Cash Out

Known for his iconic, bestselling books on both relationships (High Fidelity) and sports fandom (Fever Pitch), beloved writer Nick Hornby finally brings his two great talents into one irresistible story: a hilarious and emotionally gripping novel about soccer, love, and not selling yourself short.

Sophie is not a soccer fan. In fact, the only time she thinks about it is at family gatherings when she gets stuck talking to Uncle Keith about his favorite (losing) team, Leicester City FC. Then Keith places a bet that Leicester City will win the Premier League championship, and because she's been nice to him, he places a bet in Sophie’s name too. The longshot odds are five thousand to one.  

But then the odds in Sophies life start to improve in every way. The team starts winning, their wins become a streak, and suddenly the bookies are offering Sophie good money to cash out. Maybe she can finally pull herself and her slacker boyfriend out of the financial holes he keeps digging. In fact, maybe she no longer has to settle for the slacker boyfriend at all.

Soon, Sophie finds herself swept up in the exhilarating world of sport, replete with unexpected connections, spontaneity, and camaraderie. There’s a new man on the horizon. A potential windfall is in reach. Sophie must decide whether to play it safe and cash out, or to risk it all—in soccer, and in life.

A novel for soccer lovers and non-sports fans alike, Cash Out is Nick Hornby on a breakaway: bombastic, irrepressible, and resonant. A return to form from our most indelible chronicler of life’s inflection points, this novel will sweep you off your feet and onto the pitch.