A review by lozababe
Becoming Ted by Matt Cain
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain and so was extremely excited when I saw that Matt had written a new book. It didn’t disappoint and I think I have fallen in love with Ted Ainsworth as much as I did Albert.
Ted Ainsworth has the perfect life, the perfect husband and the perfect family. Until one perfect Sunday morning, his husband of 20 years tells him he’s been having an affair and he’s leaving him. Ted is scared of telling anyone, especially his parents as he thinks they’ll be disappointed since they loved his husband so much. So Ted does what anybody would do, and avoids them… except they work together at the family ice cream business so he can’t avoid them for long.
Although Ted’s family love him and are preparing him to take over the family business, Ted has a lot of secrets that he hides from them. One of being that he doesn’t even like ice cream!
Denise is Ted’s best friend and main supporter, she supports him through all of the changes to come in his life after he has supported her when she left an abusive relationship. An abusive relationship that meant she doesn’t give men a chance anymore, but can she find happiness along with Ted?
In the same town, Oskar moved over from Poland 10 years ago and is working in a restaurant down the road from the flagship ice cream store. He moved away from Poland because he has a secret that he has kept from his family, he is gay. Although Oskar has moved to a more accepting country, he still doesn’t feel that he can come out and so tries to keep himself to himself, until he meets Ted and his whole life is changed.
This book has everything you could hope for in a story, it is heartwarming, sad, happy and makes you want to yell at and shake the characters multiple times. I am sad to leave all of these characters behind, and am hopeful for a sequel as I feel that their stories have only just begun.
Thank you to Matt Cain and Pigeonhole for letting me read this with you, I have enjoyed every moment of it.
Ted Ainsworth has the perfect life, the perfect husband and the perfect family. Until one perfect Sunday morning, his husband of 20 years tells him he’s been having an affair and he’s leaving him. Ted is scared of telling anyone, especially his parents as he thinks they’ll be disappointed since they loved his husband so much. So Ted does what anybody would do, and avoids them… except they work together at the family ice cream business so he can’t avoid them for long.
Although Ted’s family love him and are preparing him to take over the family business, Ted has a lot of secrets that he hides from them. One of being that he doesn’t even like ice cream!
Denise is Ted’s best friend and main supporter, she supports him through all of the changes to come in his life after he has supported her when she left an abusive relationship. An abusive relationship that meant she doesn’t give men a chance anymore, but can she find happiness along with Ted?
In the same town, Oskar moved over from Poland 10 years ago and is working in a restaurant down the road from the flagship ice cream store. He moved away from Poland because he has a secret that he has kept from his family, he is gay. Although Oskar has moved to a more accepting country, he still doesn’t feel that he can come out and so tries to keep himself to himself, until he meets Ted and his whole life is changed.
This book has everything you could hope for in a story, it is heartwarming, sad, happy and makes you want to yell at and shake the characters multiple times. I am sad to leave all of these characters behind, and am hopeful for a sequel as I feel that their stories have only just begun.
Thank you to Matt Cain and Pigeonhole for letting me read this with you, I have enjoyed every moment of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicide