Thank you Unvound amd Netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.

I’m so glad I have been given the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
It was a fun, engaging read and I hope to hear more from this author.

Funny, a pleasure to read and very inspiring. I loved everything about this book and I could not get enough!!!

Matt Cain writes a delightfully warm, witty, and an emotional rollercoaster of a homage to Bolton in this story of the life and times of Charlie, gay, obsessed with Madonna ever since his Auntie Jan bought him the single, Lucky Star, on his 9th birthday. Charlie and best friend, Shanaz, are the school outcasts, doomed to fail in all their attempts to try and fit in. None of the school tribes fit, not the Stiffs, Townies or the Indies, and the pair ride out being different, facing anti-gay and racist taunts, pretending it didn't matter, emotionally scarred by the experience. Madonna's songs provide the support to face the trials and tribulations that life brings, the celebrations and triumphs, the rock bottom moments, whatever happens, there's a song for it. There are faint echoes of Billy Elliot as Charlie dances and sings his way through his idol, Madonna's numerous tracks, the tracks of his life.

Charlie feels he is not as good as his brother, Joe, to his parents. For starters, he has no interest in football, he is not popular, he does not support Bolton Wanderers and he is so different from anyone else, making him feel so isolated and alone. He is desperately jealous of Joe, convinced his parents love his brother more. He and Shahnaz are the constant targets for bullies at school, with the exception of his English teacher, Mr Beveridge, who supports Charlie in his dreams of becoming a writer and love of literature. So when Charlie leaves to attend Cambridge University, he associates Bolton with a life of misery and a family that refuses to accept him for who he is. Charlie finds himself a group of close friends at University, where for the first time he feels loved and accepted for who he is. Amelia and Tash are the friends that support Charlie through the highs and lows of his life, Nick, Christian, his work as a TV producer through a collection of hilarious jobs he holds at places like The Third Nipple, and more. The death of his father brings Charlie back to Bolton, it precipitates his descent to the lowest point of his life with his endless dangerous sexual encounters, and it is his friends who help to pick him as he makes the decisions to turn his life around, and face his self destructive urges whilst Madonna metaphorically holds his hand.

This is a fantastic read, of music, of Bolton, of what it is to be different, of being gay, of family, of secrets like what happened toUncle Jim, of how no matter how well you think you know your family, they can still surprise you, of love, of loss, and of the vital support of friendships. I love how Charlie eventually got over his hatred of Bolton as he slowly comes to reconnect with his family, sees how Bolton has changed through the years to become more gay friendly. He finds a sufficiently strong inner voice that he no longer needs the iconic Madonna as much as he did in his personal life, but is still passionate about her music, the tracks that underpin the story of his life as he comes to terms with who he is and more comfortable with his place in the world. I would not be in the least surprised if this novel is made into film! I loved and adored this novel, it is funny, smart, emotionally heartbreaking and an absolute joy to read. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Unbound for an ARC.

I grew up loving all sorts of music and can remember the impact Madonna made on me, so I relished the very idea of this book and knew I would be able to relate to it, well, to a point!

This book oozes warmth. It is funny, daft in places and a really lovely read. Charlie is not keen on football, he isn't sure what he likes until he stumbles across Madonna's Lucky Star. He has finally found an idol he can relate to! So ensues a lovely teenage coming of age story. The author clearly knows Bolton well, and the descriptions really added to the images forming in my head as I read it.

Loved it, have already read it again and will be gifting it to my sister first, then go from there!

I loved this book. Infact I adored it!

It is going on my list of 'exquisite books of 2018'. The author has written a story that is creative, gripping, entertaining and heart warming, but also very truthful. It is a story that tells us about family, friends and community, and also about the pain and struggle of life and how these can be overcome in the strangest of ways. In this story Madonna is one of those ways.

Charlie is a peculiar child, at least in his Dad's eyes. Charlie doesn't like football but he adores Madonna. Charlie knows he doesn't fit in and growing up in Bolton is a struggle for him. He survives life in Bolton by sticking close to his friend Shanaz, and by listening to Madonna. Madonna with her dances, costumes, music and the ability to reinvent herself provides Charlie with a guiding light. Her songs inspire and guide him, her attitude strengthens him and she shows him that diversity is a beautiful thing.

Madonna shows Charlie that it is ok to like men.

But nobody else around him feels that way. Charlie goes through his childhood and teens clinging to the hope and inspiration Madonna provides, and hiding aspects of himself, and also just hiding. With Shanaz by his side he negotiates the wilds and the hostility of Bolton and as he does so life changes. Gradually Charlie grows to accept who he is with the help of Madonna, and when the window of opportunity opens Charlie begins to fly.

Freedom and Cambridge University give Charlie the opportunity to find his place in the world and to begin to be who he really is but there are still many lessons to learn about love, family, integrity and knowing who you really are, and self acceptance.

I loved this story. It reminds me of myself growing up as a black child in a white town and realising my difference, and then relocating and spending my teens and early adulthood in my country of origin and still not fitting in. I was surrounded by people who looked like me but I was still very different. Charlie's life is one of recognising this difference and accepting both the joys and the pains of this and Charlie does this so beautifully all to the soundtrack of Madonna.

I particularly enjoyed Charlie's university years and how he finds love, acceptance and life from the people around him, and how his friends have struggles of their own. Life brings challenges for everyone. Charlie goes through his life uncovering truths about himself and also about his family and his friends. He negotiates life, career, love, family and friends so beautifully and as he does so his love brings life to the people around him. There are parts of the story which are joyful but there is also pain, but Charlie is an incredible person and he resists everything that pushes him to be less than he truly is.

I loved the way Charlie finds so much freedom in London. This is my favourite part in the story. It is just a special city and as a Londoner I found this resonated very deeply. (Big shout out to the best city in the world)

Humour is very much a part of Charlie's life and I laughed all my way through as well as clutching my pillow through the heart rending parts. (Yes I read this in bed). This is such a gripping story. I couldn't put it down. I started reading and didn't move from my bed all day, except when necessary. I just immersed myself in Charlie and his life. I emerged from the book really wanting to know Charlie and to have him as a friend.

The author has written a beautiful and engaging book. It has the feel of a future LAMDA award winner. It is just so good!

Thoroughly Enjoyable and Very Highly recommended!

And to my reading buddies, (Sofia and Lena) this one is a must!

And to the author - can we please have a story about Mr Beveridge and Arthur next?

Copy provided by Unbound publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many, many, many thanks to the author for writing such a lovely story.