Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another dud! I think this kind of relationship probably happens a lot in real life, but I found it frustrating that the characters seem to accept whatever is in front of them. They aren’t very likable, and they seem only to want to try for what’s within easy reach. They are innately lazy in terms of risk taking and only take small steps when nudged or cajoled. I especially dislike the two main characters, Michael in particular, because he seemed to try to have his cake and eat it too, and ultimately, he gets his way. I suppose these characters all sort of deserve each other. Ugh!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You Are Here is the story of Marnie and Michael and the relationship that forms between them over a 10 day coast to coast walk in northern England. They are both middle-aged, with failed relationships behind them and dealing with other life baggage, including infertility, infidelity, panic attacks, and loneliness. I found them to be relatable and likeable and enjoyed getting to know their backstories, thoughts and feelings, and distinctive personalities through the dual perspective narrative. I thought Nicholls did a great job building rounded, fully realised characters who slowly revealed themselves to each other, the reader and, I suspect, themselves over the course of the hike. While I enjoyed the setting, appreciated the slowburn nature of their relationship and am always here for a romance featuring more seasoned characters, two factors really made this book sing for me. The first was the characterisation; the second was its humorous tone, particularly the witty, self-deprecating banter. I listened on audio and thought both narrators did a good job, but there was an annoying variation in volume between her section and his, which meant I needed to alter the volume every time the narrator switched. A minor niggle in an overall charming reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC. Views are my own.
Maggie and Michael are two middle-aged middle-class people with middle of the road jobs, damaged from previous relationships. They are being forced together on a walking trip through lovely British countryside by a well-meaning mutual friend, then abandoned by the other walkers when bad weather strikes.
The scenery description is well done and at times their adventures are quite amusing, from the disapproving B&B landlady (No Guests After 10, Please!) to the sad old man renting out his son's room and cooking everything to death in the microwave. However, the death of an elderly rambler they knew from greeting felt jarring and pointless.
Unfortunately, it was mostly slow and drawn-out because all they did was walk and talk, usually at the same time. I skipped whole pages of dialogue as they never seemed to get anywhere, and they felt like second choices for each other - Maggie had been interested in fellow walker Conrad, and Michael was still hung up on his ex Natasha. The book also ends quite abruptly.
I'm quite a solitary person myself, and the idea of a walking holiday would be my worst nightmare, especially if those were my fellow ramblers. I didn't really like any of them except Anthony, the kid. Both Maggie and Michael seem a bit boring, to be honest.
I would be very surprised if they managed to make a ten episode Netflix series out of this one!
It's not a bad novel just not a very satisfying one, as it doesn't give me the feels like One Day did. I'm sure lots of people will love this, but it just didn't keep me invested.
Maggie and Michael are two middle-aged middle-class people with middle of the road jobs, damaged from previous relationships. They are being forced together on a walking trip through lovely British countryside by a well-meaning mutual friend, then abandoned by the other walkers when bad weather strikes.
The scenery description is well done and at times their adventures are quite amusing, from the disapproving B&B landlady (No Guests After 10, Please!) to the sad old man renting out his son's room and cooking everything to death in the microwave. However, the death of an elderly rambler they knew from greeting felt jarring and pointless.
Unfortunately, it was mostly slow and drawn-out because all they did was walk and talk, usually at the same time. I skipped whole pages of dialogue as they never seemed to get anywhere, and they felt like second choices for each other - Maggie had been interested in fellow walker Conrad, and Michael was still hung up on his ex Natasha. The book also ends quite abruptly.
I'm quite a solitary person myself, and the idea of a walking holiday would be my worst nightmare, especially if those were my fellow ramblers. I didn't really like any of them except Anthony, the kid. Both Maggie and Michael seem a bit boring, to be honest.
I would be very surprised if they managed to make a ten episode Netflix series out of this one!
It's not a bad novel just not a very satisfying one, as it doesn't give me the feels like One Day did. I'm sure lots of people will love this, but it just didn't keep me invested.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail