The Guncle

A book I’ve been hearing about a lot lately is The Guncle by Steven Rowley. The audiobook, in particular, has been recommended, in part because the author himself narrates it. He does a fabulous job! With Pride in full swing, as well as my June reading challenge of books about family, this was the perfect time to read it. And I’m so glad I did: The Guncle is an absolutely incredible novel.

Summary

Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) unexpectedly spends a summer babysitting his niece and nephew after their mother passes and their father (Patrick’s brother) has his own health crisis. This is Patrick’s first time in such a parental role, and despite his “Guncle Rules” for Maisie and Grant to follow, Patrick himself will have a lot to learn in caring for them. Patrick is also going through his own issues, from grieving his dead partner to grappling with the acting career he’s left behind. Through funny moments and emotional ones, Patrick, Maisie, and Grant are in for a life-changing summer.

Review

The Guncle is, first and foremost, a really fun novel. From start to finish, it’s infused with humor, especially in the interactions between Patrick and his niece and nephew. The dialogue between them is hilarious! When Patrick is suddenly in charge of caring for them for the summer, he really has no idea how to talk to kids, let alone comfort them and properly care for them. I confess that I don’t know how to talk to kids either, so I could relate!

Patrick is out of his realm at first, but I loved watching as he, Maisie, and Grant slowly come to understand each other. Their conversations are funny but ultimately build a foundation of true connection. Patrick has his rules, but he could learn a thing or two from Maisie and Grant, too.

For all the fun and games here, The Guncle is also very emotional. It’s about grief and loss, learning to process your feelings, and coming to terms with how drastically life has changed. Maisie and Grant have just lost their mother, Patrick’s best friend and sister-in-law. Patrick is also still grieving the death of his partner, Joe. It’s been years but he hasn’t moved on, and he’s let his acting career suffer for it. This book is a tear jerker as much as one that will make you laugh out loud.

Since he’s known as Gay Uncle Patrick, it’s clear that Patrick’s sexuality is a big part of his personality. Even so, it’s not done in a silly or gimmicky way. Patrick is portrayed with depth and complexity, from his more flamboyant side to the deep emotions he’s grappling with.

The Guncle is ultimately uplifting. Patrick passes on valuable lessons to Maisie and Grant, like how to be true to themselves and embrace adventure. He also comes back stronger himself. By the end, Patrick is ready to live and let people in again. In the face of so much loss and grief, this family emerges closer and stronger.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved The Guncle! I’d heard it was great, but it still managed to far exceed my expectations. It’s a heartfelt novel of family relationships, grief, and reconnecting with yourself, all wrapped in humor and a slowly evolving tenderness. This was such a fun read for my family reading challenge this month, as well as pride. The Guncle is a book I will recommend far and wide!

Get the Book

You can buy The Guncle here – it’s available as a hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Please note that the above link is an Amazon affiliate link and I may earn a commission on any purchases you make.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Audiobook Narrator	Steven Rowley
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Fiction
Setting	California
Length of Book	12 hours (326 pages)
Format I Read	Audiobook
Original Publication Date	May 25, 2021

Official Summary

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.