❥ Thank you for the free audiobook, PRH Audio.
Synopsis
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.
Thoughts
I feel like I could be best friends with Patrick. Can I just be fabulous, sip martinis by the pool, and find humor and adventure with him all day long? Maybe he’d let me be his plus one at a red carpet or two, as well.
I am not the first, nor will I be the last, person to fall in love with this sweet book. Patrick is such a flamboyant and entertaining main character. But he’s also the glue that holds his extended family together during a very hard time. I love the way Patrick relates to both children and adults. He is just a gem.
I didn’t expect to love this quirky book as much as I did. But as soon as I finished it, I immediately added the next book in the series to my TBR. I recommend it if you need a giggle and a reminder to always look for the silver lining.
❥ Listening to this via audio was a stellar experience. The author’s reading was a complete joy to listen to!