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Becoming Ted

Matt Cain

$42.95

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English
Miscellaneous
16 December 2025
A Man Called Ove meets “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” in this vibrant, joyful, universally relatable story about kindness, self-acceptance, and blooming at any age from the acclaimed author of the LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle.

If Ted Ainsworth were to compare himself to one of the ice cream flavors made by his family’s company, famous throughout his sleepy Lancashire hometown, it might be vanilla—sweet, inoffensive, and pleasantly predictable. At forty-three, Ted is convinced there’s nothing remotely remarkable about him, except perhaps his luck in having landed handsome, charismatic Giles as a husband.

Then Giles suddenly leaves him for another man, filling his social media feed with posts about #newlove and adventure. And Ted, who has spent nearly twenty years living with, and often for, another person, must reimagine the future he has happily taken for granted.

But perhaps there is another Ted slowly blossoming now that he’s no longer in Giles’s shadow—funny, sassy, more uninhibited. Someone willing to take chances on new friendships, and even new love. Someone who’s been waiting in the wings too long, but who’s about to dust off a long-ago secret dream and overturn everyone’s expectations of him—especially his own. . .
By:  
Imprint:   Miscellaneous
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 209mm,  Width: 139mm,  Spine: 28mm
Weight:   391g
ISBN:   9781496745958
ISBN 10:   1496745957
Pages:   432
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Matt Cain is an author, a leading commentator on LGBT+ issues, and a former journalist. He was Channel 4's first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, and has judged the Costa Prize, the Polari Prize and the South Bank Sky Arts Awards. He won Diversity in Media's Journalist Of the Year award in 2017 and is an ambassador for Manchester Pride and the Albert Kennedy Trust, plus a patron of LGBT+ History Month. Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, he now lives in London and can be found online at MattCainWriter.com.

Reviews for Becoming Ted

Praise for Matt Cain:   “This is fun, frothy and frivolous, perfect for the gay beach.” —The Bay Area Reporter on Becoming Ted “British journalist Cain serves up a breezy second-act story that traces a 40-something gay man’s unlikely journey to drag stardom…Cain constructs a soothing if familiar tale of self-empowerment. This sticky-sweet confection goes down smooth enough.” —Publishers Weekly on Becoming Ted “Becoming Ted is a thoroughly detailed portrait of the fictional small town of St. Lukes-on-Sea and the colorful characters who call it home. It's also a touchingly reflective examination of how much gay identity has changed over time.” —The Book Reporter on Becoming Ted   ""Albert is one of the most endearing characters I’ve met in a long time, a man struggling to reclaim his authentic self. His tender, heartbreaking, agonizing, but ultimately joyous journey is proof that it’s never too late to find a happy ending."" —Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “A heartfelt coming-of-age story—first love and first loss, new friends and new identities, the realization that your parents aren’t who you think they are—except that the age Albert is coming-of is retirement. The most remarkable thing about the many wonderful love stories in this novel is how unremarkable they are after all.” —Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Albert Entwistle has a cathartic edge to it, your emotions will be pulled from pillar to post(box) as you laugh, cry and cheer along with the characters. It’s about as far from ‘misery-porn’ as you can get, while still having some emotional oomph behind it. A lovely, charming read.” —The Queer Review on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “There are always conditions in the world that cause us to be less than our true selves. This book takes us on Albert’s journey, from which we learn so much.” —Seattle Book Review on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Written with such a good heart, filled with joy and strength and optimism. Like the best fiction, it’s real; Albert’s fears, the sour legacy of his parents, his colleagues’ kindness, George flourishing from boy to man...It’s inventive and fun but most importantly, true.” —Russell T Davies on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “This rollicking romance entrapped me! True in its detail and its scope, it is amusing yet heart-breaking. It will encourage tentative young gay people and reassure their parents. Its passionate declaration? That it’s never too late to enjoy being yourself.” —Ian McKellen on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “I raced through this heart-warming story of a closeted gay postman searching for a lost love that also examines the everyday bigotry that’s blighted generations of the LGBTQ+ community.” —The Guyliner on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Albert is such an endearing character—flawed, funny and awkward, but completely relatable. I wanted to give him a good shake and then a huge hug. This is a wonderfully warm story that completely drew me in.” —Ruth Hogan on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Prepare to fall in love with Albert Entwistle! Another wonderfully heart-wrenching story from Matt. Touching and tender.” —S. J. Watson on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   ""A bright, clear sharply intelligent writer.""  —Jenny Colgan on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Praise for Matt Cain:   “This is fun, frothy and frivolous, perfect for the gay beach.” —The Bay Area Reporter on Becoming Ted “British journalist Cain serves up a breezy second-act story that traces a 40-something gay man’s unlikely journey to drag stardom…Cain constructs a soothing if familiar tale of self-empowerment. This sticky-sweet confection goes down smooth enough.” —Publishers Weekly on Becoming Ted “Becoming Ted is a thoroughly detailed portrait of the fictional small town of St. Lukes-on-Sea and the colorful characters who call it home. It's also a touchingly reflective examination of how much gay identity has changed over time.” —The Book Reporter on Becoming Ted   ""Albert is one of the most endearing characters I’ve met in a long time, a man struggling to reclaim his authentic self. His tender, heartbreaking, agonizing, but ultimately joyous journey is proof that it’s never too late to find a happy ending."" —Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “A heartfelt coming-of-age story—first love and first loss, new friends and new identities, the realization that your parents aren’t who you think they are—except that the age Albert is coming-of is retirement. The most remarkable thing about the many wonderful love stories in this novel is how unremarkable they are after all.” —Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Albert Entwistle has a cathartic edge to it, your emotions will be pulled from pillar to post(box) as you laugh, cry and cheer along with the characters. It’s about as far from ‘misery-porn’ as you can get, while still having some emotional oomph behind it. A lovely, charming read.” —The Queer Review on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “There are always conditions in the world that cause us to be less than our true selves. This book takes us on Albert’s journey, from which we learn so much.” —Seattle Book Review on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Written with such a good heart, filled with joy and strength and optimism. Like the best fiction, it’s real; Albert’s fears, the sour legacy of his parents, his colleagues’ kindness, George flourishing from boy to man...It’s inventive and fun but most importantly, true.” —Russell T Davies on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “This rollicking romance entrapped me! True in its detail and its scope, it is amusing yet heart-breaking. It will encourage tentative young gay people and reassure their parents. Its passionate declaration? That it’s never too late to enjoy being yourself.” —Ian McKellen on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “I raced through this heart-warming story of a closeted gay postman searching for a lost love that also examines the everyday bigotry that’s blighted generations of the LGBTQ+ community.” —The Guyliner on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Albert is such an endearing character—flawed, funny and awkward, but completely relatable. I wanted to give him a good shake and then a huge hug. This is a wonderfully warm story that completely drew me in.” —Ruth Hogan on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   “Prepare to fall in love with Albert Entwistle! Another wonderfully heart-wrenching story from Matt. Touching and tender.” —S. J. Watson on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle   ""A bright, clear sharply intelligent writer.""  —Jenny Colgan on The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle


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