The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

by Matt Cain

Albert Entwistle is a private man with a quiet, simple life. He lives alone with his cat Gracie. And he’s a postman. At least he was a postman until, three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, he receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating he is being forced into retirement.

At once, Albert’s sole connection with his world unravels. Every day as a mail carrier, he would make his way through the streets of his small English town, delivering letters and parcels and returning greetings with a quick wave and a “how do?” Without the work that fills his days, what will be the point? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret.

And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living. It’s finally time to be honest about who he is. To seek the happiness he’s always denied himself. And to find the courage to look for George, the man that, many years ago, he loved and lost—but has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens. Albert finds unlikely allies, new friends, and proves it’s never too late to live, to hope, and to love.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Audiobook, Queer, Book Club

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2021

About the author

Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster, and a leading commentator on LGBTQ+ issues. He was Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, has written for all the national newspapers and appeared on BBC Breakfast, Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, The Today Programme, Front Row and Woman's Hour.

Matt is also an ambassador for Manchester Pride and a patron of LGBT+ History Month. In 2021 he received an honorary doctorate from Bolton University and in 2023 he addressed the Cambridge Union. In the New Year's Honours List 2025 Matt was awarded an MBE for services to LGBTQ+ culture.

Matt's breakthrough work of fiction, The Madonna Of Bolton, became Unbound’s fastest crowdfunded novel ever before it was published in 2018. In 2021, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle was published by Headline, followed by Becoming Ted and One Love. His Quick Read Game On was one of the official short novels of World Book Night 2024.

Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt now lives in London with his husband, Harry, and their cat, Nelly.

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain is a story about a 64-year-old man named Albert Entwistle (big surprise there) who is about to retire from the Royal Mail (the UK equivalent of the United States Post Office). He discovers that he has largely lived his life alone and closed off from the people around him. His secret is that nearly 50 years ago, he fell in love with a man named George. Will Albert be able to find connection in this world? And what happened to George?

This book was initially billed as funny as Fredrik Backman with the charm of TJ Klune. Who is this spin master? Because I definitely need this person in my life! The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle did have some humorous moments, but it did not reach the same level as Backman (nor for that matter TJ Klune).

The story itself is cute, but it is too long. For example, the storytelling needs some fine tuning as some of the events are not too exciting. Additionally, the romance between Albert and George is underwhelming. I still don’t understand what is so special about George. Aside from just love, did George inspire Albert to be a better person? Did Albert and George go through an experience that bonded them? Is there a great friendship between Albert and George?

I was also disappointed that the cat, Gracie, didn’t appear more throughout the book, and the ending is very unrealistic and predictable.

We know where the book is heading – a reunion of Albert and George. Cain takes a bit too long to get us there.

In conclusion, I did enjoy the plot overall; however, I think that The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle would have been better off as a short story rather than a full-length novel.

*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. For this book, I practiced immersion reading (listening to the audiobook as well as following along in the text). The audiobook was purchased by yours truly.

2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities

Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Gracie was still asleep on his lap when I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! began at nine o'clock. In this episode, a comedian Albert had never found funny, a pop star he'd never heard of, and somebody who called himself a 'social media influencer', a profession he'd never understood, were sitting around the camp talking about their biggest fears.

'Mine's spiders,' said the pop star, pulling a face.

'Mine's snakes,' said the comedian, squirming. He turned to the influencer. 'What's yours?'

'People,' Albert said out loud, talking over the influencer. 'People.'

As the chatter on TV continued, Albert couldn't help considering his answer. He hadn't always been frightened of people; when he'd been at school he'd been quite sociable and had lots of friends, friends like Tom Horrocks and Colin Broadbent. When they were little, the boys had played British Bulldog, Piggy, and Finger, Thumb, or Icky in the playground, later on meeting up to go to the pictures or the local temperance bar, later still sneaking into pubs, each of them doing their best to look old enough to be served at the bar, goading each other on and reveling in the shared thrill of transgression. It was a transgression they knew was only minor and might even make their fathers proud, reminding them of a similar rite of passage in their own youth.

But then everything had changed.

Albert had been given a blunt message about what his friends thought of people like him, what the world at large thought about people like him - of the real him, the him he'd been careful to keep well hidden. As a result, he'd gradually begun backing away from everyone and had first retreated into his work, later into caring for his mam. Little by little, he'd been overwhelmed by a new shyness, a shyness that was bolstered by fear, like a current he'd been powerless to swim against - until he was drowning in it.

But it doesn't do to dwell.

ABOUT 'THE SECRET LIFE OF ALBERT ENTWHISTLE': Albert Entwistle is a private man with a quiet, simple life. He lives alone with his cat Gracie. And he’s a postman. At least he was a postman until, three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, he receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating he is being forced into retirement.

At once, Albert’s sole connection with his world unravels. Every day as a mail carrier, he would make his way through the streets of his small English town, delivering letters and parcels and returning greetings with a quick wave and a “how do?” Without the work that fills his days, what will be the point? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret.

And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living. It’s finally time to be honest about who he is. To seek the happiness he’s always denied himself. And to find the courage to look for George, the man that, many years ago, he loved and lost—but has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens. Albert finds unlikely allies, new friends, and proves it’s never too late to live, to hope, and to love.

MY THOUGHTS: Love and loss. I bet there are a lot of Albert (and Alberta) Entwhistles out there, people who have hidden their love, their desires, their dreams in order to conform to society.

