I have read a number of Nick Hornby's books and enjoyed them, but I was disappointed by this book, which felt like an attempt to write a topical book, regardless of whether the author really had something to say. I found Lucy quite unlikeable, and I really couldn't believe in her relationship with Joseph. Most of the other characters were real stereotypes, and a lot of the dialogue in the book was just too long. I really wanted to like this book as Nick Hornby is a good writer, but I'm afraid I was glad to have finished this one.

Lucy is 40 something, a mother and recently separated. Joseph is 22 and has numerous jobs to keep him going. This is the story of their relationship and how it develops in spite of their differences, including the fact that Lucy is white and Joseph black.

I enjoyed this story on the whole especially the inclusion of so many relevant issues such as gender, race and Brexit. The main characters were sympathetically drawn and likeable although I wasn't sure i felt much chemistry between them. Like an awful lot of novels these days though it was very London centric. Publishers! There are other cities you know. This continuing emphasis on the capital is quite exclusionary.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lucy is a 40 something year old mother of two and Joseph is a man in his early 20's that babysits her children and then the pair fall for each other. It's one of these books where not a huge amount happens, its well fleshed out characters and a believable story of human interaction. Just Like You is a fairly quick read that examines what happens if people look outside of what they think is expected for them and seeking out some sort of perfect match.

I have been a reader of Nick’s books since Fever Pitch and have loved his novels including High Fidelity and Juliet, Naked.
This is a very contemporary story, mainly set against the backdrop of Brexit in London 2016. Whilst the country was trying to decide on the issues brought forward, two Londoners meet and begin a relationship which is affected by race, age and money. One is white and one is black. One has a steady job and the other has a myriad of them. One is 40+ and the younger one is early twenties. Do their differences divide them or bring them closer together?
I really enjoyed this book, finding a lot to like about both Lucy and Joseph as well as being reminded about the referendum and how that was played out with everyone having their own opinion. I would recommend to any fans of Hornby or readers who are aged 20+.

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I just finished and enjoyed both the book version and latest TV adaptation of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity so when I got the email about this release I knew I had to read it!

I enjoyed the exploration of Lucy and Joseph's relationship in addition to the overall themes and issues of this novel and considering all this I thought the backdrop of Brexit was a great narrative choice (despite being slightly triggered, knowing the outcome now).

Lucy and Joseph are great characters and I found the writing made them easy to picture - to the point I can already envision these as a series or film, either of which I would definitely watch.

Set against the backdrop of the 2016 referendum (Brexit) Just Like You follows two very different individuals who happen to fall in love. Recently divorced Lucy, a forty-one year old white schoolteacher, is looking to date again so she hires a babysitter for her two sons. The babysitter, Joseph, happens to be a twenty-one year old black man who works part time at a the butcher counter and aspires to be a DJ. In spite of how little in common Lucy and Joseph have, the two become romantically involved. Nick Hornby tackles many different issues: politics (particularly on Brexit), class, race, interracial dating, racial profiling, divorce, drug addiction, and alcoholism.
Throughout the course of their relationship Lucy and Joseph attempt to bridge the gap between their generations and to overcome their drastically different interests and backgrounds. Their friends and relatives are not very approving of their relationship, and their age gap raises a few eyebrows.
While I did enjoy reading the early stages of Lucy and Joseph's relationship (a lot of which occurs via texting), once they begin sort-of-dating, Hornby seems to gloss over their more positive interactions, focusing instead on scenes in which tensions arise between the two. While their seemingly silly misunderstandings were realistic, in the way they often escalated to actual arguments, they didn't give a full-picture of their relationship. Their earlier chemistry seems to fizzle out all too quickly, so that we are left with two people who don't really act like they really like or even love each other. Towards the end in particular I wish that Hornby had articulated Lucy and Joseph's feelings for each other (it seemed that 'for reasons' they wanted to make things work).
I also wish that Joseph hadn't been painted as being so clueless and disinterested in politics and literature. He has no real passion for music, so his dj aspirations seemed little other than a diversion.
The story too could have been more developed as it comes across as rather directionless. Lucy and Joseph have very few meaningful connections, so that many interactions—in which either of them is sick of talking to whoever they are talking to—felt repetitive. They have awkward dinners and get-togethers, they meet up with 'friends' they don't particularly care for...
And while I understand that Hornby wanted to play the devil's advocate when he introduces us to 'likeable' characters who turn out to be xenophobic Brexiteers...well, the wound is still fresh, and I have 0 sympathy for these characters.
While I appreciated that Hornby wanted the everyday moments that make up a relationship, I found myself wanting a bit more passion or romance between Lucy and Joseph. Most pages however seemed to focus on the more negative aspects of their relationship....and by the end I was just ready to be done with the 2016 referendum. The first time around was hard enough, do I hate myself so much that I want to read about it?

