alexsbooksandsocks's review against another edition
Wanneer Ted op een ochtend hoort dat zijn leven vanaf dat moment nooit meer hetzelfde zal zijn, begint hij alles en iedereen in vraag te stellen. Een zoektocht van Ted naar wie Ted nu echt is, weet hij dat zelf wel?
Net zoals het eerste boek van deze auteur zit er meer dan een thema verweven in dit verhaal. Is het veel? Misschien wel, maar eigenlijk vraagt het verhaal dat ook. Wanneer je op zoek gaat naar je ware ik, dromen wil achterna jagen, dan komt er ook gewoon erg veel op je pad.
De schrijfstijl is enorm vlot, de auteur heeft dit genre goed onder de knie, en ik las het boek dezelfde dag nog uit. Het hoofdpersonage Ted krijgt, naarmate je verder leest, meer vertrouwen, kan eindelijk zijn gevoelens uiten en wekte zo meer en meer sympathie op tot het moment dat je helemaal mee juicht voor Ted.
Ander personages, zoals Teds man en Teds zus, krijgen even hun moment in dit boek, de lezer krijgt voldoende informatie meer ivm karakter, maar ook niets meer want dit is Ted zijn tijd om te schitteren. Ted zijn tijd om eindelijk eerlijk te zijn met zichzelf én met degene die nauw aan zijn hart liggen.
Een verhaal dat gaat over jezelf (her)ontdekken, over keihard vallen maar wel weer opstaan en je rug eens zo recht houden. Een verhaal over dromen najagen en dat allemaal geschreven in de regenboog stijl van de auteur.
sunbrnt's review
5.0
This was my first novel by British author Matt Cain and I was not disappointed. Becoming Ted is the touching story of a 43 yo gay man named Ted who is navigating the path of major life changes. We get a front row seat into Ted’s life, experiencing a devastating breakup from a long time emotionally abusive parter and watching him spin the negative by exploring parts of life he was always too afraid, scared or discouraged from doing. Ted is a people pleaser trying to reframe his mind to please the most important person, himself.
While navigating his personal growth, he continues working and being groomed by his seemingly overbearing, but complex parents to take over the family business he isn’t sure he has the passion for. Ted has a fun best friend named Denise and a growing relationship with a sweet man named Oskar, both going through their own growth we get a front row seat for.
The development of our cast of characters is well detailed. I enjoyed meeting and learning about their lives and experiencing their emotions and quirks. Cain does a great job of bringing them all to life on paper and painting the scenes around them. By the middle of the book I was emotionally invested in most of the characters and couldn’t get enough of the story. The last few chapters had me in tears and it takes a bit to move me like that on paper. I didn’t want it to end. I resonated a lot with our main character making it a special read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to provide an unbiased review.
While navigating his personal growth, he continues working and being groomed by his seemingly overbearing, but complex parents to take over the family business he isn’t sure he has the passion for. Ted has a fun best friend named Denise and a growing relationship with a sweet man named Oskar, both going through their own growth we get a front row seat for.
The development of our cast of characters is well detailed. I enjoyed meeting and learning about their lives and experiencing their emotions and quirks. Cain does a great job of bringing them all to life on paper and painting the scenes around them. By the middle of the book I was emotionally invested in most of the characters and couldn’t get enough of the story. The last few chapters had me in tears and it takes a bit to move me like that on paper. I didn’t want it to end. I resonated a lot with our main character making it a special read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to provide an unbiased review.
sunbrnt's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first novel by British author Matt Cain and I was not disappointed. Becoming Ted is the touching story of a 43 yo gay man named Ted who is navigating the path of major life changes. We get a front row seat into Ted’s life, experiencing a devastating breakup from a long time emotionally abusive parter and watching him spin the negative by exploring parts of life he was always too afraid, scared or discouraged from doing. Ted is a people pleaser trying to reframe his mind to please the most important person, himself.
While navigating his personal growth, he continues working and being groomed by his seemingly overbearing, but complex parents to take over the family business he isn’t sure he has the passion for. Ted has a fun best friend named Denise and a growing relationship with a sweet man named Oskar, both going through their own growth we get a front row seat for.
The development of our cast of characters is well detailed. I enjoyed meeting and learning about their lives and experiencing their emotions and quirks. Cain does a great job of bringing them all to life on paper and painting the scenes around them. By the middle of the book I was emotionally invested in most of the characters and couldn’t get enough of the story. The last few chapters had me in tears and it takes a bit to move me like that on paper. I didn’t want it to end. I resonated a lot with our main character making it a special read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to provide an unbiased review.
While navigating his personal growth, he continues working and being groomed by his seemingly overbearing, but complex parents to take over the family business he isn’t sure he has the passion for. Ted has a fun best friend named Denise and a growing relationship with a sweet man named Oskar, both going through their own growth we get a front row seat for.
