The Understudy: A Novel (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: best actor award, dead guy, heavy penciled, David Nicholls, Josh Harper, Han Solo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nicholls's second novel (after A Question of Attraction) focuses on Stephen C. McQueen, a 32-year-old actor forlornly hoping for his big break. With an 11-year career whose sole highlight has been playing a corpse, Stephen's latest gig, understudying Josh Harper (one of London's hottest stars) in a West End play, actually has promise. If only Josh would miss a performance (say, break a leg, literally), Stephen would secure the lead, and in turn, the approval of his critical ex-wife, Alison, and his precocious seven-year-old daughter, Sophie. But while Josh is many things (self-absorbed, cruel), he's never sick, and just as Stephen's abhorrence for the haughty superstar reaches its crescendo (he's asked to waiter at Josh's birthday bash) Stephen meets Nora, Josh's acerbic and neglected bride, and later stumbles upon Josh mid-tryst with a costar. Suddenly Stephen's able to make a deal—his silence in exchange for the starring role. Of course, the rules of light romantic comedy prevail: Stephen falls in love with Nora and realizes that he can't lie to make his own career. Nicholls's background as a screenwriter is evident, and while clever, his latest novel is still saccharinely predictable, best paired with sand and surf. (Sept.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* The follow-up to Nicholls' hilarious debut novel, A Question of Attraction (2003), is a smart, funny, bighearted romantic comedy. Struggling British actor Stephen McQueen is fast approaching his midthirties with nary a smidgen of the success of his namesake, a leading factor in the breakup of his marriage. His most lucrative gig required him to dress up as a squirrel. Now he is the understudy for the "twelfth sexiest man alive," action-film star Josh Harper, who is trying to shore up his acting cachet by doing a stint as Lord Byron in a West End play. Despite his stunning good looks and enviable success, Josh has trouble holding up his end in a conversation that does not revolve around teeth whitening; his wife, Nora, however, is a completely different story: warm, witty, and self-deprecating. Nicholls expertly mines his rich premise for all it's worth, hilariously riffing on fame, vanity, and the actor's lot. What raises his material far above standard-issue light comedy, though, is the way Nichols always seeds his polished banter with deeper emotional issues. The sometimes tender, sometimes painful scenes between Stephen and his seven-year-old daughter, especially, are achingly authentic. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Villard; First Edition edition (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400061822
• ISBN-13: 978-1400061822
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,993,141 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars C'mon America--READ THIS GUY!, January 9, 2007

By	E. Henry "deedster1" (Puyallup, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's too bad that Mr. Nicholls is virtually unknown on this side of the Atlantic. His first novel, "A Question of Attraction," ("Starter for Ten" in Europe) is arguably the funniest novel I've ever read. This second effort reveals that he has not broken his funny bone. "The Understudy" is the story of Stephen McQueen (don't mistake him for THE Steve McQueen), a hapless underemployed actor who dreams of his "big break" while playing second fiddle to one of England's up-and-coming stage actors. His side job as Sammy the Squirrel in children's films is hilarious, as is his bumbling attempt to maintain a presence in the life of his young daughter. Not quite the guffaws of his first novel, but certainly some robust giggles here. Bring on his next work!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite Funny; Not Quite Romantic, August 10, 2007

By	Middle-aged Professor (NY'er living in Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Understudy: A Novel (Paperback)

I'm a fan of British humor and enjoy comic romances, so I had high hopes for this book. It comes up a little bit -- but a decisive bit -- short.

The book has a promising start, our hero, Stephen McQueen (with a ph), is a struggling actor whose specialty is playing dead bodies in television police dramas. That sounds like a funny starting point, right? Well, that's the high point. His subsequent struggles, both romantic and professional, are more pathetic than funny, and more boring than either. One after another the book sets up (admittedly with considerable skill) potentially funny or redeeming scenes--the party thrown by the star he is understudying, visits with his ex-wife, the star's wife, his daughter, his agent, acting jobs as a Squirrel, and so forth. Each time, the set up is unavailing--the humor is just short of funny and the positive change or transformative event in the hero's life so necessary to such a story falls just short of happening. The book and its ultimately unappealing hero just keep plodding along. Ultimately I felt like Charlie Brown, with the author playing Lucy--holding out the football of the conventions of a comic romance, then pulling them away at the last second. Spare yourself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Escapism, November 12, 2005

By	Sidney Rosenberg "Sidney-r" (Israel) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One should always have a book by David Nicholls handy as the perfect escapism into some poor soul's worst social orientated faux pas nightmares all come true. If nothing else it gives one a sense of perspective regarding one's own personal hang-ups. Well this novel is a highly enjoyable read and the writing is in David Nicholls usual scintillating style with lots of laughs along the way. It also kept me up all night as it presents so many dilemmas for the protagonist that I couldn't put the book down until I got to the end to find out how and if he survives them all.
A drawback to this novel to my mind is that the misery is laid on so thick and fast for Stephen the protagonist that one craves a little light relief for him and for ourselves too who are caught up in his problems. Also, on one hand Stephen arouses sympathy but on the other his stupidity is exasperatingly annoying; and then his positive traits of character seem out of kilter with his irrationality which is confusing. However, this fault might lay with this particular reader. But the end ... Well Mr. Nicholls, you write so well that I will read anything you get into print again in the future because your writing is so very attractive, enjoyable and colorful - but that end. No, it didn't do it, for me at least. There was no hope - not even a teeny-weenie little bit of salvation. One knows that things are going to continue as before for Stephen with a ph and the reader so desperately wants an unrealistic final. You could have given us a little bit of hope in the way of some unadulterated schmaltz. But again this is personal and you still deserve 5 stars and more for a wonderful read and for making me care. Thanks!