What do you think?
Rate this book
The Guncle #1
The Guncle
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fiction (2021)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.
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.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2021
About the author
Steven Rowley
6 books4,793 followersSteven Rowley is the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR and Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2019, and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and semi-finalist for The Thurber Prize in American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Rowley lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband, the writer Byron Lane.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,696 reviews
March 20, 2023
My favorite feel good fiction of the year is celebrating its birthday today! I cannot express how much I loved this book and invested in those wonderful characters! What are you waiting for! Add your tbr and read urgently!🎈🤗💞🥂
Guncle is SPECTACULAR MASTERPIECE! A comedy feast for your moody soul! Get ready to wipe your tears from laughing out too much till your stomach hurts and crying out too much for the most heartfelt family interactions and incredibly tender, genuine friendship moments!
Oh boy, I’m wordless! There is not enough words at my vocabulary to define my feelings about this book. But I can honestly say it makes you feel too much, too deep!
It’s not only warming your hearth with full happiness, it makes you practice your happy dance moves! You want to sing! You want to do cartwheels! You want to give long and emotional hugs to your loved ones! This is one of the books make you want to change and be a better person! It gives you so much hope to believe in second chances in your life. It brightens your pessimistic mood with vivid colors, turns your soul into rainbow!
I adored guncle- GUP- gay uncle Patrick! I loved his sarcastic, very rich and smart sense of humor! I loved how he cared so much his brother and his best friend’s kids! I loved his strength not to lose his optimism as he also struggled with his own grief! I enjoyed his special Guncle rules! I loved his flaws, vices, faults, insecurities! I loved him as whole!
And those kids were gem! They were sweet pies! I loved to hug and spoil them with gifts, too! Especially Grant and his quirky questions like how do you kill ghosts? How do you eat soup without elbows were fascinating. And Maisie, the protective sister who is forced to grow faster when she lost her mother was so lovable!
The book questions when is the exact time we stop being a kid! I asked myself, too which dragged me into a journey at my memory lane. I’m so sure you would love that, too.
Guncle is story of Patrick is a famous sitcom star ( reminding me of gay version of Kevin from This is Us) who just retired after he lost his loved one Joe at the car accident, moved to Palm Springs, only socializing with his neighbors.
He’s lonely, living a secluded life and his heart gets broken as he learns his best friend Sara who is also his brother’s wife ( he brought them together) passed away and his brother struggles with addiction which makes him at the wrong position to take care of two grieving little kids. He decides to go to Rehab and he asks Patrick to take care of his kids.
Patrick rejects as first but when he realizes his uptight sister is about to take the kids, making snarky remarks about his life style, he changes his mind and takes them to live with him at Palm Springs. What could get wrong? It’s short term arrangement, right?
Did you like the story line as much as I did? Go on, read this precious gem to appreciate how great books heal you completely and change your lives!
If you have a chance to give entire galaxy stars to this book, I’m so sure I will give them! It already took its place as one of my all time favorite reads!
Special thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. I loved it soooooo much!
Guncle is SPECTACULAR MASTERPIECE! A comedy feast for your moody soul! Get ready to wipe your tears from laughing out too much till your stomach hurts and crying out too much for the most heartfelt family interactions and incredibly tender, genuine friendship moments!
Oh boy, I’m wordless! There is not enough words at my vocabulary to define my feelings about this book. But I can honestly say it makes you feel too much, too deep!
It’s not only warming your hearth with full happiness, it makes you practice your happy dance moves! You want to sing! You want to do cartwheels! You want to give long and emotional hugs to your loved ones! This is one of the books make you want to change and be a better person! It gives you so much hope to believe in second chances in your life. It brightens your pessimistic mood with vivid colors, turns your soul into rainbow!
I adored guncle- GUP- gay uncle Patrick! I loved his sarcastic, very rich and smart sense of humor! I loved how he cared so much his brother and his best friend’s kids! I loved his strength not to lose his optimism as he also struggled with his own grief! I enjoyed his special Guncle rules! I loved his flaws, vices, faults, insecurities! I loved him as whole!
And those kids were gem! They were sweet pies! I loved to hug and spoil them with gifts, too! Especially Grant and his quirky questions like how do you kill ghosts? How do you eat soup without elbows were fascinating. And Maisie, the protective sister who is forced to grow faster when she lost her mother was so lovable!
The book questions when is the exact time we stop being a kid! I asked myself, too which dragged me into a journey at my memory lane. I’m so sure you would love that, too.
Guncle is story of Patrick is a famous sitcom star ( reminding me of gay version of Kevin from This is Us) who just retired after he lost his loved one Joe at the car accident, moved to Palm Springs, only socializing with his neighbors.
He’s lonely, living a secluded life and his heart gets broken as he learns his best friend Sara who is also his brother’s wife ( he brought them together) passed away and his brother struggles with addiction which makes him at the wrong position to take care of two grieving little kids. He decides to go to Rehab and he asks Patrick to take care of his kids.
Patrick rejects as first but when he realizes his uptight sister is about to take the kids, making snarky remarks about his life style, he changes his mind and takes them to live with him at Palm Springs. What could get wrong? It’s short term arrangement, right?
Did you like the story line as much as I did? Go on, read this precious gem to appreciate how great books heal you completely and change your lives!
If you have a chance to give entire galaxy stars to this book, I’m so sure I will give them! It already took its place as one of my all time favorite reads!
Special thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. I loved it soooooo much!
May 11, 2022
Gosh, The Guncle turned out to be exactly the sort of feelgood, laughy-taffy book I didn't know I needed.
Patrick adores his niece and nephew, and enjoys spending time with them, though only a few days at a time. But when tragedy strikes and he is unexpectedly called upon to care for them, he doesn't think he can do it. For one, he knows nothing about raising children. But more importantly, he's been hiding out for years, dealing with his own personal grief. How can he help these children move on with theirs when he hasn't ever learned to do it himself?
Grief is a hard topic to write about, especially if you're aiming to be uplifting rather than depressing. But Rowley hits upon exactly the right notes with this book. The focus is on moving forward and making new relationships and memories. Patrick and the children need each other, which they slowly realize as time goes on. And it's only through their shared bond that they can overcome this dark shadow in their lives.
There is so much heart and humor in here. Every character is adorable and lovable, from the kids to the dog to the neighbors. Patrick's snarky humor and zingy one-liners had me in stitches. Honestly, I haven't laughed like this from reading a book in a long time. My cheeks were sore the whole way through, stretched out with smiles and laughter.
I'm always in the mood for a heartfelt story, one that tackles a serious subject, but does so with humor and warmth. After all, it's inevitable that life is full of tragedy. Sometimes all you can do is laugh and look out for each other and try to move on the best you can, and this book embodies exactly that.
My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.
Patrick adores his niece and nephew, and enjoys spending time with them, though only a few days at a time. But when tragedy strikes and he is unexpectedly called upon to care for them, he doesn't think he can do it. For one, he knows nothing about raising children. But more importantly, he's been hiding out for years, dealing with his own personal grief. How can he help these children move on with theirs when he hasn't ever learned to do it himself?
Grief is a hard topic to write about, especially if you're aiming to be uplifting rather than depressing. But Rowley hits upon exactly the right notes with this book. The focus is on moving forward and making new relationships and memories. Patrick and the children need each other, which they slowly realize as time goes on. And it's only through their shared bond that they can overcome this dark shadow in their lives.
There is so much heart and humor in here. Every character is adorable and lovable, from the kids to the dog to the neighbors. Patrick's snarky humor and zingy one-liners had me in stitches. Honestly, I haven't laughed like this from reading a book in a long time. My cheeks were sore the whole way through, stretched out with smiles and laughter.
