Book Synopsis:
2002
Danny arrives at Manchester University determined not to hide from the world any longer. This is the year his life will begin.
He locks eyes with a handsome stranger across the hall at the Freshers’ Fair. It starts with a wink and soon Danny and Guy are best friends.
2022
Now, both single for the first time in years, Danny and Guy return to the confetti-covered streets of the Gay Village for Manchester Pride.
After years of shared adventures and lost dreams, Danny finally plans to share the secret he has been keeping for two decades. He has always been in love with Guy.
Could this weekend be the end of a twenty-year friendship . . . or the start of something new and even more beautiful?
My Review:
Oh I so loved this book! It was such a heartwarming, thought provoking but funny read that I will be recommending it to everyone.
Firstly I loved the two main characters and really enjoyed following them through the book. They both seemed so real and I loved that they had flaws or hangups like everyone does as it helped endear them both to me. It was really heartwarming to see them both find themselves in university and to see them grow more comfortable in their own skin a they get older. I found it very shocking to see some of the reactions people had towards them being gay though and some of the sentiments expressed in this book made my blood boil, especially Guy’s parents who thought ‘ he would grow out of it’. It made me wish that I could go into the book and give both the boys the hug I think they both needed at times. Guy and Danny’s friendship was so lovely to follow and I loved how they always contacted each other, over anyone else, when they needed support.
I actually went to university in 2002 so I remember this period well and I really enjoyed reliving my youth in this timeline. I went to clubs, drank wkd’s (as bottles were deemed less easy to spike) and danced along to all the music mentioned in this book. The reference to everyone wearing cargo pants made me laugh out loud as it was so true. I actually ended up listening to a lot of the music mentioned while I was reading and teaching the kids some of the dodgy dance moves to One Love by Blue.
I thought this book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. Even in the slightly slower moments I just enjoying hanging out with the wonderful characters and their friends, reliving my youth precariously through them. The romance side of the story was well done and I loved watching the two grow slowly closer throughout the years. I had quickly warmed to the two of them and had to keep reading as I really wanted them to get together.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and in my opinion he keeps getting better and better! I’m very excited to read more from him in the future.
Huge thanks to the lovely Joe Thomas from Headline for kindly sending me a copy of this book. If you are looking for a heartwarming, romance book to read this Valentine’s Day (or anytime) then I highly recommend this one.
About The Author:
Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster, and a leading commentator on LGBT+ issues.
He was Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, has written for all the major national newspapers, and is a regular presenter on Virgin Radio Pride. He’s also an ambassador for Manchester Pride and the Albert Kennedy Trust, plus a patron of LGBT+ History Month.
Matt’s first two novels, Shot Through the Heart and Nothing But Trouble, were published by Pan Macmillan. His third, The Madonna Of Bolton, became Unbound’s fastest crowdfunded novel ever. In 2021, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle was published by Headline Review and Becoming Ted followed in 2023.
Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt now lives in London with his husband, Harry, and their cat, Nelly.
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