A story showing the turbelence in a relationship, especially when society deems in "inappropriate" for a number of reasons. Whilst I did enjoy the story, I felt the ending did lack something.

Every once in a while a novel comes along that you just cannot put down and which lingers in your thoughts after you've turned the final page. 'Just Like You' is for me, one of those special, memorable pieces of fiction: it's one of my favourite books of the year and definitely my favourite Nick Hornby novel since 'A Long Way Down'. The story focuses on the fledgling relationship between Lucy, a white middle-class forty something teacher, and Joseph, a black twenty-two year old portfolio worker. (I also feel guilty for defining them as such as this is the core of what the novel is about). Lucy is separated from her alcoholic husband and living with her two boys, whilst Joseph lives with his mother. Their worlds collide when Lucy asks Joseph to babysit and their arrangement gradually becomes romantic and the impact of the age disparity of twenty years between Lucy and Joseph is slowly revealed. Through their developing bond, Hornby cleverly explores the opposing ideologies around Brexit, the nature of racism, inter-racial and age gap relationships as well as the class divide. All these factors are woven into the fabric of their relationship and Hornby has captured the Zeitgeist by exploring their impact. It is what elevates this novel far beyond a fictional romance and I found it to be utterly compelling. The cast of characters are fully realised supported by sharp, insightful dialogue and I hope that once a wide readership has enjoyed this wonderful piece of writing that it is adapted for TV or film so that we can enjoy it all over again.

As a longtime fan of Nick Hornby, this book did not disappoint. Heartwarming and beautifully written, this book explores the differences that can sometimes divide us - politics, race, religion alongside others and details the impact these have on the central characters.

Beautiful writing. All actual nowadays issues are there - racism, Brexit, opposites, class, education. Relationships can be hard. So much more between 40 plus white woman and 20 something black man. Shocking?

Hornby never dissapoints, brilliant characters and witty story.

This was a beautiful and romantic novel that kept me engaged throughout the entire journey. The writer’s depiction of the characters was spot on. Highly recommended.

This was an uncomfortable read for me, reminding me of that profoundly unsettling time after the referendum in 2016.

This takes the backdrop of the EU referendum and adds in a mixed race, different aged, different class couple to reflect on what we have in common as well as how our views, outlook and backgrounds rub along together. Like I said, it made for an uncomfortable read, feeling quite bleak at times, but at the same time it resonated with me and forced me to reflect on a few things which is always a good thing.

Joseph is 22, black and dreams of becoming a dj. He works a few different jobs to earn his keep but doesn’t particularly like any of them. Lucy is in her early 40s separated from her alcoholic ex with two boys, is head of English at a school and is white.

I didn’t particularly feel they had much chemistry, but their conversations were enlightening and along with the wry observations about others, carried much of the book thanks to the dry, dark humour this author does well. I wasn’t particularly feeling any romance there, but this still moved me and resonated with me.

This won’t suit everyone and politics has the ability to turn lots of people off, but if you can stomach reading about it, this is thought provoking and worth your while.

I have been a big fan of Hornby since the early days, though his more recent novels have left me a bit cold.

This is a return to form - fantastic character portrayal, great writing. Like other readers, I did find the continued Brexit discussion arduous but it didn’t detract from the story.