I'm always in the mood for a heartfelt story, one that tackles a serious subject, but does so with humor and warmth. After all, it's inevitable that life is full of tragedy. Sometimes all you can do is laugh and look out for each other and try to move on the best you can, and this book embodies exactly that.
My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.
August 11, 2021
If a “guncle” is a gay uncle, I guess that makes me a “staunt.” And boy, did Steven Rowley’s latest novel hit pretty close to home for this straight aunt.
Maisie (9) and Grant (6) lose a parent to cancer and leave their East Coast home to spend the following summer in the care of their guncle while their surviving parent works through some issues. I knew even before picking up this book that it would be a hard one for me to read, but glowing reviews and that fantastically cheerful cover compelled me to give it a go anyway. You see, I’m a childless woman, who lost a brother to cancer, who had two children under 10 left behind. So yeah, I’m a staunt. I only share this to say there’s no way I can separate my personal experience of grief and endless worry from any “enjoyment” to be derived from fiction.
In light of all that, I loved The Guncle as much as I possibly could. The guncle in question, Patrick (aka GUP for Gay Uncle Patrick), is an unfiltered former sitcom star that I pictured as Sean Hayes from “Will & Grace.” He treats the kids like adults, which is at times hilarious and at others ridiculous. His humor is unabashedly rated R, so fair warning that it may not be to all readers’ tastes.
Ultimately I’m glad I read this story, and I look forward to getting to the author’s other novels. I have a feeling I’ll like his writing even more when I can better separate the silly from my own sadness.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
Maisie (9) and Grant (6) lose a parent to cancer and leave their East Coast home to spend the following summer in the care of their guncle while their surviving parent works through some issues. I knew even before picking up this book that it would be a hard one for me to read, but glowing reviews and that fantastically cheerful cover compelled me to give it a go anyway. You see, I’m a childless woman, who lost a brother to cancer, who had two children under 10 left behind. So yeah, I’m a staunt. I only share this to say there’s no way I can separate my personal experience of grief and endless worry from any “enjoyment” to be derived from fiction.
In light of all that, I loved The Guncle as much as I possibly could. The guncle in question, Patrick (aka GUP for Gay Uncle Patrick), is an unfiltered former sitcom star that I pictured as Sean Hayes from “Will & Grace.” He treats the kids like adults, which is at times hilarious and at others ridiculous. His humor is unabashedly rated R, so fair warning that it may not be to all readers’ tastes.
Ultimately I’m glad I read this story, and I look forward to getting to the author’s other novels. I have a feeling I’ll like his writing even more when I can better separate the silly from my own sadness.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
Read
May 4, 2021If you liked Lily and the Octopus and The Editor, both of which I loved, then this is a no-brainer. Steven is the best. His books are always filled with such depth, and heart, and humor. This new one is about an uncle who is a former sitcom star living in Palm Springs who takes in his niece and nephew during a trying time. It’s Auntie Mame if Mame were a gay man.
Read
January 8, 2023Oh I loved this, it was so incredibly sweet. I'll give more thoughts soon!!
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 25, 2021Dnf’d at 30% I expected to be charmed, but only felt irritated.
I was expecting a cute heartwarming “Uncle Buck” but that's not what I got. The “humor” is all about Patrick, a has-been actor, talking to the kids as if they are adults and then expressing incredulity that they don’t understand what he’s talking about.
It’s an excuse for Patrick to wax philosophical about things like Disney and then express amazement that the kids didn’t know Disney owned Pixar, Marvel, 20th Century Fox, ESPN….etc…including his old show on ABC. When they don’t know what he’s talking about he asks the kids “don’t you guys read Variety?” And then goes on a rant about how Hollywood and the entertainment industry is dehumanizing.
He asks the kids what is on their calendar for the day. When they say they don’t have a calendar he expresses amazement. They are 6 & 9.
Rinse and repeat. The kids are there only as props for Patrick.
IF a movie is made starring Daniel Levy of Schitt’s Creek it would probably be amusing. But as a book, I didn’t find this funny at all.
I was expecting a cute heartwarming “Uncle Buck” but that's not what I got. The “humor” is all about Patrick, a has-been actor, talking to the kids as if they are adults and then expressing incredulity that they don’t understand what he’s talking about.
It’s an excuse for Patrick to wax philosophical about things like Disney and then express amazement that the kids didn’t know Disney owned Pixar, Marvel, 20th Century Fox, ESPN….etc…including his old show on ABC. When they don’t know what he’s talking about he asks the kids “don’t you guys read Variety?” And then goes on a rant about how Hollywood and the entertainment industry is dehumanizing.
He asks the kids what is on their calendar for the day. When they say they don’t have a calendar he expresses amazement. They are 6 & 9.
Rinse and repeat. The kids are there only as props for Patrick.
IF a movie is made starring Daniel Levy of Schitt’s Creek it would probably be amusing. But as a book, I didn’t find this funny at all.
December 2, 2021
3.5 *
I liked this book but it did take a bit for me to get into it. I listened to the audio narrated by the author himself. He did a good job at bringing Patrick to life. I have to say this wasn't as funny as I was anticipating it to be. It had its moments but it also involved some heavy topics.
I loved the message this book portrayed. It was truly touching and leaves you with a warm feeling. All the little references were amusing but I think only a person of a certain age will get them (now I'm really giving away my age!) 🤣 Patrick is quite the character! I think this would make a fantastic movie...maybe for Netflix. 🎬 I LOVE Dan Levy and want him cast as the lead!!! ☺️😉
I liked this book but it did take a bit for me to get into it. I listened to the audio narrated by the author himself. He did a good job at bringing Patrick to life. I have to say this wasn't as funny as I was anticipating it to be. It had its moments but it also involved some heavy topics.
I loved the message this book portrayed. It was truly touching and leaves you with a warm feeling. All the little references were amusing but I think only a person of a certain age will get them (now I'm really giving away my age!) 🤣 Patrick is quite the character! I think this would make a fantastic movie...maybe for Netflix. 🎬 I LOVE Dan Levy and want him cast as the lead!!! ☺️😉
September 12, 2024
3.75
I don’t have much to say other than that this was cute. Definitely cheesy but (for the most part) that didn’t bother me.
I don’t have much to say other than that this was cute. Definitely cheesy but (for the most part) that didn’t bother me.
June 8, 2022
This book was perfection!!! Such a cute and adorable story. This book is mostly light and funny but there is also a thought provoking side of the book about grief and second chances. The characters are all fantastic and develop perfectly throughout the book!! The kids are adorable and I love Patrick. In my head while reading the book, I was picturing Neil Patrick Harris in my head as GUP. This is a must read! Add it to your TBR now.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2021
Perfection!! I absolutely loved this book! All the martinis for this one! I couldn't get enough of Patrick's (GUP) snarky humor! Don't call him Pat by the way...just saying..
I can't even put my finger on what made this so special..but it was! Perhaps it was the brilliant writing style..or the fabulous well developed characters...or that it so darn heartwarming and fun!
Somehow the author managed to handle some very sensitive subjects..without it being depressing..in fact I laughed out loud more times that I can count!!
None of this witty banter and references were lost on me!! Mrs. Roper is his fashion icon! Didn't like turning tricks for the mouse...Mickey that is! LOL
Palm Springs...pool time and martinis...count me in! I am pretty sure GUP and I could be BFF's in real life..I adored the relationship he had with his niece and nephew! So that sums it up..I adored everything about this book!
I simply can't recommend this book enough!
