You Are Here

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What aspects of Nicholls’s storytelling did you find most effective in You Are Here? Consider the pacing, dialogue, and humor.

2. The novel follows two people in their late thirties/early forties who find connection after disappointment. How does it compare to Nicholls’ bestseller One Day, which similarly traces a relationship over time but uses a different structure?

3. What impact did the Coast to Coast Walk setting have on your connection to the characters and their developing relationship?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Which character’s experience of loneliness resonated more with you—Marnie’s physical isolation or Michael’s emotional distance?

2. Have you ever experienced a profound shift in your perspective through travel or immersion in nature, similar to what Marnie experiences?

3. What physical objects have you kept as symbols of important journeys in your life?

4. In what ways did the protagonists’ discussions about societal expectations regarding parenthood connect with your own experiences or observations?

5. What coping mechanisms do you use in uncomfortable situations, similar to how Marnie uses humor?

6. The challenge of being vulnerable to develop meaningful connections is central to the novel. In your experience, what affects your willingness to be vulnerable?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In what ways does the book capture the pandemic’s lasting impact on people’s social habits and emotional well-being?

2. Consider the book’s message about how societal expectations about life milestones affect people’s sense of belonging. Is its portrayal realistic?

3. The novel explores both picturesque landscapes and declining industrial areas. What contrasts in contemporary society does this highlight?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. In what ways does the book’s title, You Are Here, function symbolically throughout the story?

2. Nicholls uses water as a motif to reflect the protagonists’ relationship development throughout the novel? What other natural elements contribute to their connection?

3. What purpose does the erotic thriller Twisted Night serve in contrast to the central romance?

4. What insights does the alternating narrative perspective provide that a single viewpoint might not?

5. What is the significance of literary allusions to works like Wuthering Heights throughout the novel?

6. What thematic purpose does Brian and Barbara’s storyline serve in relation to the main narrative?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. How might Marnie and Michael’s relationship develop if the story continued beyond the novel’s conclusion?

2. What journey would you envision as the ideal backdrop for your own life-changing relationship?

3. To recall their time together, Michael gives Marnie his pebble, while she gifts him a white shirt. If you were to select a symbolic gift for someone representing new beginnings and connection, what gift might you choose, and why?

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