24 - a book that takes place in a single day

[Laci]

Desperation and The Regulators are companion novels set in a single day, though there are a couple flashbacks.

[Chris]

Johanne wrote: "They Both Die at the End is all in one day"

Love this book and it is such a perfect choice for this category.

[Angelina]

Hi has anyone read this please? It’s the last book in a trilogy, I was looking for something with unusual chapters and saw that each of the sections in this have the same date. Does it take place over just one day?

World of Trouble

[Ashley]

I’m also going to use a Dan Brown novel, Origin. There is a prologue that starts a few days before, but the main story is in one day. I believe most of his books are like that.

[Courtney]

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon is one i have been wanting to read for a while, excited to finally be able to get to it.

[Tina]

Shannen wrote: "Tina wrote: "My book club is reading Guapa this month, and the description says it takes place over 24 hours! Guapa"

This looks pretty interesting. I think I'll pick this up since ..."

Started yesterday and already 70 percent through it (I read on a long commute). It's a quick read, and interesting. The protagonist is dealing with a lot of conflicting identity issues and adjustment challenges.

[Emily]

I am reading Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours
They both take place in a single day, and The Hours is a retelling of the classic Mrs. Dalloway :)

[Kim]

Any of Dan Brown’s books with Robert Langdon would qualify as they take place in 24 hours. I read Origin for this prompt.

[Crumb]

For anyone who likes the M.J. Arlidge Eeny Meeny series.. his book Love Me Not takes place in the course of a single day

[Anne]

Under the Volcano

[Nicola]

I read Release by Patrick Ness in December. That takes place in a day and is well worth a read!Release

[Jonathan]

After Dark would qualify for this. The whole story takes place over the course of an evening, and it's a pretty cool and trippy read.

[Jaclyn]

If anyone is fond of a good murder mystery book I just finished The Secret Place and it's all technically set in a day; although, every other chapter is a flashback. I think I will still count it for this prompt unless another book comes along and bumps it to another category.

[Rachel]

I am currently reading Before I Fall. Even though it is relived 7 times, it is still the same day (February 12).

[Erie]

Nicola wrote: "I read Release by Patrick Ness in December. That takes place in a day and is well worth a read!Release"

I think I'll give this one a try. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Liz]

I just finished No Exit and it would work for this prompt if you consider a day a literal 24 hour period. Everything happens between 6:00 pm Dec 23rd to around 6:00 am Christmas Eve. So I think I'll use that for this prompt. :)

[☕️Hélène⚜️]

I have that book on my pile to eventually read

[Pamela]

I chose No Exit for this prompt too!

[Tori]

I read On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. It was touted as set on a single day, but there were elements from the past and future so I'm not sure it qualifies but I'm going to count it anyway!

[Ketutar]

A book is set on a single day when everything that happens in it, happens on that day - there can be memories, visions of future, speculations, etc. even lengthy ones. There can be explanations of things happening, like passages about history, but these should be clearly explanations or memories.

Also, you are the only authority :-) If you count it, it counts :-)

[Alix]

Based on recommendations, im reading The Sun Is Also a Star

[Agnieszka]

Possession In Death by J.D. Robb is set within an afternoon and evening of a single day

Ritual in Death by J.D. Robb is set mostly within a day (the epilogue is set the next morning)

[Christophe]

I'm afraid Joyce's Ulysses is the obvious choice here...

[Eleanour]

Last year I read A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich because I figured I really ought to read something by Alexander Solzhenitsyn sometime in my life. Enjoyed it immensely. Give it a try!

[Lyssa]

Seldom Seen in August by Kealan Patrick Burke, a creepy haunted house-esque horror/sci-fi. Very short story (46 pages) but packs a punch. Trigger warnings for gore and sexual misconduct.

[Jeannie]

Under the Volcano, by Malcolm Lowry takes place over a 24 hour period.

[Linsea | doctorbookworm]

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan takes place in one day and is a quick read at around 160 pages! I’m reading it now and it’s making me slightly nostalgic for my days as a server, oddly enough

[Jill]

I just finished Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk for this prompt and I loved it!

[Tiffany]

What about Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders? I just read it and its mostly the day when Willie Lincoln is laid to rest but there are some flashbacks and memories of other days?

[Amy]

If you're into sci-fi/gaming, Armada takes place on a single day. It could also qualify for a book that takes place in space and/or centers around a game (Armada is a video game).

