I wanted to love this book because I so adored The Guncle but it fell flat for me. I'm wary when sequels come out since I do feel like a lot of them are pointless, but I gave this one a shot because I was hoping I was wrong. I wasn't.

I loved the Guncle by Rowley, so I was very excited to read the follow up, the Guncle Abroad. taking place five years after the events of the first book, Patrick, or GUP, as he's called by his niece and nephew, is filming a movie in England when his brother asks him to take his niece and nephew to Italy, where he's getting married to an Italian marchesa. The kids are not happy with this turn of events, so they're trying to get Patrick to spoil the wedding with them. As they travel to Italy, Patrick tries to explain love languages and accept the new step mom.
Rowley has such a lovely character in Patrick, he's a bit spoiled, a bit selfish, but still a sweetheart, and he loves his niece and nephew so much it's charming. While teaching his niblings how to grow and accept the new step mom, we see Patrick grow as well. Overall I loved this book and would love to see more of GUP and his niblings.

Loved the first one and enjoyed getting to be with the characters again, perfect pool/summer read! Lots of funny with heart!

I LOVED The Guncle so much, and The Guncle Abroad almost as much. It may not have had quite the same charm (the kids were older and a little annoying) but still a very good read.

I adored The Guncle, and my worry was that the sequel would be a let down. Not so, however it is a very different novel than the original. The first book was really an emotional story about grief disguised as a comic novel, and this sequel takes a more straightforwardly comic tone throughout. It was great to connect with these characters again years later, there are plenty of laughs all around, and the heartwarming vibe from the original permeates here as well. Fans of the first book will not be disappointed.

*The Guncle Abroad* by Steven Rowley is a charming premise that unfortunately doesn’t quite hit the mark. While the novel offers humor and heartfelt moments, it feels more like a rehash of its predecessor, *The Guncle*. The witty banter and quirky characters are still present, but the storyline lacks the depth and emotional impact that made the first book memorable. The protagonist, Patrick, is still lovable but often comes across as one-dimensional, and the plot, while enjoyable at times, often drags.

There are moments of real heart in the book, especially dealing with family dynamics, but they feel overshadowed by repetitive jokes and situations that don’t quite land. The setting, though beautiful, isn’t enough to elevate the story. It’s a light, easy read, but ultimately, it falls flat compared to the potential it had. If you’re looking for more substance, you might be disappointed.

The Guncle Abroad is such a lovely follow up to The Guncle. Steven Rowley takes us on a much needed European vacation with his niece and nephew. Patrick's brother is ready to remarry which is bringing up so many emotions and changes for his children. Patrick is back working and struggling with his own love life. What we have is a messy but loving whirlwind of finding family and life after loss. Fans of The Guncle will love the follow up!

A followup novel featuring the lovable Gup, Patrick, as this time he helps his niece and nephew navigate the upcoming marriage of their father to a new wife after the loss of their mother. I enjoyed most of this one but definitely not as much as the first installment of this series. The Gunlce entinced me to book a trip to Palm Springs shortly after reading it and I loved the humor and the connections that were formed between Patrick, Maisie and Grant. This time, they traveled around Europe and although the same humor was still there and was enjoyable, I for sure wasn't encouraged to travel after reading the traveling parts of the story. It was still a heartwarming, funny story full of loveable characters and I would still recommend it, perhaps just not as much as the first one.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

So…I think Steven Rowley’s books just aren’t for me. *ducks for cover* I was underwhelmed by The Guncle but I wanted to give the sequel a chance since so many loved it. Yet somehow I was even less impressed with The Guncle Abroad. 🙈

I don’t hate feel-good fiction. I’m all for the warm and fuzzies of families reuniting, overcoming grief and hard times, and the connection between an (G)uncle and his niece and nephew. I love heartwarming books and moments. But something about these books…just doesn’t work for me.

In The Guncle Abroad, there’s so much going on and the characters get lost. Every chance there’s an opportunity to go deeper, when a scene gets quieter, the situation stays at the surface level. The book is filled with advice and wisdom but it feels so forced to me; there’s no emotion or passion behind the interactions.

I could say more but I’ll leave it at: I just didn’t like it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And this may just be a me thing, because so many people loved this book (and The Guncle). So don’t let my meh feelings on the books keep you away!

Gay Uncle Patrick is back again, taking his much older niece and nephew on a trip around Europe before their father's wedding in Italy. To complicate matters, the kids are not quite on board with this wedding and attempt to recruit GUP to talk their father out of it.

At times, he doesn't seem to try very hard to understand or relate to them on their level. He continuously makes references that only adults in the entertainment industry would understand and seems baffled by their very typical adolescent behavior. Despite the disconnects, there are plenty of witty quips and hilarious adventures to be enjoyed.

As with the first installment, there were plenty of references that went way over my head, and I had to skim over those parts and not put too much stock into them. Nevertheless, the snark and charming narcissism of Patrick permeated the story in a similar vein to the first book. The characters are flawed but have plenty of heart.

I love the Guncle books! Steven Rowley is a fantastic author, and this book made me laugh out loud, just like the first installment. When Guncle travels to Europe for his brother's wedding, hilarity ensues with his niece and nephew. It warmed my heart and made me smile. I really hope we get more books about Guncle because I absolutely adore him!

Steven Rowley does an amazing job of bringing his characters to life. It’s hard not to love GUP and his antics.

I was a huge fan of The Guncle and had the highest hopes for this one. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. I was bored by the snarkiness of the main character. I think we could have done without this addition to the Guncle-verse.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this. This was a cute sequel to the first one. I enjoyed it just as much. The characters are so likeable and easy to read. Love that this is a more modern day type story!

Reading this book felt like going home. I love this family so much and getting a peak into where their journey has taken them was wonderful! I loved the trip through Europe, the "launt" and all the adventures and lessons GUP takes us on. Well done!

Hooray for the return of the Guncle! I absolutely love when an author is able to capture a sassy, sarcastic character with great comedic timing and witty comebacks, WITHOUT bringing cringe-worthy second-hand embarrassment along with it. It doesn't happen often, but Steven Rowley perfectly encapsulates these characteristics while also showing us Patrick's vulnerability and growth.

Not nearly as moving and emotional as the first but I love these characters and it was still a good time.

This was such a fun follow up to The Guncle! I loved the travel across Europe and spending time with these characters again.

I just loved revisitng Patrick! Like the first book, this one was humorous and endearing. Patrick's acerbic wit and over-the-top approach to life is back in the spotlight as he is once again caring for Grant and Maisie in the time leading up to their father's wedding. They galavant around Europe, and he once again shows them how to approach life with style. Grant and Maisie have some reservations about their new stepmother and how their father's marriage will impact their family. In typical GUP fashion, Patrick teaches them about love in his signature unconventional way. They end their travels in Italy to prepare for the wedding. We meet the bride's family, who bring their own brand of humor and flair to the cast of characters, especially the kids' new Launt. She is the perfect person to match Guncle Patrick one-liner for one-liner. Love is in the air (Gustavo!). As the big day approaches, some difficult conversations, foot-in-mouth moments, and teenage drama all vie for the most heartfelt and funniest scenes in the book. This book is such a perfect blend of heart and hilarity - times when I LOLd and times when I teared up. I listened to the audiobook, which Rowley narrates himself. I'm not sure most authors could pull it off, but he did a phenomenal job. It was wonderful knowing that the sarcasm and pretentiousness were delivered just as they were intended.