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Original poster

Something like One Day?

30 replies

Hayliebells · 14/02/2024 19:44

Like the rest of the world and it's wife, I've been zooming through One Day on Netflix, and it's reminded me how much I enjoyed the book. Can anyone recommend something similarly engrossing (nothing dark or disturbing please). I haven't read anything that's really gripped me in what feels like years!

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Philandbill · 23/02/2024 20:11

LethargeMarg · 23/02/2024 07:26

My favourite book of all time is not vey well known but called 'blood sugar' by Susannah Dunn and has the same format as every chapter is a different year starting in 1981. It's about a group of friends starting in sixth form and how their lives change and interact or move away over the next ten years, very British, very coming of age, very 80s. I absolutely adore it and I think you can still get it second hand but not sure about on kindle

Wow! I read "Quite Contrary" by Susannah Dunn in the late 1990s and utterly adored it, a book that's really stayed with me but nobody ever knows it. I haven't read any of her other work because I was worried it wouldn't be as good. Off now to buy Blood Sugar - the wonders of the internet!
@LethargeMarg if you like Susannah Dunn have you read any Michael Cannon? A really underrated author I think. I read his "Conspiracy of Hope" at about the same time and it's excellent. His more recent " Lachlan's War" was also good but a quite different theme.

AristotlesTrousers · 23/02/2024 08:12

LethargeMarg · 23/02/2024 07:26

My favourite book of all time is not vey well known but called 'blood sugar' by Susannah Dunn and has the same format as every chapter is a different year starting in 1981. It's about a group of friends starting in sixth form and how their lives change and interact or move away over the next ten years, very British, very coming of age, very 80s. I absolutely adore it and I think you can still get it second hand but not sure about on kindle

Oh I love this book. One of my favourites too!

Zonder · 23/02/2024 07:53

Hayliebells · 14/02/2024 20:19

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I've definitely read the follow up book to One Day, I'll have to check out his others too.

There's a follow up? What's it called? I read the book years ago, saw the film and just don't want to watch the series unless they changed the ending 😆

Sandysandwich · 23/02/2024 07:46

Every Day by David Levithan had sort of a similar feel to me

Santasbigredbobblehat · 23/02/2024 07:38

Philandbill · 14/02/2024 20:01

"Versions of Us" by Laura Barnett has a One Day feel. "Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell deserved all of the hype a couple of years ago. "Bournville" by Jonathan Coe is a good easy read - my favourite Christmas present book. And I've just reread my favourite ever novel, "Moon Tiger" by Penelope Lively. Hope you find something you enjoy from someone"s suggestions, come back and tell us. 😀

Agree with all of these and the early Lisa Jewell recommendations. I also love the other David Nicholls books.
Early Jojo Moyes too maybe.

LethargeMarg · 23/02/2024 07:26

My favourite book of all time is not vey well known but called 'blood sugar' by Susannah Dunn and has the same format as every chapter is a different year starting in 1981. It's about a group of friends starting in sixth form and how their lives change and interact or move away over the next ten years, very British, very coming of age, very 80s. I absolutely adore it and I think you can still get it second hand but not sure about on kindle

Rebootnecessary · 15/02/2024 14:04

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers

Rebootnecessary · 15/02/2024 14:03

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary is good too.

bookgirl1982 · 15/02/2024 13:58

Patrick Gale's books have a similar feel.

ChessieFL · 15/02/2024 13:33

I’ve just read Once Upon A Leap Year by Anna Bell which has a similar structure to One Day - it follows a couple who meet on their leap year birthdays age 20 and then catches up with them every leap year birthday after that for the next 20 years. Bit more chicklit than One Day but the same time jump idea.

Lemond1fficult · 15/02/2024 13:27

I really enjoyed What Time is Love by Holly Williams recently - I always enjoy 'what if' books, and this one imagines what would happen to the same couple if they got together at different points in the 20th century. A really clever concept and v funny too.

SoftPillowAllNight · 15/02/2024 08:43

Normal People.- book or series

AndThatWasNY · 15/02/2024 08:07

Yesterday, yesterday, yesterday reminded me of One Day whilst reading it.

Enjoyable, easy and interesting.

NCfor24 · 15/02/2024 08:02

Blaggingit123 · 14/02/2024 21:10

His other books aren’t quite as good (imo) though DH is a big fan of starter for ten. More historical in timeline but William Boyd is another of my favourites, especially Any Human Heart, The Romantic and Love is Blind - similar in feel as they cover the main character’s entire lifetime. Also The Time Travellers Wife is a favourite of mine but I know it can be a bit marmite!

Another vote for Any Human Heart, an absolute favourite for both me and DH.
And you can watch the miniseries after reading.

I was going to suggest You, Me and the Movies by Fiona Collins which I loved, and also by same author Spring, Summer, Autumn, Us. Lovely easy reads spanning time.

Original poster
Hayliebells · 14/02/2024 21:16

I'm going to start with Moon Tiger, as that's available to borrow now on Libby.

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Blaggingit123 · 14/02/2024 21:10

His other books aren’t quite as good (imo) though DH is a big fan of starter for ten. More historical in timeline but William Boyd is another of my favourites, especially Any Human Heart, The Romantic and Love is Blind - similar in feel as they cover the main character’s entire lifetime. Also The Time Travellers Wife is a favourite of mine but I know it can be a bit marmite!

OrangeBlossom28 · 14/02/2024 21:02

I loved One Day but hated Us also written by David Nicholls. Anything by Mike Gayle is worth reading particularly Half a World Away.

HDready · 14/02/2024 20:37

Oh yes, I love Ralph’s Party (not as keen on the sequel). Feel like I have found my people on this thread!

MissKittyFantastico84 · 14/02/2024 20:32

His recent one about a lad joining an am dram group one summer is beautiful.

Maybe Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell? Doesn't play with time but has a similarly likeable yet up and down couple. Bit less high brow I suppose!

Original poster
Hayliebells · 14/02/2024 20:19

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I've definitely read the follow up book to One Day, I'll have to check out his others too.

OP posts:
Philandbill · 14/02/2024 20:17

HDready · 14/02/2024 20:05

Same! I’m now going to read Moon Tiger on your recommendation, thank you!

Show quote history

Really hope you enjoy it. Lots of pondering on history and seeing things from different perspectives. Plus a love story at the heart of the book. It won the Booker Prize in the late 80s and is now somewhat overlooked.

RausageSoul · 14/02/2024 20:06

Have you read David Nichol's other books? They are all fab

HDready · 14/02/2024 20:05

Philandbill · 14/02/2024 20:03

Cross posted with @HDready ! Haven't found anyone else who has read Versions of Us so quite funny to read that.

Same! I’m now going to read Moon Tiger on your recommendation, thank you!

TheFTrain · 14/02/2024 20:03

Have you read Normal People by Sally Rooney?

Philandbill · 14/02/2024 20:03

Cross posted with @HDready ! Haven't found anyone else who has read Versions of Us so quite funny to read that.