Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Guncle
Guncle | Steven Rowley
A National Bestseller An NPR Book of the YearFinalist 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. So when tragedy strikes and Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian, he is, honestly, overwhelmed. 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. But when his waggish set of Guncle Rules no longer appease Maisie and Grant's parental void, 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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Acoleman
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Sad, but heart warming. Funny but meaningful. This one runs the full gamut of emotions.

AmyG Loved this one so much. 1mo
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Cortg
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

I ADORED this book! Patrick‘s a Hollywood star taking a hiatus when his best friend and sister-in-law passes away from cancer. His brother informs him he‘s become an addict during Sarah‘s illness, is checking into rehab and wants Gay Uncle Patrick to take the kids to California during his rehab. It‘s a story about love, family, relationships and moving forward AND it‘s delightfully comical. Rowley narrates the audio and it‘s the best!

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This was so good! I pre-ordered the sequel on Audible. 💛 1mo
Cortg @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I can‘t wait for the sequel!!!! 1mo
44 likes2 comments
review
mjtwo
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

22-26 Jan 24 (audiobook)
This is lots of fun but still manages to impart some interesting ideas about grief and family.
Patrick, a former sitcom star and Golden Globe winner, has not dealt with the grief of losing his partner to a drunk driver. He lives an isolated existence in Palm Springs until his recently widowed brother enters rehab and asks Patrick to look after his two kids.
This will make a great film - hope it gets made.

16 likes1 stack add
review
Roary47
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Mehso-so

3✨ This book had humor and raw emotion balancing it out. I liked the story and Patrick. The kids were really cute. Plus their relationship was so sweet as it developed. A lot happened to create drama, but by the end I was feeling underwhelmed from the hype I‘ve seen. It was hitting on so many different topics by the end that for me it just seems too much. Overall, a great read with good messages normal grief, and just being you. #snowedin

Roary47 @Clwojick @PuddleJumper This was the last one suggest. 2mo
PuddleJumper Yay! 2mo
28 likes2 comments
review
Lizwarnerpdx
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
Pickpick

Such a heartwarming story of a gay uncle helping his niece & nephew through a really terrible time. The “guncle rules” are great life lessons too.

quote
Roary47
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

“There shouldn‘t even be boy things, and girl things.” Yes!!!🙌 💯

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Love this book! I pre-ordered the sequel. 2mo
20 likes1 comment
blurb
steph_phanie
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

This was a huge year of reading for me! My resolution to just read every single day really paid off! Although there were days I read as a little as one poem or one paragraph, I never missed a day. That resulted in 88 completed books! I normally do a Reading Roundup over on Facebook but I have no idea how to do it for this many titles!

I think my favorite book was the tagged title. It wasn't the best book, but it was so good and so heartwarming.

TieDyeDude 💪🎉 3mo
13 likes1 comment
review
Read4life
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

My husband and I loved this heartwarming, funny, dealing with grief book. The audiobook narration was fantastic. I‘m looking forward to the sequel next year.
#RoadTripReads #BookSpinBingo #readyourTBR #Roll100 #RushAThon #SummerEndReadathon

ShananigansReads There‘s a sequel!?!? I still think about this book a lot so this makes me so excited. 6mo
AmyG I loved this audiobook! 6mo
Julsmarshall I‘m so excited about the sequel-Guncle Abroad! 6mo
See All 7 Comments
Jemgirl2014 I didn‘t know there is a sequel! Looking it up now. Thanks for the review! 6mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 6mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 6mo
Andrew65 Looks good, well done 👏👏👏 6mo
64 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
Evita
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
Mehso-so

2 out of 5

blurb
marleed
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

So a new cover reveal of an upcoming sequel just made my day a bit more fabulous!

suvata I really enjoyed the first one 6mo
julesG Ooooooohhh!! Can't wait! 6mo
AmyG Oooooo! 6mo
See All 8 Comments
Silverneurotic I am super excited for this! 6mo
Soubhiville Oh fun! 6mo
marleed @suvata @julesG @AmyG @Silverneurotic @Soubhiville I‘m so exited for this journey to continue that I preordered it today, and it doesn‘t release until May 2024! 6mo
Cupcake12 I loved the first one! 6mo
marleed @Cupcake12 Me too! 6mo
68 likes8 comments
blurb
HeyT
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

#BookReport
Managed to get back on the audiobook for the commute wagon and was pleased with the tagged as my first book back. Still keeping up with GoTChapterADay as well

#Weekly Forecast
My goal this week is to get deeper into the Orphan's Tales and maybe start Immortality Thief as well as it's my book club pick for the month.

review
HeyT
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

This was a humorous look at grief of a loved one and coming back into oneself. I did this in the audio and the narration by the author was fantastic.

review
BeeMagical
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Book 152📚 5⭐️

I loved this so so much!! It is so cute and heartwarming😭❤️

Gup is amazing and the kids are so adorable it hurts!

Everyone should read this one, it totally deserves its hype.

43 likes1 stack add
blurb
Magpiegem
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

The sun is shining!!!!! Quite the rarity this summer. Hoping to finish this lovely, summery book today. Ready to start a new book for my holiday in France 😊

AmyG This was a funny, lovely read. Enjoy! 7mo
35 likes1 comment
blurb
Eggs
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

#UncleAunt (gay uncle in this case: Guncle)

#SummerSpecial

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 💛 8mo
49 likes2 comments
review
The.Great.Catsby
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

I have never laughed so much while reading a book. I have also never had to long tap so many words to find out what they mean while reading a book.
Patrick takes his niece and nephew for the summer and has no idea what he is doing. But also knows exactly what he is doing. A lighthearted read with a darker undertone. This was so enjoyable, I didn't want it to end. Loved this story and Patrick as a character.
🦩🦩🦩🦩

07.12.23

AmyG Same here! I listened to it and my husband kept asking me what was so funny. This would make such a wonderful movie. 8mo
The.Great.Catsby @AmyG it absolutely would!! Let's manifest that! 8mo
36 likes2 comments
review
Eggs
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

This was so well written! With themes of loss, regret, sibling tension, friendship, grief, hope, acceptance, and love. Rowley creates credible characters, and authentic dialogue and emotions. It has universal appeal and a poetic feel to it, with neither cliches nor stereotypes 🩷🩷

#Pantone2023 @Clwojick

steph_phanie One of my favorite books this year! 9mo
74 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
steph_phanie
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Some things come back to life."

Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, affectionately), a former TV star, finds himself caring for his niece and nephew after the passing of their mother. By helping them navigate their grief, he learns to navigate his own. He soon begins to question the choices and excuses he's been hiding behind.

An adorable & touching story! I wanted to join this family in their star-gazing, pool-floating, and heart-healing fun.❤️

review
ncsufoxes
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

This was my first book I‘ve read by Rowley but definitely not my last. A fun, quick summer read. There are lots of lighthearted moments but does touch on a lot of difficult subjects (death of parent, death of partner, others not being accepting of a relationship, drug addiction). Patrick is caring for his niece & nephew after the death of their mother. He worries that he is not taking care of them like their parents would or helping them grieve

ncsufoxes properly. But through helping them work through his grief Patrick is able to work through his past grief. I also love the ways in that he teaches both kids to be accepting & loving of who they are individually. #bookspin book 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 9mo
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

After Black Butterflies I needed something lighter, and this fit the bill perfectly. Sweet and touching, I laughed a lot and cried a little.

Jen2 Such a delightful book 9mo
67 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
GidgetsTreasures75
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

6-20-23: My 68th finished book of 2023! I loved this one! When Patrick‘s brother finds himself dealing with a major loss and then some, he enlists Patrick to watch his two children for the summer at his Palm Springs home. Patrick, a famous sitcom actor, has been living out of the spotlight for the last 4 years, then Maisie-9 and Grant-6 come into his life and change it for the better. They call him GUP-Gay Uncle Patrick or Guncle. Heartwarming 💖

GidgetsTreasures75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣8️⃣ 9mo
16 likes1 comment
review
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

🎧📖 I loved this so much. A heartwarming story about family and grief. I found myself laughing out loud quite a bit, a lot of hilarious quips. #pridemonth

steph_phanie I just finished this and LOVED it! One of my favorite books this year. ❤️ 9mo
93 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
CBee
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

WHY did I wait so long to read this? I just loved it and wanted it to go on forever. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, hilarious, and just a balm for my weary soul. I‘d love to read more of his work (but not Lily and the Octopus, because I have an elderly dachshund and just, no thank you 😢😢).

Prairiegirl_reading I have read Lily and the octopus and definitely don‘t read that. I listened to it on audio and sobbed while driving. 10mo
KathyWheeler One of the the things that really stood out for me in this book is when he takes his niece bathing suit shopping. I loved that he didn‘t force her into something she was uncomfortable in. 10mo
CBee @Prairiegirl_reading when I heard what it was about I was immediately, NOPE. My sweet baby is 15 and nope, can‘t do it 😭 10mo
CBee @KathyWheeler YES! That was the best. I just loved everything about it. 10mo
KathyWheeler @CBee I did too. 10mo
86 likes5 comments
review
kimmypete1
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Loved this one! Lots of funny moments as this family works through grief and family discord.

review
Cathyloves2read
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

I adored this book. I felt like I grew to know and love the “Guncle” character. I have two sibling grandchildren who are the same ages as the children in this story, so I could really relate. They also happen to be a boy and a girl. I listened to part if this book via audiobook. The narrator was wonderful. I can easily see this book made into a television series someday.

review
rwmg
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Mehso-so

Patrick takes in his niece and nephew for the summer after their mother dies and their father goes into rehab.

