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What a fantastic follow up to The Guncle! I love that @mrstevenrowley narrates as well because he really is the perfect Patrick O'Hara.

I loved seeing him reunited with Greg, Maisy, and Grant again and as angsty teens too!

We get more meaningful and wonderful life lessons and wisdom, this time in the form of Guncle Love Languages. I love this series so much, and I hope there is another someday!

I laughed - I cried - I nodded along - I sang along to "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

This was such a great summer read and I loved all of the places traveled to along the way. Another place added to my bucketlist!

Thank you @mrstevenrowley for a wonderful guncle follow up ❤️

Another great Guncle book. And first I wasn't sure, it wasn't endearing me as much as the first one, but like Patrick I also had to get used to the fact that 5 years had passed and everyone was a little more grown up a little more jaded now. And together we found our way to a new story. It was great

Another Guncle book, loved this one too. Our Guncle protag is so relatable as he reminds me of my best friend from high school from soooo many years ago, yes, on the cusp of 50.
I enjoy his bond with his niece and nephew which is the primary force behind their adventures in Europe becomes self inventory for and growth for all of them. And sometimes an armchair travel cures what ails the soul.
More, please!

2024 Pride Month

"I just think if I had kids, I would want them to be happy. At all costs. I'd want them to find their happiness.

I was delighted to be thrown back into Patrick's world. He teaches his niece and nephew about love and grief with grace. Sometimes he goes too far, but remember, he's only human.

We leave the last book with Patrick taking care of the kids, because his brother Greg is in rehab. Greg's wife, Patrick's best friend, has passed, and emotions are flying high.

This book takes place several years later. Greg is getting married to Italian nobility. Grant doesn't mind so much. It's all too much for Maisie.

(From watching Game of Thrones, I learned Maisie was short for Margaret. So is Daisy, e.g. Little Women. I won't even get into the strange diminutives for Elizabeth/Isabel. Or should I?)

I love this cast of characters, from old to new. The play on classism and misogyny was handled well, and with a certain amount of humor. I highlighted many, many things, but I won't bore you with them here.

Justice for stepmoms. Justice for Meredith Blake. Aperol spritzes are life.

📚 Buddy read with Christina

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons

I will never get enough of Steven Rowley’s work. The Guncle Abroad had the same wit and charm as The Guncle wrapped in a new, beautiful story. The audiobook is narrated by Steven Rowley himself which adds so much to the story. I loved being reunited with Patrick, Maisie and Grant and following along with their new adventures. These books are so heartwarming and heartfelt and I just can’t get enough. A must read for summer!

What a great sequel. Definately should read the first guncle before this one. It was laugh out loud fun and a great read. Would be a good read all year round, not just summer but a good beach read too.

When bookstagram made me read The Guncle last year, I wasn’t prepared for the grip that book would take on my soul. GUP, Maisie, and Grant have lived rent-free in my mind ever since and I leapt for joy when The Guncle Abroad was announced! There’s always a small amount of fear when a new story featuring some of my most beloved characters publishes but Steven Rowley did not disappoint! I laughed. I cried. And I even learned a little bit about love along the way.

Five years have passed since Patrick taught the kids about grief. Now it’s time for him to give them a lesson in love. As they travel through Europe, they learn some new love languages with a guncle twist! New characters are introduced (a launt for one!), new relationships are made, and old relationships are refined. Patrick always has great insights to share with his niblings but, this time, they’re older and wiser and challenge him to take some of his own advice.

Yet again, Steven has written a book that is perfect for all types of readers! Full of fun lighthearted banter and peppered with insight into growing older, blended families, and love of every type, this one deserves a prominent place on your shelves!

These books are so great! There was great character development and I feel like it was just as good as the first one.

An absolute pleasure of a read! So heartwarming, feel good, silly perfection. Being able to dive right back into GUPs world was amazing. And I love the growth of all of these special characters. Would recommend this to anyone who just needs a feel good, quick read!

While it took a bit of time to get back into the Guncle universe and readapt to the characters, I ended up really liking The Guncle Abroad. Following our exact same cast of characters, this time in Europe (mostly Italy), we have a lighthearted look at marriage, moving on, and love languages.

