The Guncle

This was so fun and charming - it was exactly what I was looking for in a comfort read for the gray winter days.

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.

“I need you to remember something. We’ll call it Guncle Rule sweet sixteen: I want you to really live. To live is the rarest of things. Most people merely exist.” As a single-no-kids auntie who adores her niece and nephew, I could relate to this so much. At one point, Patrick points out that he has something to offer these children that is different from the other adults in the children's lives, which really resonated with me. I love how the family is portrayed as affectionately flawed (is that a thing?), as they navigate grief, dysfunction and love both lost and found. Very charming and touching.

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.

Wonderful yet bittersweet story of heartache told with humor, resilience, and love.