100% NZ-owned | 80,000+ Books In NZ 📚

Order Today and You Could Win a Year of Free Books! 📚✨

The Understudy

A comic masterpiece by the author of ONE DAY and YOU ARE HERE
By David Nicholls
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.35 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 11,215 ratings, 877 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Understudy by David Nicholls is a comedic tale set in the competitive world of London theatre. It follows Stephen C. McQueen, a struggling actor whose career is stalled as an understudy, overshadowed by the superstar Josh Harper. When an unexpected opportunity arises, Stephen must navigate personal and professional chaos, balancing ambition with loyalty. The novel is a humorous exploration of ambition, envy, and the unpredictability of life.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories filled with wit and humour, where a struggling actor navigates the unpredictability and chaos of the theatre world. This compelling narrative combines poignant moments with comedic elements, making it a delightful read for fans of character-driven contemporary fiction.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The Understudy

A scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love.
The second novel by beloved bestselling author David Nicholls.

A comedy masterpiece from the bestselling author of ONE DAY and STARTER FOR TEN.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Irresistible

DAILY MAIL

Wonderfully chaotic

THE TIMES

Delightful

OBSERVER

Brilliant

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Funniest book of the year

MARIE CLAIRE

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?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Understudy by David Nicholls is celebrated for its humour and engaging dialogue, with critics frequently highlighting its irresistibility and well-crafted plot. The novel is often described as both hilariously funny and possessing a darkly romantic edge. It skilfully blends cynicism and romance, delivering a story that is at once touching and filled with laughter. Many reviews commend its ability to offer both chuckles and poignant moments, drawing comparisons to the charm of a Richard Curtis screenplay.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780340935217

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 September 2006

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sceptre

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 310g

Pages: 416

Collections

David Nicholls Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

David Nicholls's TV credits include the third series of Cold Feet, Rescue Me, and I Saw You. He was co-writer for the film adaptation of Simpatico, which starred Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone. David's bestselling first novel, STARTER FOR TEN, was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in 2004, and David has written the screenplays for film versions of both STARTER FOR TEN (released in 2006, starring James MacAvoy)and THE UNDERSTUDY (not yet released).Davidalso wrote a modern version of Much Ado About Nothing for BBC TV, as part of a Shakespeare seasonscreened in 2005.

Also by David Nicholls

View all

More from General Fiction

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.