Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

68 reviews

swimmingwolf59's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

I loved this book!! It would've been a 5 star for me if I didn't sometimes feel like I was reading a long stream of consciousness (I felt like Maisie at Patrick sometimes: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!) and understood more of the movie/TV references haha. But the characters are so great, I love all of them, and their journey together is really beautiful and real. I felt like the author did a great job of balancing funny and grief, and I really became attached to all of them. Patrick and Emily Emory also had great chemistry!! And of course the kids and Patrick 🥺💞

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, and Car accident

Minor: Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

raccoonfoo's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcohol

brittanylee0302's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-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

This book was super cute, fun & really dived deep into allll the emotions. I found Patrick, Mazey & Grant to be the cutest trio & loved their interactions. While this book was funny & kept me laughing, it also dove deep into grief & coping with it from different perspectives & both from Patrick's adult perspective, but the kids as will. Sometimes books struggle with doing a good job of reflecting all these emotions but this job did a phenomenal job along with exploring a variety of other themes. Im really looking forward to the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

rhiannon814r's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

whiskeywoman79's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

 

Fiction / Family Drama / lgbtqia / grief 

TW: loss of apparent, addiction, loss of a spouse, loss of a partner, (a flashback to a homophobic family situation)

This is a book about love and loss. I am emotionally wrecked from it. I caution you to go into this read with eyes open, your heart will break and be put back together a few times and you will come out a different person than when you went in. If that is not one of the greatest compliments I can give a book, I don't know what is. 

This book was a ride. Overall it was fantastic, however, there were parts where I questioned if I should DNF, I pushed myself through them and for that I am grateful. 

This book is not for everybody. I don't think some readers would understand many of the references if they don't have a love for film and stage, or don't come from a family who loves old movies, Broadway, or just overall entertainment. I feel even an audience under 30 might be lost at times within his references. But man, if you get them you won't be able to contain your laughter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Medical content and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Car accident

itsheyfay's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

pazfauxster's review against another edition

emotional funny informative sad 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

4.5

The reason I took up The Guncle was that I needed something light to read, something funny and positive as a palate cleanser between the weird shit I usually get myself into. Did it live up to my expectations? Partly, yes, and here's why.

The Guncle is, indeed, a light read. It's written in a language that's accessible but never really plain. Steven Rowley portrays the characters with unending empathy and an attentive eye: they're all quirky, somewhat complicated, flawed, human. I especially adored the kids—Maisie and Grant. They have distinct personalities and feel very authentic. Maisie, my gender-defying science-loving queen, I shall always be your fan.

What I did not expect when starting the book was just how teary-eyed I would get at times. It does not shy away from heavier themes. There's addiction, suicidal ideation, depression, and the most attention is given to loss and grieving. At times, it was all rather visceral, and I found myself with a lump in my throat.

That being said, it is in no way a bleak book. It's filled with kindness and hope, it's genuinely funny, and it's comforting like a cup of hot tea for the soul. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Homophobia and Religious bigotry

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

joensign's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, and Car accident

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

mariposa517'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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, and Car accident

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail