Just finished What Does It Feel Like?? Next up read The Guncle…
Sophie Kinsella's What Does It Feel Like? introduced us to Eve's journey of rediscovering life and humor in the wake of personal upheaval. If you found yourself drawn to that perfect blend of wit and heart, Steven Rowley's The Guncle offers a remarkably similar emotional landscape through a completely fresh lens.
"Guncle is SPECTACULAR MASTERPIECE! A comedy feast for your moody soul!"— Nilufer Ozmekik, Goodreads
Where Kinsella follows one woman's path through illness and recovery, Rowley presents Patrick—a former sitcom star turned reluctant guardian to his young niece and nephew after family tragedy strikes. Both authors understand that humor isn't the opposite of grief; it's grief's most faithful companion. Patrick's sharp, unfiltered dialogue mirrors the same resilient spirit that made Eve's voice so compelling, proving that sometimes the best way forward is through laughter.
From Recovery to Guardianship
The transition from Kinsella's introspective healing narrative to Rowley's sun-soaked Palm Springs setting might seem dramatic, but the emotional core remains wonderfully consistent. Both books tackle the messy, complicated work of rebuilding family bonds—whether that's Eve reconnecting with her own sense of self or Patrick learning to parent children who desperately need his particular brand of chaotic love.
What makes The Guncle such a natural follow-up is Rowley's masterful handling of the same themes that made Kinsella's work so memorable: the power of found family, the healing nature of unexpected relationships, and the way life forces us to become versions of ourselves we never imagined. Patrick's journey from self-absorbed ex-celebrity to devoted caregiver echoes Eve's own transformation, but with an added layer of LGBTQ+ representation that feels both authentic and inclusive.
"Gosh, The Guncle turned out to be exactly the sort of feelgood, laughy-taffy book I didn't know I needed."— Yun, Goodreads
The writing style will feel immediately familiar to Kinsella fans—sharp dialogue that cuts through emotional complexity, characters who feel authentically flawed yet endlessly lovable, and plot pacing that keeps you turning pages while still allowing space for genuine emotional moments. Rowley's background in television writing shows in his gift for snappy exchanges and perfectly timed comedic beats, much like the conversational flow that makes Kinsella's prose so addictive.
Perhaps most importantly, both authors understand that the best contemporary fiction doesn't shy away from life's darker moments—it simply refuses to let them have the final word. Whether you're drawn to stories of personal resilience, unconventional family dynamics, or simply need a book that can make you laugh and cry in equal measure, The Guncle delivers exactly what readers loved about What Does It Feel Like? while offering something entirely new to discover.