Highly recommended.

What happens when a 40 something white woman with two kids, recently split from her husband, connects with a 20 something black man? That’s the story in this new novel by Nick Hornby, set at the time of the referendum on Britain staying in or leaving Europe. Issues of race, class, education came up and were handled pretty organically, but all the Brexit talk got a bit wearisome at times. A novel I enjoyed but won’t rave about.

A really enjoyable read covering a lot of sensitive topics against the background of Brexit. Lucy is 42, white, in a good job and divorced, while Joshua is 22, black, single and working a variety of jobs when they start up a relationship.
The book covers the difficulties faced in such a diverse relationship by all parties, although the spark between the two is never really clear. Despite that it's an enjoyable read and all the characters are likable, especially Lucy's sons who impart a lot of their wisdom throughout the book.

An enjoyable read that addresses both colour and age discrimination in relationships. Despite the difficult subjects they are delivered with sensitivity and humour.

Written against the backdrop of Brexit, it is clear that division forms much of the basis of this novel which is told from two very different perspectives: that of a well-educated white middle-aged woman with a good career and a directionless young black man with an insecure income. Against all odds these two embark on a romantic relationship and so, a middle-aged divorcee hooks up with a young Idris Elba lookalike – what’s not to like? Well sadly I was left wondering why the pair were together as there was very little in their portrayal that suggested they were into each other that much, which seems such an awful waste of opportunity for a novel that explores how two very different people can bond.

Otherwise, there’s a lot to like about this ‘relationship novel'. Tony Parsons’ humorous prose is peppered with observations about contemporary urban life and there are some hilarious scenes conveyed through his skilful use of dialogue, such as Lucy’s conversation about ‘hit-and-miss’ on a date and Joseph’s many awkward texting moments (best of which was on a packed train to Dorset!). Had I been more convinced about the Lucy/Joseph relationship I would have marked more highly but I was left frustrated by their seeming lack of spark.

Nick Hornby’s contemporary comedy of manners novels are often more than merely entertaining. In ‘Just Like You’ there are some serious topics under discussion, not least Racism and Brexit. Nevertheless, much of said discussion feels shallow and inconsequential, perhaps because it is difficult to believe in the vehicle for these themes, namely the relationship between attractive fortyish mother of two divorcee, Lucy and handsome butcher/sports coach/ wannabe DJ, Joseph.
However, some of Hornby’s minor characters really do come to life. Lucy’s sons are funny, cheeky, lazy and perceptive; Joseph’s mother is aware of the pitfalls awaiting her son whilst also being sensitive to Lucy’s position. Hanna is clever, witty and self-aware. Even lauded middle-aged writer Michael is credible. Whilst appearing, initially, rather too pleased with himself, he is human enough to admit he is past his prime, and he’s kind too.
If Hornby had moved past the obvious in his depiction of the relationship between Lucy and Joseph perhaps their conversations, their motives and their decisions would have been more credible. Whilst this is a readable tale – Hornby is a natural storyteller – it never feels as if the writer is truly at ease in the shoes of Joseph or Lucy and, so, ultimately neither of them develops into more than a creative exercise.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

This book tells a story that feels very real and at the same time is a contemporary fairy tale. The main character, Lucy, is 42, recently separated, mother of two young boys, witty and reflective, very relatable. The book is about her relationship with a younger man, Joseph. Throughout the book, each of them reflects in their own way on age, race, Brexit, forgiveness, love, belonging, in the new and unexpected perspective given by their relationship.
This is Hornby at his best: well rounded characters, interesting story perfectly woven into the recent political developments, great narrative, not overly descriptive. I enjoyed every word. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher for giving me an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a rewarding read. Lucy and Joseph’s relationship may defy social norms but if it works, does that matter? The story is told in a sensitive style but acknowledging how difficult relationships can be. There is very clever use of national and international events as the background to the various relationships going on in the novel. Brexit, political events, racial tension all influence personal lives. The writing is sensitive, sympathetic but realistic too. It makes an enjoyable read and I recommend it.