Albert is the loveliest character. It's a wonderful journey, watching him come to terms with himself, come out of his shell, and work out what he really wants from life. Of course, he has some help along the way. Marjorie, his boss, has a terminally ill grandson, a diabolical digestive system, and is not coping well with menopause, a fact she is not at all reticent about sharing, much to Albert's embarrassment. Nicole, a young black single mum with aspirations and an uncertain love life. Edith, elderly and alone, who used to be a great beauty with many suitors, but is now desperate for company.

Albert's coming out is a wonderfully warm story that had me with earplugs in, listening at every opportunity. It's a story of personal growth, of a man filled with fear and shame who slowly becomes honest with himself, optimistic and looking forward to his future. It's an emotional story. I cried for Albert the teenager, and for his friend George. I was saddened by the unhappy, reclusive man Albert became. I wept tears of joy and relief as Albert found himself, his new self, a man who made friends and helped others. There were places I laughed out loud, and snorted coffee through my nose.

There's really nothing surprising in this story, but that's not a criticism. It's a lovely heartwarming experience and one that I am glad to have had. Two things further enriched my listening pleasure: narrator Simon Vance was superb. He singly narrated a large cast of characters and not once was I confused about who was speaking. The second was author Matt Cain talking about his research and some excerpts of his interviews with gay men who lived through the eras that Albert's story is set in.

Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#TheSecretLifeofAlbertEntwhistle #NetGalley

I: @mattcainwriter @recordedbooks

T: @MattCainWriter @rbmediaco

#audiobook #contemporaryfiction #comingofage #historicalfiction #lgbt #romance

THE AUTHOR: Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster, and a leading commentator on LGBT+ issues. Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt now lives in London with his partner, Harry, and their cat, Nelly.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to RB Media via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albert Entwistle is months away from his sixty-fifth birthday and being retired from his employment as a postal worker with Royal Mail in Toddington. Albert is a shy introverted man who lives alone with his cat Gracie since the death of his ailing mother almost eighteen years ago. Albert has spent almost five decades absorbed in his work at Royal Mail covering his delivery route of 667 addresses. He does not have friends and barely socializes, limiting his interactions to polite exchanges with his work colleagues.

“There are billions of people in this world and not a single one of them cares about me.”

Being forced into retirement, Albert is made to reflect on his loneliness which is compounded by the memories of George, the love of his life who he was forced to part ways with as a young boy, on account of his being shamed by the family because of his sexuality. Fearing homophobia and prejudice he has spent his life in the closet and has shut himself away from living a full life.

“Albert had been given a blunt message about what his friends thought of people like him, what the world at large thought of people like him—of the real him, the him he’d been careful to keep well hidden.”

As the narrative progresses, we see how Albert gradually opens up to the people around him and is embraced by his community, and gradually finds the courage to venture outside his closeted self-imposed solitude. Supported by his friends and well-wishers he summons the courage to find George after fifty years of being apart.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain is a beautifully written story that will pull at your heartstrings and make you smile through your tears. The protagonist is a sweet lovable character whose story pulls you in. The author touches upon themes of friendship, love, self-acceptance and community. The author sheds a light on discrimination against gay men in the 1970s and the challenges faced by same-sex couples in the same era through conversations with those whose experiences were similar to Albert’s at the end of the book. Yes, the plot was predictable but it is a heartwarming read with an interesting cast of characters that keeps you engaged till the very end. The subplots were well integrated into Albert’s story and it never felt as if the story was digressing. The story was a tad too long but not so much that the reader would lose interest. I switched between reading the book and listening to Simon Vance’s brilliant audio narration which made for a wonderful immersion reading experience.

"Never look back—that’s my motto. I’ve used it about all kinds of things that have happened in the past. When I’ve been upset by things, the only way I’ve been able to survive is by putting them behind me.”
“Yeah, but one thing I’ve learned is that if you try to do that, you never do put the past behind you—it just tags along in the present. And it burrows into you like some kind of poison. It’s only by facing up to it and dealing with all the feelings it brings up that we can learn from it and move on.”

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A sweet story that goes somewhat predictably but still hits the mark. The audiobook is a wonderful choice to get to know Albert Entwistle.

Story:

64 year old Albert has been a postman all his adult life. And that’s all that people know about him. He is a loner, not because he hates people but he is afraid of them and of theirs discovering his big secret. When he receives an official letter saying he has to retire from his job on his 65th birthday, Albert is left questioning his life choices. With no family, no friends and no future, is he destined to spend the rest of his life alone? Albert decides that it high time to take charge of the situation and begin making some courageous changes in his life, including a search for his long lost love, George.
The story is written in a limited third person pov of Albert and one of his young neighbours, single mom Nicole, who is trying hard to get her life back on track.

Where the book worked for me:
❤ I had assumed Albert to be another Ove. Thankfully, this is not yet another geriatric curmudgeon story, a trope that has become quite common after the success of ‘A Man Called Ove’. Albert has a sweet, introverted personality and comes across as a man who has been closeted all his life, and not just about his sexuality. His love for his cat Gracy and his brave attempts at getting to know his neighbours and co-workers won my heart. (As an introvert myself, I understand how difficult it is to take the first step in talking with strangers and continuing a conversation.)

❤ The rest of the characters in the book are also quite interesting, though not much layered. They all come in predictable patterns but are carved in a way as to make many of them interesting. Nicole is the best of the other characters, what with her shyness considered snootiness and her single Black mom status marking her as a potential failure.

