Just Like You, by Nick Hornby

Lucy is an English teacher and a 42-year-old, white, middle class mother of two in the process of divorcing her addict husband. Joseph is a 22-year-old, black, working class aspiring DJ who lives with his mum. Hornby charts their unlikely romance in North London against the backdrop of the Brexit vote. The two forge a relationship that transcends barriers of age, race, class and education in an increasingly divided society. Hornby’s trademark humour makes this an entertaining tale, despite the topical political references feeling somewhat shoehorned into the story. The central relationship stretches credulity from the start and more so as it continues beyond the obvious. Perhaps the intention was to provide a note of hope in dark times. Given the subsequent pandemic it falls a little short.