The Guncle 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 comes a novel that will make you laugh through tears—the good kind, the kind that come from recognizing yourself in someone else’s messy, beautiful story.

Meet Patrick. Former sitcom star. Devoted uncle. Utterly unprepared parent.

When tragedy strikes his family, Patrick suddenly becomes the primary guardian to his niece Maisie and nephew Grant. His carefully curated Palm Springs life—complete with poolside cocktails and “Guncle Rules” designed for short, fun visits—collides headlong with the reality of raising two grieving children. Bedtimes. Feelings. Responsibility.

What unfolds is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Patrick discovers that being larger-than-life doesn’t exempt you from being human. That sometimes the best thing you can offer isn’t a witty one-liner, but simply showing up. That family isn’t always the one you’re born into—sometimes it’s the one you piece together from love, patience, and a whole lot of trial and error.

Steven Rowley has crafted something special here: a story about loss that celebrates life, about chaos that finds its way to grace. Perfect for anyone who’s ever felt slightly (or entirely) out of their depth, The Guncle is a warm embrace of a book—funny, tender, and deeply human.

Keep a box of tissues nearby. You’ll need them for both the laughter and the tears.

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