The novelist Ann Quin says she appears to be a ‘singular girl, singular and single’ but questions the use she makes of her freedom. I laughed and cried and like Felix cricket has been a part of my life (for over fifty years) Cricket is so often a metaphor for life and can be a tremendous force for good (check out cricketwithoutboundarie.

Last Chance Texaco is the first-ever no-holds-barred account of the life of two-time Grammy Award-winner Rickie Lee Jones, in her own words. A lot of my own thoughts and feelings without any of his highs and for that matter (hopefully) lows are reflected in his words. Nothing is delved into with any real insight and the entire book paints a picture of a man frankly looking for excuses for being a bit of a bell-end to those around him, whether his romantic relationships or family. He co-presents BBC podcast Tailenders with Greg James and England's most successful ever fast bowler Jimmy Anderson, which has proved a 'safe space' in which to channel his enthusiasm for it regularly. With his infectious passion for the sport and vivid observations, you don't have to like cricket to love this.

I can't imagine what it is like to lose a parent prematurely and at a relatively young age, however these raw and emotional sections are insightful, honest and beautifully written. Felix White’s beautifully, elegantly and passionately written book reminds me why I love cricket so much. A beautifully written book, ostensibly about cricket and music (you really do need to love cricket to read this) but really about death and grief and moving on.

It's Always Summer Somewhere is his funny, heartbreaking and endlessly engaging love letter to the game. I don't know cricket at all - I don't understand any of the terminology or players and I really struggled with this book because of that. Really enjoyed this and in many ways I could relate to the duality… in the sense that this book was about cricket and about coping with the premature death of one’s mother.

Because while this is a book about cricket, it isn’t a book about cricket, it’s about loss, and grief, and learning and living.

So many of us want to be a rockstar, date a rockstar and have famous friends on their phone and Felix has had all that. His band, The Maccabees, released four studio albums before disbanding at their commercial peak after a number one album, major festival headline shows and an Ivor Novello award. In 2019, Bernardine Evaristo became the first black woman to win the Booker Prize since its inception fifty years earlier – a revolutionary landmark for Britain. I was often surprised and moved by his passionate understanding of cricket as comfort, consolation and rock and roll remedy.His description of his rise to fame with The Maccabees, his absorption with cricket and lack of connection in relationships was both uplifting and tear jerking. It was an uphill struggle to carve their name in the history of Liverpool music, but Echo and the Bunnymen became iconic, with songs like ‘Lips Like Sugar,’ ‘The Cutter’ and ‘The Killing Moon’. Not that it's a bad book; on the contrary, it's interesting and quite well written, but the other two main strands in the narrative heavily outweigh that concerning his erstwhile band. However, this book goes far deeper than just a celebration of cricket and music as it also explores Felix's life as a whole, with themes of grief, love and purpose. I’ve never written a book review before, but felt compelled to do so for Felix White’s wonderful autobiographical book.