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sblanch12 's review for:
The Guncle
by Steven Rowley
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this for the 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge Prompt #35 - A book centering LGBTQ+ characters that isn't about coming out. In that vein, 5 stars for the book. Patrick just was who he was, and he happened to be gay. Refreshing since a lot of LGBTQ+ media is quite sad when coming out and/or accepting oneself is a major theme.
Outside of that, I give the book 3.75 stars. It was a tad long, especially in the final chapters when it was clear how things were going to end for each part of Patrick's life. In fact, it was quite obvious from the beginning what was going to happen by the end, because this story has been told before. But it was still enjoyable to read a even funny a few times. I listed to the audiobook and I enjoyed that the author did the voice-over himself.
I cannot let Patrick's weaponized incompetence related to technology slide. Assuming this book takes place around 2019 when it was written, and Patrick is 43 years old, I find it absolutely unbelievable that he doesn't know what YouTube is or how to search it, let alone manage his page. It makes him a millennial, like me, so it is practically impossible that he is so intentionally removed from the social media in the book. I saw that the author is 10 years older himself, which would make more sense, but Patrick would have had social media in his formative years given the established timeline. I also thought many of the pop culture references were dated, hardly touching anything in the 2000s (Britney Spears!?) that would have been during Patrick's twenties and likely rather formative as he came into his own person and identity.
Outside of that, I give the book 3.75 stars. It was a tad long, especially in the final chapters when it was clear how things were going to end for each part of Patrick's life. In fact, it was quite obvious from the beginning what was going to happen by the end, because this story has been told before. But it was still enjoyable to read a even funny a few times. I listed to the audiobook and I enjoyed that the author did the voice-over himself.
I cannot let Patrick's weaponized incompetence related to technology slide. Assuming this book takes place around 2019 when it was written, and Patrick is 43 years old, I find it absolutely unbelievable that he doesn't know what YouTube is or how to search it, let alone manage his page. It makes him a millennial, like me, so it is practically impossible that he is so intentionally removed from the social media in the book. I saw that the author is 10 years older himself, which would make more sense, but Patrick would have had social media in his formative years given the established timeline. I also thought many of the pop culture references were dated, hardly touching anything in the 2000s (Britney Spears!?) that would have been during Patrick's twenties and likely rather formative as he came into his own person and identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts