Us - David Nicholls

• Author: David Nicholls 

• Editions: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book, Audio Download,

• Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

• Stars: 4/5

 Contemporary Literature 

'I was looking forward to us growing old together. Me and you, growing old and dying together.'

'Douglas, who in their right mind would look forward to that?'

Douglas Petersen understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home.

He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together.

So when Connie announces that she will be leaving, too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer, and win the respect of his son. One that will make Connie fall in love with him all over again.

The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed.

What could possibly go wrong?

Review 

What a fantastic tale. At first I found this novel difficult to get into as I found the characters unreliable however I pursued. This is a story of a marriage which is in trouble and beautifully narrated by the husband, Douglas. He is run by logic and science but is married to Connie who is free spirited to the extreme. these two could not be more different. They have a 17 year old son who is very much like his mother and has distain for anything conventional including his father. but when Connie announces that she thinks their marriage has run its course and she is thinking about leaving him. However Douglas insists that they carry on with the plan of the family holiday inter-railing across Europe. throughout the holiday Douglas tries to win his wife and son back. 

The story of their trip is woven brilliantly with the backstory of how Connie and Douglas met and their life together. Nicholls has carefully stitched the tapestry of married life and the pit falls it contains. 
At first I was apprehensive about this novel and found it difficult to relate to Douglas and Connie's life, However I am so glad that I pursued as Douglas' narrative is humorous, self-depricating and sometimes heartbreaking. The relationship he has with his son is smoothing everyone can understand I have a younger brother and I can see the dynamics between my father and his son. 

4 good stars and a book that is highly recommended