I can't even put my finger on what made this so special..but it was! Perhaps it was the brilliant writing style..or the fabulous well developed characters...or that it so darn heartwarming and fun!
Somehow the author managed to handle some very sensitive subjects..without it being depressing..in fact I laughed out loud more times that I can count!!
None of this witty banter and references were lost on me!! Mrs. Roper is his fashion icon! Didn't like turning tricks for the mouse...Mickey that is! LOL
Palm Springs...pool time and martinis...count me in! I am pretty sure GUP and I could be BFF's in real life..I adored the relationship he had with his niece and nephew! So that sums it up..I adored everything about this book!
I simply can't recommend this book enough!
May 25, 2021
I'm pretty sure this book gave me diabetes. Unless you're allergic to smiling, you should pick this up for whenever you need to turn your frown upside down : )
“You look like Harry Potter.”
“That’s rude.”
“Why?”
“Because Harry was a Gryffindor and I’m clearly a Slytherin.” He hissed for emphasis.
A giffy image of how I would like to share my opinion about this book with the world . . . .
In case you live under a rock and are unaware, the good ol’ U.S.of.A. has been a real shitshow for a while now, but things really hit the fan last week. This book was exactly what I needed in order to pry me away from my addiction to the various news networks and allow myself to enjoy something for a bit.
This is the story of Patrick, who not-so-willingly gets assigned as caretaker for his niece Maisie and nephew Grant for the summer when their mother succumbs to a long battle with cancer and their father admits he needs to attend rehab due to a pill problem he ended up with after using medication to get through the process of losing his wife.
I have not loved a story like this since . . . .
And as far as Guncles are concerned, Patrick is right up there with everyone’s favorite . . . .
I’ve shared more than once that I’m not normally a fan of children (in real life or in my fiction), but every now and again one or two come along that make me say . . . .
I’m going to go ahead and bend the rules a bit just to show you what you’re missing out on if you skip this one . . . .
“Did you know snails can sleep for three years?”
“Did you know that forty percent of icebergs are penguin piss?”
Grant’s jaw dropped. “Is that true?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know?” He mussed Grant’s hair to make it look more stylish. “Would you like a martini?”
“I’m six.”
“Is that a yes?”
Or . . . .
“Why do you like boys?”
“I don’t know, why do you like pizza?”
“Because it tastes good in my mouth.”
Patrick wasn’t about to go anywhere near that.
Bottom line, this book made me say . . . .
I never thought I would get the opportunity to read this author because I was well aware that Lily and the Octopus would probably make me stick my head in the oven and I have avoided it for eternity. I’m so glad he wrote this one. I’m giving it all the stars simply for making me feel happy during a week when I just wanted to be miserable.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! I hope everyone goes and buys this in May when it comes out.
“You look like Harry Potter.”
“That’s rude.”
“Why?”
“Because Harry was a Gryffindor and I’m clearly a Slytherin.” He hissed for emphasis.
A giffy image of how I would like to share my opinion about this book with the world . . . .
In case you live under a rock and are unaware, the good ol’ U.S.of.A. has been a real shitshow for a while now, but things really hit the fan last week. This book was exactly what I needed in order to pry me away from my addiction to the various news networks and allow myself to enjoy something for a bit.
This is the story of Patrick, who not-so-willingly gets assigned as caretaker for his niece Maisie and nephew Grant for the summer when their mother succumbs to a long battle with cancer and their father admits he needs to attend rehab due to a pill problem he ended up with after using medication to get through the process of losing his wife.
I have not loved a story like this since . . . .
And as far as Guncles are concerned, Patrick is right up there with everyone’s favorite . . . .
I’ve shared more than once that I’m not normally a fan of children (in real life or in my fiction), but every now and again one or two come along that make me say . . . .
I’m going to go ahead and bend the rules a bit just to show you what you’re missing out on if you skip this one . . . .
“Did you know snails can sleep for three years?”
“Did you know that forty percent of icebergs are penguin piss?”
Grant’s jaw dropped. “Is that true?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know?” He mussed Grant’s hair to make it look more stylish. “Would you like a martini?”
“I’m six.”
“Is that a yes?”
Or . . . .
“Why do you like boys?”
“I don’t know, why do you like pizza?”
“Because it tastes good in my mouth.”
Patrick wasn’t about to go anywhere near that.
Bottom line, this book made me say . . . .
I never thought I would get the opportunity to read this author because I was well aware that Lily and the Octopus would probably make me stick my head in the oven and I have avoided it for eternity. I’m so glad he wrote this one. I’m giving it all the stars simply for making me feel happy during a week when I just wanted to be miserable.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! I hope everyone goes and buys this in May when it comes out.
August 6, 2021
You know the feeling when a book is as amazing as you hoped it would be, maybe even better? That's how I felt reading Steven Rowley's new book,
The Guncle
.
Patrick was a well-known actor on a television sitcom, but when the show was done, he retreated to Palm Springs, where he essentially cut himself off from the world. But when his sister-in-law and best friend dies, it brings him home to Connecticut and back to his family.
Patrick’s brother tells him that he’s dealing with a crisis of his own and he needs him to take his two young kids for three months. Patrick can’t believe anyone would entrust their kids to him. And what would he even do with them? He’s never even really been around his niece and nephew that much, let alone thought about raising them.
Even though temporary fatherhood is the last thing he ever dreamed of, Patrick is determined to help Maisie and Grant deal with their grief over their mother’s death. It turns out Patrick needs to grieve for Sara too, and he still is dealing with the emotions caused by a tragedy that happened a few years before.
Patrick is not your ordinary caregiver—he quotes Oscar Wilde and Grey Gardens , has a closet full of caftans, and a bunch of “Guncle Rules,” but it turns out that he’s more suited for this role than anyone might have imagined. And, of course, the kids help him just as much.
Rowley has created a fantastic book which left me crying and laughing, sometimes simultaneously. It certainly made me think of my four nephews—they range in age from 1 to 13–and while I’ve never actually called myself “Guncle Larry” I’ve certainly tried to be the best uncle I can be, even though I’m 3-1/2 hours away.
I loved this book so much. I didn’t want it to end, and I wanted to hug it when I was done.
BookSparks and Putnam Books sent me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review as part of #SRC2021. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Patrick was a well-known actor on a television sitcom, but when the show was done, he retreated to Palm Springs, where he essentially cut himself off from the world. But when his sister-in-law and best friend dies, it brings him home to Connecticut and back to his family.
Patrick’s brother tells him that he’s dealing with a crisis of his own and he needs him to take his two young kids for three months. Patrick can’t believe anyone would entrust their kids to him. And what would he even do with them? He’s never even really been around his niece and nephew that much, let alone thought about raising them.
Even though temporary fatherhood is the last thing he ever dreamed of, Patrick is determined to help Maisie and Grant deal with their grief over their mother’s death. It turns out Patrick needs to grieve for Sara too, and he still is dealing with the emotions caused by a tragedy that happened a few years before.
Patrick is not your ordinary caregiver—he quotes Oscar Wilde and Grey Gardens , has a closet full of caftans, and a bunch of “Guncle Rules,” but it turns out that he’s more suited for this role than anyone might have imagined. And, of course, the kids help him just as much.
Rowley has created a fantastic book which left me crying and laughing, sometimes simultaneously. It certainly made me think of my four nephews—they range in age from 1 to 13–and while I’ve never actually called myself “Guncle Larry” I’ve certainly tried to be the best uncle I can be, even though I’m 3-1/2 hours away.
I loved this book so much. I didn’t want it to end, and I wanted to hug it when I was done.
