Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of You Are Here by David Nicholls!

I have read several books by this author and I usually enjoy them. This one was a bit of a slog. Just two people on a walk, obviously falling for each other, but too dumb to do anything about it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book delves into two characters who are unhappy in their current life situations, so why not take a long walk to figure things out. I liked the way the author switched between the two main characters perspectives and how the book was split up into the different days’ walks. I especially found the female main character hilarious & so real in her thoughts & actions. There was just something missing in the relationship between the characters and the story that keeps me from rating it higher.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this given that this is far from my usual reading fare. I think this has broad appeal and will be enjoyed by many different types of readers.

David Nicholls is always the author I look forward to picking up in the summer. While his stories are not "summer reading" in the mass market, genre fiction sense, they always make me feel like I'm on a quaint road in a picturesque English countryside. You Are Here is that to the Nth degree. In You Are Here, we meet Michael and Marnie, both recently on the other side of a long-term relationship. After some forceful pleading from a mutual friend, they find themselves on a 10 day hike. A thoughtful, fun read that will give you hope for the world. Nicholls is such an exceptional wordsmith, I'm already looking forward to his next title.

I really loved this book. I went into the book knowing there was no way David Nicholls would disappoint but this was even better than I imagined. From the structure of the walk to how he divided Michael and Marnie's POV chapters, it was just a really poignant and lovely read.

A cute slow loving British rom com set on a walk - Marnie and Michael have isolated themselves from society for the most legitimate reasons, and find themselves thrown together by their bossy friend Cleo who has had enough of their self imposed isolation. I loved the banter, this was another quiet and quirky romance. I liked it.

A heartfelt and moving novel of love and new beginnings.

What starts as a casual hike through the English countryside for a group of friends turns into a 10-day unforgettable journey for two newly single adults. When the rest of the group drops off and leave the pair to venture on their own, Michael and Marnie, both feeling lost and broken, discover they are more alike than they anticipated. Michael wants to escape the memories of the end of his marriage and a recent traumatic event by leaving his apartment and walking solo, no matter how far or how long it takes to feel better. Marnie would rather stay at home to escape her bitter feelings about her ex-husband, wanting anything but a new friend or relationship. What they find on the trail, and in each other, is more than just a simple friendship blossoming before their eyes. They discover an understanding of what was missing from their previous relationships, why they're holding back, and what could potentially be a brighter shared future.

But before they can even think about these feelings, first they'll have to make it home, and the journey is anything but simple. Filled with humor and incredible chemistry between the two leads, Nicholls delivers a smart and sweet novel of two people discovering something they didn't even know they were searching for, and the hope of pursuing a love that lasts.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

Nicholls best yet! A beautiful book full of heart and that explores human connection in a realistic light.

I am not normally a fan of romance, but this one was recommended to me by my daughter and was simply delightful. I do enjoy stories where people find their “person” and this one was a nice take on that trope. A pleasant reading experience for sure.

This was one of the sweetest, softest books I've read in a long time. It was just darling and an absolute joy. The only thing that was irksome was the ending. It felt very abrupt and like I didn't get the emotional payoff I spent the whole book anticipating. I still loved it, I will still read anything he writes.

This was a fun, clever romantic read. The main characters, Michael and Marnie, are both loners recovering from broken relationships and avoiding any new entanglements. Their mutual friend wants them to get out and move on. Literally! So when Michael decides to walk across England. And their matchmaking friend takes advantage. She organizes a group trek. The hike is eventful - rain, blisters, over consumption, etc. make for a drolly good read.

Nicholls has a way of making the characters your friends- you are intimately aware of their foibles and you are rooting for then always, A great read, with many spot on examinations of the human heart

The first half of this book is a 3 star rating and the second half is a 4 star. It really felt like it ook a while to get into the story here and I really wanted it to pick up.
However, it did pick up and this is a cute story about two divorcees that find themselves thrown together on a multi day walking vacation in the UK. The chapters alternate between his point of view and her point of view. The reader knows what is being said and what is being thought, and sometimes I just wanted to tell the characters to speak their minds!
Thank you Netgalley and Harper for the digital ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up.

