𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

My heart! This was exactly the warm, witty, unexpectedly moving sequel I didn’t know I needed. Patrick is back, and he’s just as delightfully dramatic, deeply feeling, and laugh-out-loud funny as ever—this time in Europe, with Maisie and Grant growing up fast and grief continuing to evolve rather than resolve.

There’s something so special about how Steven Rowley balances the sparkle and sass with true emotional depth. The quips and references fly fast (and fabulously), but beneath the humor is such a tender portrait of family—chosen and otherwise. Patrick’s voice is singular, theatrical, self-aware, and somehow still full of surprises. I laughed, I teared up, I bookmarked half the book.

This story is about showing up again and again for the people you love, even when it’s messy, inconvenient, or means unpacking old wounds. It’s about letting kids grow and letting yourself grow too. And it’s about the healing power of shared croissants, stolen moments, and unapologetic flamboyance.

I truly adored this. More Guncle, forever, please.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Steven Rowley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Guncle Abroad is available now!

i adored this follow up to the guncle. it was warm and witty and i was so happy to be back with GUP and his niece and nephew. there were tons of laugh-out-loud moments which easily helped with the heavier topics of grief and identity. the european setting was also super fun!

This was a fantastic read. While I personally connected more with the first book in the series, this installment still delivered a compelling story. Steven added real depth to the characters and explored some fascinating dynamics as they navigated growth and change. His writing remains superb, and I’m excited to read more of his work.

When I first received this ARC a year ago, I realized I hadn't read the first book. It took a year to get it from my local library! But let me tell you, it was worth the wait! I loved The Guncle!

The Guncle Abroad came in just as funny! I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed The Guncle Abroad immensely! Definitely recommend this series!

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

These characters hold such a special place in my heart, I'm so glad that the author decided to allow us to visit them again 5 years later. I'm happy about how that characters grew and transformed. It was nice to see the kids becoming their own people with ideas and thoughts about the world. A good book!

Another hit from Steven Rowley! The writing style is just so captivating, the story is so easy to immerse yourself in, and the drama is *chefs kiss*. Although I didn't really feel like I needed a sequel when I originally finished "The Guncle", I'm so glad we got this.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Funny moments with some actual parenting/uncle-ing moments with a great setting.

I didn't read the first book in the series, but it was okay. Although it took time to be introduced to the characters, there was enough backstory for it to read as standalone. Love the antics and the way he entertained the kids and ensured his brother was good. Fun beach read!

While I liked the original Guncle book more than this one, Steven Rowley just has such a way with words, making you laugh out loud and truly feeling everything every character is feeling. I would absolutely read any other books starring the Uncle!

Just like the 1st book this has my whole heart!! Truly a touching story of finding new love and happiness.

Sequels can be tough, and sequels to acclaimed books with beloved characters are even tougher. Rowley did a phenomenal job nonetheless.

The Guncle Abroad gave us more of the wit, banter, and emotion that we got in The Guncle, but with an Europtrip backdrop.

There is, of course, plenty of family drama to go around and carefully handled topics like remarrying after losing a spouse, sibling dynamics both for the teens and adults, blending families, and learning how and when to admit when you’re wrong. This is all handled with a healthy dose of comedy and a clear resolution that we’re so often missing in real life.

I can only hope that we have not heard the last of Patrick O’hara and his family.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions are my own.

4.25 out of 5 stars, rounded down to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Oh I loved the first book so much so I was beyond excited to get my hands on this! I seriously can't remember a book that has made me laugh like this in a really long time! This is the absolute perfect sequel and am hoping for more to come!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley. I enjoyed the Guncle but really struggled to get through this book and ended up dnf this one.

It took forever to read; it was cute but couldn't keep my attention. I love the Guncle and all his antics. The ending had me in tears and overjoyed.

Steven Rowley has done it again with The Guncle Abroad. I absolutely loved this book! Rowley has a way of captivating his readers’ attention, and telling the most wonderful stories! Just like The Guncle, The Guncle Abroad did not disappoint!

It didn’t keep my attention like the first. I didn’t vibe with the plot. I do love his humor though.

Thanks for the ARC! The Guncle Abroad brings back Patrick with his signature wit and heart, now navigating moody teens, big Italian wedding chaos, and his own midlife reflection. The humor lands, the emotional beats feel earned, and the backdrop adds charm. A few storylines felt a bit stretched, but the blend of comedy and connection makes it a satisfying, feel-good read about love, growth, and showing up for family.

Steven Rowley’s The Guncle was a five star read and I encouraged all my friends (and my mother) to pick it up. So it was with cautious anticipation that I read the follow-up book, The Guncle Abroad.

The Guncle truly is a tough act to follow. And while I enjoyed the next installment, it didn’t hit emotionally the same way its predecessor did.

The first book focused on grief. In The Guncle Abroad, the kids are once again facing a major life change. Their father is getting remarried and Maisie and Grant are not in support of this rather quick development. So Uncle Patrick whisks them away on a European vacation and teaches them the various languages of love.

Patrick is as endearing as he was in the first book. But his niece and nephew aren’t as susceptible to his charms. They’re older and more likely to roll their eyes at their guncle than happily engage in his whimsy.

There are some memorable scenes, like when Patrick gathered up a group of tourists to march around singing The Sound of Music. And I loved the introduction of a rival Launt (lesbian aunt). But I remember The Guncle as being more joyful as a whole, which is strange to say about a book focused on grieving.

In the end, I enjoyed spending more time with Patrick and the kids. And Steven Rowley will continue to be a must-read author for me.

i really enjoyed the first installation of the guncle series -- it was tender and sweet, a gem of a book. this one, however, didn't have that same heart and sparkle for me, which was such a bummer! i wanted to love reuniting with these characters, but found it didn't quite hit with the same tenderness, leaning too heavily on snark, with less of the warmth of the kids' personalities to balance out the sass of GUP. i unfortunately called it a DNF at about a third of the way through.

“The Guncle Abroad” is an absolute delight! Steven Rowley masterfully transports us to the picturesque setting of Lake Como, Italy. Patrick O’Hara, our beloved guncle, grapples with family dynamics, love, and self discovery . The witty banter, heartwarming moments, and unique connections between characters make this sequel a must read. Rowley’s blend of humor and heart shines through, leaving readers longing for more adventures with Patrick, Maisie, and Grant.

The Guncle was my favorite read of 2021, landing in my hands at a time when I needed it most, so The Guncle Abroad had a very high bar to reach. I loved it nearly as much! The sense of loss was still there, though this was a bit more lighthearted, still wickedly funny, literally had me laughing out loud… and then had me in tears when I least expected it at just the right time. Will be a contender for top read of 2025, and I hope more to come from Patrick and family.