One Day by David Nicholls is many people’s favourite book – and therefore, most probably, perfect as it is.
However, there is one fan who has a few notes on how it could be improved – and that’s the author himself.
Speaking at GH Live, Good Housekeeping’s festival of food, books and celebrity talks, David said there are things about the bestseller, which also spawned a smash hit Netflix series, that he’d go back and rewrite.
“Oh, there’s quite a lot I would change,” he told GH’s books editor Jo Finney. “I think it’s quite overwritten in places; I’d make it shorter, I’d be franker about the sexual aspects of their relationship.”
Oof, talk about being your own worst critic. Then he went on to talk about that ending, which everyone who has read One Day has an opinion on.
“I wouldn’t change the ending, I don’t think,” he said. “[But] I’m more careful now as a writer; I could definitely improve it.”
David also believes the books that came after One Day are far superior. “Even though I think the three books that followed are much better, I’m very grateful for it,” he told the audience.
The conversation also turned to writing sex scenes, and it seems David is equally as self-deprecating here, too.
“I’m a bit shy about it,” he revealed. “Maybe it’s harder for male authors to pull off.”
When it’s bad, it’s [so] bad it’s laughable, and I don’t want to ever do that.”
