The Understudy: A comic masterpiece by the author of ONE DAY and YOU ARE HERE - Softcover

Nicholls, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1399765191 ISBN 13: 9781399765190

Publisher: Sceptre, 2026

Synopsis

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

About this title

About the Author

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 Prize for Fiction. His latest novel, You Are Here, was an instant Sunday Times number one bestseller on publication.

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sceptre
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1399765191
• ISBN 13: 9781399765190
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432