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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
4.6/5
Yes, I was crying at the ending. Okay, wow. Albert is hands down the most endearing character in a book I’ve read in a very long time and possibly ever.
Can we talk about how this book started off so sad?? Like his cat dying of cancer while he was alone on Christmas?
There were so many cute and funny moments that made me smile in this book. Nicole giving him a haircut and taking him shopping, Albert getting called daddy in gay village and when sees the pups walked around on leashes, Danny & Daniel being so welcoming and friendly to him, the surprise party at the end, etc.
Something about George’s opening song in his drag show being One Night Only from dream girls. Too on brand. Also, when he sang ‘Somewhere’ (his and Albert’s song) I—
I appreciate his co-worker Jack’s open mindedness and his character arc but still thought he was gross. I will say I did appreciate him and his friends going out of their comfort zone for Albert’s coming out party. Honestly, the only reason I can’t give this book 5 stars is because of that part of this story. His coming out party was cute but just too cringe for me.
Also, I really enjoyed Nicole in this. At first I was like why am I reading about her so much but it complimented & made sense for the story and I loved how involved her and Jamie were. Also we love BIPOC representation in books.
Absolutely loved seeing Albert’s character development. How anxious and closed off he was and how he just was so not either of those things by the end.
This was exactly the adorable gay book I need. 100% recommend to anyone. Literally so so cute and heartwarming. Simple, beautiful, and will make you feel the feels.
Favorite quotes/excerpts:
“I love you a little bit more than yesterday and a little bit less than tomorrow”
“And for years Albert has lived in fear that if his parents ever find out about the way he is, then they'll stop loving him. Not only that, but he's had so many reminders of what everyone around him thinks of people like him-and not just the boys at school but all the adults he knows who spit out the word queer as if they're disgusted even to let it hover on their lips-that he's gradually come to believe he's so rotten and wrong, deep in his core, that no one could ever possibly love him. That he's actually unlovable. That he'll never get to feel of share in the emotion that all the films and pop songs tell him is the most amazing thing in the world. That he's destined for a life of loneliness and misery. And now here's George telling him not only that he loves him, but that he loves him exactly as he is, almost because of the way he is. Finally, it makes me fol I'm not rotten or wrong.”
Plot:
The story begins with Albert Entwistle, a 64-year-old life long postman, receiving a letter he will be forced into retirement in three months. We meet his office staff, including characters Margaret and Jack. Albert is an anxious, closed-off loner who lives with his cat, Gracie. A second character, Nicole Ashton, is introduced. A single, black mother, who is working her way through cosmetology school with hopes of owning her own salon. Nicole dating Jamie, an engineering student at Uni, but she hasn’t heard much from him lately as he is busy with his studies.
One day before Christmas on his delivery route, Albert meets two new gays moving into a home, Danny and Daniel, and beings reflecting on his long lost love, George. At his office Christmas party, Albert is sad and alone. On his walk home, he stops by an old spot where he and George used to sneak away to and reflects on a memory— 1969. George Atkinson is a new student at his school. He watches him get bullied by the other boys for being gay. They become friends.
On Christmas Day, Albert reflects on his family troubles. His father was a violent homophobe who died of a heart attack. His mother slowly died of cancer and Albert scarified years of his life taking care of her, despite her being mean and bitter. Meanwhile, Jamie comes to visit Nicole and her daughter, Reenie. Jamie mentions his parents don’t above of her and that he wants to take things slow until he graduates.
One day, Albert takes Gracie to the vet where they have to put her down. While cleaning his mom’s old dresser, Albert finds old letters him and George would write to each other to meet in secret. In a deep, alcohol-induced depression, he reflects on George—A few months after meeting George, Albert and his friends are at a fair. He gets drunk and George helps walk him home. They make out and agree to meet again.
