The Guncle

Steven Rowley

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer.

Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league.

So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting—even if temporary—isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

With the humor and heart we’ve come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) The writing was descriptively beautiful. It was impossible not to feel the words flowing across the page when they expertly portrayed love, grief, and life. It was full of humor and heart. It was predictable in the best way. I cannot say enough good about this book!

Patrick is a stereotypical gay man living life alone after his partner tragically died. His best friend/sister-in-law dies and he needs to help care for her two kids for 3 months. He resists with everything in him but because of his own struggles, ends up being the perfect medicine for them, and they for him.

“Do you think this marks the end of their childhood?” “Not if I have anything to do with it.”

I loved how he interacted with the kids, treating them like they’re adults with so much humor thrown in. He made scary moments fun, he made sad moments memorable.  Everyone needs an uncle like Patrick!

Content Summary: 1 pre-sex scene, details, death of loved one- car accident with drunk driver, thoughts of suicide, death of a parent, grief, 24 F words and language throughout.

Thank you to Shelf Awareness for for the giveaway win, and Penguin Random House!

The book releases May 25, 2021. I highly recommend this one!

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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