You Are Here, David Nicholls
“A hopeful and thoughtful novel, filled with the joy of possibilities and what-ifs.”
It’s not often that you feel such a sense of responsibility when reviewing a novel, but I knew how many people (myself included!) were looking forward to reading You Are Here, as David Nicholls’ latest novel is on many people’s most anticipated reads of 2024.
Michael is a geography teacher in his early forties who wants to walk Wainwright’s coast-to-coast path. When his friend Cleo decides he has to get over his nearly ex-wife Natasha, she thinks he should do it with a group, and invites people to walk a little of the way with him. As well as herself and her son Anthony, she invites Conrad, a pharmacist and reluctant walker, Tessa, the woman Cleo thinks Michael will fall for, and her friend Marnie, a copywriter living in London. Tessa drops out at the last minute, Conrad decides walking isn’t for him, and when Cleo and Anthony back out, Marnie and Michael are left on their own.
Although Marnie doesn’t initially love the walking, when the time comes to say goodbye to Michael and head home, there is something that stops her and she finds herself walking further and further along the path with him. As Michael and Marnie navigate the countryside, as well as being aware of how beautiful and awe inspiring nature can be, you revel in the authentic connection they discover – they are not disturbed by outside interference and simply get to know each other. This book is also very funny, and Marnie is possibly my favourite character I have read this year. However, You Are Here is also filled with moments of sadness and resonance, especially in regard to loneliness and what it means to navigate a life that hasn’t turned out as expected.
You Are Here is a hopeful and thoughtful novel, filled with the joy of possibilities and what-ifs. From the first chapters, you see how tantalisingly close Michael and Marnie are to admitting their feelings for each other, and this is purely a testament to David Nicholls’ sublime writing that pulls readers in from the first time they meet. All you want is for Michael and Marnie to see that they belong together, and to be brave enough to take the first step of the rest of their lives.
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