's university friend, whose wedding Emma and Dexter attend years later.

Quick facts

• David Nicholls spent two and a half years writing One Day, much longer than his previous works.

• One Day was inspired by a passage in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles about the hidden significance of seemingly ordinary days. 

• Nicholls chose July 15th (St. Swithun's Day) as the recurring date in the novel because it fit with the characters' graduation day and the theme of unpredictability.

• The story spans nearly 20 years, from 1988 to 2007, checking in on the characters on the same day each year.

• Nicholls has said that the structure of the novel was partly inspired by Same Time, Next Year, a play by Bernard Slade about two people who meet for a romantic tryst once a year for two dozen years.

• One Day became an international sensation, selling more than six million copies worldwide with translations into 40 languages. 

• One Day won the Galaxy Book of the Year award in 2010.

• Nicholls wrote the screenplay for the 2011 film adaptation, which starred Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

• A Netflix television series adaptation of One Day was released in February 2024, starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall.

About the Author

David Nicholls is a renowned British novelist and screenwriter. His literary breakthrough came with his third novel, One Day, published in 2009. This poignant love story, which follows two characters on the same day each year over several years, sold more than six  million copies worldwide and was translated into 40 languages. Winner of the Galaxy Book of the Year Award in 2010, One Day was adapted into a 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and a critically acclaimed 14-part series for Netflix in 2024.  

Born in 1966 in Eastleigh, Hampshire, Nicholls began his career as an actor before focusing on writing. His screenwriting credits include adaptations of classic works such as Far from the Madding Crowd and Great Expectations, as well as original series like Rescue Me. His adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, earned him a BAFTA for best writer and an Emmy nomination.

To date, Nicholls has published six  novels, each exploring love and relationships at various life stages. In 2014, his novel Us was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In addition to numerous literary accolades, Nicholls received honorary doctorates from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Bristol. He lives in north London with his long-term partner, Hannah Weaver, a script editor. His latest novel, You Are Here, was published in 2024.