The heartwarming book that literally every gay uncle needs to read: The Guncle by Steven Rowley
The Plot: Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is, honestly, overwhelmed.
So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting–even if temporary–isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.
And bonus alert! When you finish The Guncle, check out it’s sequel, The Guncle Abroad.
What readers are saying: “Laugh out loud funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Without a doubt, my favorite book I’ve read so far in 2024.” – Gabi on Amazon
“Steve Rowley has written such a wonderful book which is such a breath of fresh air that gives you hope for all that life has to offer. It is funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s stylish and it’s clever. But most of all it’s joyous. The comedy is off the charts funny, but the insights he has are so profound and moving.” – SebFox on Amazon