Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Jeden dzień by David Nicholls

80 reviews

lucyatoz's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

One day by David Nicholls was an interesting read following the lives of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, who meet on the night of their university graduation and then go their separate ways. 

The book then tells their story through the lens of a specific day, the 15th July, St. Swithin's day, every year from 1988 to 2007, through the highlights and lowlights, from being friends to being married to other people to the end of one of their lives. 

The narrative is an intriguing one, however as I read it I felt getting more and more cheated of getting the whole story! I am happy that I have read it, but it is not one that I will stay in the memory for long.  
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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book hadn’t been on my radar at all but it came up as a suggestion when playing around with ChatGPT when I asked for books similar to the movie The Girl in the Cafe. It also fit in for a reading challenge prompt for a book suggested by a random generator, so I picked it up right away. 
 
Dex and Emma spent a day together in 1988. They never left each other’s minds. That date becomes the focal point of decades of love, loss, mistakes, successes, and growing up. 
 
I was hooked at the very start of the book but my interest fizzled out quickly. I didn’t connect to the characters at all which made for a less enjoyable reading experience. Took away some great quotes though, so I’m glad I stuck with it. 
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cptnstphy's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Wasn’t rooting for any of the characters/didn’t feel connected to them, but found myself laughing out loud often at their quips. Somewhat entertaining book
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abbruzzese's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

     "I suppose the important thing is to make some sort of difference," she said. "You know, actually change something."
     "What, like 'change the world', you mean?"
     "Not the whole world. Just the little bit around you."

I LOVED THIS. like omg. such a fun plot premise, great pacing, lovable main characters. i find that a lot of romance books have a couple in which one of them is the love of my life and the other is the most annoying person i've ever encountered, but dexter and emma were very well balanced, both to each other and with themselves. 

the only part i didn't like was the ending.
it was not happy at all, which is what i was expecting. it was very jarring and seemed to come out of nowhere, for no reason. i suppose nicholls wrote it for the purpose of furthering dexter's character development, but there are lots of other ways to do that instead of killing off emma so randomly. don't get me wrong, i'm glad i read this and i enjoyed it immensely, but i can't say i would have devoured it (or even picked it up at all) had i known that the "happily ever after" the entire book was taking us towards just...doesn't happen.
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claranasman02's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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katharina90's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I first read this novel shortly after the movie came out in 2011. I always preferred the movie, and rereading the book in 2024 (because there's a new adaptation on Netflix) I like it even less. But I'll leave it at 3 stars for nostalgia's sake.

Aside from everything that hasn't aged well, like the raging fatphobia, the characters are just so unlikeable and immature. 
Because we're only shown snapshots over the course of 20 years, more often than not we see Em and Dex at their worst which makes it difficult to root for them.

The ending is deeply unsatisfying.
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chloewakham's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
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anewton's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A clever, beautifully moving book, with characters who become your close friends. A highly engaging read, that makes you hungry for more, with a plot that is far from clique. 
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erinbailey's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was an amazing read but it also crushed my soul. If you’re up for falling in love with characters with uncertain endings I implore you to read this, but be prepared to feel very sad in the end. Whoever said this book has a happy ending on tik tok is a big ole liar. 
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chaiteasophia's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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