“Patrick had even hoped that he might perhaps learn from them. That they might know the path out and somehow light the way” (104).

This is one of those books that warms your heart while simultaneously ripping it out. It’s witty and savvy and full of emotion, balancing the drudgery of weighty grief and the oasis of elusive happiness.

Patrick, a semi-retired actor living an isolated life in Palm Springs, reluctantly agrees to take in his niece and nephew after his sister-in-law has passed away and his brother has checked himself into a drug rehab facility for 90 days. Patrick wants to continue living his arid lifestyle free from attachments and the risk of losing love—and loved ones (again). The summer learning from the kids and the kids learning from him —how to get out of the quicksand of grief ( )

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's quick, witty, fun, brought me to tears, and is easy to read. The Guncle is the type of book I found myself reading slower as the pages lessened; I didn't want it to end.

Steven Rowley weaves a clever tale about GUP, Gay Uncle Patrick, once on TV, still reasonably recognizable, who has escaped the lights and glam of LA to leave a somewhat reclusive life in Palm Springs. After the death of his best friend/sister-in-law, his brother requests Patrick to care for his 6 and 9-year-old while he attends rehab.

Begrudgingly, due to fear of raising the children for 9-months, Patrick agrees and the hilarity begins.

The Guncle is rife with easy banter between the 40-something Guncle and the highly inquisitive, mourning children, and while doing his best to assist the kiddos with their grief, Patrick learns his own lessons about navigating grief.

The messages are clear throughout the book: Be who you are, let others be who they are, and do it all without judgment. Perhaps for me, The Guncle struck a chord because I hope for my son to have an opportunity to shine with his future nieces and nephews the way Patrick does for Maise and Grant.

Read this. You're welcome. ( )

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Steven Rowley - The Guncle: Super compelling and funny (although the TV series pilot scene really fell flat for me). #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews ( )

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the writing. The story was predictable and the main character was very likeable. It was amusing and heartwarming. ( )

I adored Patrick, the protagonist in this story, and I adore Steven Rowley’s witty prose and snappy dialog, just as I did in his previous novel, The Editor. Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) is a famous actor who went into seclusion in Palm Springs, but when his sister-in-law (who is his best friend) dies from cancer and his brother is dealing with addiction, GUP is left in charge of his niece and nephew while their father is in rehab. He tries to keep things light, with his Guncle rules and jokes, in order to distract them from their grief, but also then helps them process it. ( )