It’s early eBook publication day for Owen Nicholls.

His debut novel, Love, Unscripted, is published in hardback by Hachette / Headline in the UK in August this year, but the savvy among us can gain a preview of this wonderful romantic comedy as of today.

US rights to the novel were snapped up by Penguin Random House / Crown, where it will be published in February next year, and rights have also sold into Germany and Italy.

The novel has already caused a stir among early reviewers. Bestselling Adult and YA author, Holly Bourne, said the novel is “A complete delight for film lovers (and lovers of love)”.

Other reviewers had similar sentiments:

“A gorgeous romcom filled with movie references and Obama-era nostalgia” Kate Davies, author of In At The Deep End

“This is one of the best books I have ever read. If When Harry Met Sally and High Fidelity had a book baby, this would be it“ Emma Cooper, author of The Songs of Us

“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

“A properly funny, clever, bittersweet romcom” Richard Roper, author of Something to Live For

“One of the most realistic love stories I have read” Michelle Elman, author of Am I Ugly?

Nick and Ellie are the couple who have got all of these hearts astir….

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.

Owen Nicholls is a screenwriter with a Masters in Scriptwriting from the UEA.

His first screenplay – a biopic of the filmmakers Powell and Pressburger – is currently under option to Bedlam Productions, the BAFTA and Academy Award-winning producers of The King’s Speech. His work has appeared in Empire and NME, and in 2018 Love, Unscripted was selected for the Escalator Scheme run by the Writers’ Centre in Norwich, where he currently lives with his family.