High Fidelity by Nick Hornby is a story of a chill young man -- Rob Fleming -- who is tired of being alone. After his latest breakup, with a woman named Laura, he realizes that he didn't work hard enough to preserve the relationship, considering how much he genuinely loves her. Although relationships are always challenging, Rob hasn't really been paying attention. He re-examines each of his previous relationships and discovers that, yes, there were behaviors he contributed which caused those relationships to fail. He reaches back out to Laura in order to prove to her that he has changed.
Rob's journey of self-discovery and responsibility is catalyzed by Laura's absence. Initially he doesn't understand why she's left, which causes him to puzzle for sometime. When her new boyfriend starts frequenting his record store, Rob is overwhelmed by jealousy and regret. He can see that this guy is dependable in all the way's that he is not, but he also can tell that the things which made him compatible with Laura -- love of music, low-key attitude, general preference for experience over ambition -- are largely absent from this new flame. Eager to bridge the gap and win back his ex, Rob starts aiming to be more dependable and responsible.
When Laura's dad dies, he leaves behind the fresh reminder that time is limited. Rob is no longer content to wait for some grand transformation that never comes. He takes action with a new sense of urgency. Despite her grief, Laura sees the change in Rob at the funeral. She remembers how fondly her dad had treated him while they were together. In his honor, she gives Rob a second chance. All that he needed to be successful was to acknowledge that he could be if he worked on himself and that there's no good reason to wait.