BookSparks and Putnam Books sent me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review as part of #SRC2021. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 4, 2021
QUICK TAKE: I’m so excited for all of you to finally get your hands on what is for sure one of my favorite books of the year, perfect for those of you looking for a laugh or all those emotional feels you experienced reading THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA last year (similarly to that book, this is a joyous heartwarming book that explores themes of family and finding yourself).
If this book isn’t on your radar, here’s a brief synopsis: Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) is a semi-retired sitcom star and gay bachelor spending his days poolside in Palm Springs, self-medicating with cocktails and cabanas and avoiding personal heartbreak and a stalled acting career. That all abruptly changes when tragedy strikes, and Patrick is forced to care for his niece (Maisie) and nephew (Grant). The two kids move into Patrick’s Palm Springs home for the gayest summer vacation of all time (I smell a Provincetown sequel!), and GUP quickly learns that his lifestyle is not quite right for two young kids grieving the loss of a parent, and he is forced to take some responsibility
Think UNCLE BUCK meets THE BIRDCAGE, THE GUNCLE is so damn delightful. The book equivalent of an ice-cold martini on a hot summer day, the book is sharply-written and full of the quick-witted humor we’ve come to expect from Rowley (LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, THE EDITOR). But THE GUNCLE is also a beautiful exploration of grief and death and family, and at a time when so many of us are beginning to reckon with the toll this past year has taken on our lives, there could not be a better book to help us transition to this next chapter.
If this book isn’t on your radar, here’s a brief synopsis: Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) is a semi-retired sitcom star and gay bachelor spending his days poolside in Palm Springs, self-medicating with cocktails and cabanas and avoiding personal heartbreak and a stalled acting career. That all abruptly changes when tragedy strikes, and Patrick is forced to care for his niece (Maisie) and nephew (Grant). The two kids move into Patrick’s Palm Springs home for the gayest summer vacation of all time (I smell a Provincetown sequel!), and GUP quickly learns that his lifestyle is not quite right for two young kids grieving the loss of a parent, and he is forced to take some responsibility
Think UNCLE BUCK meets THE BIRDCAGE, THE GUNCLE is so damn delightful. The book equivalent of an ice-cold martini on a hot summer day, the book is sharply-written and full of the quick-witted humor we’ve come to expect from Rowley (LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, THE EDITOR). But THE GUNCLE is also a beautiful exploration of grief and death and family, and at a time when so many of us are beginning to reckon with the toll this past year has taken on our lives, there could not be a better book to help us transition to this next chapter.
Read
February 4, 2022"The Guncle" by Steven Rowley was an audiobook I just couldn't finish!
Sadly, I'm an 'Outlier'....
I wanted to love it!
I tried to love it!
I even listened to it for an extra day to give it my best!
The main character, Patrick was hard for me to relate to. His personality was quite snarky-snotty and he started to sound quite bitchy as I continued to listen. He's very Hollywood and...well, I'm NOT!
This audiobook is narrated by the author and although his voicing is unique, it did not fit all characters. Perhaps this is an example of the eBook or print book being a better choice for me.
DNF @ 32%. I choose not to leave a rating since I did not finish reading this book. Onward! :-D
Sadly, I'm an 'Outlier'....
I wanted to love it!
I tried to love it!
I even listened to it for an extra day to give it my best!
The main character, Patrick was hard for me to relate to. His personality was quite snarky-snotty and he started to sound quite bitchy as I continued to listen. He's very Hollywood and...well, I'm NOT!
This audiobook is narrated by the author and although his voicing is unique, it did not fit all characters. Perhaps this is an example of the eBook or print book being a better choice for me.
DNF @ 32%. I choose not to leave a rating since I did not finish reading this book. Onward! :-D
September 24, 2024
What was the last day you were a child?
This is a question that leaves our debonair swanky GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) reeling as he wonders when he last felt shielded from he harrowing realities of adulthood. Which have become even more complicated since he had to take care of his young grieving niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant.
GUP is a retired Hollywood actor who moved to Palm Springs to get away from things. For approaching fifty. Which he most certainly isn't ready to process.
"...if you must know, I'm young in Palm Springs. Okay? This is the sad truth for gay men. Forty is ancient in Los Angeles, middle-aged in San Francisco, but young in Palm Springs. That's why I live there."Patrick's pragmatism and hilarity are what made this book special. At least for me. It dealt with a lot. Death of friend, death of a spouse, systemic homophobia but somehow Patrick came out of it laughing. A grieving widower who has just lost his best friend and the mother of his niblings, and months before the death of his--for all intents and purposes-- spouse. Patrick has high key Oscar Wilde energy, except wilder. He has an affinity for the bizarre, like a pink Christmas tree in the summer. But he is dichotomous, with a studied consideration of his surroundings that dares perilous fools to under-estimate him.
"You're forty three!" Maisie bellowed.
"Who are you, the DMV? Lower your voice."
"That's almost fifty!" Grant's eyes grew big.
Patrick took the jab, then closed his eyes and bit his lower lip; the observation was just shy of a hate crime. Do not punch a child, do not punch a child...
When his agent convinces him it's time to rejoin the Hollywood elite, he throws a party in honour of his rebirth as Hollywood dzaddy. However, his sister Clara, a woman mistaken in the belief that abolishing the patriarchy means complaining about men and braying about her victimhood as a white woman, shows up uninvited and threatens to take the children away from Patrick "for their own good". Patrick doesn't understand how a so-called feminist would fail to grasp the precarities of homosexuality.
Patrick used to like having a sister... Clara was his playmate, she was older—she set the agenda. But she eventually moved on, wanted to do other things. As a teenager she liked reading and, it seemed, just about nothing else. She read a book by Alice Walker about female genital mutilation in Africa and refused to speak to a member of the opposite sex for a month. She read Simone de Beauvoir and fumed about the patriarchy to any male in earshot—even if he were four years her junior.The problem with Clara (and commodified white feminism) is that she never learns, she never listens. At one point Patrick informs her of her veiled homophobia after the death of Joe and she replies with the patriarchal classic hit, "If I said that, I'm sorry..." Patrick observes his sister with almost predatory precision. He infers the grief that is happening in her life that would cause her to threaten the stability of two mourning children whose father is absent for treatment. In the same breath, he threatens to bury her in litigation so deep she wouldn't see the light of day for years behind the paperwork. Patrick was a badass.
The thing about Clara is how she was a well fleshed out character, who although brief in appearance served subtle socio-political commentary. She's not a bad person. Or even inherently evil. She's not a big bad wolf out to blow Patrick's foundation away. She's human and she's hurting. Rowley's prose captures their sibling relationship so well and Clara's pain is masked behind even more pain. She feels replaced by Sara. Patrick is surprised by this but doesn't fight it. He's the bigger man. Something which Clara, in her misguided attempt to extirpate the patriarchy, opts not to do. Patrick even tells her
You don’t hear me, do you. Every conversation we’ve ever had, you don’t listen. Not really. You look at me. Your mouth stops moving. But the entire time, you’re just waiting until it’s your turn to talk again.And she. still. doesn't. listen.
But this isn't about Clara, and my frustrations with her (nuanced and well-written as they are), this is about GUP. Gay Uncle Patrick. Guncle. And he has rules.
Guncle Rule number one. Okay? If we must? Cameras are your enemy as much as they’re your friend. Scratch that. That’s Guncle Rule number two. Guncle Rule number one: Brunch is splendid.Almost his entire life is a portmanteau. He lives for brunch, lupper and haruths-- harsh truths.
