The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Heartwarming and bittersweet, The Guncle (2019) by Steven Rowley will grab you from the start. Patrick, or “Gay Uncle Patrick” as his 9-year-old niece and 6-year-old nephew call him, is out of his element as their temporary caregiver. The trio, struggling with grief for their recent loss (the children’s mother, who is Patrick’s college best friend and sister-in-law), is figuring out how to navigate this new (albeit temporary) life together. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious one-liners, yet grounded in a serious topic and loving relationships, The Guncle is a novel to savor. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and ultimately know that everything’s going to be okay… even if not in the way we imagined.

This novel reminded me of Be Frank with Me (2016) by Julia Claiborne Johnson, which features a quirky child, a reclusive author, and that mix of an amusing and moving story.

And if you are ready for more adventures, The Guncle Abroad will be released in late May!