This was an enjoyable book that covers some important themes such as race, class and age difference. I loved the romance element and some of the drama made it addictive, especially to begin with. However, the story didn't really move forward towards the end, though I do feel it carried a good message about focusing on yourself and your own happiness, even if it means blocking out society's noise.

It also made me think about how I will deal with things in the future, if my mixed daughter were ever to face anything like Joe does in this book. I think it was this link to my own life that kept me reading as it felt realistic.

Nick Hornby’s Just Like You is a witty, timely, and quietly subversive novel that explores love, race, class, and age in modern Britain — all with Hornby’s signature blend of humor and heart.

Set in the uncertain run-up to the Brexit referendum, the novel follows Lucy, a white, middle-aged, middle-class schoolteacher and mother of two, as she unexpectedly falls into a relationship with Joseph, a 22-year-old Black man who works at the butcher’s and moonlights as a DJ and football coach. Their relationship defies social expectations and provokes constant questioning — from others, but also from themselves.

Hornby handles their dynamic with grace and empathy, using the couple’s differences not as plot gimmicks but as a way to examine modern British identity. The cultural and generational divides between Lucy and Joseph reflect deeper tensions in society, yet their connection feels genuine and refreshingly free from melodrama. What makes the book shine is its refusal to be either overly romantic or cynically ironic. It’s sincere, sharp, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

That said, Just Like You sometimes skirts around deeper emotional or political complexity. Some readers might find it too gentle in its commentary on race or class, especially given the setting. But Hornby’s strength lies in his ability to pose difficult questions with lightness and charm, inviting reflection rather than forcing conclusions.

Ultimately, Just Like You is a warm, smart, and compassionate novel — one that reminds us that love doesn’t always follow the rules, and that’s okay.

As you would expect this is well crafted and a beautiful read. Characters are closely observed and delightfully exposed.

Always a delight to read anything from this author. A class act

I appreciated what Hornby was trying to do here, but I didn't find myself rooting for this couple, as much as it was made to feel like a realistic conclusion.

A witty warm novel about love - felt something slightly different for Nick Hornby, in keeping with the market today. Not my favourite - but still a satisfying and enjoyable read. Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy!

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

An interesting and enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

I went into this book blind and really didn't expect the Brexit plot - not quite sure how I felt about it. It was interesting but I also felt like it was something I wasn't that interested in reading about?
A slow burn but a satisfying, and unexpected, ending.
3 stars.

This was interesting. I really love Nick Hornby's writing and I feel like this was compassionate and funny, although I don't think it was quite for me. Still enjoyable though!

Been reading Nick Hornby books for years. Another enjoyable read. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

I love Nick Hornby but this just felt like a misstep - nothing about the plot or set up rang true - I couldn't finish it I'm afraid

I really struggled to finish this book unfortunately - I'm not sure if I was just in a slump when I tried, or if it wasn't for me. What I did read was extremely well written, but just not my cup of tea at the time

I've been a huge fan of Nick Hornby's for a long time and I couldn't wait to read this. In keeping with his excellent exploration of what it is to be human, this book is full of wit, wisdom and plenty to keep you turning the pages. Nick is like the gift that keeps on giving!

Set in the months leading up to the brexit referendum, I as an Irish reader just didn't relate to this in the way many other readers may have. As a result it became more of an average read for me- it was ok to pick up and relatively easy but unfortunately not astounding

Loved this book - a massive fan of Nick Hornby and everything he writes and it's fair to say that this one was a truly beautifully written story.

I originally received a copy of this book 2 years ago and I’m unsure why I didn’t get around to reading it as I was captured within the first few pages this time around. I particularly enjoyed Lucy’s inner dialogue as she overcame the hurdles of being a single mother with her romantic life and seeing her struggles of being involved with a much younger man from a different culture. I found myself finding Joseph very much lacking however and didn’t enjoy their dynamic particularly when reading their interactions. On a whole, I did enjoy reading just like you

I really wanted to enjoy this book, I tried, I really did, it's Nick Hornby, I loves his stuff but this was just dull.

The characters I didn't care for, one of them I thought deserved a slap to be honest, the plot was both slow & predictable & it was just a massive no from me.

Going into this book, I didn’t expect the Brexit referendum to be a central point to the plot. If I had known this, I probably wouldn’t have picked the book up.

The book follows an interracial couple with a 20 year age gap, who both are on opposite sides of the referendum, and focusses on the challenges and difficulties they both face, being from different backgrounds.

Brexit was handled fairly well in this novel, but honestly, it really put me off enjoying it, it’s bad enough living it, without having to read about it.

A slow burn, with at times very frustrating characters but it was witty & I was intrigued to see where they ended up so glad I stuck with it.