The Madonna of Bolton was a unique and inspiring story of a young boy growing up in a time and place that didn’t accept him for who he was. Having grown up in Bolton myself, it was an added bonus to recognise the places mentioned through the book and have a bit of a deeper understanding of his experiences. 

The characters all developed and grew so much through Charlie’s life and it was great to see their resolutions at the end and that things work out eventually, in whatever form that might take. The scenes when Charlie was at Cambridge were some of my favourite, along with his times with Mike and Mr Beverage, showing the importance of good friendships and connection. 

It’s definitely one for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ issues or stories through a lifetime, and I really loved the book a lot. I always wanted to continue reading when I stopped and it was really easy to dip in and out of as I was able to. Highly recommend!