Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

5 reviews

hawksrye's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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gobblingupbooks's review against another edition

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3.0

I loved how sweet and tender the relationship between Patrick, Maisie, and Grant was. I liked the open discussions about grief and the healing that happened between Patrick and his siblings! However there was a ridiculous amount of fatphobia, diet culture, and straight up cruel comments about other people’s appearances that was not at all necessary to the story. Also, what was that weird racist “Indian-style” exchange with Clara? And why did Patrick suddenly forget that (morally? ethically, and I’m p sure legally??) you need a parent’s permission before publicly sharing videos of children on YouTube? 
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emmehooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I thought this was going to be a fluffy book about all the white gay man stereotypes - I was very glad to be proven (mostly) wrong. Patrick Is still a little insufferable.  

So many beautiful reflections about the queer experience and genuine reflections of grief in all its forms. My only qualm is that some of the subplots just didn’t feel necessary (<Emory, court drama with Clara>). 
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marinabkat's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

2.5

While moments of whimsy and insight left me laughing and crying, it’s bogged down a lot by flop jokes that just indicate how baked into Hollywood gays that diet culture is. Also, below average handling of substance use. 
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hannahb1533's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Well friends I did it… I stepped out of contemporary romance for a moment.

The Guncle is sweet, funny, reflective, and just a fun read. The book does such a good job looking at grief and how it effects people differently and also how people overcome grief and start living again.

The book reads like a sitcom that I would just keep watching and I found Rowley’s writing to be fun and witty. Patrick is a layered character and his development throughout the book is nuanced and self-reflective. His interactions with the kids felt real and not cliche, his character is well developed and that personality shines through in his interactions with the kids. I was a bit worried the book would go a bit too much with the very stereotypical gay uncle/friend persona, but the balance is great and Patrick feels like his own character, not a caricature.

I definitely recommend this if you are in a reading slump or need a cleanser from your normal reading genre. Also I need this book to become a stage play and my only choice for Patrick is Andrew Rannells.

TW: mentions of death, mentions of prescription drug addiction, grief, natural disaster.
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