❤ The book incorporates several factual elements of the discrimination faced by gay boys during the 60s and 70s in the UK. I was impressed with the level of detail the author had incorporated in the story and the bonus section of the audiobook reveals the extent of his research. It seems to be an accurate rendition of the emotional upheavals these boys must have undergone just because of their sexual orientation. (A part of the homosexual representation felt over-the-top and stereotypical to me, but the author is a well-known commentator on LGBT+ issues and a former journalist. So I will trust his portrayal than my “feelings” which are more based on the rubbish LGBT+ representation in mass media. This book has been enlightening in that regard.)

❤ The book focusses on the importance of having the right kind of people in your life. It covers a whole gamut of relationships, right from parents (supportive as well as toxic), friends, neighbours, office colleagues, married couples, dating couples (both heterosexual and homosexual),… each relationship is given a fair bit of weightage and adds to the appeal of the story.

❤ There are too many characters but don't worry about memorising them. Each person is sketched well enough for you to move on with the flow and still recall them whenever they come up in the plot.

❤ The audiobook was one big factor in my enjoyment of this book. (More on this below.)


Where the book could have worked better for me:
💔 The story is quite predictable, with only a couple of surprises along the way. Then again, I should have expected this, considering it is contemporary general fiction.

💔 I wish the secondary characters had been more layered than one-dimensional.

💔 It tries too hard to incorporate varied social commentary in the narrative, with topics ranging from Afro hair to climate change. I understand the need for topics but the core issue here was huge enough without treating the book as a chance to broadcast more meaningful messages for societal betterment.

💔 The character change in both Nicole and Albert is almost abrupt. Both were introverted/reserved at the start but transition almost overnight into friendly and conversational, neither of which is an easy skill for an introvert and takes a long time to develop.

⚠ I don’t think most readers will see this as a negative, but to me, it was a minor red flag. There is one line in the story that is an important part of Albert’s past relationship with George and comes up 2-3 times: “I love you a little bit more than yesterday and a little bit less than tomorrow.” It is cheesily cute but it is not original. The quote is quite common and is a translated excerpt of a French poem by Rosemonde Gérard, ‘Chaque jour je t'aime davantage, aujourd'hui plus qu'hier, et bien moins que demain.” I don’t know how I feel about an author taking another writer’s line and including it almost verbatim in their work without due credit.


The audiobook experience:
The audiobook clocks at 12.5 hours and is narrated by Layton Williams. I was so impressed by his narration and his accent that I Googled him and ended up open-mouthed in astonishment! What perfect casting for this audiobook! I couldn’t figure out his accent but I simply loved it, though it took me a bit of time initially to understand him. His voice is so beautiful and so suited to everyone in the cast. The subtle nuances of his character-voicing ensure that we never get confused about which character is speaking (and this is in a book with quite a lot of characters.) I especially loved the way he voiced Marjorie when she was going through one of her hot flushes. 😂😂 10/10 for his narration.
A great narrator can make an audiobook, and this one certainly benefited from its narrator. But I also want to commend its production quality. There are special audio effects for phone call conversations, such that the speaker on the other end sounds as if he/she is actually on the phone with us. There is a megaphone kind of effect for tannoy announcements. There is a musical interlude each time Alfred goes into flashback about George. And it’s not even the same music each time but changes depending on the mood of the flashback. So many glimpses into the past and a complicated present timeline with multiple characters, yet there’s never a moment of confusion. All credit to the audiobook producer.
The icing on the cake? There is a 30 minute audio-exclusive material where author Matt Cain reveals his research methodology and some interview excerpts with gay men who lived through the 50s/60s/70s. These are quite emotional and eye-opening.


All in all, despite the somewhat formulaic approach, the book offers plenty of insightful content and is a pretty good reading experience. If I had read it, I might have rated it a 3.25-3.5. But the audiobook definitely enhanced my experience and I’ll go with a higher rating. The Netgalley tagline calls this “the most uplifting and heart-warming PERFECT COMFORT LISTEN”, and I agree.

4 stars.

My thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.



***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle" by Matt Cain is a journey in discovering your truest self!

Imagine having a life like Albert Entwistle's working your whole life, since you were sixteen-years-old, for the same company. Then three months before your sixty-fifth birthday you receive a letter stating you're being forced to retire. Albert loves his monotonous days as a postal worker, it's one of the things that sustains him. Now he can't imagine what he will do with the rest of his life.

Albert doesn't have any family or friends. He doesn't have any interests, outside of his job, to fill his time. What he does have are regrets for a life he could have led, but didn't. Now he has three months before retirement to figure out how to start living his life as he always imagined it to be. Will he be able to begin sharing his true self with others for the first time in his life?

I love the character of Albert the minute I meet him. I wish he was my dedicated postman and I would love having him as a friend or a neighbor. I quickly began to care about Albert and beyond the fact that he's lonely, a bit set in his ways, a little disagreeable, I felt he was in dire need of a great big hug. And, I wanted to be the person to give him one!

The secondary characters in this book are colorful and well described. I loved the eclectic mix of differences and enjoyed the extra texture it brought to the story. The back stories that connect all the dots for the reader are well constructed and creative. Despite the ending being predictable, I wouldn't want it to end any other way.

