Starter For Ten

Its 1985 and Brian Jackson has arrived at university with a burning ambition - to make it onto TVs foremost general knowledge quiz. But no sooner has he embarked on The Challenge than he finds himself falling hopelessly in love with his teammate, the beautiful and charismatic would-be actress Alice Harbinson.

When Alice fails to fall for his slightly over-eager charms, Brian comes up with a foolproof plan to capture her heart once and for all: hes going to win the game, at any cost. Because - after all - everyone knows that what a woman really wants from a man is a comprehensive grasp of general knowledge . . .

An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care passionately about his characters
DAILY TELEGRAPH

Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love
THE TIMES

No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does
EVENING STANDARD

Genuinely brilliant
NEW STATESMAN