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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This delightful and heartwarming story follows Albert, a lonely 64-year-old postman who makes some startling discoveries about himself. Though this is in part a story about a man coming out of the closet after over forty years and searching for his lost love, it’s also about coming out of your shell — about taking the brave step in opening yourself up to your neighbors and coworkers. This was a very relatable book for me as I am close in age to Albert and know only too well the hate and homophobia gay boys had to face in the 60s & 70s. It was also quite accurate from my recollection.
I enjoyed how the story was told via flashbacks to Albert’s youth, and we see the events that led him to his current situation: his hateful homophobic father, his apathetic mother, the oppressive laws of the time, and, of course, George — the first and only boy Albert fell in love with. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, allowing us to slowly understand where Albert is coming from as all is finally revealed.
I loved how Albert began to shine once he attempted to get the know the people in his life and start to embrace his life in the process. I especially enjoyed his friendship with Nicole, a single mom going through some tough times. The author did an excellent job of juxtaposing Albert’s newfound happiness with the darkness and sadness of his past. It was s delight to see Albert bloom once he ceases feeling ashamed of who he is and embraces and accepts himself instead. His transformation warmed my heart as well as sent a tear or two to my eyes.
All in all, I love this impactful story. It was heartfelt, amusing at times, traumatic at others, but always compelling and touching. Albert’s character development and character arc were phenomenal. And though the story does tackle some tough themes, it ultimately will bring a smile to your face. At least it did mine.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.
I enjoyed how the story was told via flashbacks to Albert’s youth, and we see the events that led him to his current situation: his hateful homophobic father, his apathetic mother, the oppressive laws of the time, and, of course, George — the first and only boy Albert fell in love with. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, allowing us to slowly understand where Albert is coming from as all is finally revealed.
I loved how Albert began to shine once he attempted to get the know the people in his life and start to embrace his life in the process. I especially enjoyed his friendship with Nicole, a single mom going through some tough times. The author did an excellent job of juxtaposing Albert’s newfound happiness with the darkness and sadness of his past. It was s delight to see Albert bloom once he ceases feeling ashamed of who he is and embraces and accepts himself instead. His transformation warmed my heart as well as sent a tear or two to my eyes.
All in all, I love this impactful story. It was heartfelt, amusing at times, traumatic at others, but always compelling and touching. Albert’s character development and character arc were phenomenal. And though the story does tackle some tough themes, it ultimately will bring a smile to your face. At least it did mine.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.
Thanks to Goodreads for gifting me this book. It was a quick and easy read but took me awhile because it was a little slow-going and not engaging enough to really keep me hooked. It's a cute story with some sad, heartbreaking moments and themes, overall a good read for the LGBTQIA+ history and perspective and a reminder to all of us to live life authentically as ourselves while we still can.
This book was the most heart warming and heart wrenching story! I loved Alberts journey to not only coming out and opening himself up but all the connections he meets along the way and his joy in making friends with them. The first part of this book broke me and Alberts aloneness reminded me how important it is to hold your true friendships close and remember to live life enough with everything that may be in your schedule. His history with George was so sad, and the hatred people had for gay people was ridiculous and disgusting but it was nice to read from alberts POV how times have changed and how accepted he felt now. I wish we could’ve seen more of adult George and Albert, but I also think seeing them would’ve been like creating a whole new book and just enjoyed reading about them finding each other and being happy.
His relationship with Nicole and remi was the sweetest. She really helped him in his search for George but also to grow as a person in style and to trust others. I loved her personal story as well and enjoyed seeing her get her hopefully happily ever after with Jamie!
All of alberts friends that he met along the way and his coworkers really helped Alberts journey and we’re great supporting characters.
The book kept me entertained without all the random drama some books have and I enjoyed this sweet journey.
His relationship with Nicole and remi was the sweetest. She really helped him in his search for George but also to grow as a person in style and to trust others. I loved her personal story as well and enjoyed seeing her get her hopefully happily ever after with Jamie!
