When 45-year-old Adam unexpectedly inherits a crumbling farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he never knew existed, he makes a bold decision. Leaving behind his job and life in Manchester, he sets out to renovate the property and begin again. By his side is his boyfriend of two years, Theo - newly divorced and only recently ‘out’.
When Theo’s ex-wife can no longer take the children for the summer, they arrive in Italy too. But as temperatures soar, so do tensions. The children are wary of Adam, unimpressed by the rural idyll and unsettled by their new surroundings. Meanwhile, as Adam begins restoring the castle and sifting through his late uncle’s possessions, he uncovers long-buried family secrets that threaten to reshape everything he thought he knew about his past.
Tender, evocative and filled with warmth, The Castle of Stories explores what it means to create a modern family in all its forms. As Adam confronts the shadows of his own history, he must decide whether he can let go of old wounds and open himself up to a future defined by connection, courage and queer joy.
A stunning love story written for readers from all walks of life, The Castle of Stories is a life-affirming celebration of reinvention, resilience and the transformative power of love.
It is my pleasure to be sharing my review of The Castle of Stories by Matt Cain today. Many thanks to Pansy for my advance digital copy of the novel and to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the blog tour.
The Castle of Stories is the first title to be published by Pansy, the new independent LGBTQ+ publisher and is an emotive, entertaining read with characters I completely fell in love with. The vibrant, evocative descriptions of Tuscany and particularly of the Castello Montemagno, the ruined castle and dilapidated farmhouse that Adam has inherited from his great uncle, a man he never knew, ensures this is a richly engaging tale that's perfect for summer reading. However, as an insightful reflection on a number of topics, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ issues, there is real emotional heft here too.
Adam and Theo are deeply in love but their relationship is still fairly new and they face a number of challenges; not least Theo's children and his ex-wife, Kate. Theo is a headteacher who has only recently come out. This is a love story about families but as well as being a captivating mix of drama and humour, it is also a sobering, affecting reminder of the struggles queer people have and continue to endure. Theo, for instance, explains that he tried to bury his feelings for years in part due to the heinous Section 28 legislation of the 1980s, that prevented teachers from saying anything positive about gay people. Fearing the impact it would have on his chosen career led to him living a lie. He is finally being true to himself but while his 8-year-old son, Archie has happily bonded with Adam thanks to their shared enjoyment of Top Trumps, teenagers Callum and Mabel aren't so willing to welcome him into their lives.
Their behaviour towards Adam is often awful, and his subsequent distress and fears for what it means for the future of his relationship is almost palpable at times. However, Matt Cain's empathetic writing allows us to understand their anxieties and confusion as they come to terms with the changes in their lives. Meanwhile, having lost his own mother to a terrible accident as a young boy, Adam has lived with guilt for years, believing that both his parents were disappointed in him for being gay. There are some heartrending scenes as it becomes obvious that he has sabotaged previous relationships as a misguided way of protecting himself from being hurt again. The love he shared with Theo is different though and some old letters he finds prove to be the catalyst that allows him to face the scars of his past.
We only meet Adam's great uncle Wilf through his letters but they give us a poignant understanding of what he endured – and the joy he found in spite of everything. The similarities between the experiences of Adam and Wilf are desperately moving but there are some hilarious scenes too, mostly thanks to Adam's friends, Ian, Gloria and Dom. In a book that is about the importance of families, it's the fabulous people he calls his sisters who are the most wonderfully irreverent, life-affirming characters in The Castle of Stories and I loved them all.
In The Castle of Stories, Matt Cain explores the raw pain of prejudice, shame and guilt but juxtaposes it beautifully with the hope and happiness that can be found through our universal need for love, passion and a sense of belonging. I loved every word and highly recommend it.
The Castle of Stories is published by Pansy; purchasing links can be found here.
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About the Author
Matt’s bestselling novels include The Madonna Of Bolton, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle and One Love. His latest, The Castle of Stories, is set in the Italian property that has become his second home. Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt’s main home is in London with his husband Harry and their dog, Teddy.
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