This audiobook is expertly narrated by Simon Vance and a pleasure to listen to. He gives life and breathe to the character of Albert and the essence of this book. He speaks the author's words with eloquence and emotion that adds to the richness of this story. Listening to this audiobook is 'pure delight'!

I always enjoy people who are a bit north or south of center. This applies to characters, too. Being different is something to be proud of and to celebrate, in my humble opinion. This beautiful story about opening your life and your heart to those around you by offering up your truest self hit a sweet spot for me! 4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Matt Cain for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[K.J. Charles]

A super-feelgood (eventually) story of Albert, a 64yo postman in a Northern town, whose miserably closeted and lonely life has dwindled to nothing, and how he comes out of his shell, makes friends, enhances other people's lives along with his own, and seeks his long lost love.

It starts bleak and stays that way for a while, with the flashbacks to Albert's youth, his vile homophobic father, his miserable mother, and the awful oppressive society and laws that had such a horrendous effect on so many lives. These are done very well, which is to say they're pretty gutting to read. But this is more than counterbalanced by the blossoming of his life once he sets himself out to remake it. That's very much rainbows and sparkles turned up to 11, but he bloody well deserves rainbows and sparkles and you'd be a curmudgeon not to go along for the ride. Terrific sense of place and time, too. And how nice to have a properly older protag getting romance.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review.

This is a somewhat sad story, 😢 in that the main character was not confident in his own identity. He’s a man of routine, somewhat ocd like- but when that routine gets thrown 🤯

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Albert Entwistle has worked his whole adult life delivering the mail. He knows his route like the palm of his hand. Yet, he has kept to himself for 50 years without interacting with anyone on his course.

He lives alone with his cat Gracie and listening to music is the highlight of his day. He has no friends and no human love in his life.

Albert doesn't like surprises and the biggest one is coming. He receives a letter from the Royal Mail telling him that in 3 months' time he has to retire. Albert is frantic. He doesn't know what he will do if he doesn't have his routine anymore.

Albert knows he can't keep on living this way. He knows he has made mistakes and he lost the love of his life, George. They were teenagers when they fell in love and Albert is responsible for their breakup. After much self-analyzing, he makes a decision. He will open up to people, start looking for George and apologize for what he did.

This was a good story! I was able to care for Albert and I was sad about how alone he was and how his life was so full of fear. I enjoyed his journey to self-discovery with the help of Nicole, his workmates, and Edith. What I wasn't sure about was him trying to look for George after so long and not realizing that maybe George already had a family or a special someone. 50 years is a long time to wait.

Kudos to Simon Vance for a wonderful narration and for transporting me to Albert's homeland.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by RB media via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a feel good book which will make you smile, laugh and cry then this is it! Follow the story of Albert Entwhistle who has never felt able to come out as gay since his one and only love affair as a young man, at a time when such relationships were illegal. Now, nearly fifty years later he is single, alone and about to retire from his job.

Bravely he starts trying to make changes.He discovers most people to be positive about his choices and he is encouraged to look for George, the person he loved and lost so long ago. Albert is such a lovely person that it is easy to want things to go well for him. There is humour along the way as well as laughter and tears, and there is the most beautiful ending.

This is a book to read when you want to see the best sides of people, and how even strangers can be supportive and caring. It is a very positive storyline which leaves the reader happy as they mop up their tears. Five stars for a wonderful reading experience.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain was a well written and heartfelt novel that reminded me of Fredrick Blackman’s works. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Simon Vance. It was a coming of age story but so much more. I really enjoyed the character development of the main character, Albert Entwistle. How many times, over the course of a lifetime, has there been at least one regret that was experienced? Have we all hoped at some time in our lives that things could have turned out differently if we had handled things better or made different decisions? Albert Entwistle struggled with those thoughts now that the life he had known for so long was about to change.

Albert Entwistle had been a postman in northern England since he was sixteen years old. His life revolved around the routines he had established for himself. People might have described Albert as shy and a man that kept to himself. Albert had no friends or any living family. He had no hobbies or interests other than his desire to deliver the mail and take care of his cat named Gracie. His parents had both died and he had no siblings. He resided in his childhood home. His daily routine was predictable. Only his cat, Gracie, held a special place in his heart. A long time ago, though, there was a boy named George who owned a big piece of Albert’s heart.

Three months prior to turning sixty-five, Albert received a letter from The Royal Mail. It informed Albert that the Royal Mail had a policy that required forced retirement when a worker turned sixty-five. Albert panicked when he received the notification. His sixty-fifth birthday was just three months away. What was he going to do with his life with the absence of his postal route? With this harsh reality, Albert’s life began to unravel. Then Albert started to come to terms with the man that had been hiding within himself for so long. He began to allow himself to make connections with the patrons from his mail route. Prior to this time, Albert kept a respectful distance between his patrons and himself. He never allowed time for conversations or to learn anything significant about them. That all changed when Albert came to terms with his new reality. They slowly became his friends. Probably the most significant thing Albert did was to accept who he was and search for his one true love even though it had been over fifty years since Albert had last seen him. Retirement allowed Albert to reflect upon his past, make changes and admit that he wished he had done things differently.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle was endearing, inspiring and even funny at parts. The author, Matt Cain, wrote The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle to celebrate the acceptance of gay men in British Society. Matt Cain took the reader through the decades of how being gay was viewed by British society. He explored the slow transformation of acceptance for gays and portrayed the shame, ridicule and need for secrecy they shouldered along the way. I fell in love with Albert’s character and routed for him throughout his complex situations. The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle was a very enjoyable book and great audiobook. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albert is set in his life, not drawing too much attention to himself and leads a strict routine. He is a post office worker and lives with his Cat. People always seem to tell him everything, but he just wants to lead his simple life. Then the unimaginable happens and that dreaded letter of retirement changes everything and seems to set off a whole string of unlikeable events. Without giving the whole story away, he soon discovers that people in general are not that bad to get to know, and that love always conquers all.