All of alberts friends that he met along the way and his coworkers really helped Alberts journey and we’re great supporting characters.
The book kept me entertained without all the random drama some books have and I enjoyed this sweet journey.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
T. J. Klune meets Coronation Street! This is a heartwarming romance with more than a touch of the North about it.
Sixty four year-old Albert Entwistle lives a lonely life. He has worked as a Royal Mail postman for almost forty five years, and his work provides him with his only reason to interact with the rest of the world. Albert is a loner: he’s lived alone since the death of his parents and is terrified of other people. He lives a quiet life in which his main concern is to follow is routines and disappear into the background as much as possible. His only joy in life seems to come from the company of his much-loved cat.
When Albert receives the devastating news that he will be forced to retire at sixty five, he is hit with the reality that he may never speak to another person ever again. 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 and to seek the happiness that he has denied himself for so long. He decides to find the courage to search for George, the man that he once loved and has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens – he finds unlikely allies, friends and that the world has changed enough for him to embrace who he really is.
I’ll admit that it took me a while to get into this novel – it’s a little ‘twee’ in places, and as a Lancashire lass myself, I found some of the scenes of life in Northern England a little patronising in places. It features a string of rather ideallised events in the present day and a rather predictable ending.
However, I’m happy to look past most of this, as there is another side to ‘The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle’. The novel’s real strength is the way in which it depicts this horribly-closeted character, and the devastating reasons why he is so old when he finally feels able to come out as gay. The reality of LGBTQ+ history in the last half century is relayed in a simple manner, and the horrifying effects of prejudice and ignorance are clearly depicted in Albert’s character. There must be many people like Albert who have never felt comfortable expressing themselves, and I hope that this novel will help their neighbours, co-workers and family to be a little more gentle in their understanding.
I’m not quite sure how realistic the scenes of Albert’s coming out are, or indeed his change from recluse to extravert, but this story is told from a good place and it has at its centre a heart-warming romance, with some much-darker scenes set in the past. It’s an accesible text showing the damaging and wide-reaching effects of homophobia, the progress that has been made in recent years, and how far things still need to change.
Sixty four year-old Albert Entwistle lives a lonely life. He has worked as a Royal Mail postman for almost forty five years, and his work provides him with his only reason to interact with the rest of the world. Albert is a loner: he’s lived alone since the death of his parents and is terrified of other people. He lives a quiet life in which his main concern is to follow is routines and disappear into the background as much as possible. His only joy in life seems to come from the company of his much-loved cat.
When Albert receives the devastating news that he will be forced to retire at sixty five, he is hit with the reality that he may never speak to another person ever again. 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 and to seek the happiness that he has denied himself for so long. He decides to find the courage to search for George, the man that he once loved and has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens – he finds unlikely allies, friends and that the world has changed enough for him to embrace who he really is.
I’ll admit that it took me a while to get into this novel – it’s a little ‘twee’ in places, and as a Lancashire lass myself, I found some of the scenes of life in Northern England a little patronising in places. It features a string of rather ideallised events in the present day and a rather predictable ending.
However, I’m happy to look past most of this, as there is another side to ‘The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle’. The novel’s real strength is the way in which it depicts this horribly-closeted character, and the devastating reasons why he is so old when he finally feels able to come out as gay. The reality of LGBTQ+ history in the last half century is relayed in a simple manner, and the horrifying effects of prejudice and ignorance are clearly depicted in Albert’s character. There must be many people like Albert who have never felt comfortable expressing themselves, and I hope that this novel will help their neighbours, co-workers and family to be a little more gentle in their understanding.
I’m not quite sure how realistic the scenes of Albert’s coming out are, or indeed his change from recluse to extravert, but this story is told from a good place and it has at its centre a heart-warming romance, with some much-darker scenes set in the past. It’s an accesible text showing the damaging and wide-reaching effects of homophobia, the progress that has been made in recent years, and how far things still need to change.