The Guncle

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer. The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.

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Published Apr 5, 2022

368 pages

Average rating: 7.71

816 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Guncle* by Steven Rowley is a heartwarming, funny, and tender story about grief, family, and unexpected caretaking. They praise the v...

lulutripp
Mar 16, 2025
10/10 stars
This was so fun and charming - it was exactly what I was looking for in a comfort read for the gray winter days.
Denise Lauron
May 19, 2024
10/10 stars
I loved it! I had this book sitting on my TBR list for ages and finally picked it up because a bookclub was about to read it. I didn't make the deadline or the bookclub meeting, but I still felt it was worth reading.

There were so many funny lines in it. I found myself laughing out loud so many times. I don't mean to say that it was a fluffy comedic book, because it did have a lot of touching moments in it.

I loved it and would recommend it highly.
Margie Pettersen
Oct 27, 2025
8/10 stars
What's not to love about gay Uncle Patrick? He's cool and let's the kids eat cotton candy for dinner. He is also coping with the loss of the love of his life and his acting career is stalled. After his brother's wife dies and their father is forced into rehab, Patrick finds himself caring for his nephew and niece, ages 6 and 9. It is quite an adjustment for all of them and learning how to parent these children does not come easy. There are humorous escapades, heartwarming scenes, and much more. How do you talk to young children about death in a way they will understand, yet be comforted? Patrick is one of those unforgettable characters that you will never forget. Recommended.
Dianna (Deedee) Finisecy
Oct 05, 2025
8/10 stars
Wonderful yet bittersweet story of heartache told with humor, resilience, and love.
Mrs Rhoudes
Jul 29, 2025
7/10 stars
It was a repeat of most feel good movies for me. A yawn. Very predictable.

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