A really fast paced and enjoyable listed. I loved how he slowly starting changing and accepting himself for who he is. The character building was amazing and I could truly see how well Albert could dance in my mind.

Another feel warm, tug your heartstrings and root for the main character kinda book, loved it!

My thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for this audiobook ARC.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Albert Entwistle leads a very simple life. He’s a postman serving the Lancashire district, living alone with his beloved cat Gracie. He’s friendly to the people on his route but not so much as to engage with anyone, even his workmates. A few months before his 65th birthday, he receives a letter from Human Resources notifying him of his upcoming mandatory retirement. With that notice, everything for Albert begins to unravel, making him question his chosen isolated life because without work, he struggles for meaning. He decides that he’s going to make some changes, start to live and reach out to the people around him. And, his most important decision emerges from that plan…to seek out the once love of his life from 40 years ago, a boy named George Atkinson. That also means he will need to also emerge from the closet he’s hid in all his life.

the heart of the story…
Boy, did this turn out to be the story I didn’t know I needed to read! Albert tells his story in the present but revisits his past for context. I had no idea that it was illegal to be a homosexual in the UK until 1967 in England and Wales, 1980 in Scotland. It made Albert’s decision to stay closeted much more understandable, especially as his fear was bred from his own parents. What made the story so lovely were the responses of those around him when he “came out,” not only as a gay man but as someone who was compassionate, thoughtful and kind. His journey was enlightening as I learned about others’ personal experiences, particularly those brave souls who laid the groundwork for changing not only the law but community attitudes.

the narration…
I enjoyed the narrator as he sounded like who I thought Albert to be, including his voice. He was incredibly believable.

the bottom line…
I found this to be a thoughtful story on so many levels. Albert was a great character you couldn’t help but adore and root for in his journey to create a life for himself and find his beloved George. His journey became my own enlightenment and education, one I didn’t know I was lacking. The people he encountered along the way were just important to that education as Albert. It’s a beautiful story, even when it was predictable at times, which didn’t seem to matter in the long run.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Libro.fm and Recorded Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is an amazing journey of lost love. Our title character sixty-four-year-old Postman Albert Entwistle and his friend George Atkinson fell in love as young boys in a time when gay men were not generally accepted in society, some fifty-plus years ago.

I loved the honest reflection of how life was back in the 1970s and the emotions looking back on those times really hit me hard.

My favourite character has got to be Albert, he had a determination that shone and after years of hiding and being alone was ready to fully embrace life. I also loved the young George. I could vividly imagine his flamboyant ways, singing, and dancing when the two met at the bunker.

The story kept me enthralled and I just loved the details and description of Albert’s life, the way he became more open about himself, the sadness of his past but the happiness he found in his new friends Nicole and Edith, along with his work colleagues.

This was a definite page-turner as I couldn’t get enough of Albert. I also found it infuriating and so sad reading how narrow-minded some people were in the past and glad that things have improved from the way they were, although we still have a long way to go in the fight for full acceptance from everyone.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is a love story and a brilliantly written one too, well done Matt Cain. It felt uplifting and heart-warming. It was beautiful to watch Albert as he stopped hiding his sexuality from people and embraced it. I will certainly be recommending this book to all my family and friends.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

Synopsis /

Albert Entwistle is a private man with a quiet, simple life. He lives alone with his cat Gracie. And he’s a postman. At least he was a postman until, three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, he receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating he is being forced into retirement.

At once, Albert’s sole connection with his world unravels. Every day as a mail carrier, he would make his way through the streets of his small English town, delivering letters and parcels and returning greetings with a quick wave and a “how do?” Without the work that fills his days, what will be the point? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret.

And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living. It’s finally time to be honest about who he is. To seek the happiness he’s always denied himself. And to find the courage to look for George, the man that, many years ago, he loved and lost—but has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens. Albert finds unlikely allies, new friends, and proves it’s never too late to live, to hope, and to love.

My Thoughts /

4.5 stars

I picked this one up at the library after seeing the lovely cover and reading the book blurb. I thought it was going to be a story about a man who, after spending his entire life being a postman, a job he loved; was going to be retired by the Royal Mail Postal Service on his upcoming birthday - I was thinking that this 'secret life' was going to be Albert continuing his postal duties in secret after his retirement. Boy was I wrong!

In Matt Cain's The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, the author catalogues the life of sixty-four-year-old, Albert Entwistle. Cain writes with a steady, easygoing, and relaxed pace. The story alternates between Albert's memories of his younger years and the present day. There's no mistaking, that present day Albert is shy and socially awkward. He lives alone in the house he grew up in, with only Gracie, his cat, for company. As he's aged, Albert has morphed into someone who craves routine and privacy, preferring to live a quiet solitary life. But Albert’s world is turned upside down on the day he receives a letter from his employer, in which it is written that upon his sixty-fifth birthday he will be summarily dismissed from the Royal Mail Postal Service - as the mandatory age for retirement is sixty-five. And that date is only three short months away. How will Albert fill his days if he has no job anymore?

