Bookseller Reviews
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Romance and politics...
Set in the months leading up the 2016 Brexit referendum, the story involves two unlikely people who simply fall in love . It is a bit boy meets girl, then ... READ MORE
brilliant new book from a favourite
A brilliant new book from one of my favourite authors - reading this early was certainly one of the best perks I've had since getting a job as a bookseller... READ MORE
Just right for a raisy cold night in.
Just what I needed after some dour novels,nice fluffy story about a 40 year old white woman's relationship with a 22 year old black man .Written in the usu... READ MORE
Synopsis
Lucy married just the sort of man you might expect: a university graduate who runs his own business. Unfortunately he turned out to have serious dependency issues.
Joseph is shaking off the memory of his last date, a girl who ticked all the right boxes and also drove him up the wall.
On an average Saturday morning in a butcher's shop in North London, Lucy and Joseph meet on opposite sides of the counter. She is a teacher and mother of two, with a past she is trying to forget; he is an aspiring DJ with a wide-open future that maybe needs to start becoming more focused. Lucy and Joseph are opposites in almost all ways. Can something life-changing grow from uncommon ground?
Nick Hornby's brilliantly observed, tender and brutally funny new novel gets to the heart of what it means to fall headlong in love with the best possible person - someone who may not be just like you at all.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241983256
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 197 x 130 x 21 mm
- Weight: 227g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allClassic Nick Hornby!
I was thrilled to see a new book from accomplished author Nick Hornby, and it didn't disappoint.
The story is of teacher and mother of two Lucy, and Josep... READ MORE
Very disappointing and way too much Brexit. Not an escapist read
I have enjoyed Nick Hornby's previous fiction but this one left me wanting more. Or less (about BREXIT). It is very much a novel of its time and I don't th... READ MORE
A good read from Nick Hornby
Great believable characters. Hornby who has been one of my favourite writers, since I picked up my copy of Fever Pitch, produces a story of 2 people from e... READ MORE
Enjoyable and fun
Light, frothy and humorous, this is a sweet read, perfect if you're looking for a book to take on holiday, or want something not too taxing.
Lucy is in he... READ MORE
entertaining and thought-provoking
Just Like You is the eighth novel by award-winning British author, Nick Hornby. When Lucy Fairfax and Joseph Campbell embark on their relationship, neither... READ MORE
Love across the Brexit divide
This is an interesting and enjoyable book about an unlikely relationship between a middle-aged slightly cultured woman and a young man of colour who works ... READ MORE
Light hearted, entertaining read
The story is about Lucy, a woman who is head of the English department at the local school. After becoming separated from her husband Paul, she is hoping f... READ MORE
Opposites attract
I was excited to see a new release by Nick Hornby having enjoyed several of his books before. Just Like You tells the story of Lucy and Joseph's relationsh... READ MORE
Brilliant
I love Nick Hornby's style. The dialogue is amazing, the characters are engaging and the love story is charming. Issues of race, age, and politics are deft... READ MORE
Recommended
I have read several of Nick Hornby’s novels and they never disappoint and neither did this one. This is the story of two people falling in love against the... READ MORE
Just Like You
I don't know if the relationship between Joseph and Lucy would work for the long haul. I like how Joseph and Lucy know that and do it anyway.
As others hav... READ MORE
Heart-warming and uplifting story!
I’d like to thank Penguin General UK, Viking and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Just Like You’ by Nick Hornby in exchange for my honest a... READ MORE
Hornby on top form
This novel was everything I wanted it to be. Not easy to get me reading about the B-word happily but I devoured this and wanted to re-read it from the star... READ MORE
Love Across the Brexit Barricades
I have always loved Nick Hornby. I fell in love with his prose when Fever Pitch came out and was suitably skewered by his analysis of insecure, introspecti... READ MORE
A fantastic, relevant novel
This is one of the best novels I have read for some time. Nick Hornby has created a beautiful, contemporary story that is relatable and highly relevant to ... READ MORE
Light hearted, entertaining read
The story is about Lucy, a woman who is head of the English department at the local school. After becoming separated from her husband Paul, she is hoping f... READ MORE
Slow
Lucy is a 42 year old white woman who is separated from her druggie husband and has 2 boys. She meets Joseph a 22 Year old black man who works in her local... READ MORE
An unconventional relationship explored against the backdrop of Brexit
A new Nick Hornby is always a joy, he writes so beautifully, particularly about relationships. He writes from a woman’s standpoint with feeling and great ... READ MORE
Yes, we Brexited
Thank you to Riverhead and NetGalley for this ARC, a thought provoking tale of relationships, race and Brexit.
In a Britain that has Brexited not even a m... READ MORE
I love Nick Hornby’s writing so much
Within paragraphs, this book reminded me why I love Nick Hornby’s writing so much. His characters feels like funnier versions of people I know and none of ... READ MORE
Reasonably entertaining
This is quite an engaging book about an unlikely couple. Lucy is a mum of two, in her forties, Head of English at a state school, separated from her alcoho... READ MORE
As easy read
Firstly, I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
It is the story of Lucy and Joseph, a couple who unexp... READ MORE
Just like you.
Set in London 2016 during the lead up to the Brexit referendum. Lucy is a white, 40 something, single mother of 2 looking to start dating again after split... READ MORE
Hornby in the time of Brexit - thoughtfully entertaining
I've been reading Nick Hornby books since my teens and have continued to read his works even while my own tastes have evolved. He's been through some ups a... READ MORE
A great read
I haven’t read any books by Nick Hornsby before, although I loved the film about a boy.