Albert wakes up the next day ready to turn his life around. Albert, who had previous made brief conversation with Nicole, reaches out to see if she can help him start to find George. She invites him over for tea and she helps him set up a Facebook account. In conversation, he comes out as gay for the first time. Nicole is very supportive and excited, and Albert is relived.
Having trouble finding George on Facebook, he goes to Margaret at work, his boss. He becomes more talkative with her and she shares that her grandson, Brad, is dying of cancer. In a moment of vulnerability, Albert comes out as gay, and Margaret is ecstatic. Albert begins to realize people are kind and receptive when he opens up. He soon finds out George moved to Bradford in the early 1970s (his first lead).
Albert starts talking to Danny and Daniel more regularly. Albert and Nicole chat over Facebook messages, and make plans to hang out. Albert takes a train to Bradford where he finds out George moved to Gay Village (Manchester) in the 1980s. Upon returning home, Nicole and her daughter come for dinner. He consults with his friend, an elderly woman named Edith, who worked in Manchester as a costume designer. She shares that a man Victor, who currently lives in Blackpool, was in a play with George and that he may know where he is. Alfred and Nicole go to Blackpool where they meet Victor, who tells Albert George worked at a bar in Manchester (The New Union).
Upon returning home, Nicole decides to surprise Jamie at Uni for Valentine’s Day and Albert is going to watch Reenie. While at dinner, he tells her that his parents threatened to cut his allowance if he doesn’t stop seeing Nicole. She tells him if he isn’t 100% committed to their relationship, then she doesn’t want to keep doing long distance. She leaves that night and eagerly awaits evening tea with Albert.
Meanwhile, at a bar trivia event raising money for Margaret’s grandson’s trip to Disney World, Albert comes out to his coworkers. the following day at work, they throw him a coming out party. Soon after, Nicole and Albert go to the Gay Village in Manchester. Albert is overwhelmed by the freedom and diversity. At The New Union, Albert finds out George moved to London in the 80s. Also, that George was a drag queen, Georgina St. James. Nicole and Albert find out she still performs, and he has two shows in London coming up.
After returning from Gay Village, Albert meets with Jamie to get coffee. He tells him not to throw love away and shares his life lessons that he learned from George. Albert reflects on his final days with George—One evening during their secret meetings, George and Albert get busted. They make a run for it but George gets caught by Albert’s dad and a policeman. Albert runs away, not being seen, leaving George all alone to get beat up and arrested. Later that evening as Albert returns home, his father reveals he knew it was him with George and disowns him. His dad says he can either never see George again and he’ll let George get off with a warning or he’ll send George to prison and make sure he’s beat up consistently. Wanting to protect George, he agrees.
One day, Albert invites Daniel and Danny over for dinner. They have a great time, and Albert tells them about what happened with George. He mentions he assumes his mom is the one who tipped off his dad about their secret hiding place (since he found their old letters in her dresser). Meanwhile, Nicole interviews at a high end salon and gets a job. Soon after, Jamie and Nicole and Reenie meet his parents for dinner. It goes very well, and his mom ends up liking Nicole very much.
On his train ride to London, Albert reminisces in his last time seeing when George asked him to run away together and start their own life. Albert declined, in an effort to keep George safe.
Albert arrives and London and goes to the bar. Albert and George meet after the show and they go back to George’s apartment to talk. Albert apologizes for his mistake all those years ago. George accepts his apology, but tells him so much has changed since then. He just needs time to think.
One month later. On his 65th birthday, after his final shift, Albert returns home to a surprise party, with all of his new friends there. Albert realizes that while George isn’t there, he indirectly is. Because all of his friends and all of the positive life changes he’s made had been as a result of George. Margaret thanks Albert for donating the money to Brad’s go-fund-me trip to Disney world before he died.
Toward the final moments of the party, Nicole hands Albert a letter from George telling him to meet at their old spot. Albert and George meet and the story ends with them finally together and happy.
Yes, I was crying at the ending. Okay, wow. Albert is hands down the most endearing character in a book I’ve read in a very long time and possibly ever.