You know the secret to staying young? Money. Guncle Rule number four. Not so you can carve up your face, mind you; don’t do that. But if you have money, you’re not stressed. Stress is what ages you. And winter and not getting out of your hometown. You guys really should be writing these down.But at the end of the day, this story is about Patrick finding his step. Reclaiming his life and LIVING. You can have all the money in the world and be a tragedy. A mere existence. Even when you have people who would give anything to make you happy.
Turns out it's painful to be loved. Intolerable even, at times.It took two precocious children whom Patrick relates with as equals for him to realise he's been running away. He's been hiding. Chester Bennington sings, It's easier to run; Replacing this pain with something numb; It's so much easier to go; Than face all this pain here all alone . Patrick comes to terms with his grief,
Pain doesn't lift until you feel it.You need to be present in your sadness. There's a quote by Ursula K Le Guin, All of us here are going to know grief; if we live fifty years, we’ll have known pain for fifty years… And yet, I wonder if it isn’t all a misunderstanding — this grasping after happiness, this fear of pain… If instead of fearing it and running from it, one could… get through it, go beyond it. There is something beyond it. It’s the self that suffers, and there’s a place where the self—ceases.
I am currently going through a lot right now. And I am not ready to talk about it because saying it out loud, to my friends will make it real. And I want to be in denial a bit longer. However, this book (and others, of course) will hold my hand through it.
Finally what GUP would love for you to most internalise,
Guncle Rule sweet sixteen: I want you to really live. To live is the rarest of things. Most people merely exist.Oscar Wilde said it first, whom I'd like to believe is our greatest guncle who ever lived.
January 8, 2022
3,5/5
Uwielbiam takie comfort ready!
Uwielbiam takie comfort ready!
July 16, 2021
They often say (whoever they are) that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Well, I disagree. When I first saw this cover a smile overtook my face. The whimsy just about stole my heart and I knew right then that I was going to love this and I was right! All the feels for this wonderful book. 💗
Patrick or GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) or Guncle as he prefers to be called is in a quandary when he is asked by his brother to take his 11 year old niece, Maisey, and 6 year old nephew, Grant, to live with him in Palm Springs for the summer. Patrick is heading to rehab to overcome a pill addiction which began when his wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with cancer. Now having lost her battle he needs to get himself cleaned up in order to really be there for his children.
Patrick doesn't know one thing about taking care of children and is most definitely a fish out of water. Especially when these children have not only just lost their mother but they are being uprooted to the opposite coast to live with an uncle they hardly know.
What ensues is not only hilarious but heartwarming. Oh, how I love these characters. I loved, loved, loved the children. Grant cracking me up on nearly every page. What a delight!!! I didn't want to let these characters go and I am so sad that this had to come to an end. I could have read a 1000 more pages. Maybe a sequel down the line? I'd be one heck of a happy reader if so. Highest recommendation. All THE STARS!!!!
Patrick or GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) or Guncle as he prefers to be called is in a quandary when he is asked by his brother to take his 11 year old niece, Maisey, and 6 year old nephew, Grant, to live with him in Palm Springs for the summer. Patrick is heading to rehab to overcome a pill addiction which began when his wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with cancer. Now having lost her battle he needs to get himself cleaned up in order to really be there for his children.
Patrick doesn't know one thing about taking care of children and is most definitely a fish out of water. Especially when these children have not only just lost their mother but they are being uprooted to the opposite coast to live with an uncle they hardly know.
What ensues is not only hilarious but heartwarming. Oh, how I love these characters. I loved, loved, loved the children. Grant cracking me up on nearly every page. What a delight!!! I didn't want to let these characters go and I am so sad that this had to come to an end. I could have read a 1000 more pages. Maybe a sequel down the line? I'd be one heck of a happy reader if so. Highest recommendation. All THE STARS!!!!
April 14, 2024
2022
ocena: 4,5.
2024
Czemu ta historia nie ma jeszcze ekranizacji. Moje zdanie się nie zmieniło, uważam, że to gotowy scenariusz. Strasznie lubię tę książkę, jej humor, jej ciepło, zmiany zachodzące w bohaterach.
Ocena: 5,0.
ocena: 4,5.
2024
Czemu ta historia nie ma jeszcze ekranizacji. Moje zdanie się nie zmieniło, uważam, że to gotowy scenariusz. Strasznie lubię tę książkę, jej humor, jej ciepło, zmiany zachodzące w bohaterach.
Ocena: 5,0.
June 28, 2024
I have a retired librarian who leaves me notes with each of her donations to my Little Free Library Shed. With this one, she said…
“For my favorite library! Excellent book! Funny! Thoughtful! Great quote from the book –
‘Books should be an experience…not a trophy for having read them.’ Enjoy!”
So…
How could I resist my favorite retired librarian’s recommendation?
Besides…
I really enjoyed his book, “The Editor.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a very scenic book, filled with much love, loss, challenges and laughter.
And…
When people are dealing with loss, it is wonderful to feel the laughter, too.
Especially for these kids, Grant and Maisie, who have tragically lost their mother and also have to deal with their dad in drug rehabilitation…
Thus…
Leaving them now moved in with Patrick, a gay man living in Palm Springs. (Hence: the title of the book.)
And…
When I say it is scenic, I am not kidding. You can feel the imagery of place everywhere. It engages all the senses. Feel this one with Patrick outside with his dog…
“Marlene lay at his feet, the patio stones finally cool and offering relief from the warm night air.”
If anyone has been to Palm Springs, you know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t…
Well…
That is the feeling.
This story is engaging, endearing, thoughtful, heart-felt, and full of emotional growth. There are life-altering changes that happen for the characters, and you want to follow and see where it takes readers.
And…
Readers are going to love the “Guncle rules.” Wisdom for the kids.
As well as…
Just maybe a little wisdom for us readers, too.
“For my favorite library! Excellent book! Funny! Thoughtful! Great quote from the book –
‘Books should be an experience…not a trophy for having read them.’ Enjoy!”
So…
How could I resist my favorite retired librarian’s recommendation?
Besides…
I really enjoyed his book, “The Editor.” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a very scenic book, filled with much love, loss, challenges and laughter.
And…
When people are dealing with loss, it is wonderful to feel the laughter, too.
Especially for these kids, Grant and Maisie, who have tragically lost their mother and also have to deal with their dad in drug rehabilitation…
Thus…
Leaving them now moved in with Patrick, a gay man living in Palm Springs. (Hence: the title of the book.)
And…
When I say it is scenic, I am not kidding. You can feel the imagery of place everywhere. It engages all the senses. Feel this one with Patrick outside with his dog…
“Marlene lay at his feet, the patio stones finally cool and offering relief from the warm night air.”
If anyone has been to Palm Springs, you know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t…
Well…
That is the feeling.
This story is engaging, endearing, thoughtful, heart-felt, and full of emotional growth. There are life-altering changes that happen for the characters, and you want to follow and see where it takes readers.
And…
Readers are going to love the “Guncle rules.” Wisdom for the kids.
As well as…
Just maybe a little wisdom for us readers, too.
June 9, 2021
Audiobook....read by the author: Steven Rowley
.....9 hours and 27 minutes
***A FAVORITE AUDIOBOOK***
LOVED IT!!! GET IT!!! LISTEN TO IT!!!
Patrick O’Hara, Guncle, or simply, GUP, is what the children call him. Nine year old Maise, and six year old Grant are Patrick’s niece and nephew. The children live in Connecticut. Their mother, Sara, (Patrick’s best friend and sister-in-law from way back - having been roommates in New York before she married Patrick’s brother, Greg), - has just died, after a long illness.
