Genre Fiction
![David Nicholls - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001JRZRIS.jpg)
Us: A Novel
Now a PBS Masterpiece television miniseries starring Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves
"I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After." - Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You
David Nicholls brings the wit and intelligence that graced his New York Times bestseller, One Day, to a compellingly human, deftly funny novel about what holds marriages and families together-and what happens, and what we learn about ourselves, when everything threatens to fall apart.
Douglas Petersen may be mild-mannered, but behind his reserve lies a sense of humor that, against all odds, seduces beautiful Connie into a second date . . . and eventually into marriage. Now, almost three decades after their relationship first blossomed in London, they live more or less happily in the suburbs with their moody seventeen year-old son, Albie. Then Connie tells him she thinks she wants a divorce.
The timing couldn't be worse. Hoping to encourage her son's artistic interests, Connie has planned a month-long tour of European capitals, a chance to experience the world's greatest works of art as a family, and she can't bring herself to cancel. And maybe going ahead with the original plan is for the best anyway? Douglas is privately convinced that this landmark trip will rekindle the romance in the marriage, and might even help him to bond with Albie.
Narrated from Douglas's endearingly honest, slyly witty, and at times achingly optimistic point of view, Us is the story of a man trying to rescue his relationship with the woman he loves, and learning how to get closer to a son who's always felt like a stranger. It is a moving meditation on the demands of marriage and parenthood, the regrets of abandoning youth for middle age, and the intricate relationship between the heart and the head.
"I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After." - Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You
David Nicholls brings the wit and intelligence that graced his New York Times bestseller, One Day, to a compellingly human, deftly funny novel about what holds marriages and families together-and what happens, and what we learn about ourselves, when everything threatens to fall apart.
Douglas Petersen may be mild-mannered, but behind his reserve lies a sense of humor that, against all odds, seduces beautiful Connie into a second date . . . and eventually into marriage. Now, almost three decades after their relationship first blossomed in London, they live more or less happily in the suburbs with their moody seventeen year-old son, Albie. Then Connie tells him she thinks she wants a divorce.
The timing couldn't be worse. Hoping to encourage her son's artistic interests, Connie has planned a month-long tour of European capitals, a chance to experience the world's greatest works of art as a family, and she can't bring herself to cancel. And maybe going ahead with the original plan is for the best anyway? Douglas is privately convinced that this landmark trip will rekindle the romance in the marriage, and might even help him to bond with Albie.
Narrated from Douglas's endearingly honest, slyly witty, and at times achingly optimistic point of view, Us is the story of a man trying to rescue his relationship with the woman he loves, and learning how to get closer to a son who's always felt like a stranger. It is a moving meditation on the demands of marriage and parenthood, the regrets of abandoning youth for middle age, and the intricate relationship between the heart and the head.
Editorial Reviews
"The Petersen family travels through Europe with more emotional baggage than luggage in Nicholls's winning follow-up to his 2009 bestseller One Day….Few authors do messed-up relationships better than Nicholls." - People, Book of the Week
"Nicholls is a deft craftsman, a skilled storyteller and a keen observer of contemporary mores." - Jay McInerney, New York Times Book Review
"In his latest…Mr. Nicholls again deals with love lost and possibly found, offering an unpredictable (and less grim) ending…. Mr. Nicholls mines the setup for laughs, as he should, but he also provides a poignant story of regret in middle age." - New York Times
"A great novel...Nicholls is a master of nuanced relationships. He's also a pro at delivering a tight, clever structural narrative, as he proved in his terrific previous novel One Day." - Entertainment Weekly
"I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After." - Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and One Plus One
"Wonderful. A novel that manages to be both truly hilarious and deeply affecting. I loved it." - S.J. Watson, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep
"Nicholls is a delightfully funny writer…and this over-planned vacation makes ripe material for comedy…Us evolves into a poignant consideration of how a marriage ages, how parents mess up and what survives despite all those challenges." - Washington Post
"A smartly optimistic romantic comedy that uses angst and humor to illuminate the resilience of the human heart… Part requiem, part reboot, Douglas's...efforts to preserve his disintegrating family take him on another kind of journey, too, from despair to unexpected joy." - O Magazine, November 2014
"A thoughtful, funny, authentic story…Pitch-perfect dialogue and seamless action propel the story ...
"Nicholls is a deft craftsman, a skilled storyteller and a keen observer of contemporary mores." - Jay McInerney, New York Times Book Review
"In his latest…Mr. Nicholls again deals with love lost and possibly found, offering an unpredictable (and less grim) ending…. Mr. Nicholls mines the setup for laughs, as he should, but he also provides a poignant story of regret in middle age." - New York Times
"A great novel...Nicholls is a master of nuanced relationships. He's also a pro at delivering a tight, clever structural narrative, as he proved in his terrific previous novel One Day." - Entertainment Weekly
"I loved this book. Funny, sad, tender: for anyone who wants to know what happens after the Happy Ever After." - Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and One Plus One
"Wonderful. A novel that manages to be both truly hilarious and deeply affecting. I loved it." - S.J. Watson, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep
"Nicholls is a delightfully funny writer…and this over-planned vacation makes ripe material for comedy…Us evolves into a poignant consideration of how a marriage ages, how parents mess up and what survives despite all those challenges." - Washington Post
"A smartly optimistic romantic comedy that uses angst and humor to illuminate the resilience of the human heart… Part requiem, part reboot, Douglas's...efforts to preserve his disintegrating family take him on another kind of journey, too, from despair to unexpected joy." - O Magazine, November 2014
"A thoughtful, funny, authentic story…Pitch-perfect dialogue and seamless action propel the story ...
