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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
No violence; a suicide attempt by Marcus's mother is handled with care
Language
Some
Moderate adult language; Hornby's witty British voice
Sexual Content
Some
Will's serial dating is part of his character; adult relationships referenced without explicit detail
Substance Use
Barely any
None
Emotional Intensity
Some
Maternal depression and a child's fear of losing her; the psychological cost of performed superficiality
What this book is about
Will Freeman, a wealthy layabout who has coasted through his thirties on a family trust fund, invents a fictional son to join a single parents' group—and befriends the actual awkward, twelve-year-old Marcus, whose depressed mother is in crisis. Nick Hornby's comedy is warm, funny, and quietly moving about what it means to grow up at any age.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Suicide attempt by a parent is a significant plot element
Reader Verification
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