READ@PolyU is delighted to announce One Day by David Nicholls as our 2025 Common Book, a captivating novel that inspired a hit Netflix series!

One Day follows Emma and Dexter, two fresh graduates whose lives intertwine every 15 July over two decades, thus exploring their evolving relationship and the impact of time on their dreams and choices. The witty, heartfelt story explores themes of love, friendship, ambition, social class, grief and healing, as well as the unpredictable twists of life’s journey. 

Read with Us!

• Get a free copy during the annual Book Pick-Up event
• Borrow the print book from the Library
• Read the e-book or e-audiobook version

Reviews

“[An] instant classic. . . . One of the most hilarious and emotionally riveting love stories you’ll ever encounter.” —People

“Fluid, expertly paced, highly observed, and at times, both funny and moving.” —Boston Globe

[A] light but surprisingly deep romance so thoroughly satisfying.” —Entertainment Weekly

Why Join READ@PolyU?

This isn’t just about reading — it’s about building connections, sparking ideas, and making your university experience unforgettable. READ@PolyU creates a dynamic community where you can dive into meaningful ideas, exchange perspectives, and grow together.

Read@PolyU 2025/26 Promotional Video by The PolyU Library

Common Book Selection Criteria

The selection process with a campus-wide call for nomination in January, and concluded with the final selection by the READ@PolyU Programme Committee in May.

The selection criteria help ensure that the common book will support the programme goal of cultivating a reading culture at PolyU, as well as the University's goals to provide a campus experience that is international and enriching.
 

• The book will be in English, preferably less than 300 pages
• It should be engaging for the PolyU community
• It should be accessible, not difficult to read
• It should appeal to students’ imagination, and should include some elements of exploration of and reflection on multi-cultural issues
• It should preferably have been adapted for film
• It should preferably have an electronic version
• It should preferably have won international and critical acclaim
• Ideally, the author would be available to visit PolyU

Common Books in Previous Years

• 2011/12 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• 2012/13 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• 2013/14 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 
• 2014/15 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne 
• 2015/16 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• 2016/17 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon 
• 2017/18 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
• 2018/19 Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis 
• 2019/20 Persepolis: The Story of Childhood by Marjane Satrapi 
• 2020/21 Exhalation by Ted Chiang 
• 2021/22 The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
• 2022/23 First Person Singular: Stories by Haruki Murakami 
• 2023/24 Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
• 2024/25 Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
• 2025/26 One Day by David Nicholls