You Are Here

A Novel

By: David Nicholls

Narrated by: Lee Ingleby, Lydia Leonard

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A Good Housekeeping "Book We're Most Looking Forward To" * An Independent Today "Best Fiction Books to Read" * A GQ Magazine (UK) "Best Book of 2024" * A Harper’s Bazaar (UK) "Best Novels to Read" * A Daily Record "Best Novel"

"Captivating [and] flawless...An affectingly hard-won romance. [Michael is] a sturdy and slyly amusing authority figure, … flailing amid the debris of a loving marriage gone sour. Marnie is a compulsively witty, winningly cranky near-agoraphobe...Both protagonists are prickly, smart and desperately yearning, but utterly guarded for understandably good reasons. Nicholls builds his own erotic and at times wrenchingly emotional suspense as the would-be lovers reveal past mishaps and surrendered dreams... As in the best romances, we cherish Michael’s and Marnie’s difficult personalities, and relish the unlikely process that might bring them together. The novel is sharp-tongued and irresistible."—New York Times Book Review

"I finished this novel in two breathless sittings, as invested in its outcome as I would be in the happiness of a friend. This is the magic of You Are Here: warm, generous and funny, it invites readers into the world of Marnie and Michael with the promise that everyone is welcome, and that choosing happiness and being courageous in any small way we can is always possible. I loved this book."—Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of Time

From the internationally bestselling and Booker Prize-longlisted author of One Day, one of the most enduring love stories of its generation, comes an uplifting and unputdownable love story about second chances.

Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way . . .

Michael is coming undone. Adrift after his wife's departure, he has begun taking himself on long, solitary walks across the English countryside. Becoming ever more reclusive, he’ll do anything to avoid his empty house.

Marnie, on the other hand, is stuck. Hiding alone in her London flat, she avoids old friends and any reminders of her rotten, selfish ex-husband. Curled up with a good book, she’s battling the long afternoons of a life that feels like it’s passing her by.

When a persistent mutual friend and some very unpredictable weather conspire to toss Michael and Marnie together on the most epic of ten-day hikes, neither of them can think of anything worse. Until, of course, they discover exactly what they’ve been looking for.

Michael and Marnie are on the precipice of a bright future . . . if they can survive the journey.

A hilarious, hopeful, and heartwarming love story—the novel beloved New York Times bestselling author David Nicholls calls “my funniest book yet”—You Are Here is a bittersweet and hopeful story of first encounters, second chances, and finding the way home.

©2024 David Nicholls (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Slow build

The characters, their story, their building chemistry (pharmacy?- inside joke) builds slowly as they meander across the country. Never exhilarating but something catches and has you wanting more — of them, for them…and so we soldier on with them, and hope they will one day reach the sea.
Reminded me of Before Sunrise trilogy in how the honest discussions between two people can lead to more, but they first have to realize what’s the truth to themselves.

Witty, poignant and great dialogue

Excellent book with accurate description of how “younger middle aged” people meet and address life- including dating. The dialogue is terrific, witty but realistic. The plot is well done because he presents many characters with descriptions making them three dimensional. Bravo.

Witty banter!

Charming story of two people find themselves and each other. Their banter had me laughing out loud at times - thoroughly enjoyed this story.

Not a silly romcom

Refreshing. NOT the same old same old enemies to lovers trope. Lovable characters. Satisfying ending.

Simple but lovely story

The story is told through two perspectives, Marnie's and Michael's. This creates a bit of a disconnect as Lydia Leonard lends a certain vibe to the character of Marnie which is very different from the way she's made to sound by Lee Ingleby. I don't know if this was intentional. The two readers ought to have consulted each other on how they were going to "voice" each character. For instance, Marnie, in Lydia Leonard's voice, sounds very London, a jaded city cat, a bit too working-class; when Lee Ingleby reads her parts in direct speeches, Marnie suddenly sounds very standard and different from the other version.
Having said this, the two readers are great each in his/her own right.

The story is cute. A bit predictable but so well written that you listen all the way to the last page not so much to hear "How does it end?!" as to listen to the phrases and descriptions used to tell a time-tested ending.

I recommend this audiobook.

Believable characters and fun and touching story

Believable characters and fun and touching story - well written and thoroughly enjoyable. Will look for more by this author.

Perfect !!!

The narrators are absolute perfection! I laughed so much, and will be listening again! This book stole my heart, too!

Charming

While the book seems like it’s a set up for a movie, this is a sweet and relaxing listen - thank goodness the accent was credible …

Sweet, insightful, painful!

David Nicholls is an acute observer of people in all their tortured agony. This book is well written, often funny, and I enjoyed it very much.

can I be there?

I did reseach about this hike! I can not understand 1 thing...how did they keep walking even though their feet were sore?