The Guncle: Volume 1

Steven Rowley

May 2021 · THE GUNCLE Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor
National Bestseller • Wall Street Journal Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller
An NPR Book of the Year
Finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer.

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.

Ratings and reviews

As I read this book, here are the main adjectives that came to mind: sweet, funny, lightweight, predictable. The Guncle (standing for "gay uncle") is how Maisie and Grant refer to their Uncle Patrick, or "GUP" for "gay Uncle Patrick." He is their father's (Greg) brother but also their mother's (Sara) closest college friend. The story centers on a summer that Patrick (a somewhat famous but currently reclusive TV star) becomes primary caretaker of his niece and nephew at his bachelor's bungalow in Palm Springs. Author Steven Rowley's writing is informal and witty in a quite heavy-handed way. It got to the point (for me) that Uncle Patrick turned into a bit of a stereotype -- the looks-obsessed, self-indulgent, gay man who uses the "bon mot" to both hold attention and deflect intimacy. The story is not all fun and games and there is much more to Patrick than the stereotype gay man I just described -- but I don't want to give anything away. Just how Maisie, Grant, and Patrick learn to live together and how they change each other is the main point of the book. And that's how the story becomes both sweet and predictable. It's a light, fast read and I do recommend it to those interested.

This book kept me engaged, was delightful, comedic, and loving. I just recently became a guncle myself and I was looking for a book related to my personal life. I found this one and could not put it down. I felt so connected to Patrick and his family. I cried multiple times and laughed at the same time. The book itself was paced very well and was easy to read and follow. I am very much looking forward to the sequel to this book.

this book made me laugh, cry, and be enthralled from beginning to end. it's well worth your time.

About the author

Steven Rowley is the New York Times bestselling author of four novels: Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book; The Editor, an NPR Best Book of the Year; The Guncle, winner of the twenty-second Thurber Prize for American Humor and Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for Novel of the Year; and The Celebrants, a TODAY Show Read With Jenna book club pick. His fiction has been translated into twenty languages. He resides in Palm Springs, California.