The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle

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.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Matt Cain

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Kensington Books

First Published: May 31, 2022

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.