This book was so heart-wrenching and emotional. It was a bit of a slow start but once you learned about the characters and their stories, the plot moved much quicker.

Focusing on the evolving friendship in the 20 years after finishing University on the same day every year. By exploring love in a multitude of different forms, it truly emphasises the passing of time and how quickly lives can change for the better or worse. As someone in their 20s who is confused about the future, it was a comforting read.

I was really enjoying this book & then ALL OF A SUDDEN ….???? I have no words to say about the ending

For some reason, I had high hope for this book. I expected to be blown away and instead, when I finished the book, I felt decidedly underwhelmed.

*spoilers ahead*

I hadn't known much about the book before I started: I was aware of the film's existence but I hadn't seen it; I knew there was a sad ending; I had read (and thoroughly enjoyed Nicholls's previous novel Starter for Ten); I had read the blurb which described the format as visiting these two characters on the same day through twenty years of their lives.

My biggest problems with the book were as follows:

1) I just couldn't stand Dexter; even his name annoyed me. I was not rooting for him until the very end when I finally felt some sympathy towards him.

2) Whilst I didn't dislike Emma, I found her rather dull. She came across as a bit whiny and it irritated me.

3) The book was too long for the amount of story. Whilst it is true that years can go by, especially in your twenties, without much changing, it is not interesting to read.

4) I read the book in a constant state on unease, waiting for something awful to happen. Dexter certainly seemed like he was one eff-up away from total disaster and so when Emma met her sudden end, it was a shock - I had expected it was something that would happen to Dexter or at least because of his actions.

Despite enjoying Starter for Ten, I can't see myself rushing out to read more of Nicholls's work when there are already so many books on my 'to-read' list.

I'm angry at this book. I would have thrown it across the room if it wasn't a digital book. I did not see it coming.

"The future rose up ahead of her, a succession of empty days, each more daunting and unknowable than the one before her. How would she ever fill them all?"

Great book that demonstrates it is possible to write not one life, but many, into a novel. Characters felt very real and very flawed, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.


Great book and I am looking forward to the movie later this year with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.