The Castle of Stories is a delightfully delicious story, with a huge sense of uplifting joy weaved throughout each and every single page!

I absolutely devoured it from beginning to end, leaving me fulfilled from the beautiful character Adam and his army of mismatched friends and family who somehow fit together exquisitely.

I was enamoured from the start of the story, quickly falling for Adam and Theo's love for one another and rooting for their strength despite the crumbling problems surrounding them!

It was heartfelt and heavy in places, with a keen representation of gay rights and history, but always followed closely by humour and wit especially by Adam's wonderful sisters - Ian, Dom and Gloria, some of my favourite characters in the book! However my most treasured person has to be little Archie, his constant cheeriness and lust for life seems to match the epitome of the story itself.

I adore all of Matt's books, his writing is relatable, joyous and addictive, but his latest stands out as being my new favourite! Not least because I now need to fly out to Lucca and follow in Wilf and Arnaldo's footsteps, as their story has captured a new sense of adventure and love in life.

Inheriting an Italian farmhouse and castle, middle-aged MC Adam decides to quit his job and spend the summer renovating the place into a holiday rental. He'll take with him his partner of two years, Theo, and it'll be super-romantic.

Except that at the last minute, the summer plans for Theo's three children fall through, and they're added to the party -- and there is ongoing fallout from Theo coming out and ending his straight marriage two years before. There is, horror, no wifi, just mice and lizards in the kitchen ... and what renovation ever went smoothly?!

All in all, it's the set up for a lovely summer read, which I enjoyed no end. Adam develops new insight into his own family history, while he, Theo and the kids are processing the change in their family dynamics. I liked how realistic the conversations and emotions were, and that some shifts do just take time and willing. The history of the farmhouse, and Adam's mysterious Uncle Wilf, are folded in well, too. Plus the beautiful Tuscan countryside is beautifully described.

This is a blend of slice of life, fluff, and also rather emotional in places (content warnings for homophobia in particular.) However, in common with the author's other books, it's a positive story overall, and I happily recommend it.

Il Castello Montemagno (excuse my Italian) is where Adam and his boyfriend Theo end up. That wasn't the plan but then life's not like that.... left to him by his uncle, the whole place took Adam's breath away. It was stunning, beautiful beyond their wildest dreams and a far cry from Adam's job in HR. His whole inheritance from an uncle he'd never met, included the castle, a house and a lot of land in Tuscany.
Even though the place was a wreck and needs renovating, Adam and Theo fell in love with it.
But there's a problem, Theo's 3 kids who don't really know Adam and did their best to make him feel uncomfortable, and Theo needs to bring them along.
Both Theo and Adam have their worries, Adam that the kids will turn Theo against him, Theo worries that Adam will think his family too much to take on. And the kids, they're worried they won't have WiFi for weeks !
As well as the summer renovations, trying to get on with his boyfriends kids, Adam wants to find out the story of his mysterious uncle Wilf.
We spent the whole summer with this gorgeous family, we laugh out loud, we cry, we get frustrated along with them.
My favourite characters were Adam's sisters who I instantly wanted to hang with, and I'm pinching 'I identity as sensational' !

It's the everyday things, the tiny details that Matt writes anout that brings his stories to life for me. It doesn't have to be dragons and witches that make a great tale, its people, relationships, love.. its ordinary people doing extraordinary things, it's when we went to know what happens next that brings the magic to a book like this one.

I'm enormously grateful to get my mitts on this gorgeous book.

Love Suse

Pub Date 4 June 2026

Thanks to Pansy and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, I absolutely loved this. I found it incredibly heartwarming. I liked that there was conflict, but it felt realistic for the situation we’re reading about. Of course there were some melodramatic and silly moments, but that honestly made it even more fun.

I think the book handled several difficult topics (grief, divorce, resentment, growing up, homophobia, family, friendship, and bullying) really well. I even found myself getting choked up at parts, which rarely happens when I’m reading.

I also loved the Tuscan atmosphere.

I’m really hoping this book gets a follow-up or becomes a series!

Have any of you read The Guncle? You know, Patrick in his caftans, sipping Mimosas, toothless Grant being “mythelf,” and Maisie who always knows better? If you loved that one, I’m pretty sure you’ll fall for The Castle of Stories too.

