By Carmela DeVito
Book Reviews
Carmela DeVito
Gay Uncle Patrick (aka GUP) is back with another hysterical, heartfelt tale sure to give you the warm fuzzies.
Patrick, his 11-year-old nephew Grant and surly 14-year-old niece Maisie are in Lake Como, Italy for their father’s (and GUP’s brother) Greg’s upcoming wedding. The kids (particularly Maisie) are having a tough time adjusting to the wedding and the changes it will bring to the family structure and the dynamics between all of them. It has been five years since their mothers – and Patrick’s best friend’s – death. He realizes that the children are still grieving and comes up with a multifaceted plan to help the kids navigate this transitional phase.
His first course of action is to have the kids appear as extras in a film he is currently involved with. The next stop is a trip to Paris, where Patrick hopes that the City of Love will inspire the kids to look at love in all its forms and facets. Patrick strikes a deal with the kids: if Paris doesn’t work its magic on them he will speak to Greg about postponing the wedding.
Patrick and the kids enjoy everything Paris has to offer, with Maisie particularly enjoying the hot chocolate (that would get to me too – any type of chocolate would). Their next stop: Austria, where they take a Sound of Music tour. Maisie and Grant begin to understand the wide reach of love when Patrick explains how much that movie meant to their mom.
Finally they return to Lake Como, where a tremendous number of events – some challenging some heartbreaking – have occurred. All of these events provide the ultimate result of the kids’ learning that love doesn’t end when someone passes away but manifests itself in other ways. There is a sweet bonus for Patrick in this as well.
Steven Rowley is gifted at writing novels that give the reader all the feels and the warm fuzzies. For the full GUP experience I recommend starting with The Guncle. That novel introduces Patrick, Grant, Maisie and Greg in the aftermath of their loss. I absolutely loved this and am keeping my fingers crossed that there are future Guncle adventures.
Carmela DeVito, a voracious reader, is a retired social worker and a member of the Friends of the Milford Library.