Content Warning: This guide and source material contain references to alcohol misuse and substance use disorder.

One Day falls within contemporary romance, a popular subgenre of romance novels set after World War II, typically in the 1990s or later. Like other subgenres of romance, contemporary romance typically follows the journey of two protagonists overcoming challenges to find love and achieve a happy ending. Common tropes within this genre include love triangles, enemies-to-lovers, and friends-to-lovers scenarios.

One Day employs the friends-to-lovers trope, as Emma and Dexter eventually transition from friendship to romance, navigating various obstacles before they finally admit their feelings for each other. However, One Day breaks free from one major convention of its genre by forgoing a traditional happy ending. Instead, Nicholls offers a realistic portrayal of life, emphasizing how timing and chance can profoundly impact lives and relationships. Emma’s tragic accident and subsequent death serve as a plot twist, shattering any lingering hopes for a fairy-tale ending. Moreover, the novel doesn’t end with Emma’s death, conveying the idea that life persists even after the loss of a loved one. This challenges the notion that a character’s existence revolves solely around romantic relationships, offering a broader

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