I suspect this book wants to be this generation's “Auntie Mame“ but it can't make up its mind whether it's a screwball comedy or a “grouch redeemed by kids“ story. I nearly abandoned it a couple of times when it teetered on the edge of the super-saccharine. It did have its amusing moments but it's not as funny as I thought it would be.

bthegood I also thought this was so -so - I felt it was very predictable, not as funny as I thought it would be but could not place my finger on the exact issue for me - I think your “Auntie Mame“ comparison and stories confusion between screwball/grouch nailed it for me - thanks for the review. 🙂 (edited) 10mo
batsy "teetered on the edge of the super-saccharine"—thanks for the review, that's how I know it's probably not for me either. 10mo
Tamra Like @batsy, doesn‘t sound like wheelhouse either. Great review! 10mo
28 likes3 comments
review
Krdugan
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
Pickpick

4.5/5
Light, funny read. Perfect for a beach/pool read. Lightly touches on family interactions, grief, death, drug addiction, and persecution. Loved the theme of being true to yourself and living out your life without fear.

review
Sarahreadstoomuch
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Oh this book ❤️❤️ the audio was amazing - I was laughing and crying everyday driving too and from work. So much fun and so much heart.

blurb
LeslieO
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Loved The Guncle and looking forward to Rowley‘s new book The Celebrants. #LGBTQasMC #MarchMagic

Karisa Oh! That was such a good book! It has all the feels—tears, laughs—💗💗💗 12mo
Eggs Perfect 🤩 12mo
marleed Oh me too. I have it pre-ordered along with the tagged! 12mo
47 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
BkClubCare
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Perhaps it is unusual to post a recipe (in comments) for Snowman Pie to review a book set in Palm Springs CA. However, this book has been placed in contention for Care‘s Books & Pie “Pie in Literature” Award for 2023. Silliness, right? The best kind! I adored this book - smartly done, hit all the buttons that makes a great reading experience: humor and heart. And pie!
#LitPie #ReadICT category LGBTQ+

44 likes1 comment
quote
BkClubCare
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

#CaresPieShow #PieinLit #iLovePie

Even with her unorthodox taste in desserts, pie seemed like a bridge too far. “Pie is hot. Too hot for summer.”

“One of every cold pie we can find and then everybody will have a choice. Satisfied?
Thnowman pie.
Snowman pie? What‘s that?
Grant shrugged. “It just sounded good.”

blurb
BkClubCare
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
willaful Oh, I loved this one. 12mo
dabbe Dat sweet, sweet face! ❣️🐾❣️ 12mo
BkClubCare @dabbe - but that is his “you are annoying me, MOTHER” look 👀!!! 12mo
55 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
TheLudicReader
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

@Deblovestoread gifted me this book eight (eight!) months ago. It was this month's #doublespin. I enjoyed the story about gay uncle Patrick tasked with looking after his young niece and nephew after their mother's death. A bit schmaltzy, but lots of fun, too.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 12mo
36 likes1 comment
blurb
TheLudicReader
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Tagged by @dabbe ❤️
1. Tagged book. I have also been reading Redemption Prep by Samuel Miller
2. Carolyn Slaughter, Helen Dunmore, Helen Humphreys, Nikki Gemmell, Kathryn Harrison, Lisa Reardon, Lisa Jewell, Ann Patchett, Celeste Ng
3. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

@rachelsbrittain

dabbe 🥰 Letter coming your way soon! 13mo
23 likes1 comment
blurb
TheLudicReader
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Current situation on the second to last day of my March Break. 😢

dabbe Da sweetest kitty! ❣️🐾❣️ Enjoy the weekend. 🤗 13mo
Sarahreadstoomuch Reading that soon with one of my book groups! 13mo
38 likes2 comments
quote
peanutnine
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡🤍🧡 13mo
Eggs Thoughtful and true 💔 13mo
40 likes2 comments
review
katiekat311
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

Little dude is really into Curious George, giving me time to finish this #AuldLangSpine read. What a glorious gem of a book. It has a charm to it. It‘s tender in ways you wouldn‘t imagine, it‘s written lighthearted even though there are moments of heavy grief. It‘s about love, passion, finding your way through dark. The characters, the story, everything about this I loved entirely. Thank you @BarkingMadRead ❤️
Bonus: this is a #Roll100 for Feb!

BarkingMadRead I‘m glad you loved it!! 1y
marleed My two year old grand twins spend one overnight a week with me. My grandson insists that he fall asleep beside a ‘Monkey George‘ book! 1y
PuddleJumper That's great! 1y
19 likes3 comments
blurb
katiekat311
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

I won‘t be surprised if I read more because @BarkingMadRead has some amazing picks, but here is what I am committing to for SURE. Thank you for such a phenomenal #AuldLangSpine list, I am looking forward to diving in!

BarkingMadRead Enjoy!!!! 1y
monalyisha I thought The Lost Ticket looked so cute! 1y
12 likes2 comments
review
MicheleinPhilly
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

This, on the other hand, was delightful and the most perfect holiday read. I haven‘t read Rowley in the past because I‘m fearful of how animals fare in his stories but this was the perfect blend of snark and sweet.

TrishB Still to read! 1y
Prairiegirl_reading Lily and the octopus is exactly what you fear it might be. It‘s good but my heart may never recover. 1y
MicheleinPhilly @Prairiegirl_reading Yeah, I‘m skipping that. 1y
Prairiegirl_reading @MicheleinPhilly wise choice. I don‘t know what made me do it. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1y
60 likes4 comments
blurb
MicheleinPhilly
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

This‘ll do. ☺️

TrishB Good birthday view 🎉🎉 1y
squirrelbrain Stop showing off! 🤣 1y
LeahBergen You lucky duck! 1y
See All 13 Comments
LeahBergen And a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY, darlin‘! 😘😘 1y
Clwojick I adored this book! Enjoy! 1y
BarbaraBB Wow! That is perfect! And wishing you a fantastic birthday 💝 1y
MicheleinPhilly @LeahBergen Thank you, love! 😘 1y
MicheleinPhilly @BarbaraBB Thank you, Barbara! 😘 1y
Bookzombie Happy Birthday! 🧁🥳 1y
MicheleinPhilly @Bookzombie Thanks Margie! 1y
eanderson Happy belated birthday!!!! Enjoy vacation!!! 🎂🎉🎉🎉 1y
MicheleinPhilly @eanderson Thank you Elisabeth! ☺️ 1y
65 likes13 comments
quote
catsuit_mango
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Reading the Guncle because of Litsy :)
I might need to apply some Guncle rules myself.

9 likes1 stack add
review
Hillea2
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
Pickpick

I listened to this one read by the author which I‘m glad I did because I felt like he read the characters exactly as they should be. I would‘ve like a little more depth in this one but it was a good mindless listen.

review
Mrs_B
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve had my eye on this for a while and so couldn‘t resist when it was only 99p on kindle.
This is a sweet tale of grief and family, mixed with a good dose (doth according to Grant) of humour. Rowley creates unique characters that you can‘t help adoring.
It does gloss over some of the harder aspects of grief, but as a sweet story I liked it.

69 likes2 stack adds
review
Kenyazero
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image
Pickpick

This book finds a good balance between over the top humor, parenthood, and grief. It was fun reading all the ways Pat tries to connect with the kids and fails, and watching him work through his grief. He does read like a gay type-character from a comedy movie, though, and I wish the kids got a little more characterization. We don't really see them deal with their grief and they feel like they stop being people when not on screen. #LGBTQ #Grief

blurb
Cinfhen
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

#ManicMonday
📕Guncle
✍🏻 Malcom Gladwell
📺 Golden Girls
🎤 Genesis
🎵 Gold to Glass https://youtu.be/SCecPSVr-XE

@CBee @Allylu

CBee Happy Monday! 😊 2y
Cinfhen Thanks @CBee You too😁 2y
55 likes2 comments
blurb
BarkingMadRead
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Rainbow bath bomb to finish the Guncle, perfection!

56 likes3 stack adds
blurb
BarkingMadRead
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

Gotta get started on this month‘s book club choice for my neighborhood book club! A huge turnaround from Dorian Gray!

BiblioLitten If Dorian Gray was your last read then this is definitely a huge turn around. 😊 2y
61 likes3 stack adds1 comment
quote
Smrloomis
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

So far so good… and sometimes funny like: “He soaked his reply in so much sarcasm it might as well have been a teenager experimenting with cologne.”

blurb
Teresereading
The Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

#ArtfulAugust #avoidance
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
GUP has been avoiding some big issues

Eggs 💙❤️💛 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I can‘t wait to read this!! 2y
26 likes2 comments
blurb
BarkingMadRead
Guncle | Steven Rowley
post image

My September #bookspin is done! @TheAromaofBooks the tagged book is my neighborhood book club selection, but I removed Northanger Abbey because the #Pemberlittens are reading that in October and I added my #roll100 books to the list but they aren‘t in the pic! Whew!

TheAromaofBooks I also have a lot of buddy and challenge reads coming and going!!! 😂 2y
41 likes1 comment