Steven Rowley

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's quick, witty, fun, brought me to tears, and is easy to read. The Guncle is the type of book I found myself reading slower as the pages lessened; I didn't want it to end.

Steven Rowley weaves a clever tale about GUP, Gay Uncle Patrick, once on TV, still reasonably recognizable, who has escaped the lights and glam of LA to leave a somewhat reclusive life in Palm Springs. After the death of his best friend/sister-in-law, his brother requests Patrick to care for his 6 and 9-year-old while he attends rehab.

Begrudgingly, due to fear of raising the children for 9-months, Patrick agrees and the hilarity begins.

The Guncle is rife with easy banter between the 40-something Guncle and the highly inquisitive, mourning children, and while doing his best to assist the kiddos with their grief, Patrick learns his own lessons about navigating grief.

The messages are clear throughout the book: Be who you are, let others be who they are, and do it all without judgment. Perhaps for me, The Guncle struck a chord because I hope for my son to have an opportunity to shine with his future nieces and nephews the way Patrick does for Maise and Grant.

Read this. You're welcome.… (lisätietoja)

I was not as enamored with this installment as I was with the first installment of this series? mini-series? I'm not sure what it is or is going to be!

While The Guncle was a book about growth, emotions, and having faith in oneself, I found this book to be one of selfishness. Although I can understand some of it on Maisies' side (her age gives her a tiny break from me), everyone else just seemed more worried about themselves and filled with deep introspection at all times.

The first book reminded me a lot of Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade, and in my opinion, that is what made the book ideal. This book just got bogged down in all of the "poor me" garbage. Yes, we did have an interesting HEA, but I wish I hadn't had to be as depressed as I was to get to it.

I recommend this book, but not as wholeheartedly as I recommend the first one.

*ARC supplied by the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, the author, and Edelweiss. My thanks.… (lisätietoja)