Will I love Us?

This starts with such a great premise: Douglas Petersen, a devoted but socially awkward biochemist, is blindsided when his wife announces she might leave him, but first, they’ll go on a "Grand Tour of Europe" with their 17-year-old son.

Douglas hopes this is his chance to fix the marriage, connect with his son, and rediscover the man he was supposed to be. But as the trip goes on, we start to realise that so often our vision of how life should be is based on fear of change and habit.

This novel centers around Douglas and Connie's relationship. He is a scientist, she an artist, and they’ve reached the point where she’s not sure their marriage is working anymore. I love the way David Nicholls delves into human relationships–what drives us crazy about each other (in good and bad ways!).

The portrayal of Douglas and his teenage son, Albie, ’s relationship is beautifully described. It's poignant and incredibly moving—heartbreaking but also hilarious. I must have read this novel at least three times and occasionally dip in and re-read my favorite passages.