Readers Top Reviews
Thomas EdmundRuth Bo
The story of Us by David Nicholls has been a difficult piece to review. On one hand the story is well crafted, witty, never a drag, and sure to bring a tear to a few people's eyes. Perhaps most brilliantly, Nicholls captures issues (I hope it is not sexist for me to say particularly for men) that surely resonate for all people (to mention the particular issues would be spoilerly [read the blurb]) On the other hand, I felt like there wasn't much new to this book OK SPOILERS AHEAD (just so can explain better.) Themes of infidelity, difficult family relationships, distance between father and son, it all felt like someone had done it before. I'm sure if you pick this book up and gel with the characters the journey will be good, but nothing much in this book stood out to separate it from any other family crisis drama. In summary I class this book as Good, but not Classic. There is clearly a considerable amount of talent and skill displayed in Nicholls work, it just feels like Us is a bit of a safe story that could of been something more if only there was a bit more tension or surprise in the tale.
P. Greer
Us: A Novel by David Nicholls opens with Connie waking up Douglas from a deep sleep to tell him that she thinks their marriage has run it’s course and that she thinks she wants to leave him. Douglas, the narrator of the story, then proceeds to tell the back story, what led up to startling relegation and what he did to try and keep it from happening. David Nicholls writes such interesting characters. They are all unique, each in their own way. This characterization is what really makes his novels work for me. Douglas is such an interesting character, so perfectly flawed. He means well, but at the same time he so annoying, so self absorbed. So, human. His wife, Connie puts up with, loved him deeply and fully at one time. His son, Albie, so much closer to his mom than his dad. They set off on a trip of a lifetime. A trip that was planned before Connie’s late night declaration. A trip that was planned to the minute detail by Douglas (one of his annoying traits). A trip in which he hopes to win his family back. Loved this. Loved the characters, loved the story, loved the details.
RSRS
A feel-good book. Looked forward to each opportunity to read it, knowing I would thoroughly enjoy the experience. So often books on family relationships focus on the dreary aspects of family bickering, looming divorce possibilities, coming-of age-angst. This novel features all those characteristics, but with a quirky, upbeat, witty emphasis. The writing style is clear, concise, and amusing. Douglas and Connie, the man and wife, seem "real" - and a Grand Tour of Europe in an attempt to salvage the marriage and bond with Albie, the 17-YO offspring, doesn't stretch the bounds of credibility. Several scenarios seem unlikely, but, hey, this is a work of fiction and the author can do with the characters as he likes (or possibly the characters can lead the author around by the nose?). Albie is presented as the typical (stereotypical?) teenager. There are good reasons why he has a strained relationship with his dad, but I wish that Nicholls could have given a bit more attention to Albie's personality, thoughts, and goals (if any). I highly recommend any book written by David Nicholls, and put this one at the top of the list. "Us" won't give you profound insights into the meaning of life, but it will raise your spirits and help you realize that family relationships can be dysfunctional and still produce some tender moments. (4-1/2 stars).
R. Petrocelli
I downloaded a sample of this book a few months back when I saw it was listed as an Amazon Book of the Month. Recently, the price dropped, and I purchased it to read later. I then read the plot summary and it seemed like my purchase was a mistake. A book about a tour of Europe with a wife that wants to divorce him and a son who dislikes him? Good grief. It sounded like a soap opera. I was totally wrong. This book is very fun. It is well written and the humor is delightfully (and I hate to use this word because Americans use it to describe British humor) droll. The dialogue is perfectly written, and the descriptions of married life are spot-on. If you are a 50-something who has been married for a couple decades, and has a child or two, you will recognize some of yourself, your spouse, and/or a child in the characters. The book never stalls. The story has a few twists and turns that caught me totally off-guard. And the last chapter was a wonderful way to end. (No spoiler here. You'll have to read it.) I'd give this book 4.5 stars, but you can't do that here. Regardless of the rating, I highly recommend this book. I am sure I will read more from this author in the coming years.
Kindle
Because I love Nicholls's novel One Day and saw that Us has been filmed, I knew I needed to read it before seeing it. I can't say that I like it or dislike it. Once again, Nicholls develops strong characters, this time from the sole viewpoint of husband and father Douglas Petersen who is determined to save his marriage to Connie and his relationship with their teenaged son Albie. My problem with the narrative is that I didn't care or feel sympathy for Connie or Albie, leaving me wondering why Douglas would try so hard to stay with them. Nicholls is a good writer and maybe that was his intention. While I am not enthusiastic about this novel, I would recommend it as a good book about the complicated nature of relationships.
