A review by sharada_mohan
Becoming Ted by Matt Cain
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.