I love it when I stumble on a charity shop copy or an unread book from a favourite author ... a timely reminder to catch up with their (his) back-catalogue :)

(4/03/22) Ah, I’ve missed Nick Hornby’s books, maybe I should collect and re-read his stop-start fiction collection? You can tell from the dialogue and characterisation that he is equally at home in the worlds of theatre, film & TV writing. The central part of this book, a mismatched relationship between 20-something black Jospeh and 40-something white Lucy, could have easily slipped into cliche and stereotype in whatever way you want to divide modern British society (age/colour/education/class/Brexit!) … but it doesn’t. This is credit to the sparkling and witty dialogue between Joseph and Lucy, and many other friends and family on the periphery of this modern love story. I especially liked Lucy's sons Al & Dylan and non-girlfriends spunky Jaz and bookish Hanna. We/I become so engaged and invested in their lives and relationship that we dodn’t want it to end in any other way than a ‘happy ever after’, but how could it? I think Hornby felt the same on the evidence of the up-beat ending. Please let there be a film, TV adaptation and sequel(s).

Releasing this in town, it’s a nice bright but blowy day in Chester. If you find this, enjoy, I think it’s fab!

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