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A review by taelights
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book so much. It was such a beautiful story about family and grief that also contained such beautiful and unapologeticly gay representation.
Patrick was such a great character. Getting to learn more about his past was so interesting. Plus seeing how grief shaped his life and family begun to mend it was such a beautiful story to read.
Plus both the children (Grant and Maisie) were both such adorable characters and seeing their story after loosing their mother was so sad but heartwarming in places.
I also adored the side characters in this story a lot. I thought it was especially amazing to see gay polyamorous representation in a book because I've never seen that before. Patrick did start off judgemental about his neighbor's relationship but I thought it was nice to see his perspective begin to change and for him to become closer friends with them. I still wish Patrick ended up with the three of them because that would have been my perfect ending is him moving on from his loss and finding love somewhere he never expected but I am still very happy with the actual ending.
The only thing I didn't like about the book is how the author choose to write out Grant's lisp whenever he talked. As a reader with dyslexia it made it a bit challenging for me to understand what he was saying at times and I would often have to sit their trying to figure out what the word actually was. I wish the author had just mentioned his lisp a few times rather than actually writing it out nearly every speaking line Grant had.
Overall this book was a perfect mix of funny, sad, and heartwarming moments. I adored this book and all the characters so much.
Patrick was such a great character. Getting to learn more about his past was so interesting. Plus seeing how grief shaped his life and family begun to mend it was such a beautiful story to read.
Plus both the children (Grant and Maisie) were both such adorable characters and seeing their story after loosing their mother was so sad but heartwarming in places.
I also adored the side characters in this story a lot. I thought it was especially amazing to see gay polyamorous representation in a book because I've never seen that before. Patrick did start off judgemental about his neighbor's relationship but I thought it was nice to see his perspective begin to change and for him to become closer friends with them. I still wish Patrick ended up with the three of them because that would have been my perfect ending is him moving on from his loss and finding love somewhere he never expected but I am still very happy with the actual ending.
The only thing I didn't like about the book is how the author choose to write out Grant's lisp whenever he talked. As a reader with dyslexia it made it a bit challenging for me to understand what he was saying at times and I would often have to sit their trying to figure out what the word actually was. I wish the author had just mentioned his lisp a few times rather than actually writing it out nearly every speaking line Grant had.
Overall this book was a perfect mix of funny, sad, and heartwarming moments. I adored this book and all the characters so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, and Drug use
Minor: Alcoholism
All deaths are off screen but the death of parent/best friend and also the past death of a lover shape the characters choices.