As seen and heard on THE GRAHAM NORTON RADIO SHOW, BBC Radio 4's WOMAN'S HOUR, RESONANCE FM, BBC Radio 2'S THE MICHAEL BALL SHOW, TalkRADIO'S THE BADASS WOMEN'S SHOW, TIMES RADIO with GILES COREN and many more . . .

'A total triumph', 'Romantic and heartbreaking and uplifting all at once', 'Highly recommended'

*The Independent best 'never-too-late' story of 2021, and one of the 8 best uplifting books of the year*

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START YOUR LIFE'S BIG ADVENTURE . . .



'Wonderful . . . An utter treat' KATE MOSSE

'A heart-warming, joyous love story - original, hopeful and totally charming' ADELE PARKS

'I loved it! Really heart-warming and joyful, but also so poignant. I cannot recommend this book highly enough' LORRAINE KELLY

'A bright, clear, sharply intelligent writer' JENNY COLGAN

'Will put a smile on everyone's face . . . A great big hug of a book!' - MICHAEL BALL, Radio 2

'Wonderful. Written with such a good heart, filled with joy and strength and optimism . . . inventive and fun but most importantly, true.' RUSSELL T. DAVIES

'A beautiful, timely page-turner, straight from the heart . . . The perfect summer read' MATTHEW BOURNE

'Brilliant . . . [I] recommend to all!' MATT LUCAS

*****

ALBERT ENTWISTLE WAS A POSTMAN. It was one of the few things everyone knew about him. And it was one of the few things he was comfortable with people knowing.

64-year-old Albert Entwistle has been a postie in a quiet town in Northern England for all his life, living alone since the death of his mam 18 years ago. He keeps himself to himself. He always has. But he's just learned he'll be forced to retire at his next birthday. With no friends and nothing to look forward to, the lonely future he faces terrifies him. He realises it's finally time to be honest about who he is. He must learn to ask for what he wants. And he must find the courage to look for the man that, many years ago, he lost - but has never forgotten . . .

Join Albert as he sets out to find the long-lost love of his life, and has an unforgettable and completely life-affirming adventure on the way . . . This is a love story the likes of which you have never read before!

*****


'Albert is such an endearing character - flawed, funny and awkward, but completely relatable. A wonderfully warm story that completely drew me in' RUTH HOGAN

'A rollicking love story' IAN McKELLEN

'Albert is the most delicious character and you'll be with him every step of the way' SUN

'A charming adventure with love at its heart' MY WEEKLY

'A life affirming story of lost love' THAT'S LIFE

'A unique and moving story' CANDIS

'A heart-warming and uplifting read' ATTITUDE

'You will weep and yet have your heart filled with joy' ARLENE PHILLIPS

'I raced through this heart-warming story' JUSTIN MYERS

'Prepare to fall in love with Albert Entwistle! Touching and tender' S. J. WATSON

'Albert is delightful and charming, and the book is too' JONATHAN HARVEY

'I so enjoyed this - a warm-hearted, moving and thought-provoking joy about an elderly postman's awakening to life and love' FANNY BLAKE

'A total triumph. Romantic and heartbreaking and uplifting all at once.' LAURA KAY

'Tender, witty, uplifting' KATE EBERLEN

About the Author
Matt Cain is an author, a leading commentator on LGBT+ issues, and a former journalist. He is currently a presenter for Virgin Radio Pride UK, 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.

Reviews
I had to read it in one sitting. I loved it! Really heart-warming and joyful, but also so poignant. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It's such a beautifully authentically told story with vivid characters and you will miss them when you reach the end. * LORRAINE KELLY *
'A heartfelt coming-of-age story . . . Remarkable' * LAURIE FRANKEL, New York Times bestselling author *
'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 *
Prepare to fall in love with Albert Entwistle! Touching and tender. * S. J. WATSON *
A total triumph . . . Romantic and heartbreaking and uplifting all at once * LAURA KAY *
Albert is delightful and charming, and the book is too. * JONATHAN HARVEY *
A bright, clear, sharply intelligent writer * JENNY COLGAN *
'Albert is one of the most endearing characters I've met in a long time . . . Proof that it's never too late to find a happy ending' * SUSAN WIGGS, New York Times bestselling author *
Wonderful. 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 *
This rollicking love story entrapped me, chapter by chapter. 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 *
Beautiful . . . You will weep and yet have your heart filled with joy * ARLENE PHILLIPS *
Tender, witty, uplifting . . . I love it! * KATE EBERLEN *
'What a beautiful, wonderful, life-affirming treat of a book. I challenge you not to fall in love with Albert from the very start! * CHARLIE CONDOU *
'Wonderful . . . A love story that will have every reader cheering on Albert from the sidelines. An utter treat' * KATE MOSSE *
'Brilliant . . . [I] recommend to all!' * MATT LUCAS *
Albert is the most delicious character and you'll be with him every step of the way as he begins to live the life he always should have. * Sun *
It'll put a smile on everyone's face. * Michael Ball, Radio 2 *
'A charming adventure with love at its heart.' * My Weekly *

'A life affirming story of lost love and the reality of being gay in the Seventies.'

* That's Life *
'A unique and moving story.' * Candis *

Praise for The Madonna Of Bolton:
Fabulous! What a treat

* Jenny Colgan *
A triumphant coming-of-age tale about the power of being true to yourself * Juno Dawson *
Beautifully and sharply drawn * SUNDAY TIMES *
Gripping, with a huge heart * S J Watson *
It's a cracker! * Lorraine Kelly *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472275059
Author Matt Cain
Format Hardback
Page Count 464
Imprint Headline Review
Publisher Headline Publishing Group
Weight(grams) 703g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 162mm * 42mm