The Guncle

By: Steven Rowley

Narrated by: Steven Rowley

Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor
National Bestseller • Wall Street Journal Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller
An NPR Book of the Year
Finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards

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.

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.

With the humor and heart we've come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.

LOVED this! Must listen!

This is a funny, sweet, beautiful book about family, grief and old v. new Hollywood. What’s not to love? My favorite listen of the summer!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

I LOVED this book so much. Rowley is such a fantastic teller, this is his second book I’ve read this year and I loved them both. The grief Patrick carries is real and he finally confronts while caring for his now grief stricken niece and nephew. I love his quirkiness and how much of a caregiver he truly became.

feel good story to end my summer

very good book! definitely a good story to read if you are needing something light and uplifting! definitely kept my interest the entire time and I loved that the author himself did the narration so you can tell just exactly how he wanted the characters and their words to be portrayed.

As a gay man I still don't care for the term "guncle" because at the end of the day I'm no different than my nieces and nephew's straight uncles, but the book was still very cute and would recommend to all!

Funny, sad , inspiring and heart warming

This is one of those books that you never want to end. The end feels like saying goodbye to family that you’ll never see again. It was a beautiful story that makes you think about your life and your legacy in a whole new perspective. Everyone needs a Guncle like Patrick in their life!

Wonderful!

My new favorite feel good book. The Guncle had me laughing and crying at the same time. Loved it!