I love going on walks. During COVID, I got used to taking daily walks to get out and break up the monotony of daily life. At first, it was just something to do, maybe getting out of my apartment for 20 minutes to stretch my legs, but those short walks soon became part of my everyday routine. My walks became vital for me to stay sane, so my 20-minute stroll had become a 2-hour exploration.
Maybe this is why I enjoyed reading someone else’s joy about putting one foot in front of the other. David Nicholls’ new book, “You Are Here,” is a story about friendship, opening your heart, and you guessed it, walking.
Michael is a geography teacher who is trying to heal his broken heart after fertility issues and a failed marriage by becoming a recluse, taking solitary walks along the countryside. Marnie is a copy editor city girl who curls up with a book and tries to avoid the sinking feeling that life is passing her by. These two lonely souls are brought together by a mutual friend for a 192-mile hike on England’s coast where the weather seems to be plotting against them. Michael is immediately all into the idea of hiking from coast-to-coast, while Marnie is planning on bailing after a couple of days. Fortunately for us readers, she begins to see the charm in hiking in the pouring rain.
The slow build of Michael and Marnie’s relationship is filled with nerdy exchanges which is so charming, plus I even managed to learn a little something from all of Michael’s geographic fun facts! While these characters are sweet, witty, and heartwarming, this is a David Nicholls book after all.
This author isn’t afraid to write about the not so pleasant parts of life, such as failed relationships or the possibility of dying alone, or other topics you wish you could avoid but that only make his story more real. Both Michael and Marnie are in…