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. I think Matt Cain very much has a certain writing style and going off this book, it's absolutely not for me. In sixth grade, our English teacher, Mr. David taught us the many different options we could use in place of the word, 'said'. I would be remiss if I didn't say that I applied the various terms into my own creative writing, as well. But, it was while reading this, that I have never appreciated the word 'said' more. And it's not that I didn't mind the different ways it was not used, it's just that some alternative choices were so poorly applied, it completely took me out of the actual scene!

Also seeing how Ted and Oskar became closer, how they each shared their personal histories, how Oskar reacted to Ted's decision to continue dressing in drag - how it made him unsure of himself and how it allowed for him to better embrace himself as a gay person, despite his reservations, despite his fears of not publicly coming out. Ted's growth as a person, recognizing his true worth, seeing the glimpses of his life showered in mistakes that he hid behind and eventually shedding that cover - and embracing the power to be proud of who you are. It was empowering and encouraging and very honestly and realistically done at how he rid himself of the shame and disgust he had felt for so long about his true nature and finally spread his wings and let go. 👍🏻👍🏻I was totally captivated by Ted’s story and slowly savoured the last few chapters because I genuinely didn’t want the journey to end. Becoming Ted is a glorious read, a story of identity and belonging, of friendship and love — it’s a touching, joyous, heartwarming hug-in-a-book.

A charming, joyful and surprising story about love, friendship and learning to be true to yourself, Becoming Ted will steal your heart. With the help of Marina, Denise, and octogenarian flamboyant Stanley, will life's new route be built on pride or will Ted and Oskar flounder by the wayside? Because Ted has always had another dream. A secret dream. Since childhood he has always wanted to be a Drag Queen. Her influence in the story is all the more affecting because she doesn’t necessarily practice what she preaches, making her vulnerable and appealing. Conversely, Matt Cain made me loathe Giles to the extent that mere mention of him made my blood boil. When Ted's husband suddenly leaves him, the bottom falls out of his world. However, what if from is heartbreak could come an opportunity for Ted to build something new? And to finally put what he wants first.A joyful read; tender, full of courage and irresistibly good-hearted. Lovers of Albert Entwistle have a real treat in store; as do those who haven't met him yet

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Massive thank you to NetGalley and Headline publishing house for accepting me as a pre-publication reviewer. This has proved to be one of my favourite books of the year and it’s not even out yet! Sadly, these few worthwhile and notable parts could not be saved from the abysmal and less than appealing way in which it was written. My enemy with Matt Cain was the writing and the choices made to make this story stand out in a positive light, rather than the unsavory results that it garnered for me. 😢 He doesn’t even like ice cream, though he’s never told his parents that. When Ted’s husband suddenly leaves him, the bottom falls out of his world. This was just the start of some very questionable and poorly advised choice of words for certain ways to express a person's delivery. I mean, I can not understand when a statement is issued calmly by his father, why are you going to use he boomed and she shrieked? Why?? 😭😭 Please explain it to me! From bleats to burbles to tweets to brays to chirps.