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Patrick’s background in television and past (and still current) fame and recognition is balanced brilliantly with his wit and dry pragmatism.

Grant’s missing his front teeth so everything comes with a lisp and Rowley includes this in the prose. Here, of course instead of conversations between a person and dog (and the octopus) it’s the banter between Patrick and Grant and Maisie that delights. Like Lily and the Octopus, the dialogue is outstanding. All of the characters, including those we meet briefly are beautifully drawn and complex – from Patrick’s agent to his throuple neighbours. Again Rowley manages to deal with death and loss in depth but in a way filled with hope. Quickly realizing that parenting-even if temporary-isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays.

Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. The blurb had me wondering if it’d be like RWR McDonald’s wonderful ‘The Nancys’ series… featuring Uncle Pike and his partner Devon… albeit without the whodunnit.

I leapt at the chance to read The Guncle. (And, sadly… the octopus that ‘consumed’ her.) Rowley wrote with humour and sensitivity and – though not a dog / animal lover – I was completely enchanted by Ted the human and Lily the dachshund. It was astoundingly clever and such a delight. I ADORED Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley giving it a rare 4.5 stars.