36959537Goodreads blurb “‘How cool was Will Freeman?’
Too cool! At thirty-six, he’s as hip as a teenager. He’s single, child-free, goes to the right clubs and knows which trainers to wear. He’s also found a great way to score with women: attend single parents’ groups full of available (and grateful) mothers, all hoping to meet a Nice Guy.
Which is how Will meets Marcus, the oldest twelve-year-old on the planet. Marcus is a bit strange: he listens to Joni Mitchell and Mozart, looks after his mum and has never owned a pair of trainers. But Marcus latches on to Will – and won’t let go. Can Will teach Marcus how to grow up cool? And can Marcus help Will just to grow up? Perhaps they can help each other out a little bit, and both can start to act their age.”

My Review

I came across this audiobook recently whilst browsing my local library’s updated digital catalogue. Of course I immediately recognised this title from the film (which I haven’t seen yet), with Hugh Grant playing the part of Will and thought I’d give it a try. I must confess that I was very unsure as to whether I’d get on with it as I assumed it was going to be a very ‘blokey’ book, but as it was a library book I had nothing to loose except a few minutes of my time.

Well, once I started I got so caught up with Marcus and Will’s stories that I didn’t want to stop listening. This was a funny, absurd and a very sad story at times, with some very serious issues. It had me laughing out loud though as well as raising my eyebrows and shaking my head as I got involved with these two characters. I enjoyed the humour a lot and I’m very glad to report that it didn’t turn out to be the blokey book that I thought it might be.

I loved Stephen Mangan’s narration and will definitely listen to another audiobook read by him, maybe another Nick Hornby book!