[Sonia]

Just read Graffiti Moon for this prompt. It could also fit for prompts of author that has the same letter for first and last name; or for book with an astrological term in the title; or for book told from multiple POV. I am a purist and can't read the same book for different prompts, but it is a book I could shuffle round if I need to.

[Sherri]

I finished New Boy by Tracy Chevalier.

[Josie]

I read The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives for this prompt. It is the day in the life of a nurse on an oncology floor. If you work in a medical field or having any interest, it's a great, quick read!

[Kim]

I just finished Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds, and I would really recommend it! The Overdrive audiobook is narrated by him, and is wonderful! Because it's a poem, and he described each poem as a floor on the elevator, I'd really love to just see the physical book next time I'm at a bookstore.

Re: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton, that book takes place over 8 days. Chapters go back and forth between the days, and are actually named, "Day Two", etc. ("Day Two" crops up in several chapters!). Once I was finished, I decided to use that book for a book revolving around a puzzle or a game.

[Michelle (RavenLily)]

I read Brilliant for this one.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

Kim wrote: "Re: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton, that book takes place over 8 days. Chapters go back and forth between the days, and are actually named, "Day Two", etc. ("Day Two" crops up in several chapters!). Once I was finished, I decided to use that book for a book revolving around a puzzle or a game. ."

It's 'day two' or whatever in his personal timeline, but it's still the SAME day that he's living over and over again for eight days, so I can totally see counting it either way.

[Lizzy]

Does The Wonderful Wizard of Oz take place in just one day?

[Cindy]

I've just read They Both Die At The End which I very much enjoyed. It could also work for a story told from multiple POV.

[Ron]

Ulysseys by James Joyce fits this category, but uggh. It is a very challenging book to read.

[Heather]

I am currently reading I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. So far it is over one day, but it does flashback to the past a lot. Has anyone read this to confirm whether it ends up occurring over one day until the end of the book? Thanks! :)

[Rachel]

Emily wrote: "I recommend The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle for this one!"

Thank you for this recommendation! I read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton for this prompt. I really enjoyed the retelling of the same day from different angles and body swapping aspects. 4 stars.

[David]

Nadine wrote: "Emily wrote: "I recommend The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle for this one!"

Oh! awesome!! I do want to read that!! is it all in one day?! perfect"

Literally. It's Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day meets Quantum Leap. He has to keep repeating the same day until he solves the murder.

[Laura]

Jason Reynolds has a new book coming out this fall called Look Both Ways, that takes place on a kid's walk home from school. I'm sure this will be on par with his other masterful storytelling.

[Nicole]

I would really recommend The Reluctant Fundamentalist! It takes place one evening over dinner, between strangers. 4.5 stars, a fantastic read.

[Lynette]

I'm looking at these selections:

The Uncertain Hour: A Novel

Thirteen Hours

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

A Christmas Carol

[Kathy]

Someone in another group suggested "One Perfect Day" by Laurine Snelling for this category. It does NOT take place in one day but over many months. Just wanted to warn others :)

[Katy]

Kathy wrote: "Someone in another group suggested "One Perfect Day" by Laurine Snelling for this category. It does NOT take place in one day but over many months. Just wanted to warn others :)"

That's a pretty misleading title, LOL.

I'm going to read Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf. It has pretty mixed reviews so I'm not expecting too much.

[Mikaela]

I just finished The Sun Is Also a Star and I really enjoyed it! I was rather skeptical going in to be honest, because I saw the movie trailer first and thought it seemed a bit ridiculous and far-fetched. However, I completely believed in the storyline - I also really loved that thematically this novel was about more than just two teenagers falling in love in extreme circumstances.

Highly recommend!

[Catherine]

Still reading through here for my own choice at this point, but I'd like to recommend Popcorn by Ben Elton.

To be honest, I'd recommend the phonebook if it was written by Ben Elton, but don't let that put you off. It's been quite a few years since I've read it, and REALLY tempted to reread it for this prompt, bug it's one of my hard and fast rules to only read new books, BUT! I would be ecstatic if someone else gets the same entertainment out if it.

I'd recommend it for anyone who like dry, sarcastic humour. It surrounds a murder from memory, and I think something to do with a film director/movie making, but honestly I don't remember much beyond that. Except that I enjoyed it and Ben Elton is wonderful.

[Monica]

A Christmas Carol begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Christmas Day, so I do not consider it to be a book that takes place in a single day.