About a Boy

Will Freeman, a perpetually irresponsible and wealthy London bachelor in his late thirties, has mastered the art of living without commitment. Funded by royalties from his father's hit Christmas song, he glides through life, pursuing women by inventing a fictional son to attend single parent meetings. His carefully constructed world of self-indulgence is shattered when he encounters Marcus Brewer, an awkward, socially ostracized twelve-year-old with a penchant for Joni Mitchell and an unfortunate history with ducks. What begins as a cynical manipulation on Will's part soon blossoms into an unlikely and profound friendship. As Will reluctantly becomes a surrogate older brother and mentor to Marcus, both characters are forced to confront their arrested development and learn what it truly means to grow up. Nick Hornby's heartwarming and hilariously sharp novel explores themes of loneliness, parenthood, and the transformative power of human connection, proving that maturity isn't exclusive to any age.