At 45, Patrick inherits a house with an old castle in Tuscany. It sounds like the perfect place to spend the summer with his boyfriend, Theo. But when Theo’s children join them, Adam isn’t convinced their Italian escape will be quite so dreamy. The kids seem to hate him, he’s barely speaking to his dad, memories of his mum keep resurfacing, his “sisters” (aka his gay friends) are visiting, and to top it all off… there’s no WiFi.

Let’s say Adam is trying to hold on, but in fact Adam fact is a mess while he tries to be nice to fifteen‑year‑old Callum, thirteen‑year‑old Mabel, and eight‑year‑old Archie. Even though the last one is the cutest, comparable to Grant in The Guncle with his Dadam, I loved the other two too. And I adored how they over the summer all grew to each other. And I adored watching how, over the course of the summer, they all slowly grew closer.

The Castle of Stories is a light‑hearted story that made me smile again and again while touching on heavier themes. It’s the perfect book to read on the beach or during a holiday… especially if you’re heading to Italy.

In the beautiful Tuscan countryside, British couple Adam and Theo are dealing with deciding if their new-ish relationship is in it for the long term, the unexpected inheritance of a crumbling Italian estate, having Theo’s three kids for the summer, bickering with Theo’s ex-wife, and surfacing family secrets.

While the couple takes on renovation challenges and bratty teenager challenges, the real focus is on the romance between Adam and Theo. And it is a realistic and charming love story unlike one we often see, with a queer middle aged couple as the focus.

A Castle Of Stories is a touching, heartwarming story of second chances and finding love as you build a modern family.

3.5 ⭐ out of 5.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It will be published on April 28 (June 4th in the UK).

As my second Matt Cain novel I can confidently state that he knows how to write complex, deep and captivating characters. I fall in love with every single one of them.
The Castle of Stories explores what it means to be a family, especially in the current age where families all look different. Cain doesn't shy away from harsh realities- whether that be the realities of being in a same-sex relationship, a teenager or the messy side of divorce. But all of it is done with a tenderness that shows strength in individuals and in community.
The two stories (unconvering the story of Adam's uncle and Adam's relationship with Theo and all that it entails) are cleverly seperate and yet connected. I adore how everyone has a journey in this story, even our side characters.
I could go on forever about how brilliant this novel is, but instead, please read it.

Wonderful, glorious, heartwarming, emotional and poignant.

Adam Webb’s life takes an unexpected turn when he inherits a property in Italy from an uncle he never knew. Alongside his partner Theo and his three children, two of whom seem determined to test his patience, he embarks on a journey to restore the house and turn it into a home and maybe a new business, all while uncovering a lingering mystery.

The book doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects, exploring themes such as grief, divorce, resentment, and homophobia with honesty and sensitivity, balanced by an underlying thread of love. It feels grounded in real life, offering something for every reader to connect with.

The setting is particularly evocative. Matt captures the beauty of the Tuscan countryside with vivid, affectionate detail, bringing the house, the nearby castle, and their surroundings to life. It’s easy to feel transported there, immersed in every page.

I do believe this is his best novel yet which is strong praise as Albert Entwhistle and Ted still live rent free in my head years after meeting them in his previous books.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Matt Cain for the arc in exchange for an honest review

The first novel published by the newly launched LGBTQ+ press, Pansy Books, The Castle of Stories is the latest novel from Matt Cain, author of One Love. 45-year-old Adam inherits a rundown farmhouse and castle from his estranged great-uncle Wilf; a man he never knew. Despite the monetary implications of keeping the inheritance, Adam is determined to hold onto this beautiful property. He takes redundancy from his job in Manchester, planning to spend the summer renovating with his boyfriend of two years, Theo, at his side. When Theo’s ex-wife says she can no longer take care of their three children all summer though, Adam is faced with an additional challenge, can he win over the children and show Theo he has a place in their lives?

As Adam begins renovations, exploring the crumbling property and sorting through Wilf’s belongings, family secrets begin to pour out of the cracks but they might just help him break free of his past trauma and enjoy the queer joy of his future.