A sweet and optimistic tale of middle-aged attraction and love. Michael and Marnie have both been damaged by broken relationships and have withdrawn from life. She is a virtually reclusive copy editor in London and he is a York-based Geography teacher who spends most of his spare time on lone walks. When a mutual friend brings them together for a few days, hiking the start of the cross country trail, banter develops into a friendship that could become something more.

Michael is an experienced hiker and Marnie is not, so there’s some comedy to be had there. Marnie’s protective shield is joking, particularly self-deprecating, and Michael’s is silence. We gradually get the stories of their past relationships as they make their journey across the country. The dialog crackles and the characters become fully present.

There’s some lovely details here, including insight into Marnie’s copy editing process as she explains what it is to Michael, using the example of Twisted Night a spicy murder mystery in which she has to plot the whereabouts of the characters at an orgy “like a diagram of the Battle of Austerlitz.” Similarly, the often rundown places they stay in are so specifically described I could feel the grimness of the bedroom covered in Middlesborough FC memorabilia as Michael waits for his microwaved chicken. The portrayal of the Lake District, the Pennines, and the Yorkshire Dales, in foul weather and fair, is vivid and captivating.

Though there is less drama here than in the higher profile One Day (now on Netflix), there is plenty of will they-won't they tension and several episodes where they are about to, only to be interrupted by some outside force. It is a gentle, highly engaging read, and was perfect for me as I walked a section of England’s South West Coast Path.

Thanks to Harper and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

This was a slow burn book for me. I found the beginning chapters a bit confusing but once I settled in...it was no looking back! I've often been intrigued by the Lakes District so the description and details were much appreciated. The characters, dialogue and romance were spot on for me.

David Nicholls' "You Are Here" is a charming, poignant romantic comedy that captures the essence of post-pandemic life. The novel follows Michael and Marnie, both reeling from recent divorces, as they embark on a ten-day hike across the English countryside. Nicholls masterfully blends humor with heartfelt moments, creating a relatable story about finding love and direction amidst personal turmoil. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the characters are well-developed, making this a delightful read.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls (One Day) is a novel about making sure that someone sees us. Set post-pandemic in the North of England near the beautiful Lake District, the story features Michael Bradshaw, 42 and a geography teacher, and Marnie Walsh, 38 and a freelance copy editor. She is recently divorced, and he is soon-to-be. A mutual friend, feeling each has had too much alone time, has invited them on an outdoors walk along with a handsome pharmacist who like Marnie, lives in London and Tessa, an outdoors-y type whose interests match Michael's. Little, especially weather, goes according to plan and pretty quickly just Marnie and Michael are left on the walk, heading across England from one coast to the other. Their adventures with nature and a different hotel or pub each night are quite comical. Plus, the walks promote some soul-bearing and a simmering romance as the two start to bond. More details in reviews from The New York Times ("each is such good company for the other and for the reader.") and The Wall Street Journal ("falls halfway between the serious novel and the breezy fantasy of the beach read"). As I read the thoroughly enjoyable YOU ARE HERE about finding oneself and finding one's way in the English countryside, I repeatedly thought of Raynor Winn's The Salt Path and The Wild Silence – also well worth reading.

Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/books/review/you-are-here-david-nicholls.html
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/you-are-here-review-hiking-with-david-nicholls-4730d550?mod=article_inline

What a delight to read You Are Here, a well written novel of two people who slowly connect with each other on a long hiking holiday. Two lonely people heal each other’s broken hearts in this mature love story. Sigh. This is an unforgettable book with sections so perfect I had to read them out loud.

This was just the book I needed to start off my summer—witty and insightful and also a rom com set in England. I loved the banter and conversation in this book. Definitely recommended for Bridget Jones fans.