Adriana Reads

I have now read all three David Nicholls' novels, in reverse order from that in which they were written. The one constant which has been present from the start is an underlying sweetness to his characters, even when they're behaving badly.

Brian Jackson is the goofy kid we all knew (or were) trying to make his way through his first year of college. Despite all his good intentions, and his ill-conceived attempts to become cool (or perhaps because of them), he still manages to offend and anger everyone who cares about him.

Mr. Nicholls makes us alternately laugh and wince as we watch Brian try to overcome his social awkwardness and woo the pretty girl who everyone knows is out of his league. Everyone, that is, except Brian. As painful as it is to watch, you find you just have to know what happens next. And just when you think poor, hapless Brian's situation couldn't possibly get any worse, it does. But he comes through it, hopefully having learned some valuable life lessons along the way.

There isn't anything deep or earth-shattering about this book. It's just a pleasant way to spend a few hours and reminisce about the follies of our own youth. Plus there's the fact that Mr. Nicholls has wonderful taste in music! For nearly every song he mentioned, I mentally cried out, "I love that song!"