The Understudy

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 longlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.
On screen, David has written adaptations of Far from the Madding Crowd, When Did You Last See Your Father? and Great Expectations, as well as of his own novels, Starter for Ten, One Day and Us. His adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was nominated for an Emmy and won him a BAFTA for best writer. The Netflix adaptation of One Day was executive-produced by David.

I adored "The Understudy". It's a fantastic comedy ... delightfully written and makes you realise that even though some people are always cast as second best, that doesn't mean they're never winners. New Woman A comic genius Maria Beaumont on David Nicholls Brilliant... we would recommend it to anyone Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan on STARTER FOR T I laughed a lot Jeremy Paxman on STARTER FOR TEN Moving, wickedly observed, warm, uplifting and above all blindingly funny, Starter for Ten hits the spot time after time. Read this book Jack on STARTER FOR TEN A zippy comedy with laugh-out-loud lines, grounded on a solid plot and first-rate dialogue...irresistible Daily Mail Bitterly funny Observer Darkly funny and oddly romantic. More An unusual mix of cynicism and romance - no slush, just lots of laughs! Company Hugely entertaining with a high ratio of chuckles and snorts per chapter. Good Book Guide A funky, less-fluffy-than-funny rom com. Metro Deeply funny, with brilliant dialogue. Good Housekeeping Sweet and funny. Eve Book of the Month Red Highly enjoyable ... both knowing and charming. Mirror Ticket Both hilarious and heartbreaking. Hannah Stephenson, various regional papers inc Funniest book of the year Marie Claire 'Romantic comedy with a charming British accent...plenty of material for screwball hilarity... His prose is laugh-out-loud funny... This jaunty, big-hearted novel is chick lit with a Y-chromosome.' Kirkus Reviews Brilliantly written and very funny Closer, 4 stars Sharply funny...wonderfully chaotic The Times 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 Independent on Sunday An entertaining follow-up to Nicholls' brilliant debut Heat, top ten books for March

Sharply funny . . . wonderfully chaotic The Times