David Nicholls

Author

David Nicholls is a British novelist and screenwriter whose emotionally powerful fiction has made him one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the UK. His ability to write about love, regret, and the passage of time with both humour and devastating emotional precision has earned him millions of readers worldwide. Born in... Eastleigh, Hampshire in 1966, Nicholls studied English Literature and Drama at the University of Bristol and trained as an actor before turning to writing. He worked as a screenwriter, adapting novels including Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Great Expectations for television, and wrote the screenplay for the film Starter for 10, based on his first novel. One Day, published in 2009, is the novel that made him famous. The book follows Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew on the same date — 15 July, St Swithin's Day — each year for twenty years, from their university graduation in 1988 through to 2007. The novel captures the full sweep of two lives — the missed opportunities, the bad decisions, the moments of connection and disconnection — with an intimacy and emotional truth that struck a chord with millions of readers. It has sold over five million copies worldwide and was adapted into a film and a hugely successful Netflix series. Nicholls's other novels include Starter for 10, The Understudy, Us (longlisted for the Booker Prize and adapted for television), Sweet Sorrow, and You Are Here (2024). Each demonstrates his gift for creating characters that feel utterly real and for finding the comedy and tragedy in everyday life. His writing is often compared to Nick Hornby's for its accessible, warm, humorous style, but Nicholls brings a greater emotional intensity and a willingness to break his readers' hearts that is distinctly his own. The audiobook editions of Nicholls's novels are excellent, with narrators capturing the warmth, humour, and emotional depth of his writing. One Day in particular is a beautiful listening experience — the annual structure works perfectly in audio form. David Nicholls lives in London. His books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who loves fiction about the mess of being alive — the loves we fumble, the years we waste, and the moments that make it all worthwhile. Read more Show less