This is a good book. It's about a troubled young man trying to figure out where he belongs. A lot of twists and turns as he learns family secrets that will change his life.

I enjoyed this character-driven novel narrated solely by a 14 year old boy (Rhett) in Kentucky. I loved the way the relationship between Rhett and his uncle Theo developed, and then escalated, and then settled back into a mature relationship. I also loved the inclusion of the dog, in more ways than one! It was interesting to be let into the inner mind/workings of a young teenager. Lots of good insight gained here!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rhett is a teeanger who is lost in life, he does what he wants without measuring the consequences until he gets expelled from school for something he didn't do and is sent to his uncle's house, a person who he vaguely remembers. Uncle Theo is a very reserved man and his main goal is to set Rhett straight, make him study and choose what he wants to be in life. He also has a dog, Chekhov, who intimidates Rhett at the beginning. Rhett and Uncle Theo will take time to warm up to each other, Rhett finds his uncle a mysterious man and the people who come to the house even more difficult to read and understand. Rhett will grow under Theo's guidance and will learn the difficult truth about his past and his family. Beautifully written, The Thing About My Uncle, is a story about coming of age, acquiring knowledge and confidence, and learning that the lines of good and evil are sometimes interlocked and blurred. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Stravos, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

There’s no such thing as taking a pause when coming across a coming-of-age story like The Thing About My Uncle. It settles on the simplest scenarios, yet effortlessly pokes at the heart of what forces us to forget what living in the moment feels like. The story shows what it is to be in a routine and still be able to breathe and have fun.

Rhett is so easy to love. His inquisitive personality is, I believe, one of his charms, and he’s effortlessly funny! The story makes me giggle from time to time because of how Rhett thinks and probes about his Uncle Theo. It’s wildly amusing as well whenever he places himself in a battle between what he wants to do and what he should not do.

Honestly, reading this story was personal to me. I could not adequately describe the impact this story brought upon me, but it felt like seeing a bit of my younger self and the other person I dreamed to be. I could relate to Rhett in a way that I was a homeschooled student, and it’s refreshing to see a homeschooled student wandering around the world beyond academics.

I did not have the chance to do that during my homeschool years. It felt like the world stopped when I was homeschooled, but that's another story. I could relate to Theo in a way that I dreamed to be like him, to resist injustice. Just like Rhett, Theo’s easy to love.

If there’s one thing I believe best describes them, it’s how they bring out the best in each other. And I guess it’s true that to be loved is to be known. My heart also goes out to Chekhov, which I consider as one of the book’s scene grabbers! This story has a unique way of showing how pivotal it is to be understood, and I am so delighted to have met Rhett, Theo, and Chekhov through this novel.

Thank you, NetGalley & BHC Press, for allowing me to read this ARC!

Publishing Date: August 20, 2024

I was intrigued by this book's synopsis.

The intrigue kept me hooked and reading.
Theo is a likable charcter who is standoffish but yet intelligent. The reader can follow along on his life and the crime committed against him.

Rhett though, is the star of the book. Told through his eyes, you can see the yearning, the will to try to make sense out of his world, when things have gone bad.

I loved the sense of community, the way that Theo and Rhett relate to each other, both expecting respect and understanding in their unique way.

I really enjoyed the pace of the book, it gently revealed just enough to keep the reader hooked.

It also allowed the reader to fill in some of the gaps that the book did not explain, ie POPS.

Overall a great book about family and community.

What an entertaining novel!
I was pleased as punch when Winchester, Ky was mentioned once because that's my neck of the woods so to speak.
I liked how Uncle Ted told Rhett that he matters to God. That He already had a plan for each of them. It made my heart feel pretty good
I read this sweet coming of age story in one evening. I was angry with Rhett's so called friends in what they did. I felt that it wasn't fair.
I really loved that this was told from Rhett's point of view. It's my favorite thing and of course the setting of Eastern Kentucky.
I'm not sure how I feel exactly about Sheriff Hank. In some ways I feel that he's sneaky and had a hand in what happened.
The dog's name is intriguing. Who ever heard of a dog name Checkhove Hmmmm. But she was amazing.
5 stars for a job well done. I highly recommend this book.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.