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therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, and Alcoholism
Death of partner, gay couple not able to be together in hospital, earthquake, toxic family relationshipkponturo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
excritos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
stevie_in_the_stacks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
I felt like this book was a little overhyped. I thought it was cute and had some poignant moments which were very sweet. I found the main character to be a bit pretentious and his gayness was over-exaggerated to make the story more flamboyant and colorful. The character seemed more a caricature of what it means to be a gay, white man in Hollywood/Palm Springs and that felt like an uncomfortable juxtaposition against the visceral way grief and loss was described in this novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cancer, Drug use, Grief, Car accident, Infidelity, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
ginadapooh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Addiction, Car accident, Death of parent, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
seawarrior's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The Guncle is a story that successfully balances humor with tragedy by exploring our protagonist's unresolved grief as he works to understand himself in order to understand his grieving niece and nephew. Despite these tough themes, the novel is ultimately a lighthearted one, characterized by a sunshine-y, idyllic tone. Patrick is a flawed protagonist, and one desperately out of touch with the world, yet he did endear himself to me as the book went on and we learned more about why he treats life as a stage with himself in the starring role. I appreciated the themes of how trauma warps ourselves until it warps our relationships with our families, and how we have a responsibility to be kind to ourselves so that we may be kinder to the next generation. Rowley was great at writing expanded descriptions of locations and emotions, and in supplying a joke whenever possible. While this story may feel unrelatable to many because of Patrick's wealth, I would still recommend it to other readers looking for more gay narratives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
redheadorganist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Homophobia
bookish_purrsuits's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
*Read for PopSugar's 2022 Challenge: A book featuring a party*
Took me a while to get into it, and the audiobook narration was a bit spotty. Ended up enjoying it by the end, but I'm not running out to buy this author's other books. Overall, a very sweet, but slightly forgettable read.
Took me a while to get into it, and the audiobook narration was a bit spotty. Ended up enjoying it by the end, but I'm not running out to buy this author's other books. Overall, a very sweet, but slightly forgettable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Homophobia
bandysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
The Guncle is a bittersweet story about a man named Patrick who is thrust headfirst into caring for his niece and nephew after tragedy strikes their family. Due to his own personal experience with tragedy, he seems to be just the right person to help the children through their experience. There’s only one problem. He doesn’t know how to care for children long term.
Patrick, or GUP (Gay Uncle Pat) as the kids call him, is initially a bit out of his depths, but quickly starts to figure out how to be a good fill-in parent. The relationship he builds with them is so sweet and at times sassy. I loved reading his interactions with his niece and nephew. There were moments that were light, like when he teaches them about brunch and moments that are heavier, when he is helping them through their grief. Either way, genuine love comes through.
I also appreciated that there was depth in Patrick’s story. While he’s a relatively famous actor and well-off, he has experienced some hard things that affect where he’s at in life. I love that as he helps the kids heal, he starts to recognize things within himself as well.
My only real critique is just that at points I wish the story had gone just a tiny bit deeper. But I think the goal was for this to be more of a feel-good story, which it definitely was.
All in all, if you want a sweet, easy read about family learning to love and accept each other, this is the book for you.
Patrick, or GUP (Gay Uncle Pat) as the kids call him, is initially a bit out of his depths, but quickly starts to figure out how to be a good fill-in parent. The relationship he builds with them is so sweet and at times sassy. I loved reading his interactions with his niece and nephew. There were moments that were light, like when he teaches them about brunch and moments that are heavier, when he is helping them through their grief. Either way, genuine love comes through.
I also appreciated that there was depth in Patrick’s story. While he’s a relatively famous actor and well-off, he has experienced some hard things that affect where he’s at in life. I love that as he helps the kids heal, he starts to recognize things within himself as well.
My only real critique is just that at points I wish the story had gone just a tiny bit deeper. But I think the goal was for this to be more of a feel-good story, which it definitely was.
All in all, if you want a sweet, easy read about family learning to love and accept each other, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia