Book ~ "The Guncle Abroad" (2024) Steven Rowley

From Goodreads ~ Patrick O’Hara is back. It’s been five years since his summer as his niece Maisie and nephew Grant’s caretaker after their mother’s passing. The kids are back in Connecticut with their dad and Patrick has relocated to New York to remain close by and relaunch his dormant acting career. After the run of his second successful sit-com comes to a close, Patrick feels on top of the world ... professionally. But some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single again after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has a family to lean on. Until that family needs to again lean on him.

When Patrick's brother, Greg, announces he’s getting remarried in Italy, Maisie and Grant are not thrilled. Patrick feels drawn to take the two back under his wing. As they travel through Europe on their way to the wedding, Patrick tries his best to help them understand love, much as he once helped them comprehend grief. But when they arrive in Italy, Patrick is overextended managing a groom with cold feet; his sister, Clara, flirting with guests left and right; a growing rivalry with the kids’ charming soon-to-be-launt (lesbian aunt) and two moody young teens trying to adjust to a new normal, all culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner.

Can Patrick save the day? Will teaching the kids about love help him repair his own love life? Can the change of scenery help Patrick come to terms with finally growing up?

Patrick and Sara were best friends in university and she ended up marrying his brother, Greg, and they had two children, Maisie and Grant. When she died, Patrick had Maisie and Grant stay with him in Palm Springs for a few months to help them grieve. 

It's five years later and Patrick has moved to New York to be closer to them and revives his acting career. He is nearing 50 and conscious of getting old so recently broke up with his younger boyfriend, Emory, because he didn't think Emory would want to be with such an old man.

Greg is getting married to Livia, a rich Italian. Maisie and Grant (especially Maisie) are having a hard time with this and Patrick offers to take them on a mini vacation across Europe teaching them lessons on their way to the wedding in Italy. Once they arrive, Maisie really puts the pressure on Patrick to break up Greg and Livia but Patrick isn't sure this is the right thing to do.

This is the sequel to The Guncle (Guncle = gay uncle),which I read last year and it was cute. I liked Patrick's manner and his interactions with the Maisie and Grant. It is written in third person perspective with the focus Patrick. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "The Guncle" (2021) Steven Rowley

From Goodreads ~ 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 a bit out of his league.

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 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.

Patrick and Sara were best friends in university and she ended up marrying his brother, Greg, and they had two children. Patrick's partner, Joe, had been killed in an accident years ago and he is still grieving ... he gave up his life as an actor in L.A. and moved to Palm Springs living in almost seclusion. When Sara got sick and was dying, Greg became addicted to drugs to cope. When she died, he knew he had to get better so checked himself into rehab for 90 days. He asked Patrick to take care of his young children while he was gone.

Patrick just wants to be left alone but knows he has to do this for Sara and Greg. Maisie and Grant move to California for the summer and it is an adjustment for the three of them. Patrick isn't used to having children around (or really anyone) and the children are grieving for their mother. They adapt to Patrick's ways like having lupper (a mid afternoon meal ... lunch + supper) rather than a later supper and not really having a schedule. Patrick knows he has to help Maisie and Grant heal and realizes that he too needs healing so he can get on with his life.

This was the first book I've read by this author and it was cute. I liked Patrick's manner and his interactions with the Maisie and Grant. It is written in third person perspective with the focus Patrick. As a head's up, there is swearing (which Maisie and Grant initially call him on but eventually get used to).