This event was the catalyst to Albert's budding new growth and eventual bloom - because Albert has lived his whole life in the closet, metaphorically speaking. The reasons for this are not clear in the beginning, but Cain lets them bloom, along with Albert's personality, as the story progresses.

Is change best when it is forced upon us? Albert, with nothing to lose because his whole world is upending, hatches a plan that will change his life. When you are no longer able to change a situation, you are then challenged to change yourself. But change, although possible, is never easy. So, on the eve of his sixty-fifth birthday, Albert decides it's finally time to be honest about who he is, and to find the happiness in his life that he deserves but that he always denied himself. And the happiness Albert is referring to is George Atkinson.

As teenagers, Albert fell heart and soul over his openly gay best friend. You must remember, that during the sixties and seventies, being homosexual was illegal and subjected a person to hate shaming and bigotry and worse. So, Albert and George would meet in secret where they lived out their best days as teenage boys, who had done nothing wrong, except love each other. But that idyllic world imploded when Albert's father, who was deeply homophobic, surprised the boys at their favourite meeting place and made Albert promise never to see George again.

Now sixty-five and being forced into retirement from a job he's held all his life, Albert decides it's finally time to truly start living. Gathering up the courage he didn't know he had, Albert begins a search to find George - the boy he loved with his whole heart and has never forgotten. Cain writes Albert's journey of courage from here like the opening of a budded flower. Albert, in his journey to find his one lost love, finds love and acceptance of himself; he finds friends and allies in unlikely places and knowledge that the world has changed enough so that he can embrace being the person he wants to be.

Cain's characterisations are beautifully written and thought out. They are interesting, fleshed out, and vivid people who would be a joy to have in your life.

It saddens me when I hear that someone has lived their life in 'secret' for fear of being branded something other than which they are - human.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
— Mahatma Gandhi

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read all the glowing, gushing 5 stars reviews I can only conclude that I’m the only person who just didn’t enjoy this book.

I really, really, really wanted to love and adore this book. The subject matter is something very close and personal to me so I started to read the story of Albert Entwistle.

Initially I was engaged and sympathetic to Albert and his situation having hidden his sexuality for 50 years and cut himself off from life, existing as a postman with no friends or family or support network around him.

When he is told he will be made to take involuntary retirement within a few months, upon his 65th birthday he decides to find his one true love, George who he hasn’t seen for 50 years.

So far, so good… but then we are introduced to the other characters, and this is where the book fell down for me because it became every conceivable cliche and stereotypical person possible. I’m not sure if it’s possible to be too WOKE but I felt my eyes roll several times when a new character was introduced.

I just wanted a love story between George and Albert and I ended up with too many unnecessary characters who diluted the story for me.

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a goodreads giveaway. Thank you Kensington Books, John Scognamiglio Books, and Penguin Random House.

Everyone’s view of the world is different. With that being said, if you choose to read this book, get ready for a love story that stretches over decades.

There are parts of this story that will make you cry. So get that tissue box ready.

An important lesson that this book teaches is understanding.

[Ben Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is a touching story about a man finally living for himself and not being afraid of letting others see his true self.

It's three months to Albert's sixty-fifth birthday when he receives a letter about his forced retirement from being a postman for the Royal Mail. He's a quiet man who likes to keep to himself, but this drastic and upcoming change to his beloved routine of walking his post route kick starts his journey.

He decides he wants to find George, the love of his life who he hasn't since they were both teenagers. Along the way as he begins to open himself up to others and makes new friends. One of whom is Nicole, a single mother and the other pov we get in this book. She lives near Albert and is his on his post route. The two of them strike up a friendship. They become amazing friends and reading them develop their friendship and help one another made me feel all warm inside.

I really felt for Albert. Growing up he had to put up with rampant homophobia, even though he was in the closet then, from school friends to his parents. His parents were real pieces of work. Seeing how their homophobic abuse caused Albert to wither in on himself; the emotional scarring of which stayed with Albert long after they died. But seeing Albert finally able to flourish now, coming out and being accepted and loved was so pure and beautiful!!

I love this book so much.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are billions of people in this world and not a single one of them cares about me. (PG 89)

I was feeling bad that this book didn't endear me to Mr. Entwistle but as I was looking through other reviews a gay man, reviewer, also rated this 2 stars and I totally agreed with his analysis of the book.

Albert's life growing up wasn't bad at all. I mean we all have our moments when people are mean or when our parents were being jerks but it was overall a normal, loving household for Albert. Cain was trying to force this dramatic flair that didn't work.

Albert had a lost love and managed to spoil the rest of his life for him. I didn't understand that. He was a curmudgeon that didn't fit as he seemed to really enjoy talking to others. He was not "Ove" but was trying so hard to be.

He kept his gayness to himself for 50 years plus yet he starts telling his coworkers and everyone else that'll listen and they throw him a party? Post office people? He even manages to make a homophobe apologize to him. I believe everyone is allowed to have their opinions and feelings about whatever they want as long as it doesn’t lead to violence. Isn’t this freedom?

Anyway, it was too Hallmark-y, unrealistic to the real life anywhere, wrapped up in a bow. It was boring. Everyone was amazing in this book.

Then we get the only black character that lives in a counsel house and is a single mother and white people giving her dirty looks? Cliche, political correctness?

