The Understudy (a Comic Masterpiece By The Author Of One Day And You Are Here)

By (author) David Nicholls
Short description/annotation:

A scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love.
The second novel by beloved bestselling author David Nicholls.

Description:

The Understudy: a scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love
''Wonderfully chaotic''
THE TIMES

''A funky, less-fluffy-than-funny rom com''
METRO

''Brilliant''
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

''It could hold its own against a Richard Curtis script''
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

''A zippy comedy . . . irresistible''
DAILY MAIL

For Josh Harper, being in show-business means everything he ever wanted: money, fame, a beautiful wife and a lead role on the London stage.

For Stephen C. McQueen, it means being stuck with an unfortunate name, a hopeless agent and a job as understudy to Josh Harper, the 12th Sexiest Man in the World.

When Stephen falls in love with Josh''s clever, funny wife, Nora, things get even more difficult. But might there yet be a way for Stephen to get his big break?

ONE OF BRITAIN''S MOST ACCLAIMED WRITERS
''One of the most astute chroniclers of England as it is now''
FINANCIAL TIMES

''An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care passionately about his characters''
DAILY TELEGRAPH

''Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love''
THE TIMES

''No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does''
EVENING STANDARD

''Genuinely brilliant''
NEW STATESMAN
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Sharply funny . . . wonderfully chaotic
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The set pieces of social embarrassment are neatly threaded together, and there are some well-crafted tender moments too . . . It could hold its own against a Richard Curtis script
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This bitterly funny book is a delightful reminder of how much acting we all do in the name of love
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Highly enjoyable . . . both knowing and charming
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A zippy comedy with laugh-out-loud lines, grounded on a solid plot and first-rate dialogue . . . irresistible
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An entertaining follow-up to Nicholls'' brilliant debut
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A funky, less-fluffy-than-funny rom com
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I adored The Understudy. It''s a fantastic comedy . . . delightfully written
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Darkly funny and oddly romantic
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An unusual mix of cynicism and romance - no slush, just lots of laughs!
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Hugely entertaining with a high ratio of chuckles and snorts per chapter
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Deeply funny, with brilliant dialogue
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Sweet and funny
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Funniest book of the year
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Jaunty, big-hearted . . . Romantic comedy with a charming British accent
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Brilliantly written and very funny
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The humour is authentic and perfectly pitched
Biographical note:

David Nicholls is the bestselling author of Starter for Ten, The Understudy, One Day, Us, Sweet Sorrow and You Are Here. One Day was published in 2009 to extraordinary critical acclaim: translated into 40 languages, it became a global bestseller, selling millions of copies worldwide. His fourth novel, Us, was long-listed for the Booker