Last year I read several books with grumpy older queer men in them ('Less' and 'Under the Whispering Door,' to name two of them), and when I read the description of this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to pick it up! The premise: Albert is nearing 65 and has spent all his life in the same town, working for the Royal Mail. His life is solitary - he lives alone with his cat Gracie, eats the same food every week, clings to his routine. When he is forced into retirement after decades of loyal service, he has to examine his life: how distanced he has become from those around him, who he is without a job to define him, and how to come to terms with the fact that he is a gay man who let his one great love, George, get away.

What follows is a delightfully saccharine and utterly charming journey, where he befriends locals, visits new places, learns to use a cell phone, explores manscaping(!), and learns how to both forgive himself and ask for forgiveness. Although everything seemed to happen a little toooo easily, I was still charmed by this sweet book. Books with older protagonists are harder to find, especially with queer themes, and it was really nice to fall in love with old, shy Albert and follow along on his journey!

This story of loss, love, friendships, and new beginnings is brilliantly and movingly told. The realities of pre 1970s life for gay men in the UK (same for US) are sharply brought into focus,

Librarians/booksellers: This is achingly sad and poignant at times, but beautifully illustrates the need for and power of connectivity, the importance of reaching out, and seizing new opportunities. This would be a terrific book club pick.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very sweet “coming of age” story of a 65 year old man. When Albert finds out about his forced retirement, he examines his life and realizes he hasn’t been living. Albert remembers his first love, relives his shame of being a gay man, and his emotional abuse at the hands of his parents. But when he realizes he won't have his daily routine when he loses his job, he steps outside of his box (and the closet) to make new friends and find his true love. A bit like an LGBTQ version of Harold Fry

Albert is turning 65 and has received his letter of mandatory retirement from the Royal Mail. He is unsettled and worried because he has no meaningful life outside of his 50-year tenure as a “positive.” No family, not friends…
The year he joined the Royal Mail at 16 he lost his one and only love. Another man, and has hidden that he is gay through seclusion. He comes to an epiphany that he must find George though he hasn’t seen him for fifty years, to at least forgive him for giving up their relationship and maybe rekindle the relationship. We learn the horrors of his story growing up at a time when homosexuality is illegal and gays are hunted down. But it is also touchy and numerous, though a little a little much to believe that “everyone” is ecstatic that he is coming out at 65.
What is interesting to me is the publishers description never mentions or alludes to this being a gay love story. The irony of the choice to hide just what the story is saying is so painful and damaging…

Albert Entwistle. I loved him. And felt so sad about the first 59 years of his life. But when all the joy was sucked out of his life over xmas, he made made a courageous, remarkable decision to start living.

Heartfelt and utterly charming - Albert Entwistle is a delight. A recommended purchase for most fiction collections.

A very sweet book about a lonely postman on the verge of retirement, who decides to step out of his comfort zone. He makes friends and starts on a grand adventure of looking for the boy he loved and lost 50 years ago. This is one of those heartfelt books that makes you just want to clutch at your chest with hope.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is a cozy and melancholic story of a man's life to survive, live, and find his purpose.

The story takes the reader to a journey of enlightenment towards a one slice of life. It lets the reader savor the life of Albert as if living it as real as it could be.

The book will make you cry, laugh, and feel other emotions. It is a story that will leave its mark.

Delighted to receive this complimentary copy from Kensington Books.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Kensington Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A heartwarming read especially if you like a good LGBTQ story.