Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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 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.

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.

Review:

I have read both of Steven Rowley's previous books, and each one was a completely different from the other.  The only thing they had in common was that each had a gay main character.  The Guncle, Rowley's newest offering, also has a gay main character.  But that is nearly the only thing that is similar.  While this book is funny as can be, it is a deep look into grief.  But the novel is not a downer.  With an array of wonderful characters, this is a highly entertaining book.  This would be a wonderful summer read.

What I Liked:

Premise:

Patrick (I've got to think his name is an homage to the Rosalind Russell movie, Auntie Mame) is a semi-retired television star, living in Palm Springs.  His college best friend, Sara, has been married to his brother, Greg, but has recently died of cancer.  Everyone is reeling from grief, especially Greg and his two kids.  With Greg headed to rehab, Patrick will be taking the kids to Palm Springs for the Summer.  While the premise is similar to many other works (Diane Keaton's Baby Boom comes to mind), there is much more going on than someone starting to appreciate kids.

Helping the kids through the grieving process will also force Patrick to confront the death of his boyfriend, who died some years ago in a car accident.  His whole current lifestyle (living away from L.A., not driving, not dating) boils down to his guilt and depression over losing the love of his life.  How can he be happy, how can he find any meaning, when the person who meant most to him is dead?  He's going to need to figure it out, because this is also what Greg and the kids are thinking about too.

Characters:

Patrick, on the surface, seems like he as it all.  He's had great success on a T.V. show and has made enough money to walk away from Hollywood.  He has convinced himself that, although he is only in his early forties, he is tired of acting.  He's not lonely, really.  He just doesn't really like people.  But the kids force him to face the truth.  Life is passing him by.  

I loved the Guncle "rules" that Patrick imparts on Maisie and Grant. And he really loves his niece and nephew, that much is clear.  

John, Patrick's next door neighbor and part of a polyamorous trio, is an amazing character.  He is older, and has had many life experiences.  He always seems to have a smart bit of advice for Patrick.  I loved that John and his two partners have a happy, loving relationship.  It was refreshing to see this kind of relationship presented in a book.

Story:

Summer is often a magical time for kids.  There are swim lessons, summer camps, new friendships, and new experiences to have.  For Maisie and Grant, Patrick is the ultimate camp counselor, organizing experiences to cheer up the kids, and help them deal with their loss.  Their little bubble is burst when Patrick's sister, Clara, comes out to California from the East Coast, determined to take charge.  This is where the story gets even more interesting, as we see the family history behind the tensions between Patrick and Clara.  There's a lot of reckoning happening in this story.  And that's what makes the story very satisfying.

Sibling Relationships:

In most stories, there is one massive incident that causes a rift between siblings.  One of the things that really struck me in The Guncle was how all the little micro-aggressions between Patrick and Clara add up to more hostility than one would believe.  I've seen this between siblings in real life.  But I haven't seen it in a book before.  The realism helps ground the story.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 25th, 2021

Author:  Steven Rowley

Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons

Genre:  Literary Fiction

Page Length:  336 Pages

Source:  Edelweiss

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  Another winner from Steven Rowley.  This is a really entertaining book.