Whatever will be, will be cover art

Whatever will be, will be

A Matter of Life and Football

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Whatever will be, will be

By: Felix White
Narrated by: Felix White
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About this listen

 'A book so beautiful that it finally made me understand what football means. An exceptional writer.'
- Bella Mackie

'So much more than a book about football. A book about aging, community and memory. Rich in detail and great jokes. I wish I had written it.'
- Josh Widdicombe

'For anyone who loves the FA cup like me, this is your 50 shades.'
- Chris Stark

'A book by a Fulham fan would have to be very good for me to recommend it. Brilliant...I couldn't put it down. Annoyingly.'
- Seann Walsh

'Mesmerising and unputdownable, like Fever Pitch meets The Sportswriter. I commend it in the highest terms.'
- Amol Rajan

'It might be the most perfect football book ever.'
- Charlie Cooper

'I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who loves beautiful writing.'
- Ivo Graham

'A beautiful book of rare emotional honesty and depth.'
- Ali Millar

'A book that's guaranteed to remind you why you love football.'
- MUNDIAL

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of It's Always Summer Somewhere comes a moving and often hilarious journey through the 2024/25 FA Cup - from the first muddy preliminary round in Penrith to a glorious sunny day at Wembley.

On the brink of turning 40, Felix White sets out to watch a match from every round of the Cup, meeting fans, players and dreamers at every level of the English game. As he travels the country, football becomes a way to explore memory, identity, grief and joy. While he reflects on his own lifelong obsessions, his story becomes a unique expression of how the game communicates something vital, both literal and internal, between a child and an adult.

Told with lyrical wit and heartfelt honesty, Whatever Will Be, Will Be is more than just a story about football - it's about growing up, holding on and the strange ways sport connects us all.©2025 Felix White Football (American) Football (Soccer) Sports Sports Psychology Funny Heartfelt Witty Game
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The chapter on Felix’s nephews first steps up the Terraces of Craven Cottage and growing love for football was especially funny and poignant. Great listen!

A beautiful reflection on football fans’ quest for feeling

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Love this book from start to finish what a fantastic idea and this man can paint perfect pictures with his words.

A must book for any proper football fan

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Whatever Will Be, Will Be is a book I really enjoyed, even though I don’t come to it with much knowledge of football. Felix writes with warmth and clarity, and his voice drew me in straight away. I came to the book knowing him from The Maccabees, a band that soundtracked a big part of my life, and that connection made the reading experience feel instantly familiar.

Felix is turning 40 in the book, and that sense of reflection really resonated with me. I can completely understand that stage of life, even though I’m coming at it from a different perspective, having just had a baby. Reading about his nephew already growing up with an understanding of football highlights how quickly time moves and how traditions, passions, and identity are passed down almost without us noticing.

The book is thoughtful and well written, and you don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy it. At its heart, it’s about time passing, family, and the things that shape us, which makes it warm, relatable, and quietly moving.

A book about growing up and looking back

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Absolutely loved this, it is based around football but it’s more a lovely look at life

A beautiful book!

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Love everything Felix does but this was another level! Great writing, you can almost smell the half time pies

Brilliant

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