The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain: Audiobook Review

From The Publisher:

Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and TJ Klune, this humorous, life-affirming, and charmingly wise novel tells the story of how the forced retirement of a shy, closeted postman in northern England creates a second chance with his lost love, as he learns to embrace his true self, connect with his community, and finally experience his life’s great adventure…

Indie Next List Selection | Library Reads Selection

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.

Audiobook Review:

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is one of my favourite reads of 2022. It is a lovely, impactful story of a man who begins living his true life while facing retirement. This book is perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Elizabeth Berg.

I absolutely loved this book – it was both engaging and entertaining. The author creates a well-researched and easy-to-love character. Through a series of reflections based on Albert finding love as a teenager fifty years ago, the reader experiences and contrasts the life of a gay man then and now.

As the book begins, we are introduced to Albert who is three months shy of his sixty-fifth birthday and facing mandatory retirement from his job as a letter carrier. Since the death of his mother eighteen years before, Albert has led a solitary life. He chose not to engage in conversation that was not directed at him and had no friends. His only company at home was his cat.

Albert begins to examine his life now and what he hopes it will be. His loneliness and despair of what has become of his life are evident. He begins reflecting on what it was like to be in love as a teenager in a relationship with George. The circumstances of why this relationship dissolves are very moving.

On his quest to find George, Albert finds himself a circle of friends who provide support and much-needed companionship. He finds himself for the first time revealing his true self. It was incredibly beautiful to read about this man coming out and his journey to find the life he now wants and deserves.

This is an important read for those who are unfamiliar with how far homosexuality has progressed in the past fifty years. The book is written with compassion and care and is one that I will remember for many years to come.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle which was narrated by Simon Vance. His performance was outstanding. He represented Albert well providing a natural and easy to listen to performance. I’d highly recommend the audiobook version of this book which elevates an already amazing book.

What I Liked:

• The depth of character development
• The compassionate way the story is written
• The research involved with writing the book

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd