Outstanding modern tale about a thirtyish North London man who decides that the way to get beutiful women is to chase single mothers. He ends up tangled with a mixed bag of people with new cares, concerns, and priorities, and goes through the classic dramatic hero shift.

This fabulous book was over way too fast.

This book is about being a fan of an English Premiership football club, Arsenal. It's not about the game, it's about the eccentricities and agonies of fandom. The book is pulled off by relating a life memoir in the footbal fan context.

The writing is first rate; the result is quirky, different, and quite good if you're in the mood.

This is Hornby's best-known work by far, probably thanks to the movie with John Cusack. Our first-person hero is a modern North London record shop owner, who knows his music in a big and serious way. The story is about his relationships with women, going all the way back to his first romantic thoughts. Many hail this book as a first exposition of modern decent-guy romantic and relationship hopes, frustrations, and all those feelings women wish men talked about. But the women in my life say "what's the big deal?" and don't know why I loved the book so much.

The good news is I loved it without needing the stupendous male relevance. Set your expectations down to "really good book" (instead of "life-changing depth") and you win.