The Guncle by Steven Rowley

 Patrick is a 40-something gay actor who decided to retire and move to Palm Springs. He finds out that his sister-in-law Sara (with whom he was best friends in their 20s) has died, his brother Greg is checking himself into rehab for 3 months, and their 2 kids--Grant and Maisie--are coming to stay with him for 3 months. The Guncle tells the story of their crazy summer together as they become a family unit and all three of them learn to address their grief over the loss of Sara.

Parts of the book are laugh-out-loud funny and parts will bring a tear to your eye. But it's a sweet story with memorable characters. And what else can you ask for in a perfect summer read?