on January 19, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Giveaway
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If Ted Ainsworth were to compare himself to one of the ice cream flavors made by his family’s company, famous throughout his sleepy Lancashire hometown, it might be vanilla—sweet, inoffensive, and pleasantly predictable. At forty-three, Ted is convinced there’s nothing remotely remarkable about him, except perhaps his luck in having landed handsome, charismatic Giles as a husband.
Then Giles suddenly leaves him for another man, filling his social media feed with posts about #newlove and adventure. And Ted, who has spent nearly twenty years living with, and often for , another person, must reimagine the future he has happily taken for granted.
But perhaps there is another Ted slowly blossoming now that he’s no longer in Giles’s shadow—funny, sassy, more uninhibited. Someone willing to take chances on new friendships, and even new love. Someone who’s been waiting in the wings too long, but who’s about to dust off a long-ago secret dream and overturn everyone’s expectations of him—especially his own.
What’s a guy to do when his husband of many years ups and leaves? Ted’s about to find out and goes on one reflective and startling heartwarming journey along the way.
The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle caught my eye when it published and I thought I would enjoy Matt Cain’s writing, but not until Becoming Ted came into my grasp did I get the chance to read the author’s books. This turned out to be a delightful surprise when I finished Becoming Ted in two-sittings after only planning to give the first few chapters a try and ended up over half-way through before I knew it.
So, Ted…
After twenty years of marriage, his husband walks away. Ted is left with the painful, stunned feelings of grief and loss for a relationship abruptly ending. The shock of it is what it takes to push Ted out of his rut. He’s been bending over backwards to please his folks and work in their ice cream business (and, shocker, he doesn’t like ice cream). He’s more than gone the distance in a marriage relationship that was, quite frankly, abusive in a subtle gaslighting way. Pretty much anyone can put upon Ted and he’s gone along with it. Ted lost himself long ago and is now just realizing it. He had other dreams and he definitely had different expectations of his life.
However, a drastic change in life gives him the opportunity to reset in his forties. Ted does it in baby steps, but he does it. He leads a double life as he gets into drag queen-ing with the help of supportive friends and he slowly gets assertive, most obviously at work. He meets Oskar and their tentative road to romance is slow as Oskar’s not out, but is edging that way and Ted’s getting over Giles. Meanwhile, Oskar, a Polish artist, and Denise, Ted’s best friend who also share some of the narration are also on personal journeys to figure out their lives.
Becoming Ted really hit the spot and, though I have little in points in common with Ted and the others, their stories resonated with me. This is more than a second chance after a relationship breaks up when it comes to romance, but a second chance with family expectations and getting lots of unresolved family undercurrents resolved and a second chance at being himself. I was cheering Ted on when Gail, his drag queen side, came to life. So fun and entertaining. There are flaws and vulnerability in all the characters, but the hopeful and heartwarming tone made the harder stuff feel less of burdens and more like challenges.
So, this was fiction with a good side helping of romance for all three main characters. The story was about every day folks, but had good rising action and tension. There were big late story blow ups, but some triumphant emotional highs and resolutions afterward. Definitely one I’d recommend.
Giveaway hardcover won on May 15, 2024 (currently $13.77 at Amazon and $17.49 at Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Overall rating 3.96 with 1,072 ratings and 312 reviews
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Wow, after 20 years to just up and leave. Yeah that would be hard.
I had the same thoughts, Mary. And, this guy was pretty mean about it when he went after years of not being that way so it really was a shock for poor Ted.
I’m looking forward to this one! Great review, Sophia💜
It really hit the spot, Jonetta. Hope you love it, too.
This sounds like an emotional journey. Glad you enjoyed. The cover is lovely.
It was, but it wasn’t. LOL, what kind of answer is that, right? I mean there was drama, but it didn’t ooze emotions and drama.
This sounds like a pleasant surprise. I love it when a book grabs my attention and I find myself reading more than I planned because I’m enjoying it so much!
Yes, it sure was. New author so I didn’t know what to expect for sure, but it was as good as I was hoping.
Hmmm…. Got me curious.
Just call me the Book Temptress, Laura! 🙂
Ahhh Ted
He was a sweetie. 🙂
Sounds like it would have been very emotional, but also fun! Glad you ended up enjoying this one more than you expected. Great review!
You are spot on, Lisa. Fun surprise with this one.