The Guncle Review

I’ve completed the next book on my books to read in 2022 list, and this one is called “The Guncle” by Steven Rowley.  I’m glad this one happened to fall over the summer because it’s precisely that kind of read, and I enjoyed it all the way through. This lighthearted, story had just the right balance of plotline and comedy to keep me going back to it and chuckling out loud to myself now and again.

My Review of The Guncle

The Guncle (which stands for Gay Uncle), is about a man named Patrick – also known as Gay Uncle Patrick, or GUP, for short.  He’s a has-been actor who does love his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, and does enjoy time with them when they visit him in Palm Springs or when he visits them in Connecticut, but who really isn’t prepared to actually watch over them for any length of time.

I’ll try to avoid any spoilers as much as possible here.  You won’t find anything in this review that you wouldn’t see in the book description or at Goodreads.  Still, if you’re someone who doesn’t like to know a single thing about a book before you read it, you might want to stop here because I am going to talk very lightly about the overall plot, even if it isn’t giving too much detail, particularly about how things end.

Hilarious, Heartwarming, and Perfect for Summer Reading

The Guncle couldn’t have been less prepared when he found himself having to watch over Maisie and Grant on his own.  He did create a solid set of “Guncle Rules”, but they didn’t quite work out in reality the way he had expected.

The outcome was a fun and fantastic story that had me just falling in love with the kids and Patrick at the same time.  They brightened my mood every time I picked up the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend the hours with them.  It wasn’t a very long book, so it didn’t need much of a time commitment, but it was perfect for lounging outside on hot days with a cool drink while enjoying some of the summertime (before I’d head back into the AC!).

I found the book quite touching in parts and was thrilled with how genuine the interactions felt among the characters.  I even found myself tearing up a bit in parts, which felt pretty good. I always enjoy a good cry from a book or movie. The Guncle gave me the best kind.