It’s paperback publication day for Owen Nicholls’ stunning romantic comedy, Love, Unscripted (Hachette / Headline).

Since its hardback publication, the novel has gone from strength to strength. Most recently, Owen was featured in Empire Magazine and received a stunning review from the Canadian Globe and Mail (“a bittersweet, searching comedy with strong echoes of Nick Hornby’s 1990s classic High Fidelity”). The novel has also been featured in Buzzfeed‘s “17 Romantic Books To Fall In Love With This Valentine’s Day“, was a top pick romance for February by Goodreads, was selected by Amazon US as one of the Best Romantic Books for February, and was featured by Betches as one of “20 Books to Read in 2020“.

The novel follows Nick and Ellie…

It’s​ ​2012​ ​and​ ​Nick​ ​loves​ ​Ellie.​ ​He​ ​loves​ ​her​ ​easily​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as he​ ​loves​ ​his​ ​job​ ​as​ ​a​ ​projectionist.​ ​So​ ​when​ ​she​ ​tells​ ​him​ ​she​ ​doesn’t​ ​feel​ ​the​ ​same​ ​as​ ​when they​ ​first​ ​met,​ ​his​ ​world​ ​collapses.

The​ ​fallout​ ​from​ ​Ellie’s​ ​declaration​ ​causes​ ​Nick​ ​to​ ​reminisce​ ​about​ ​their​ ​first​ ​meeting, but his memories​ are​ ​as​ ​rose-tinted​ ​as​ ​the Hollywood​ ​love​ ​stories​ ​he​ ​idolises. ​​He’s haunted by ​their shared​ ​jokes,​ ​her wry smile and how perfectly everything​ ​fell​ ​into​ ​place​ ​that​ ​one​ night.​ ​

Four​ ​years​ ​later,​ ​however,​ ​Nick​ ​is​ ​struggling​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​why​ ​Ellie​ ​is​ ​gone​ ​and​ ​why he​ ​can’t​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​do​ ​anything​ ​about​ ​it.​ ​He​ ​checks​ ​his​ ​phone​ ​for​ ​messages​ ​from​ ​her,​ ​drafts texts​ ​to​ ​send​ ​and​ ​finds​ ​solace​ ​watching​ ​old​ ​Hal​ ​Ashby​ ​films.

But what did she really mean when she said her feelings have changed? Could their love ever be the same as it was that perfect first night in 2008?

Nick is about to find out that perhaps real love is better than reel love.

The novel has had reams of brilliant reviews since hardback publication…

“Super cute and a complete delight for film lovers (and lovers of love)” Holly Bourne, author of How Do You Like Me Now and Pretending

“Sometimes a book comes along and it feels dusted with magic – Love, Unscripted is one of those books. Nostalgic, tender and achingly cool, it has the same understated beauty as a John Cusack movie. A love letter to the silver screen and to all of the iconic romantic comedies – it’s book treasure, my new favourite.” Josie Silver, author of One Day in December

“High Fidelity for the multiplex generation. Owen Nicholls makes it look easy but it’s a smart and funny book, laced with wisdom. A lovely, warm, engaging read.” Richard Lumsden, author of The Six Loves of Billy Binns

Owen Nicholls is a screenwriter with a Masters in Scriptwriting from the UEA and he lives in Norfolk with his wife and children.