Book Review: "The Guncle" by Steven Rowley
“The Guncle” by Steven Rowley
Synopsis: 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, overwhelmed.
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 acting 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.
Rating (out of 5): 4
Review: As someone with quite a few surrogate guncles, I was very excited to read “The Guncle.” I grew up in dance and musical theatre so I’ve always been surrounded by my fair share of fairy godfathers, and am eternally grateful for their influence on my life.
Gay Uncle Patrick, or GUP to his niece and nephew, has spent most of his life as an uncle flitting in and out of their lives. While he enjoys them specifically, and children generally, he hasn’t given much thought to spending an extended period of time with them. But when Maisie and Grant’s mother dies after a long battle with cancer, and their father opens up about his struggle with prescription drug abuse, Patrick is thrust into the role of temporary guardian.
While Patrick’s antics are fun for an uncle, the kids are in need of specialized support in the wake of their mother’s passing and the absence of their father. It’s a delight watching Patrick learn how to stop trying to learn to change the children, and to let them change him. He adapts, with more than a few speed bumps, into a wonderful surrogate parent.
Some more major obstacles are put in Patrick’s way: his sister challenges his guardianship and threatens the upheaval of the burgeoning family unit. Patrick is also dealing with grieving Maisie and Grant’s mom, who was his best friend before she married his brother, as well as the death years before of his great love. These explorations bring depth to this sweet and funny book—I was so pleased to witness Patrick’s growth from a fun-loving person who avoided introspection to a more actualized adult ready to open himself up to meaningful love.
TL;DR: A sweet and heartwarming bit of beach reading with plenty of sass and panache.
If you liked this; try:
“The Object of my Affection” by Stephen McCauley (Kindle)
“Akin” by Emma Donoghue (Bookshop | Kindle)
“My Ex-Life” by Stephen McCauley (Bookshop | Kindle)
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