I would definitely go with the audiobook here, as Rowley's narration really brings the characters to life and the humor just hits so much more. This novel reads more like a romcom than The Guncle, and while having a few too many characters in its ensemble, is definitely still worth a read and perfect for the summer!

this is a follow up to THE GUNCLE so i recommend that you listen/read that first or there will be spoilers. it had been 3 years since i read that and was hazy on the details, but the author did a great job reminding you of the details and getting you up to speed. a re-read isn’t necessary :)

my fave parts—the setting, the comedy and the vibes. travelling Europe in the summer? a beautiful Italian resort on Lake Como? YUP.

the author did such a great job and i was truly laughing every 5 minutes. it was SO fun. the content is light but touches on good life lessons and still deals with grief and moving on from events in Book 1.

Definitely a great read, just not quite as charming and funny as the first. Reading The Guncle made me want to be a better parent, and this installment, focused on different "love languages" didn't have that same level of reflection. Still funny and charming, I felt like I was being dragged through Europe with the kids as Patrick avoided dealing with his own unresolved issues around love.

That being said, love Rowley's writing and will happily read whatever comes next from him.

4.5 rounded to 5
oh how I loved this book. I fell in love with The Guncle when I first read it, and I loved Steven Rowley’s narration. This book was the perfect follow up to show how Patrick is still teaching the kids life lessons. I laughed and cried (but that always happens with Steven’s books) Love love love !!

It was so great to “Travel” through this book! I absolutely lived The Guncle and couldn’t wait to read this sequel. I love the way Steven Rowley writes about and handles grief in his books.

I absolutely adored The Guncle and I was so happy to see a second book (even though I don’t feel Ike it really needed a sequel, I was still excited for). This time we got to go with Patrick as he traveled with Maisie, and Grant to Italy as they continued to work through grief, but also try to come to terms with their dad getting married.

I love how Steven Rowell approaches grief and love - he does it so carefully and methodically. He really brings you into the story and gives the characters so much life.

While I had the e-ARC, I ended up listening to the audiobook because I LOVE the fact that Steven Rowley narrates his own books. He brings his characters to life on both the page & through audio.

Huge Thank you to GP Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Steven Rowley does such a good job of writing about heavy topics (love, loss, grief, aging) but still infusing them with humor and grace. The Guncle Abroad continues the story of Patrick O'Hara ("GUP") as he tries to help his niece and nephew navigate their father's remarriage five years after their mother passed away. In the process, GUP learns some life and love lessons of his own.

I made a rookie mistake and missed that this was Rowley's second "Guncle" book; therefore, I immediately read The Guncle before reading The Guncle Abroad because my brain could not accept any other option.

Never fear, if you so choose to read The Guncle Abroad first, you will experience a full and complete story; however, it is definitely enriched (and everything makes more sense) if you read The Guncle first, like I did.

Rowley's whit and humor is unmatched.

In TGA, Patrick adventures abroad as his brother prepares to get married. Patrick is tasked with caring for his niece and nephew again but, though they are older, they may not be wiser - at least not wiser than their GUP.

In spite of GUP's genuine/satirical anti-rowling rhetoric and attempts to squash the magic of Hogwarts, I enjoyed traveling with everyone and experiencing the lavish events that preceded the wedding day. Absolutely grateful for the opportunity to read and review The Guncle Abroad.

I read the first book of this series and didn't love it like I thought I would. However, I was happy to be able to read an ARC of this book. The main character, Patrick seemed more developed and less annoying than in the first book. I love the stories about a guncle as I grew up with a guncle. Thanks #NetGalley

“The Guncle Abroad” by Steven Rowley is a delightful sequel that captures the heart and humor of its predecessor. Rowley continues the story of Patrick, affectionately known as “Guncle,” as he embarks on an international adventure filled with unexpected twists and poignant moments. The narrative beautifully blends laugh-out-loud humor with touching insights into love, family, and self-discovery. Rowley’s sharp wit and tender storytelling make this book a joyous read, perfect for fans of the first novel and new readers alike. “The Guncle Abroad” is a heartwarming journey that reminds us of the importance of embracing life’s challenges with grace and humor.

I give it 5 stars for its engaging plot, memorable characters, and the perfect balance of humor and heart. Steven Rowley’s ability to create a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant makes this a must-read.”

I had higher hopes for this. I still enjoyed it. It wasn’t as good as The Guncle. It held my attention for the most part. I felt it had some unnecessary detail and character building. The plot felt a little weak. Overall I did enjoy it.