His breakthrough memoir, Fever Pitch (1992), an autobiographical account of his lifelong obsession with Arsenal Football Club, won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and established his distinctive voice. His debut novel, High Fidelity (1995), about a record shop owner navigating love and music, became an international bestseller and was adapted into a successful film. About a Boy (1998), another bestselling novel, was also made into a popular movie. His subsequent works include How to Be Good (2001), A Long Way Down (2005), Slam (2007), Juliet, Naked (2009), and Funny Girl (2014).
Beyond fiction, Hornby has written essay collections such as Songbook (2002) and the screenplay for An Education (2009), which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Renowned for blending humor with genuine emotional depth, Hornby remains one of Britain's most popular and influential contemporary writers.