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Matt Cain

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.mattcainwriter.com

Twitter

mattcainwriter

Genre

Humor and Comedy, Gay and Lesbian, Fiction

Member Since

August 2015

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Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster, publisher and leading commentator on LGBTQ+ issues.

He was Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, has written for all the national newspapers, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, The Today Programme and Lorraine. He’s a patron of LGBT+ History Month, has received an honorary doctorate from Bolton University, addressed the Cambridge Union, and in 2025 was awarded an MBE for services to LGBTQ+ culture.

Matt’s bestselling novels include The Madonna Of Bolton, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle and One Love. His latest, The Castle of Stories, will be published in June 2026 as the first title from Pansy, the independent publisher he's set up with his husband ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Hi Matt! A friend of mine recommended The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle on the simple fact that I love snail mail. Was there anything that lead you to have Albert be a mail carrier? I adored the book. It was like a warm hug, and I was sure to give it 5 stars. Thank you for writing it.

Matt Cain Hello! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I made Albert a postman as we say in the UK as I thought he could be right at the heart of his community with an i…moreHello! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I made Albert a postman as we say in the UK as I thought he could be right at the heart of his community with an insight into everyone's lives but also disconnected from it. And that would be a great start if I wanted to then bring him closer to his community during the course of the book. Does that answer your question? And do you think it worked? x
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Matt... Several of my friends have trouble with confidence (I sometimes do too) in general. So I thought I'd ask a few writers this very straight forward, open question... What shakes your confidence? In the realm of writing, or otherwise. What tends to foster it?

Matt Cain Hi Jason, I tend to find my confidence wavers after I've experienced any rejection or criticism. Before Shot Through the Heart was published I wrote t…moreHi Jason, I tend to find my confidence wavers after I've experienced any rejection or criticism. Before Shot Through the Heart was published I wrote two books that were rejected by loads of agents and then loads of publishers. It can be terrible when this kind of thing happens and really hard to keep believing in yourself. I have certain rituals I do to try and zone myself off from negativity like listening to my favourite rousing music or going for a long walk on my own and giving myself a pep talk in my head. But it can be tough - and I have lots of sympathy for your friends because I've totally been there! Please wish them the best of luck from me! Matt(less)

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Matt Cain’s books

Average rating: 3.98 · 21,655 ratings · 3,971 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle 4.04 avg rating — 15,917 ratings — published 2021 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Becoming Ted 3.85 avg rating — 2,738 ratings — published 2023 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Madonna of Bolton 3.85 avg rating — 1,199 ratings — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Love 3.71 avg rating — 1,199 ratings — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Game On: Can you love the player, if you hate the game? 3.65 avg rating — 341 ratings — published 2024 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shot Through The Heart 3.30 avg rating — 135 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nothing But Trouble 3.62 avg rating — 42 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Castle of Stories 4.16 avg rating — 25 ratings — expected publication 2026 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Becoming Ted: Sneak Peek 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Becoming Ted

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Nov 21, 2022 02:14AM

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Matt Cain has read The Castle of Stories by Matt Cain (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 27, 2026 09:29AM · 6 likes · like
Matt Cain and 1 other person liked Kristina's review of The Castle of Stories: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Mar 27, 2026 09:29AM · see review
Matt Cain and 1 other person liked Phoebe Wilkes's review of The Castle of Stories: "This is a hard one to give a score, and it pains me, because I tend to like this author (I absolutely loved The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle). But this book was a DNF for me. I somehow managed to read past the 70% mark, but I just wasn´t enjoying i" Read more of this review »
Mar 27, 2026 09:28AM · see review
Matt Cain and 2 other people liked Yvonne (It's All About Books)'s review of The Castle of Stories: " Finished reading: March 23rd 2026 "I've learned that just because something was my story before, it doesn't mean it has to be forever." *** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and A John Scognamiglio Book in exchange fo" Read more of this review »
Mar 27, 2026 09:28AM · see review
Matt Cain made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please post a new book - The Castle of Stories by Matt Cain topic " Thank you so much Scott - do you know why it is not coming up on a search? Only the US copy comes up. "
Mar 27, 2026 09:12AM
Matt Cain joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
Mar 27, 2026 08:46AM · 1 like · like
Matt Cain answered Colleen Echterhoff's question: Hi Matt! A friend of mine recommended The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle on the simple fact that I love snail mail. Was there anything that lead you to have Albert be a mail carrier? I adored the book. It was like a warm hug, and I was sure to give it 5 stars. Thank you for writing it. Hello! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I made Albert a postman as we say in the UK as I thought he could be right at the heart of his community with an insight into everyone's lives but also disconnected from it. And that would be a great start if I wan See Full Answer
Jul 03, 2024 04:22AM · 3 likes · like

More of Matt's books…

Quotes by Matt Cain (?)

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that trying to be anyone other than yourself will never make you happy. Any road, how do you know people won’t like you if you don’t ever show them the real you?”
― Matt Cain, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

tags: being-yourself

5 likes

“And if I love him a little bit more today, I’ll love him a whole lot more tomorrow.”
― Matt Cain, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

tags: lgbt, love

5 likes

“But he reminded himself that everyone was busy steering a course through their own dramas, that everyone was grappling with their own challenges in life. They're all busy coloring themselves in.”
― Matt Cain, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

tags: challenges, growth, life

3 likes

See all Matt Cain's quotes »

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