Can we talk about how this book started off so sad?? Like his cat dying of cancer while he was alone on Christmas?
There were so many cute and funny moments that made me smile in this book. Nicole giving him a haircut and taking him shopping, Albert getting called daddy in gay village and when sees the pups walked around on leashes, Danny & Daniel being so welcoming and friendly to him, the surprise party at the end, etc.
Something about George’s opening song in his drag show being One Night Only from dream girls. Too on brand. Also, when he sang ‘Somewhere’ (his and Albert’s song) I—
I appreciate his co-worker Jack’s open mindedness and his character arc but still thought he was gross. I will say I did appreciate him and his friends going out of their comfort zone for Albert’s coming out party. Honestly, the only reason I can’t give this book 5 stars is because of that part of this story. His coming out party was cute but just too cringe for me.
Also, I really enjoyed Nicole in this. At first I was like why am I reading about her so much but it complimented & made sense for the story and I loved how involved her and Jamie were. Also we love BIPOC representation in books.
Absolutely loved seeing Albert’s character development. How anxious and closed off he was and how he just was so not either of those things by the end.
This was exactly the adorable gay book I need. 100% recommend to anyone. Literally so so cute and heartwarming. Simple, beautiful, and will make you feel the feels.
Favorite quotes/excerpts:
“I love you a little bit more than yesterday and a little bit less than tomorrow”
“And for years Albert has lived in fear that if his parents ever find out about the way he is, then they'll stop loving him. Not only that, but he's had so many reminders of what everyone around him thinks of people like him-and not just the boys at school but all the adults he knows who spit out the word queer as if they're disgusted even to let it hover on their lips-that he's gradually come to believe he's so rotten and wrong, deep in his core, that no one could ever possibly love him. That he's actually unlovable. That he'll never get to feel of share in the emotion that all the films and pop songs tell him is the most amazing thing in the world. That he's destined for a life of loneliness and misery. And now here's George telling him not only that he loves him, but that he loves him exactly as he is, almost because of the way he is. Finally, it makes me fol I'm not rotten or wrong.”
Plot:
The story begins with Albert Entwistle, a 64-year-old life long postman, receiving a letter he will be forced into retirement in three months. We meet his office staff, including characters Margaret and Jack. Albert is an anxious, closed-off loner who lives with his cat, Gracie. A second character, Nicole Ashton, is introduced. A single, black mother, who is working her way through cosmetology school with hopes of owning her own salon. Nicole dating Jamie, an engineering student at Uni, but she hasn’t heard much from him lately as he is busy with his studies.
One day before Christmas on his delivery route, Albert meets two new gays moving into a home, Danny and Daniel, and beings reflecting on his long lost love, George. At his office Christmas party, Albert is sad and alone. On his walk home, he stops by an old spot where he and George used to sneak away to and reflects on a memory— 1969. George Atkinson is a new student at his school. He watches him get bullied by the other boys for being gay. They become friends.
On Christmas Day, Albert reflects on his family troubles. His father was a violent homophobe who died of a heart attack. His mother slowly died of cancer and Albert scarified years of his life taking care of her, despite her being mean and bitter. Meanwhile, Jamie comes to visit Nicole and her daughter, Reenie. Jamie mentions his parents don’t above of her and that he wants to take things slow until he graduates.
One day, Albert takes Gracie to the vet where they have to put her down. While cleaning his mom’s old dresser, Albert finds old letters him and George would write to each other to meet in secret. In a deep, alcohol-induced depression, he reflects on George—A few months after meeting George, Albert and his friends are at a fair. He gets drunk and George helps walk him home. They make out and agree to meet again.
Albert wakes up the next day ready to turn his life around. Albert, who had previous made brief conversation with Nicole, reaches out to see if she can help him start to find George. She invites him over for tea and she helps him set up a Facebook account. In conversation, he comes out as gay for the first time. Nicole is very supportive and excited, and Albert is relived.
