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katie9787's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
pcarey1356's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
quixem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
okevamae's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so cute, guys. SO CUTE.
Patrick is a semi-reclusive former TV star living in Palm Springs who goes home for the funeral of his sister-in-law (and best friend). As soon as he arrives, his brother tells him a troubling secret he has been keeping – he's an addict, and he needs to go to rehab. And he wants Patrick to take care of his two kids while he’s there. Patrick, a commitment-phobe, is reluctant but agrees to take nine-year-old Maisie and six-year-old Grant for the summer. He finds the kids (who call him GUP, short for Gay Uncle Patrick) a little bit bewildering – they have so many questions! They don’t watch TV, only YouTube! And since when is “guncle” even a word?
This book has just the right amount of sweet family feelings to make it endearing without getting overly saccharine. It’s also funny, with Patrick’s sass and pop cultural references butting up against the obliviousness and innate funniness of children. The kids in this book are portrayed very realistically – they sound and act like kids, not like overly precocious small adults. And while the book is sweet and amusing, it also provides a touching exploration of grief. Patrick helps guide the kids through their grief and confusion, while they in turn help him heal from the still-raw grief of losing his partner years earlier. It also touches on the complexity of sibling relationships in a very realistic way, exposing the enduring love that can exist between adult siblings even though there may be tension stemming from old wounds.
The Guncle is sweet and tear-jerking and hilarious and just lovely. Highly recommended.
(I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. )
Patrick is a semi-reclusive former TV star living in Palm Springs who goes home for the funeral of his sister-in-law (and best friend). As soon as he arrives, his brother tells him a troubling secret he has been keeping – he's an addict, and he needs to go to rehab. And he wants Patrick to take care of his two kids while he’s there. Patrick, a commitment-phobe, is reluctant but agrees to take nine-year-old Maisie and six-year-old Grant for the summer. He finds the kids (who call him GUP, short for Gay Uncle Patrick) a little bit bewildering – they have so many questions! They don’t watch TV, only YouTube! And since when is “guncle” even a word?
This book has just the right amount of sweet family feelings to make it endearing without getting overly saccharine. It’s also funny, with Patrick’s sass and pop cultural references butting up against the obliviousness and innate funniness of children. The kids in this book are portrayed very realistically – they sound and act like kids, not like overly precocious small adults. And while the book is sweet and amusing, it also provides a touching exploration of grief. Patrick helps guide the kids through their grief and confusion, while they in turn help him heal from the still-raw grief of losing his partner years earlier. It also touches on the complexity of sibling relationships in a very realistic way, exposing the enduring love that can exist between adult siblings even though there may be tension stemming from old wounds.
The Guncle is sweet and tear-jerking and hilarious and just lovely. Highly recommended.
(I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. )
jillian_elizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
e11en's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Addiction
chaiteaandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed the author narrating his own book. The voices and inflections helped bring this book to life. While some parts were completely predictable, I enjoyed the realness of life creeping in. On the surface Patrick (and the book) seem like a shallow peek into a celebrity’s life. But if you stick with it, the realness comes through. Grief, anxiety, love, and all of the emotions are truly portrayed. GUP puts on that shiny veneer to protect himself, and we watch as that is decimated by a couple of children.
Patrick has been living alone in Palm Springs for the past handful of years and has been perfectly fine thank you. But when his best friend from college (also his sister-in-law) passes away, he thinks he can handle it. Until his brother tells him about his predicament. And how he wants Patrick to watch their two kids over the summer while he straightens everything out. His gut reaction is to say no, until his other family members say he can’t do it. Challenge accepted. He will dazzle them just like his Academy Award.
I enjoyed the author narrating his own book. The voices and inflections helped bring this book to life. While some parts were completely predictable, I enjoyed the realness of life creeping in. On the surface Patrick (and the book) seem like a shallow peek into a celebrity’s life. But if you stick with it, the realness comes through. Grief, anxiety, love, and all of the emotions are truly portrayed. GUP puts on that shiny veneer to protect himself, and we watch as that is decimated by a couple of children.
Patrick has been living alone in Palm Springs for the past handful of years and has been perfectly fine thank you. But when his best friend from college (also his sister-in-law) passes away, he thinks he can handle it. Until his brother tells him about his predicament. And how he wants Patrick to watch their two kids over the summer while he straightens everything out. His gut reaction is to say no, until his other family members say he can’t do it. Challenge accepted. He will dazzle them just like his Academy Award.
leannaharvey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this book. The characters were endearing and interesting. It was funny and full of family dynamics and the process of each person and the family system to deal with transition, loss, grief, support, differences, history, and the future.
areed99's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0