The development of our cast of characters is well detailed. I enjoyed meeting and learning about their lives and experiencing their emotions and quirks. Cain does a great job of bringing them all to life on paper and painting the scenes around them. By the middle of the book I was emotionally invested in most of the characters and couldn’t get enough of the story. The last few chapters had me in tears and it takes a bit to move me like that on paper. I didn’t want it to end. I resonated a lot with our main character making it a special read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to provide an unbiased review.
sharada_mohan's review against another edition
4.0
After reading & loving #TheSecretLifeofAlbertEntwistle, I was so excited about Becoming Ted & had great expectations. But sadly, this book fell short for me, though it had a great potential.
Thanks NetGalley & Headline for providing me with both the audiobook & e-book ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Synopsis –
Ted Ainsworth is shocked about his husband Giles’ sudden decision to leave him. As he struggles to comes to terms with this, he also has to carry the burden of his family’s ice cream business that is in some financial distress. Ted’s heart has never been with running this ice-cream store, but has his dreams set elsewhere. Can the end of his marriage thrown open an opportunity for him to pursue his passion?
Review –
The book starts with the sad news of Ted’s world turning upside down. Initially Ted comes across as a timid, unassuming, sweet & caring person who lets everyone walk all over him. Low on self-confidence & self-esteem, Ted can barely keep afloat.
The setting of the book is in a gorgeous seaside town of St-Luke’s on sea. I loved the small town charm & also the wonderful supporting characters of Denise, Stanley & Marina.
Samuel Barnett’s narration is brilliant in the audiobook. I thought he handled Ted’s voice & the voice of all the other supporting characters in an excellent way. I also enjoyed the humour & witty jokes, that is used generously throughout the story.
Apart from Ted, the other main thread is of Oskar, the painter & redecorator, who Ted “bumps into” shortly after his breakup. I really wished Oskar’s personality was different to that of Ted, but it felt like both of them had the same meek demeanour & introversions.
Cain uses an inner voice to let us know the thoughts of his characters & this became a bit too much when used with both Ted & Oskar. Unlike with Albert Entwistle, I think Ted’s character lacked depth. I couldn’t really connect with him or even Oskar.
The storyline itself was fairly predictable & the only thing that held my curiosity was the anonymous notes that Ted was receiving. Also, some parts were unnecessary – like Denise’s thread & Ted’s mother’s illness - which did not add anything to the story. Furthermore, flashbacks felt random & all over the place causing confusion about the timelines.
I hadn’t guessed who the mystery note writer was & when it was finally revealed, it wasn’t exactly a “wow” factor. Family secrets are suddenly out of the bag & it somehow all works out both in Ted & Oskar’s favours.
However, I did appreciate Ted’s journey of transformation & the support he receives from his little community. I was happy for him & cheered him on as he sheds his fears, embraces his dreams & gathers enough courage to set himself free – “becoming” his true self.
I think Matt Cain is a greatly talented author & he deserves credit for his research about the history of the LGBTQ community. I look forward to his next one.
Folks who love a book with a transformation trope with great LGBTQ+ representation will enjoy this.
Thanks NetGalley & Headline for providing me with both the audiobook & e-book ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Synopsis –
Ted Ainsworth is shocked about his husband Giles’ sudden decision to leave him. As he struggles to comes to terms with this, he also has to carry the burden of his family’s ice cream business that is in some financial distress. Ted’s heart has never been with running this ice-cream store, but has his dreams set elsewhere. Can the end of his marriage thrown open an opportunity for him to pursue his passion?
Review –
The book starts with the sad news of Ted’s world turning upside down. Initially Ted comes across as a timid, unassuming, sweet & caring person who lets everyone walk all over him. Low on self-confidence & self-esteem, Ted can barely keep afloat.
The setting of the book is in a gorgeous seaside town of St-Luke’s on sea. I loved the small town charm & also the wonderful supporting characters of Denise, Stanley & Marina.
Samuel Barnett’s narration is brilliant in the audiobook. I thought he handled Ted’s voice & the voice of all the other supporting characters in an excellent way. I also enjoyed the humour & witty jokes, that is used generously throughout the story.
Apart from Ted, the other main thread is of Oskar, the painter & redecorator, who Ted “bumps into” shortly after his breakup. I really wished Oskar’s personality was different to that of Ted, but it felt like both of them had the same meek demeanour & introversions.
Cain uses an inner voice to let us know the thoughts of his characters & this became a bit too much when used with both Ted & Oskar. Unlike with Albert Entwistle, I think Ted’s character lacked depth. I couldn’t really connect with him or even Oskar.
The storyline itself was fairly predictable & the only thing that held my curiosity was the anonymous notes that Ted was receiving. Also, some parts were unnecessary – like Denise’s thread & Ted’s mother’s illness - which did not add anything to the story. Furthermore, flashbacks felt random & all over the place causing confusion about the timelines.