My favorite part of the book were the testimonies in my edition of real gay men late in their lives talking about how they grew up and the hardships they endured. I really liked their attitudes about their situations. I wish Matt Cain would have used one of their stories to be Albert Entwistle. I would have enjoyed it much more because this was longer than it needed it be, not simply a sweet love story of finding the one that got away.... It was 'kitchen sink' book, Be Woke... everything that was going on during COVID. I had to roll my eyes a lot and skim past the boring bits.

Look, my brother is gay and it's something that was so from a young age when he would try on my mom's clothes and high heels. He isn't defined by being gay though. That's only a part of himself. He is a traveler, a social butterfly, a kindhearted cheapskate. And he's also Deaf. He doesn't let society stop him. He makes fun of himself and laughs when I tease him especially when his outfit is gay, dude he dresses so gay! H&M! He had a hard upbringing but has surpassed it and is better for it.

This is what I wish Matt Cain would have done. Albert wasn't someone I cheered for after a few chapters. It's too unbelievable that someone would suppress himself after a few nasty comments instead of living his life....

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have decided that 'heart-warming' and I do not get on. I found this precisely as uplifting as a piece of old bread, and as credible as the Hovis ad itself (https://bit.ly/3kdLvsi, if you want to subject yourself to the schmaltz - CW for diabetics). For the author's sake, I am happy that more charitably minded readers disagree with me.

[Amy McGregor · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I can see why some people really enjoy this but it's not for me - very formulaic, lots of stereotypes, and the way the characters spoke felt like a Disney movie at times. It really did put a smile on my face at points but I don't feel overall it was my cup of tea.

[jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm just not made for feel good stories.
i literally only liked the parts that made me feel sad and cry - and was bored the rest of the time. 3.5 stars


read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely narration!!

This one was a slow build and I felt a bit bored at times, but the story was wonderful! I didn’t totally get why Albert was so hung up on George, but I loved the character development of Albert. This was a sweet wonderful story.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you want to jump right into the pages of a book and give the main character a great big hug, then you know the author has done something special to make you care so much! And that's how I feel about Albert Entwhistle after reading his story! It's just delightful from start to finish as you watch over this man as he looks back over his life as he approaches a new direction for his life with his impending retirement.

He's a man who keeps himself to himself - reading his past, you begin to understand more of why he is this way and it makes you love him more! He sticks to his routine, despises small talk and dotes on his cat Gracie. He's an observer of life and doesn't like sharing personal stuff! And he's spent many years caring for his mother so that left very little time for him and his own life.

But with retirement approaching, his safe 'bubble' is threatened and he finds himself ready to confront his past and the emotions from way back when begin to stir again.

I loved looking back over his life - his time as a child and the moment at school when George entered his life. They shared a very special bond and it was so endearing to spend time in their company.

As Albert starts to come out of his shell, we are introduced to Nicole who is a single mum and finding life tough, but trying to find the positives and better herself. Things are looking up on the love front for her, but there always seems to be obstacles in her way. Albert reaches out to her to help him using technology to start his search and they start to build a wonderful friendship.

The more Albert opens up to others, the more he begins to find his voice and stops feeling ashamed of who he is. His past, and people in it, had made him afraid to be himself so this revelation to him about people accepting him for who he is was wonderful to witness.

The journey the characters go on is totally endearing and uplifting. I adored spending time in all their company and think this is one of those books that really inspires and warms the cockles of even the coldest of hearts! Wonderful!!



back begin to stir in him and he's left with many 'what if' questions that need answering.

W

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

If what you like about TJ Klune is the heartfelt romances of older gay men, then you really should check this book out. The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle is incredibly charming and often cozy, though it does deal with some difficult topics at times. (see below for relevant content warnings)

This follows Albert, a closeted gay, British postman who is being forced into retirement for his 65'th birthday. His entire life is his job and his cat Gracie. (Slight spoiler, but I think you should know because it happens fairly early on: the cat dies soon after he gets word of the retirement and it's really sad.) But with his only connections to the world being cut off, Albert finally begins reaching out to other people and decides to search for the boy he fell in love with as a teenager.

There is also a second perspective following a young Black woman who is a single mom working to get licensed to do hair and nails. She is also pretty lonely, but ends up forming a friendship with Albert that enriches both of their lives. It's lovely!

This book tackles the history of how gay people were treated in the UK in the 70's and 80's, and it's not pretty. While the arc of the story is really sweet and beautiful, it also deals graphically with the homophobia of the time and what it was like for being gay to be illegal. I think it's an important story to tell as it opens a window into the experiences of queer elders in the community. And clearly the author did research! The audiobook is excellent and at the end includes excerpts of interviews with gay men who lived through this time. I would absolutely recommend it, just be aware that it can be difficult at times dealing with grief, homophobia, familial rejection, bullying, and the criminalization of homosexuality. Thank you to Libro.FM for providing an audio copy for review. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

Matt Cain has written a story that celebrates differences and the path of true happiness. Whilst the narrative is tinged with sadness, I could not help but become absorbed in Albert’s story, finishing with a feeling of happiness and contentment.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting tale of a man who makes a decision to embrace his true self later in life. Read this book if you enjoy the themes of second chances, found family, and redemption. Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC edition of this book.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SECRET LIFE OF ALBERT ENTWISTLE
by Matt Cain
Kensington Books
Pub Date: May 31

A lovely book about a secretly gay postman who is forced to retire. Other than work, he has lived reclusively, afraid to reveal his true self. But that changes as he decides to find the one person he has ever loved: George. A delightful tale about second chances and the balm of connecting.

