The story is written in the first-person narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, Martin, Maureen, Jess and JJ.

These four strangers happen to meet on the roof of a high building called Toppers House in London on New Year's Eve, each with the intent of committing suicide.

Jess tells him that she slept with Martin, to avoid him finding out the truth of her attempted suicide.

He goes out to get an early edition of the paper and sees the story about her 'suicide pact' with Martin, so Jess's "whole sex confession bit had been a complete and utter fucking waste of time."

The next morning they find out that Jess told a reporter, Linda, that they saw an angel that looked like Matt Damon.

Thus Martin is fired from his cable TV "FeetUpTV!” but he receives a second chance by promising to his boss that the other three will be guests in his show.

On the second day, Jess sees a girl who looks very similar to her lost sister Jen.

Martin tells them about a newspaper article he read according to which people who want to commit suicide need 90 days to overcome their predicament.

Cindy Sharp lives with her kids in Torley Heath and has a new partner Paul, whom Maureen and Jess later find out is blind.

Cindy explains to them that Martin made many mistakes and that he didn't take care of the children.

Jess and her parents are screaming at each other because her mother claims that she had stolen a pair of earrings from Jen's untouched room.

JJ and a former member of his band are leaving the basement to have a fight and Martin has an argument with one of Maureen's nurses because he claims that he's flirting with Penny.

DeVincentis, who previously wrote the script for the film High Fidelity, to write the screenplay.

[2] Depp is also quoted on the back of the paperback edition as saying that the book is "Masterful … some of the finest writing, and some of the most outstanding characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

"[3] However, when the rights came up for renewal Hornby awarded them to his partner Amanda Posey and producer Finola Dwyer.