“But then, I suppose, when with the benefit of hindsight one begins to search one’s past for such ‘turning points’, one is apt to start seeing them everywhere.”
Have you ever wondered how much can happen in just 24 hours? Some of the most gripping novels prove that a single day can hold a lifetime of drama, emotion and transformation. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would take a look at the best novels set in one day where the clock is constantly ticking and every moment counts. From thought-provoking literary fiction to page-turning thrillers, each of these one-day novels captures the intensity of a tight-compressed timeline with their unexpected encounters, unravelling secrets and life-altering decisions. Perfect for readers who love fast-paced plots or the intriguing structure of stories confined to one day, this is the list that introduces you to books that make every second matter!
Saturday – Ian McEwan
First up on our list of books set in one day is Ian McEwan’s bestselling work, Saturday. Set against the backdrop of February 15, 2003 – a day marked by massive anti-Iraq War protests – readers follow a single day in the shoes of Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon living in London.
Henry opens his Saturday with a routine series of activities. However, a chance minor car accident with an unstable man called Baxter soon leads to a chain of events being set in motion that soon upends his plans. As the narrative delves into Henry’s relationships with his family and professional identity, it also builds to a harrowing confrontation with Baxter, culminating in an extraordinary read that captures the ways in which ordinary lives can be shaped by unforeseen moments in just one day.
Instructions For A Heatwave – Maggie O’Farrell
When Robert Riordan leaves his home one morning to buy a newspaper and never returns, his wife, Gretta, summons her three estranged children home to help locate him. As the siblings – struggling teacher, Michael Francis, Monica, a woman struggling with her fractured marriage, and rebellious youngster Aoife – reconvene at their childhood home, long-buried tensions and secrets are soon unearthed.
The hunt for Robert soon becomes a catalyst for all members of the family to reflect, forcing each of them into confronting their unresolved pasts and the deep familial wounds that have pushed them apart over the years. Maggie O’Farrell’s Instructions for a Heatwave is a poignant family drama set during the infamous British heatwave in 1976, weaving together themes of loyalty, forgiveness and identity.
They Both Die At The End – Adm Silvera
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a heart-wrenching yet life-affirming young adult novel set in a world where people receive a call on the day they are destined to die. Ruffus Emeterio and Mateo Torrez are two teenagers who have nothing in common, but both receive the call explaining that they both have less than twenty-four hours to live.
Through an app called Last Friend, they agree to meet up and spend their final day together. As they embark on an emotional journey through New York City, Mateo and Rufus push one another to face their fears, take risks and embrace their life for what it is. Despite the clock ticking against them, their bond becomes stronger, transforming what would otherwise be a despairing day into one of love, joy and discovery for one of the most heartwarming novels set in one day.
Check Out The Best Books Like They Both Die At The End
All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai
Elan Mastai’s All Our Wrong Todays follows the story of Tom Barren, a man who lives in an alternate 2016 – a futuristic utopia where unlimited clean energy and huge technological advancements have shaped society. However, after a tragic mistake during a time-travel experiment, Tom inadvertently alters history and finds himself in our version of 2016, a seemingly bleak and dystopian dimension in comparison to his own.
In this present-day timeline, Tom discovers a new life he never had, complete with a loving family and the potential for true love for the first time. Finding himself torn between fixing the utopian world he destroyed and embracing his newfound reality, Tom struggles with questions of identity, fate and what makes a life worth loving.
The Remains Of The Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day is narrated through the lens of Stevens, a reserved and devoted English butler who served at Darlington Hall during its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. Now, set in the 1950s, the estate has found itself in crumbling decay under a new American owner. Stevens sets out on a road trip to visit Miss Kenton, a former housekeeper with whom he had worked many years before.
As Stevens looks back on his life over the course of the journey, memories of his unflinching loyalty to Lord Darlington and his complex, unspoken relationship with Miss Kenton resurface. These recollections, which take place over a single day, confront Stevens with the personal sacrifices he made for his professionalism and the moral compromises of his employer’s political choices.
Today Will Be Different – Maria Semple
Eleanor Flood, a quirky and self-deprecating woman living in Seattle, wakes up one morning determined to turn her life around. She vows that from today, everything will be different: she’ll be her best self, be present for her family and tackle the chaos she has been avoiding head-on.
But, life has other plans. Beginning with her son pretending to be sick to skip school, a series of unexpected events upend Eleanor’s meticulously planned intentions. As the day spirals out of control, she’s forced to face up to the unresolved issues from her past, her complicated marriage, as well as her sense of identity. With sharp wit and keen observations, Maria Semple’s Today Will Be Different explores the messiness of life, capturing the beauty and absurdity of modern life, all in just twenty-four hours.
Before I Go To Sleep – S.J. Watson
S.J. Watson’s Before I Go To Sleep is a gripping psychological thriller set over the course of a single day. Christine Lucas wakes up every morning with no recollection of who she is or how she got to where she is. A rare form of amnesia erases her memory every time she falls asleep, leaving her reliant on her husband, Ben, and the notes she keeps hidden in a journal to piece her life together.
As Christine sifts through her journal entries, she begins to uncover unsettling truths about her past and realises that nothing, not everything Ben tells her, can be fully trusted. Guided by Dr Nash, a neuropsychologist, Christine is immersed deeper and deeper into her fragmented memories, quickly discovering a web of lies, betrayal and danger.
The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight – Jennifer E. Smith
Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan misses her flight to London for her father’s upcoming wedding. Whilst waiting for the next available flight, she meets Oliver, a charming and witty British boy who is also grappling with his own family dramas. As Hadley and Oliver spend the day together, their connection grows unexpectedly strong, sparking the sort of romance that feels like fate.
Through their candid conversations and shared moments, they discover that love is not only possible, but also long-buried truths about themselves, their families, and what it means to embrace life’s surprises. Another one of the best young adult romance novels set in one day, Jennifer Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a sweet, quick read about finding someone special in an ordinary moment.
One Fine Day – Mollie Panter-Downes
One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes is a subtle and evocative novel set during a single day in England in the aftermath of the Second World War. The story centres around the lives of the Middleton family, and primarily the housewife, Laura Middleton, as they experience the every day yet charged atmospheres of the 1940s. The day opens with Laura’s morning routine yet, as it unfolds, tension soon begins to surface within the family and community.
Through Laura’s perceptions and actions, readers see her struggles and the changes brought about by World War II, as well as her own sense of loss and longing. With its themes of class, familial dynamics and the shifting role of women, One Fine Day is a powerful exploration of the nuances of daily life and how one ordinary day has the potential to reveal both personal and societal change.
Seize The Day – Saul Bellow
Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day takes place over the course of a single turbulent day in the life of Tommy Wilhelm, a middle-aged man in crisis. Once full of promise, Wilhelm presently finds himself struggling with failure, financial woes and a profound sense of disillusionment. He has a troubled relationship with his father, his career has flatlined and his personal life has been marred by a string of poor decisions.
As the day unfolds, Wilhelm attempts to make sense of his new life and confront his innermost demons. From a meeting with a con man to an emotional reckoning with his own choices, Seize the Day captures the frantic efforts he resorts to in order to reclaim his dignity and forge a way forward. Bellow’s novel is an examination of one man’s emotional and existential struggle, unfolding within the span of one day and brimming with sharp prose and deep psychological insights.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