Greg needs a few months in rehab. He developed an addiction to painkillers, and asked Patrick to take the kids for a few months.
Greg ‘didn’t’ ask Clara (Greg and Patrick’s older sister), to watch the kids....but Clara is resentful and appalled.
Clara feels as if she is the most responsible adult.
The “whole kid thing”....was not Patrick’s “bag”....but he didn’t want Mrs. Perfectly-Righteous-Responsible, Overbearing sister, Clara to know that.
Screw it...Patrick would do it > take the kids. How hard could it be?
Patrick, was one of the Hollywood stars on the very popular hit sitcom called “The People Upstairs”. It’s been four years since his partner, Joe was killed by a drunk driver, left the TV show, and moved to the desert in Palm Springs.....(where Patrick would say himself that being gay, and 43 years old is ‘OLD’ if you lived in San Francisco, but ‘YOUNG’ if you live in Palm Springs)
It turns out ... taking care of the kids ‘can’ be hard, even harder when faced with loss, love, and grief...
However....
“The Guncle” is heartwarming, endearing, hilarious, tragic & understandably so.....real & wonderful ....great laugh out loud moments, teary-eye moments, as well as insightful multidimensional reflections about life.
GUNCLE, himself is a memorable multidimensional character. He pokes fun at himself, his stardom old lifestyle, his vanity, the difficulties of being gay in a straight world, and his own denuded grief.
....readers will be blessed with his “Guncle Rules”.
“The Guncle” is all-encompassing in emotional ranges and scope. The complexities, intimacy, and intricacies are all there.
Steven Rowley, best selling author of the wonderful novel “Lily and the Octopus”, is a master at balancing the degrees of intensity from grief with humor.
We knew that GUP was in for a wild ride (readers for a thoroughly treasure-ride).....when early in the novel Maise and Grant went out for brunch together in Palm Springs.
The children were priceless. Grant asks lots of questions and has an adorable lisp. Maise, is a reserved child, with many of her mother’s best qualities.
GUP, “Golden Globe winning, Patrick O’Hara ....figures things out ...with the kids....(they teach each other)...
it’s a summer to remember...poolside amusements, a dinosaur park day trip, brunch, lupper time, engaging dialogue, and lots and lots of love and humanity.
Little cafe scene: [Patrick, vegetarian, is having brunch with Maise and Grant]
Grant says,
“I want bacon”
Patrick:
“We don’t eat bacon. Bacon comes from pigs, and pigs are our friends. You don’t want to eat your friends do you?”
Grant:
“If they taste like bacon I do”.
Witty, warm, compulsively readable/listenable....
intelligent, authentic spin on universal themes, and sooooooo enjoyable!
.....9 hours and 27 minutes
***A FAVORITE AUDIOBOOK***
LOVED IT!!! GET IT!!! LISTEN TO IT!!!
Patrick O’Hara, Guncle, or simply, GUP, is what the children call him. Nine year old Maise, and six year old Grant are Patrick’s niece and nephew. The children live in Connecticut. Their mother, Sara, (Patrick’s best friend and sister-in-law from way back - having been roommates in New York before she married Patrick’s brother, Greg), - has just died, after a long illness.
Greg needs a few months in rehab. He developed an addiction to painkillers, and asked Patrick to take the kids for a few months.
Greg ‘didn’t’ ask Clara (Greg and Patrick’s older sister), to watch the kids....but Clara is resentful and appalled.
Clara feels as if she is the most responsible adult.
The “whole kid thing”....was not Patrick’s “bag”....but he didn’t want Mrs. Perfectly-Righteous-Responsible, Overbearing sister, Clara to know that.
Screw it...Patrick would do it > take the kids. How hard could it be?
Patrick, was one of the Hollywood stars on the very popular hit sitcom called “The People Upstairs”. It’s been four years since his partner, Joe was killed by a drunk driver, left the TV show, and moved to the desert in Palm Springs.....(where Patrick would say himself that being gay, and 43 years old is ‘OLD’ if you lived in San Francisco, but ‘YOUNG’ if you live in Palm Springs)
It turns out ... taking care of the kids ‘can’ be hard, even harder when faced with loss, love, and grief...
However....
“The Guncle” is heartwarming, endearing, hilarious, tragic & understandably so.....real & wonderful ....great laugh out loud moments, teary-eye moments, as well as insightful multidimensional reflections about life.
GUNCLE, himself is a memorable multidimensional character. He pokes fun at himself, his stardom old lifestyle, his vanity, the difficulties of being gay in a straight world, and his own denuded grief.
....readers will be blessed with his “Guncle Rules”.
“The Guncle” is all-encompassing in emotional ranges and scope. The complexities, intimacy, and intricacies are all there.
Steven Rowley, best selling author of the wonderful novel “Lily and the Octopus”, is a master at balancing the degrees of intensity from grief with humor.
We knew that GUP was in for a wild ride (readers for a thoroughly treasure-ride).....when early in the novel Maise and Grant went out for brunch together in Palm Springs.
The children were priceless. Grant asks lots of questions and has an adorable lisp. Maise, is a reserved child, with many of her mother’s best qualities.
GUP, “Golden Globe winning, Patrick O’Hara ....figures things out ...with the kids....(they teach each other)...
it’s a summer to remember...poolside amusements, a dinosaur park day trip, brunch, lupper time, engaging dialogue, and lots and lots of love and humanity.
Little cafe scene: [Patrick, vegetarian, is having brunch with Maise and Grant]
Grant says,
“I want bacon”
Patrick:
“We don’t eat bacon. Bacon comes from pigs, and pigs are our friends. You don’t want to eat your friends do you?”
Grant:
“If they taste like bacon I do”.
Witty, warm, compulsively readable/listenable....
intelligent, authentic spin on universal themes, and sooooooo enjoyable!
April 14, 2024
4/5 ⭐️ This was such a delight to read! It was also bittersweet at times because it heavily touches on grief but there were also so many funny and heartfelt moments. I adored all of the characters so much! It was just what I needed after my last dark read.
This book is about Patrick, who has to suddenly take temporary guardianship of his niece and nephew, 6-year-old Grant, and 9-year-old Maisie. The kids in this book were just so cute! I loved the relationship that Patrick had with them. It was really wholesome!
This was just a heartwarming and touching read! I adored it. It has the perfect vibes for a summer read as it takes place in Palm Springs 🌴.
I also heard there’s a sequel coming next month! I can’t wait to be back with Patrick, Grant, and Maisie 🥰.
This book is about Patrick, who has to suddenly take temporary guardianship of his niece and nephew, 6-year-old Grant, and 9-year-old Maisie. The kids in this book were just so cute! I loved the relationship that Patrick had with them. It was really wholesome!
This was just a heartwarming and touching read! I adored it. It has the perfect vibes for a summer read as it takes place in Palm Springs 🌴.
I also heard there’s a sequel coming next month! I can’t wait to be back with Patrick, Grant, and Maisie 🥰.
Read
July 1, 2021DNF @ 41%
No connection to the characters, storyline or humour.
No connection to the characters, storyline or humour.
October 12, 2021
This was a fun story and was, at times, downright hilarious, especially when Guncle Patrick was interacting with his 6 y.o. nephew, Grant.
“Did you know snails can sleep for three years?”But it still took me the longest time to actually like Patrick's character, because he often came across as a superficial, pretentious, Hollywood queen, overflowing with decades of jaded cynicism.
“Did you know that forty percent of icebergs are penguin piss?”
Grant’s jaw dropped. “Is that true?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know?” He mussed Grant’s hair to make it look more stylish.
“Would you like a martini?”
“I’m six.”