With two older gay characters at its centre, The Castle of Stories is a refreshing tale of LGBTQ+ love which not only explores contemporary life but also delves into queer history and the oppression faced by those who came before us. What’s more, through the eyes of Theo’s children (Callum 15, Mabel 13, and Archie 8), Cain explores the impact of learned homophobia in younger generations. The novel could potentially use some tighter editing in places but what it does so successfully is draw you into the characters' lives and delving into a wide range of complicated themes and issues.

Adam’s close friends – his ‘sisters’ – Gloria, Dom and Ian while only periphery characters in the overall story appear frequently and endearingly, showcasing the importance of chosen family in the LGBTQ+ community. In this novel, love, friendship and family come in many different forms, and the underlying message is of building your own ‘normal' and living your authentic story.

The twisting plot with its many layers that weave together takes place with the stunning backdrop of central Italy. A funny and emotive story that captures the messiness of human nature and modern family dynamics, The Castle of Stories makes for a great queer summer read. Sunsets and olive groves underpin a sweet tale of queer love, pride, healing and connection.

Adam inherits a house and castle in Tuscany to his surprise from an unknown relative. Taking a redundancy, he leaves rainy Manchester with his new partner (who had only recently come out as gay) and his partner's children.

It's a turbulent start as the kids hate Adam, there's no WiFi and they can't speak the language.

As this is a lovely heartwarming read, bumps are tackled and it leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

Although this is a perfect summer read (you feel as if you are in Italy with them) it still tackles some heavy issues. Matt Cain peppers these big subjects throughout including homophobia, death, as well as difficult familial relationships. There's something in Matt's writing style that stops it being so heavy and makes for an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

4.5 stars

Is there anything more heartwarming than a new Matt Cain book?

There's 53 chapters which makes roughly 7 pages per chapter, which is a good length, as I don't like overly long chapters.

I'm not 100% sure but I thought I'd seen somewhere that this is based on a true story and that Matt had indeed inherited this Italian property. The only problem is...I can't find where I read it so now I'm wondering if I imagined it.

I love that our protagonists are a little older, in their forties, and are just settling down in this new live of theirs. It shows that love and dreams don't have to stop just because you didn't find them in your 20s.

I love Italy, although I haven't been to the area in this book. But it sounds idyllic and made me really want to spend my summer in the Italian countryside drinking wine, gazing out at my vineyard. Oh...a girl can dream. Here's hoping I have a long-lost uncle with an Italian castle to inherit.

I loved the blended family in this. It's not always sunshine and rainbows, but that's good. I've only become a blended family since my dad died and my mum found a new partner, but I'm in my 30s and so it doesn't feel like a blended family, if that makes sense. But I can't imagine how easy or difficult it might be for children to cope with a new family, particularly if they've only experienced the "traditional" family set-up but now they're contended with something different. And I loved how honest Matt was about that. It's not always pleasant but it's important to talk about.

I know they played their roles perfectly, but the kids in this book are so irritating, that if they weren't children I would have said "push them down the hill". They're so rude and miserable and just nasty and I didn't like them at all (except for the youngest, he was a sweetheart). I know I should have been patient and given them the benefit of the doubt but it was hard to. But they did get better as it went on.

I really enjoyed it from the start, but it definitely got even better once Adam started investigation his Uncle's past, about 1/3 through. That's when it starts to get juicy and when it turns from a good book to a great book.

It's not my favourite of his books - that accolade still remains with One Love. But it's a very enjoyable, moving, entertaining, funny, serious, relaxing, gorgeous story.

By the end of it I felt so warm and I could feel my smile getting bigger. It is so uplifting and heartwarming.

If you're heading to Italy this summer then it's the perfect read to lose yourself in.

I have read and loved all of Matt Cain's previous books, and I very much enjoyed this one too. When Adam inherits a remote Tuscan farmhouse badly in need of renovation, he is not sure of his next steps. When his teacher boyfriend Theo announces that his three children will be joining them for the summer, Adam's heart sinks. It was not at all what he had hoped for.
With great characters - I adored Gloria - it's a lovely uplifting (albeit extremely spicy!) summer read.