The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

This is a seriously sweet, heartwarming story about Albert Entwistle, a closeted postman on the verge of retirement who is pushed into reevaluating his solitary lifestyle and searching for the young love he lost many years before.

We see flashbacks to Albert’s past, and without dwelling on the trauma we’re given a very real glimpse of the fears and challenges of young gay men growing up in small town England at the time. This is juxtaposed with present-day Albert getting to know some of his coworkers and neighbors, including a young single mother, a lonely retired woman, and a gay couple who are new to town.

I loved the portrayal of the North, including a walk through Manchester’s Gay Village, and I enjoyed seeing Albert grow as he ventured farther out of his comfort zone both physically and emotionally. The way things ended felt a bit too perfect and easy, but it fit with the spirit of the story and left me with a lingering sense of joy and hope.