“Is that a yes?”
My favorite parts of the book came once Patrick had uneasily fallen into the day-to-day rhythm of what temporarily parenting two young, grieving children entailed, then eventually growing to genuinely enjoy the chaos and seeming-endless questions that their presence added to his previously-stagnant existence.
“Why do you like boys?” Grant asked sourly, but with slightly more boredom than judgment.I really loved how helping the kids through the loss of their mother, and temporary absence of their father, also helped Patrick finally come to terms with the long ago loss of his own partner, Joe, which he hadn't forced himself to fully processes.
“I don’t know, why do you like pizza?”
“Because it tastes good in my mouth.”
Patrick wasn’t about to go anywhere near that.
Despite the death of the kids' mother, who was also Patrick's best friend, the tone of the story was mostly light, but there were times that the story proceeded a bit slower than I would've preferred, so it took me longer to finish than normal.
In regards to "feels", I was surprised that this story never truly gave me a gut punch, leaving all of the tissues firmly in the Kleenex box, which was slightly disappointing.
As for the romance, although "Emily" (*snort*, sorry, I mean Emory) was Patrick's occasional hookup, the story never went there in regards to them talking about their feelings or their future. Even though Emory did make an appearance in the epilogue, I would've liked if that had ended on a more defined, long-term note, but that's just my own personal preference.
Overall, I'd rate the book at around 4 stars and recommend it most to M/M readers who like stories with a slightly more "mainstream publisher / $15 buck" feel to them.
June 28, 2022
Read if you like:
❉ LGBTQIA+
✽ Uplifting books
❉ Family centered stories
❉ Humorous fiction
Summary: After Patrick O’Hara’s best friend/sister-in-law dies of cancer and her husband voluntarily enters rehab to get himself clean for his children, Patrick finds himself in charge of his 9-year-old niece Maisie and his 6-year-old nephew Grant for an entire summer. As he learns how to care for them and help them confront their grief, Patrick is also forced to come to terms with his own emotional struggles.
Thoughts: Wow. What a treasure this book is. From page one, I knew it was the feel good book I needed in my life. The ways in which GUP (an affectionately coined nickname short for Gay Uncle Patrick) interacts with his niece and nephew, almost as though they are shrunken adults, is the funniest aspect of this book and kept me bent over in stitches. “Honestly, it’s like you want me to have four chins. Guncle rule-What number are we on? Know your angles. Everyone has a good side. Even children, who should be photographable from all sides but aren’t.” By the end of the book we are given sixteen Guncle Rules in total, each one sillier than the next.
Although there is a lot of humor woven throughout this novel, ultimately it is a story about how we address, deal with, and overcome grief. As Patrick tries to help the children navigate the grief they feel over the loss of their mother, he is faced with overcoming his own grief over the loss of not only his best friend Sara, but also Joe, the man he wanted to spend his life with.
It is also about what makes a family, just that, a family. It is profoundly joyful to see how far Patrick comes towards wanting to be a part of a family and the ways in which he gives these children, who are now short a parent, a family member to believe in, and seek refuge with, even when they felt incredibly alone. My only qualm with this book is that we did not get more Patrick and Emory scenes, but maybe I am just being greedy.
As I like to do from time to time, I did an immersive read of “The Guncle”, reading the physical book while simultaneously listening to Steven Rowley narrate his work via audiobook. I cannot speak highly enough about the amazing job he did bringing his book to life. I am so thankful I took the recommendation and went ahead and bought the audiobook. I am sure I will be listening to this one again.
Needless to say I absolutely loved it and it is easily in my top reads of 2022. Do yourself a favor and check this one out immediately. You will not regret it. I in the meantime, have already bought the entirety of Rowley’s backlist and cannot wait to dive in.
❉ LGBTQIA+
✽ Uplifting books
❉ Family centered stories
❉ Humorous fiction
Summary: After Patrick O’Hara’s best friend/sister-in-law dies of cancer and her husband voluntarily enters rehab to get himself clean for his children, Patrick finds himself in charge of his 9-year-old niece Maisie and his 6-year-old nephew Grant for an entire summer. As he learns how to care for them and help them confront their grief, Patrick is also forced to come to terms with his own emotional struggles.
Thoughts: Wow. What a treasure this book is. From page one, I knew it was the feel good book I needed in my life. The ways in which GUP (an affectionately coined nickname short for Gay Uncle Patrick) interacts with his niece and nephew, almost as though they are shrunken adults, is the funniest aspect of this book and kept me bent over in stitches. “Honestly, it’s like you want me to have four chins. Guncle rule-What number are we on? Know your angles. Everyone has a good side. Even children, who should be photographable from all sides but aren’t.” By the end of the book we are given sixteen Guncle Rules in total, each one sillier than the next.
Although there is a lot of humor woven throughout this novel, ultimately it is a story about how we address, deal with, and overcome grief. As Patrick tries to help the children navigate the grief they feel over the loss of their mother, he is faced with overcoming his own grief over the loss of not only his best friend Sara, but also Joe, the man he wanted to spend his life with.
It is also about what makes a family, just that, a family. It is profoundly joyful to see how far Patrick comes towards wanting to be a part of a family and the ways in which he gives these children, who are now short a parent, a family member to believe in, and seek refuge with, even when they felt incredibly alone. My only qualm with this book is that we did not get more Patrick and Emory scenes, but maybe I am just being greedy.
As I like to do from time to time, I did an immersive read of “The Guncle”, reading the physical book while simultaneously listening to Steven Rowley narrate his work via audiobook. I cannot speak highly enough about the amazing job he did bringing his book to life. I am so thankful I took the recommendation and went ahead and bought the audiobook. I am sure I will be listening to this one again.
Needless to say I absolutely loved it and it is easily in my top reads of 2022. Do yourself a favor and check this one out immediately. You will not regret it. I in the meantime, have already bought the entirety of Rowley’s backlist and cannot wait to dive in.
April 28, 2023
“I'm sorry, I hate to be a pest,” Patrick started.
“Don't listen to him," Maisie interjected. “He loves to be a pest.”
Patrick kicked Maisie under the table, but he also couldn't help but be impressed. If he sent these kids back to Connecticut with enough snappy comebacks to populate a screwball comedy, the summer would not be a waste.
Patrick is a 40-something, former sitcom star who slowly retreated from life after the death of his partner and the end of his TV show. But when his best friend/sister-in-law passes away, Guncle Patrick agrees to take his 9-year-old niece Maisie and 6-year-old nephew Grant into his Palm Springs home for the summer. It’s a setup so simple yet rich with possibilities I’m surprised it hasn’t already been the plot of a movie or TV show.
The Guncle is as warm and funny as advertised. Patrick is an over-the-top personality, a bit like Jack from the show Will and Grace, very funny and snarky. There’s a lot of fish out of water comedy early in the story as Patrick tries to navigate the new responsibility of caring for his niece and nephew. But there’s more emotional depth as the story progresses. The three main characters are all dealing with death and grief, and helping his niece and nephew causes Patrick to begin to re-evaluate the life he’s been living, or not really living.
The Guncle reminded me quite a bit of the novel Less. Both are very funny, sweet books that revolve around a single gay man thrust into an unexpected adventure that causes him to take stock of his life. But the family dynamics and drama, and the subtle examination of being gay in America, really adds something here. Recommended, especially the audiobook, which was very well performed by the author.
August 2, 2021
Loved it!
Come meet Patrick, aka GUP, a most egotistical, self-centered, pompous former sitcom star who finds himself saddled with his niece and nephew after his beloved sister-in-law's death. There is very little to like about Patrick, and placing two suffering kids in his path seems like the mistake of the century. Patrick puts up a fine front in objection to taking the children but ultimately relents having no clue as to what that would entail.