I loved this book, although, given the current world climate it... READ MORE
Easy reading
Just Like You tells the story of the unlikely romance between 42 year old Lucy and 22 year old Joseph and it's not just the age gap that sets them apart. O... READ MORE
Good read
I really enjoyed reading Just Like You. I like how Hornby has added the relevance of the referendum and all of the political conversations really add to th... READ MORE
Serious topics with a light touch
Lucy is 42, white, a teacher, separated from her husband and has 2 sons.
Joseph is 22, black, single and has several part-time jobs, one of which is a Sat... READ MORE
A disappointing read.
I wanted to like this book but just couldn't get into it. The characters didn't seem to develop, remaining one-dimensional. As an artist, I didn't like the... READ MORE
Clever and engaging but not the gripping read I was hoping for
A clever story set in the two worlds of north west London, addressing stereotypes, judgement, Brexit, racism and expectation.
An easy read that deals with... READ MORE
Hornby is a natural storyteller but it never feels as if the writer is truly at ease in the shoes of his main characters in this novel.
Nick Hornby’s contemporary comedy of manners novels are often more than merely entertaining. In ‘Just Like You’ there are some serious topics under discus... READ MORE
Loved it.
Free copy from Netgalley for an honest review
I love early Nick Hornby novels, but found the recent ones hard to read - but every time I hear he has writt... READ MORE
Brilliant
Just Like You is about a relationship that are facing differences in backgrounds as well as an age gap. The main characters Lucy and Joseph are both really... READ MORE
The perfect book for 2020
Just Like You by Nick Hornby is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the 2016 EU referendum and perennial race relations. I love novels that combi... READ MORE
Hornby nails it again
Hornby nails it again. This story captures the follies and shortcomings of romantic partners with too-close-for-comfort accuracy. Cleverly, the characteris... READ MORE
A personal and political story
I really enjoyed this book. It is a very contemporary novel, with a sharp focus on the fall out from Brexit and also on issues relating to race. In that se... READ MORE
Real love
This book describes the real badminton of love between two people. The characters have depth (and flaws) leading you never to know whether this is a perfec... READ MORE
Funny and tender, an unlikely love story
Absolutely loved this unlikely love story of Lucy and Joseph. Nick Hornby’s writing is at its best, sharp, funny and tender. He really gets inside the char... READ MORE
Nick Hornby very much on form
This is the first Nick Hornby novel I’ve read in a while, although I’ve certainly read most of his more famous work. I couldn’t quite put a handle on why I... READ MORE
Classic Nick Hornby humour in this story set in times of Brexit.
This story tells the tale of Lucy, Joseph and their relationship that battles against convention and social class.
Two very different lives join together ... READ MORE
Okay, but not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up.
I haven't read anything by Nick Hornby before... READ MORE
Couldn't put it down
Nick Hornby is back and as brilliant as ever. With his masterful use of dialogue, Hornby explores barriers to relationships and the impact of Brexit.
Tell... READ MORE
Trying to be political but with too many stereotypes
t's been a few years since I last read a book by Nick Hornby, in particular 'High Fidelity' and 'About a Boy', and being books I greatly enjoyed I was then... READ MORE
Tender, Funny & Beautiful
It's quite a while since I’ve read a Nick Hornby novel, so when I spotted this one I thought I'd give it a whirl. Just Like You is a love story set in a pe... READ MORE
Another Nick Hornby classic
When single mum Lucy was looking for a babysitter for her two sons, 22 year old Joseph seemed the ideal candidate. With the boys safe at home, Lucy embarks... READ MORE
A cracking story, told in a way only Nick Hornby can.
It's been a while since I read a Nick Hornby and oh my goodness, I have no idea why I left it so long. Just Like You is an absolute joy. I settled in from ... READ MORE
Interesting characters
How successful can a relationship be when there are age and cultural differences?
Lucy and Joseph are about to find out.
I found the characters and their... READ MORE
glorious
This novel is set in 2016 in London in the tile before the uk has to decide whether to vote to stay or leave the EU. It is written with two main characters... READ MORE
Thought provoking
The paperback cover for this book caught my attention. At first sight it was an easy read about a growing relationship between two very different people wh... READ MORE
Just Like You
3.5 stars rounded down.
Well this was a bit different from my usual crime fiction reads that I devour. But I am not against switching it up and delving int... READ MORE
Sweet and humorous
Lucy is in her forties, divorced and bringing up two boys.
This novel set in Brexit Britain, tracks her as she embarks on an unlikely affair.
Hornby has a... READ MORE
Doesn’t disappoint
A love story about a couple who are on the face of it completely incompatible but who against all the odds fall in love. The book is set in 2016, pre Bre... READ MORE
Hornby has successfully crafted a tumultuous love story
Hornby has successfully crafted a tumultuous love story between the characters of Lucy and Joseph underpinned by thoughtful observations on race, class and... READ MORE
Not your conventional romance
Just as Lucy, an English teacher and a mum of 2 boys, thinks life has come to an end after a marriage breakdown with someone exactly like her, she meets Jo... READ MORE
Lacked a little connection
Just Like You tells the story of Lucy and Joseph. Lucy is 42, separated and mother to two boys. Joseph is 22 and works several part-time jobs, one of which... READ MORE
Love in the Time of Brexit
In less capable hands, it would be impossible to write a sweet love story about a very improbable couple at the time of the Brexit vote in 2016, but Nick H... READ MORE