Having trouble finding George on Facebook, he goes to Margaret at work, his boss. He becomes more talkative with her and she shares that her grandson, Brad, is dying of cancer. In a moment of vulnerability, Albert comes out as gay, and Margaret is ecstatic. Albert begins to realize people are kind and receptive when he opens up. He soon finds out George moved to Bradford in the early 1970s (his first lead).
Albert starts talking to Danny and Daniel more regularly. Albert and Nicole chat over Facebook messages, and make plans to hang out. Albert takes a train to Bradford where he finds out George moved to Gay Village (Manchester) in the 1980s. Upon returning home, Nicole and her daughter come for dinner. He consults with his friend, an elderly woman named Edith, who worked in Manchester as a costume designer. She shares that a man Victor, who currently lives in Blackpool, was in a play with George and that he may know where he is. Alfred and Nicole go to Blackpool where they meet Victor, who tells Albert George worked at a bar in Manchester (The New Union).
Upon returning home, Nicole decides to surprise Jamie at Uni for Valentine’s Day and Albert is going to watch Reenie. While at dinner, he tells her that his parents threatened to cut his allowance if he doesn’t stop seeing Nicole. She tells him if he isn’t 100% committed to their relationship, then she doesn’t want to keep doing long distance. She leaves that night and eagerly awaits evening tea with Albert.
Meanwhile, at a bar trivia event raising money for Margaret’s grandson’s trip to Disney World, Albert comes out to his coworkers. the following day at work, they throw him a coming out party. Soon after, Nicole and Albert go to the Gay Village in Manchester. Albert is overwhelmed by the freedom and diversity. At The New Union, Albert finds out George moved to London in the 80s. Also, that George was a drag queen, Georgina St. James. Nicole and Albert find out she still performs, and he has two shows in London coming up.
After returning from Gay Village, Albert meets with Jamie to get coffee. He tells him not to throw love away and shares his life lessons that he learned from George. Albert reflects on his final days with George—One evening during their secret meetings, George and Albert get busted. They make a run for it but George gets caught by Albert’s dad and a policeman. Albert runs away, not being seen, leaving George all alone to get beat up and arrested. Later that evening as Albert returns home, his father reveals he knew it was him with George and disowns him. His dad says he can either never see George again and he’ll let George get off with a warning or he’ll send George to prison and make sure he’s beat up consistently. Wanting to protect George, he agrees.
One day, Albert invites Daniel and Danny over for dinner. They have a great time, and Albert tells them about what happened with George. He mentions he assumes his mom is the one who tipped off his dad about their secret hiding place (since he found their old letters in her dresser). Meanwhile, Nicole interviews at a high end salon and gets a job. Soon after, Jamie and Nicole and Reenie meet his parents for dinner. It goes very well, and his mom ends up liking Nicole very much.
On his train ride to London, Albert reminisces in his last time seeing when George asked him to run away together and start their own life. Albert declined, in an effort to keep George safe.
Albert arrives and London and goes to the bar. Albert and George meet after the show and they go back to George’s apartment to talk. Albert apologizes for his mistake all those years ago. George accepts his apology, but tells him so much has changed since then. He just needs time to think.
One month later. On his 65th birthday, after his final shift, Albert returns home to a surprise party, with all of his new friends there. Albert realizes that while George isn’t there, he indirectly is. Because all of his friends and all of the positive life changes he’s made had been as a result of George. Margaret thanks Albert for donating the money to Brad’s go-fund-me trip to Disney world before he died.
Toward the final moments of the party, Nicole hands Albert a letter from George telling him to meet at their old spot. Albert and George meet and the story ends with them finally together and happy.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fantastic read!
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
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:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Ugh what a lovely book, so cozy and kind yet real and honest. I loved the characters, the growth, the way it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It made me feel hope, despite everything. A comfort book for sure.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated