A masterclass in romance writing

• Book: You Are Here
• Location: Cumbria, Yorkshire
• Author: David Nicholls

Review Author: Eva Glyn

This book is a master class in how to write a love story, and quite honestly one of the best – if not the best – I’ve read.
The skill is in the characterisation more than the plot. Hovering around forty, both Michael and Marnie are damaged by their relationship histories and on the face of it have nothing in common. This isn’t enemies to lovers; it’s more indifference to friends, as Michael strides and Marnie struggles along the coast to coast walk across the north of England. The slow opening up to each other, words both said and unsaid, is an exquisite dance of potential and felt so grounded in the real world every moment of interaction was believable. And inevitable.
One thing they have in common is a sense of humour, and at times this book made me laugh out loud at a turn of phrase. No meet cute, no slapstick moments, just pure mastery of language.
Other reviewers have said this is David Nicholls’ best book and I completely agree. As a reader I adored it, as a writer I am completely in awe of his talent.

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