Devi Nair
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by: Steven Rowley ā± Duration: 10 hours š·ļø Publisher: Books on Tape | G.P. Putnamās Sons š Published: May 21, 2024 š Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Patrick OāHara is still funny, still dramatic, still deeply lovable. But this time, heās also scared. Scared of aging, scared of being replaced, and scared that the two kids who once needed him with their whole hearts might not need him in the same way anymore. As an aunt myself, this hit harder than I expected. Every quip about grown-up kids and fading ācoolnessā landed like a little nostalgic jab to the heart. Rowley captures that universal ache of watching the kids you love become people with their own opinions, and wow, does he make you feel it.
This round, Patrickās surrounded by Italian sunshine, complicated family dynamics, and just enough chaos to keep the story spinning. Maisie and Grant are no longer the wide-eyed kids from the first book. Theyāre sharper, moodier, and forming identities of their own. Patrick, meanwhile, is clinging desperately to his role as the ācool guncle,ā even as the kids gravitate toward new influences. That includes the scene-stealing Launt (lesbian aunt), whose growing bond with them sparks Patrickās jealousy in ways that are both hilarious and heartbreaking. Watching him navigate that emotional shift is the quiet core of this novel. Patrickās attempts to stay relevant in their eyes are equal parts awkward and tender. The humor is sharper, the emotional beats deeper, and Rowleyās narration adds layers only the author could deliver. Every sigh, every dramatic pause feels perfectly placed.
Yes, there's Italy. Yes, there's romance. (GUSTAVO!!!! LOL) Yes, thereās a wedding teetering on the edge of disaster. But all of that lives in the background. what anchored me was Patrickās unwavering love for Maisie and Grant. That bond is the heartbeat of this book. This story belongs to Patrick, Maisie, and Grant. Itās about loving kids enough to let them grow, even when it hurts. I laughed, I cried, I sobbed, and I briefly considered freezing time so my niece never grows up and decides Iām uncool.
Steven Rowley didnāt just write a sequel. He wrote a love letter to chosen family, aging, and unconditional devotion.
Would I recommend it? This book wrecked me in the gentlest way. If you loved The Guncle, this sequel deepens everything that mattered. The humor, the heart, and the emotional honesty. Itās tender without being saccharine, funny without undercutting the feelings, and painfully relatable if youāve ever loved a child whoās growing up too fast. I finished it full-hearted, emotionally bruised, and incredibly grateful this story exists. Add this to your TBR immediately.
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by: Steven Rowley ā± Duration: 10 hours š·ļø Publisher: Books on Tape | G.P. Putnamās Sons š Published: May 21, 2024 š Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Patrick OāHara is still funny, still dramatic, still deeply lovable. But this time, heās also scared. Scared of aging, scared of being replaced, and scared that the two kids who once needed him with their whole hearts might not need him in the same way anymore. As an aunt myself, this hit harder than I expected. Every quip about grown-up kids and fading ācoolnessā landed like a little nostalgic jab to the heart. Rowley captures that universal ache of watching the kids you love become people with their own opinions, and wow, does he make you feel it.
This round, Patrickās surrounded by Italian sunshine, complicated family dynamics, and just enough chaos to keep the story spinning. Maisie and Grant are no longer the wide-eyed kids from the first book. Theyāre sharper, moodier, and forming identities of their own. Patrick, meanwhile, is clinging desperately to his role as the ācool guncle,ā even as the kids gravitate toward new influences. That includes the scene-stealing Launt (lesbian aunt), whose growing bond with them sparks Patrickās jealousy in ways that are both hilarious and heartbreaking. Watching him navigate that emotional shift is the quiet core of this novel. Patrickās attempts to stay relevant in their eyes are equal parts awkward and tender. The humor is sharper, the emotional beats deeper, and Rowleyās narration adds layers only the author could deliver. Every sigh, every dramatic pause feels perfectly placed.
Yes, there's Italy. Yes, there's romance. (GUSTAVO!!!! LOL) Yes, thereās a wedding teetering on the edge of disaster. But all of that lives in the background. what anchored me was Patrickās unwavering love for Maisie and Grant. That bond is the heartbeat of this book. This story belongs to Patrick, Maisie, and Grant. Itās about loving kids enough to let them grow, even when it hurts. I laughed, I cried, I sobbed, and I briefly considered freezing time so my niece never grows up and decides Iām uncool.
Steven Rowley didnāt just write a sequel. He wrote a love letter to chosen family, aging, and unconditional devotion.
Would I recommend it? This book wrecked me in the gentlest way. If you loved The Guncle, this sequel deepens everything that mattered. The humor, the heart, and the emotional honesty. Itās tender without being saccharine, funny without undercutting the feelings, and painfully relatable if youāve ever loved a child whoās growing up too fast. I finished it full-hearted, emotionally bruised, and incredibly grateful this story exists. Add this to your TBR immediately.
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.