Patrick, we later learn is no novice when it comes to grief having lost the love of his life, Joe, in a horrible car crash, which he survived. He hasn't been able to acknowledge the grief he has suffered and shut himself away in his home in Palm Springs. The children, Maisie and Grant, are traveling in unknown territory. Sure, they know their gunkle (gay uncle) but not well enough for a stay with him. The children, Maisie, so trying to grow up and Grant, so adorable with his lisp, worm their way into Patrick's heart and he begins to realize the meaning of caring for another, and the goodness of family. They endear themselves to him as they all go on to discover how to deal with grief and loss.
In the start of the story, I was not sure about moving forward. Patrick annoyed me big time. However, as the story progresses, we come to an understanding of Patrick, and his interactions with the children are often humorous but also serious. He and the children form an alliance where they find safety of acceptance within Patrick's care and love and in the end come about a peace with losing people they so tenderly loved.
Speaking of love, I did so love this story. It had elements of love, joy, sadness, and grief rolled into a story that made me feel happiness and delight that these three found in one another. It's a powerful thing this love that can pull us out of the depths of despair and makes one happy to be alive with a caring and loving family behind us. Definitely a strong recommendation for this adorable poignant story.
Come meet Patrick, aka GUP, a most egotistical, self-centered, pompous former sitcom star who finds himself saddled with his niece and nephew after his beloved sister-in-law's death. There is very little to like about Patrick, and placing two suffering kids in his path seems like the mistake of the century. Patrick puts up a fine front in objection to taking the children but ultimately relents having no clue as to what that would entail.
Patrick, we later learn is no novice when it comes to grief having lost the love of his life, Joe, in a horrible car crash, which he survived. He hasn't been able to acknowledge the grief he has suffered and shut himself away in his home in Palm Springs. The children, Maisie and Grant, are traveling in unknown territory. Sure, they know their gunkle (gay uncle) but not well enough for a stay with him. The children, Maisie, so trying to grow up and Grant, so adorable with his lisp, worm their way into Patrick's heart and he begins to realize the meaning of caring for another, and the goodness of family. They endear themselves to him as they all go on to discover how to deal with grief and loss.
In the start of the story, I was not sure about moving forward. Patrick annoyed me big time. However, as the story progresses, we come to an understanding of Patrick, and his interactions with the children are often humorous but also serious. He and the children form an alliance where they find safety of acceptance within Patrick's care and love and in the end come about a peace with losing people they so tenderly loved.
Speaking of love, I did so love this story. It had elements of love, joy, sadness, and grief rolled into a story that made me feel happiness and delight that these three found in one another. It's a powerful thing this love that can pull us out of the depths of despair and makes one happy to be alive with a caring and loving family behind us. Definitely a strong recommendation for this adorable poignant story.
August 9, 2021
Oh my heart! Steven Rowley's novel is frosé between covers. Funny and fizzy and outrageous. But the final message, of hope and healing and family and forgiveness, is everything. His understanding of grief is profound, and how could I not love a book that's a tribute to Auntie Mame--even down to the protagonist being named Patrick.
August 4, 2023
•| ⊱✿⊰ |• 5 Stars •| ⊱✿⊰ |•
História fabulosa, julguei que iria ser uma comédia divertida, e bem que eu necessitava de umas boas gargalhadas.
Mas é tão mais…
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
Fabulous story, thought it would be a fun comedy, and I could use a good laugh.
But it's so much more…
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
Patrick, TIG (tio gay) para Maisie e Grant, desde a morte de Joe que se limita a existir, para piorar, Sara, cunhada e melhor amiga, morre de cancro.
Greg, o seu irmão está viciado em comprimidos, foi a forma que ele encontrou para conseguir gerir toda a situação da doença da sua mulher.
Sara, antes de morrer, organizou tudo, as crianças iriam viver com Patrick para se curarem mutuamente, ninguém melhor que Patrick sabia a dor que é perder alguém que amamos profundamente.
Fez-me sorrir, fez-me chorar, fez-me soltar gargalhadas.
É de uma sensibilidade imensa.
Adorei!
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
”Patrick, GUP (gay uncle Patrick) to Maisie and Grant, since the death of Joe who just exists, to make matters worse, Sara, sister-in-law and best friend, dies of cancer.
Greg, his brother is addicted to pills, it was the way he found to be able to manage the whole situation of his wife's illness.
Sara, before she died, organized everything, the children would live with Patrick to heal each other, no one better than Patrick knew the pain it is to lose someone we love deeply.
It made me smile, it made me cry, it made me laugh.
It is immensely sensitive.
I loved!”
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
”A nossa amizade começou na escuridão.
Mas a vossa mãe?
Sempre foi a minha luz.”
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
”Our friendship began in darkness.
But your mother has always been my light.”
════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════ ⋆ ★ ⋆ ════
February 7, 2022
The Guncle has it all--humor, heartbreak, and chutzpah. I thought from the descriptions I read and the NPR review I heard that this was comical, plus the candy-colored cover led me in the lighthearted direction. It is witty and charming, but it is also a story about death and how we can deal with it so it doesn't overwhelm us. How we can do things to celebrated the person who died and actively think of them, but at the same time go on with life. If you told me this after losing my mother, I would have told you to go to the nether regions. I wouldn't have said it that nicely.
The Guncle is Gay Uncle Patrick who has lost his way. His lover Joe was killed in a car accident four years ago and he has retired from life in Palm Beach. He doesn't have to worry about money because he used to be on a popular sitcom. His best friend, Sara, married his brother and she has just succumbed to cancer, Patrick has been asked by his brother to take his children, Grant and Maisie for ninety days. Greg, their father, has turned to drugs to ease his pain as his wife is dying and now needs to go to rehab.
Patrick does not want to do this and tells everyone so who asks. He does. This is the story of the three months with an uncle who doesn't know his niece and nephew that well, but loved their mother Sara with all his heart and wants to help them deal with this cruel twist of fate.
The Guncle is Gay Uncle Patrick who has lost his way. His lover Joe was killed in a car accident four years ago and he has retired from life in Palm Beach. He doesn't have to worry about money because he used to be on a popular sitcom. His best friend, Sara, married his brother and she has just succumbed to cancer, Patrick has been asked by his brother to take his children, Grant and Maisie for ninety days. Greg, their father, has turned to drugs to ease his pain as his wife is dying and now needs to go to rehab.
Patrick does not want to do this and tells everyone so who asks. He does. This is the story of the three months with an uncle who doesn't know his niece and nephew that well, but loved their mother Sara with all his heart and wants to help them deal with this cruel twist of fate.
April 19, 2023
książka 'feel good' która łączy w sobie vibe:
• BoJacka
• Gravity Falls
reprezentacja:
• główny bohater jest gejem po 40-tce
• poliamoryczna para (mężczyźni, sąsiedzi, mega kochani ludzie)
• mini wspomnienie o osobie niebinarnej
• uzależnienie od leków
• wspomnienie o epidemii AIDS
• feminizm, pokazanie niefajnych niektórych działaczek feministycznych
• BoJacka
• Gravity Falls
reprezentacja:
• główny bohater jest gejem po 40-tce
• poliamoryczna para (mężczyźni, sąsiedzi, mega kochani ludzie)
• mini wspomnienie o osobie niebinarnej
• uzależnienie od leków
• wspomnienie o epidemii AIDS
• feminizm, pokazanie niefajnych niektórych działaczek feministycznych
Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,696 reviews