Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

27 reviews

shenelle_h's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Car accident

katewhite77's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the sweetest book I have read in a while. 

Gay Uncle Patrick takes in his young neice and nephew for the summer after their mum dies and their father admits himself to rehab.

Although Patrick and Grant are brothers, Greg met his wife Sarah through Patrick as they were college buddies.  

The loss of his boyfriend Joe, a few years before the book opens forces actor Patrick into early retirement to Palm Springs. So after the funeral in Coneticuit, Patrick,and the kids Masie and Grant head back there. 

What follows is a very sweet life affirming and queer possive tale about learning to live alongside grief and what it takes to be a good parent. Oh, and did I mention it is also very funny and perfect for when  you are  feeling under the weather. 

My only slight criticism is I would have liked to hear more from Jed, and if you want to know who Jed is well, then  you'll just have to read the book. 

The audiobook is a paticularly good way to  go with this one as it is read by  the author who rebrings out the humour. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

pkc's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Drug use

oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

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

3.5

I truly loved Steven Rowley’s “The Celebrants” so wanted to give this one a try upon recommendation from a friend. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as The Celebrants but kept me busy for a few days. While the kids were delightful, I think I missed some of the charm that their gay uncle (“Guncle”) was supposed to bring to the table. His life felt a bit difficult to relate to and disconnected from the storyline happening. Nonetheless, a nice story about grief and finding/discovering joy in unlikely places. There was a lot of heart in this book and a fair amount of laugh out loud moments, but I wasn’t as invested in this story as I would have liked to be!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Drug use

erikagibson126's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

blueyogi's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction and Drug use

ceruleanblue42's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use

koplomps's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Drug use, and Sexual content

beatriks's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This was less lighthearted than I had expected, nevertheless heartwarming and hopeful. There were lots of funny moments, but also very sad ones.

that birthday cake scene, what did I cry!

I would definitely recommend the book and I’m planning to read more books by Steven Rowley.

Also, I could feel the heat of Palm Springs shine through the pages.

Curious to find out who’s going to play Patrick in the movie/TV adaptation. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, and Homophobia

Minor: Drug use