This was a fun run of books in the past couple of months. The first two have some serious similarities. The third one was something I had started and set aside, and the final one is the only non-fiction entry in this update that came recommended by a friend. I’d give a thumbs up to all of these to varying degrees.

Just Like You: I was poking around the York County Library app when I found this Nick Hornby book. I used to LOVE Hornby, especially in my days as a huge soccer fan. I would read Fever Pitch before each season to get excited. I don’t always find his single-mindedness so alluring these days. But this book told the love story of two London residents you might not expect to see together under the stressful backdrop of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Hornby’s skill for character development makes this a really engaging story that will have you guessing about the end all the way to the final page.

Flatshare: Another library find. It may have been in the same search that brought me Just Like You. I had never heard of this book or its author, but want more! This again focuses on two people you might not expect to be compatible. Tiffy and Leon “meet” when they develop a unique roommate agreement that has them sharing an apartment without ever seeing one another. Of course, that changes, but this goes beyond typical rom-com territory with deep looks into abusive relationships, family dynamics and the fairness of the legal system. Don’t let that scare you – O’Leary has a deft touch that also includes plenty of laughs. Definitely recommend this one.

Dry Hard: One more dip into Nick Spalding’s quick and breezy relationship novels. He takes on alcohol dependence in this one, but the way it affects Kate and Scott – the married couple at the center – can surprise you. Throw in some investigation of social media’s intrusion on our lives as well as toxic workplaces, and this one ended a lot better than it started for me.

The Sports Gene: My friend Keith suggested this one, and I am grateful for that advice. It is a little out of date – the original was published in 2013, but the version I bought has an update from a few years later – but it takes a fascinating look at the difficult intersection of genetics, athletic skill and hard work. Author David Epstein literally traveled all over the world to unravel these connections. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think other sports fans will as well. One caveat – if you get the Kindle version, it’s not as long as it looks. A good one-third of the book is footnotes and index. That’s not a problem, just a heads up if you are trying to gauge the length.

So this puts me at 24 books – double my usual goal for a year and three short of my 2020 total. I may go on a re-read binge here. I have started Generation X by Douglas Coupland and may settle into a few books I enjoyed in my 20s just because I feel like it.