I hadn’t guessed who the mystery note writer was & when it was finally revealed, it wasn’t exactly a “wow” factor. Family secrets are suddenly out of the bag & it somehow all works out both in Ted & Oskar’s favours.
However, I did appreciate Ted’s journey of transformation & the support he receives from his little community. I was happy for him & cheered him on as he sheds his fears, embraces his dreams & gathers enough courage to set himself free – “becoming” his true self.
I think Matt Cain is a greatly talented author & he deserves credit for his research about the history of the LGBTQ community. I look forward to his next one.
Folks who love a book with a transformation trope with great LGBTQ+ representation will enjoy this.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.25
4.25 stars
BECOMING TED is Matt Cain's latest addition to the "uplit"/feel good genre. Ted was just dumped by his toxic husband Giles (good riddance!) for another man, and Ted decides that he wants to become a drag queen - something that he has always wanted to explore but Giles frowned upon. In much of his life, he has put his own interests aside and acquiesced to get along. At the same time that he decided to become a drag queen, he realized that he doesn't want to stay in the family ice cream business. Will Ted be able to realize his potential and find love in the meantime?
There are an assortment of instrumental characters in this novel: Ted's supportive friend Denise, stranger Oskar that Ted will meet at his family's store, older homosexual Stanley who lives in a retirement home, and Ted's parents.
I feel this novel did a number of things well:
* Showed a character who had been beaten down could pick themself up, dust themself off, and seize what they are wanting.
* Showed behind the scenes with drag queens, made a more niche LGBTQ topic more mainstream
* Through the character of Stanley, it gave a multitude of positive messages and historical homosexual context.
* Plenty of humor, heart, and passion
I feel this novel had just a few deficits:
* Very low stakes: Ted is already out of the closet and has supportive parents. Denise is supportive.
* Quick resolution of each of the plot points, including the mysterious letters, tying every plot point up with a bow. Hence, that's why I give this the uplit label. It's not the most realistic ending.
This is a charming, feel-good novel that I recommend.
BECOMING TED is Matt Cain's latest addition to the "uplit"/feel good genre. Ted was just dumped by his toxic husband Giles (good riddance!) for another man, and Ted decides that he wants to become a drag queen - something that he has always wanted to explore but Giles frowned upon. In much of his life, he has put his own interests aside and acquiesced to get along. At the same time that he decided to become a drag queen, he realized that he doesn't want to stay in the family ice cream business. Will Ted be able to realize his potential and find love in the meantime?
There are an assortment of instrumental characters in this novel: Ted's supportive friend Denise, stranger Oskar that Ted will meet at his family's store, older homosexual Stanley who lives in a retirement home, and Ted's parents.
I feel this novel did a number of things well:
* Showed a character who had been beaten down could pick themself up, dust themself off, and seize what they are wanting.
* Showed behind the scenes with drag queens, made a more niche LGBTQ topic more mainstream
* Through the character of Stanley, it gave a multitude of positive messages and historical homosexual context.
* Plenty of humor, heart, and passion
I feel this novel had just a few deficits:
* Very low stakes: Ted is already out of the closet and has supportive parents. Denise is supportive.
* Quick resolution of each of the plot points, including the mysterious letters, tying every plot point up with a bow. Hence, that's why I give this the uplit label. It's not the most realistic ending.
This is a charming, feel-good novel that I recommend.
danskireads's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not sure if cosy romance is a genre but if it is, this is it.
Ted’s boyfriend of 20 years breaks up with him and Ted goes on a journey of self discovery that includes becoming a drag Queen, shattering family expectations, and finding new love.
It’s a very sweet story and quite enjoyable. Some of the one liners in Ted’s drag act are piss-snort funny. But mostly it’s a slow burn. I never quite believed in Oskar, somehow, although I really wanted to.
So it wasn’t quite a five star read but it was very enjoyable and if you’re looking for something sweet to read as a palette cleanser, this is a great option.
Ted’s boyfriend of 20 years breaks up with him and Ted goes on a journey of self discovery that includes becoming a drag Queen, shattering family expectations, and finding new love.
It’s a very sweet story and quite enjoyable. Some of the one liners in Ted’s drag act are piss-snort funny. But mostly it’s a slow burn. I never quite believed in Oskar, somehow, although I really wanted to.
So it wasn’t quite a five star read but it was very enjoyable and if you’re looking for something sweet to read as a palette cleanser, this is a great option.
fuckitupvato's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
josiefeltham's review against another edition
3.0
Extremely cringey, but a nice easy read. A minute slay.
leelee77's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book, thank you to pigeonhole and Matt for the opportunity to read Ted’s story,
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
luciapuck's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0