Thanks to author Matt Cain and Kensington Books for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheSecretLifeOfAlbertEntwistle #MattCain
#KensingtonBooks #LGBTQIAfiction
#postmaninEnglandnovel#bookstagramcommunity

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are after school specials still a thing? Were, or are they a thing in England?

Ok, well, I guess it's my turn to be that guy.

This book pissed me off.

Look, Albert is a sweetie. And from a 10,000 foot view, the story is cute. And I appreciate a book painting a bit of a picture of what it was like growing up gay in the 60s and 70s with becoming unbearably depressing.

But oh, my god, the execution? The execution is awful.

In case anyone reading this is not familiar, when I was a kid, here in the USA, occasionally, in the afternoons they would broadcast what they called an "After School Special". These were, I suppose, well intentioned little dramas that aimed to teach us some important lesson. And if you ever needed an example of why the slogan "If you want to send a message, call Western Union" was appropriated as a derogatory commentary on moralizing fiction, any one of these "After School Specials" should do.

Common elements in these overtly contrived little stories included "obstacles" that offered no more resistance than a grain of sand in the road does an SUV once the character actually decides to try, "mentors" that show up at just the right time to teach just the right lesson, a lesson spelled out clearly and simply, because the writers assume you're a moron, a lesson which the protagonist unquestioningly takes to heart and is likely to regurgitate later at someone else as if they'd known it all along, and bullies whose bluster disintigrates as soon as the protagonist stands up for themselves and is liable to say something like, "Aw, shucks. I didn't mean nothin' by it. I was just tryin' to impress the fellas."

All elements which you will find here, as well.

Now, I appreciate escapism. Escapism saves lives. I'm not looking for harsh reality in my fiction, but there's escapism, and there's insulting my intelligence. This book is so contrived, so unbelievable, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Matt Cain respects neither his readers, nor his characters.

Albert, our protagonist, is going on 65. He's been socially withdrawn for his whole adult life, closeted, afraid of people knowing what he is, after a terrible ending to a teenage romance. After being raised by an overtly homophobic cop of a father and an emotionally abusive mother. But he's had a job his entire life, he survived his father, and served as primary caregiver for that abusive mother for decades, and functioned decades more on his own, and yet Cain infantilizes him, frequently writing him like an exceptionally stupid child. Why do adults constantly underestimate children anyway?

That was the first thing to irritate me about the book. That the rest of it would be made up of only such contrived characters and events as I've detailed above only became clear as it went on. I was tempted to DNF and avoided picking it up for days at a time, preferring to read articles or other fluff as a way to avoid it. But eventually I pushed through to the end, just to see Albert get his happy ending. He deserved it. And he deserved for this book to be better written.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STARS - I should have liked this book more. It has received rave reviews, but it took me almost halfway through to get into this story about Albert, a closeted, reclusive 65-year-old gay man who is on a journey of self-discovery and decides to find the long-lost love of his life.

The story starts off with a bleak feel but I was sympathetic to Albert whose adult life has revolved around his job as a postal worker. He has no friends, little contact with other people and is a socially naïve quasi-curmudgeon. And while I appreciated Albert's journey and the LGBTQIA+ representation, the story was too slow, awkward, and simplistic. It had a Hallmark movie vibe and felt like it was trying too hard to be sentimental with its overly contrived story that goes from bleak to saccharinely sweet quickly and includes a hodgepodge of tertiary, stereotypical characters.

The story vacillates between predictable and unbelievable. Albert went from isolated grump to finally accepting/loving himself and suddenly becoming this convivial guy whose life now falls into place. He has friends, he's social, there were no blips or speedbumps for Albert, and it just wasn't convincing. Another part that was sweet but not believable was how people reacted to his coming out. Everyone (coworkers, neighbours, strangers) was over-the-top super positive. That is great!! But realistic? Umm, no and more than that, it felt like a missed opportunity for a deeper story line.

I feel like a big old grouch, but this book was a struggle for me. It had good bones but was weak in its execution. It may appeal to readers who like lighter reads and a happily-ever-after story.


Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Kensington Books for my advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

[Audrey Haylins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novels featuring older protagonists have become among some of my very favorites: Harold Fry, Ove, Missy, to name just a few. With much of their lives behind them, they have wonderful stories to tell and a richness to their character that draws empathy and compassion. I am now adding Albert Entwistle to this list.

Approaching the age of 65 and facing mandatory retirement from his job as a postie, Albert has reached a crossroads in his life. For years he has lived a lie, denying even to himself who he truly is. But times have changed. Being gay is no longer a crime. And so he sets out to track down George, the love of his life.

Albert’s story is beautifully told, in his own voice and in dual timelines, as he goes about his quest and reminisces about the past. His journey is poignant and at times desperately sad. But it is also uplifting and joyous.

Albert’s transformation is a joy to behold, as he opens up to who he is and makes discoveries and friendships that change and enrich his life. He’s an immensely likable character; one you take into your heart, care for and root for, as he at first tentatively then wholeheartedly embraces his reincarnation.

Matt Cain handles the issues surrounding homosexuality with sensitivity and a real depth of understanding. There is no triteness here. Just honesty and compassion. I truly loved this book and would recommend it to all fans of uplit.