I really enjoyed reading this book with my book club. It was such a fun easy read and I hope we get more Guncle!

While I don’t know that this story NEEDED a sequel, I’m still glad we got more GUP! I absolutely adored this story just like I did the first book. The zingers were zingin’ and the feelings were feelin’ and that’s all I could’ve asked for.

Stephen Rowley is a MUST read for me and I loved The Guncle and ADORED last year's The Celebrants. I was so excited to hear he was continuing Patrick's story in The Guncle Abroad and was so excited to be approved for an ARC by NetGalley. I devoured it within 24 hours after my approval. Patrick was back five years after The Guncle with Maisie and Grant, this time in Italy as his brother Greg is getting remarried. The kids have asked Patrick to stop the wedding but he is torn between his love and concern for them vs. his love and concern for Greg. Patrick spends the book trying to help the kids accept their dad's new relationship while still grieving their mom. The book was emotional and raw and I loved every word.

I think it was a fine addition to the series. I still am wary about if I think the original book even needed a sequel though.

A sequel to the beloved The Guncle, this one is possibly even more fun, adding in the element of Eurpoean travel. Patrick continues to remisce about his late best friend and sister-in-law Sara, which helps him in his continuing healing process. It's nice to hear more of their backstory.

It's great to get reacquainted with Maisie and Grant, five years later, now in their teen and tween years, respectively. They're coming to terms with their dad's impending nuptials, and aren't loving the idea of him remarrying, particularly a foreigner to whom they haven't really warmed up yet. They do like their stepmother-to-be's cool, edgy, lesbian sister, Palmina, who GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) sees as a rival. Imagine a "launt" potentially taking his place in the children's hearts! Inconceivable! The rivalry between Palmina and Patrick adds a fun bit of tension to the story.

Overall, The Guncle Abroad is a sweet, fun, wacky journey through both Europe and family dynamics. I enjoyed how each of the characters learned and grew as people, and strove to become better, kinder, and more empathetic family members.

Thank you to Putnam Books for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through #NetGalley.  All opinions are my own

The Guncle is back being witty and funny as ever!

I fell in love with the first book INSTANTLY. And was so excited to start the second! I have zero complaints and nothing but great things to say about this book. There was a lot of growth in not only Patrick but the kids as well. I love his relationship with the kids and how he really helps them navigate life’s problems and learn important life lessons. The witty banter between him and the kids was always my favorite as it reminds me of my witty banter with my own kiddos.

This book (and this first) is an easy 5 ⭐️! I loved this book so much! I’m team Guncle for life ♥️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion,

Steven Rowley has done it again! He is a master at tearing at your heartstrings!!

This is the perfect beach read. It's light and fluffy and sad and funny... Grief is hard in all of it's forms and Rowley handled it perfectly.

Can't wait to see what he brings us next.

GUP is back! This time he is taking Maisie and Grant to Europe and eventually to Italy for their dad’s wedding. It’s five years later and Greg is finally ready to get remarried after the death of his wife but his kids are not quite ready for a new mother figure. Patrick is back acting and as he is getting close to fifty, he is newly single after breaking up with Emory. He is still making jokes and helping the kids but he is also butting heads with the new launt (lesbian aunt) and trying to hang on to being the favorite relative.

I was happy to be back with this family and the craziness that always ensues. Patrick’s sarcastic humor and petty ways make it a fun read and I wish I had a friend like this. The story was not quite as fantastic as the first one for me but it was still really good! It was full of heart and explores moving past grief and various ways to show love. A fun, fantastic summer read but be warned; I did tear up a little bit. A wedding in Lake Como sounds like such a dream ✨

This book was everything. I enjoyed The Guncle, but I LOVED The Guncle abroad.

This book takes place five years in the future from The Guncle, and you get a deeper look into the characters that you grew to love in the first book. Patrick’s niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, are dealing with a new life change that they’re not all that excited for, and The Guncle Abroad explores Patrick trying to help his family through this huge change.

There are so many touching moments of joy, sadness, grief, and overcoming obstacles. This novel manages to be the perfect combination of humorous quips and poignant pieces of Guncle advice. I laughed out loud and I cried (pretty much through the last four or five chapters) because Rowley completely immerses you in these characters and their situations.

I can’t wait to reread both of these books this summer, because they’ll definitely make the perfect beach reads!

I received at complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
I was so excited to see another book featuring Patrick, Maisie and Grant written by Steven Rowley. I loved them in the Guncle and I fell in love more with them in the Guncle Abroad. It's the same laugh out loud writing about characters with so much heart that you just don't want it to end. Steven Rowley can certainly keep the puns coming as Patrick takes the kids on a trip in Europe to try to get them to understand the language of love because there father is remarrying and the kids are not happy about it. His antics are funny and heartfelt and made me laugh. A definite read if you've read the Guncle, and if you haven't read that first because y0u don't know what you're missing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It is very hard to write an excellent sequel, but Steven Rowley did just that in bringing the beloved Guncle characters back in all their wonderful, messy ways.

The pacing is quick witted and an emotional rollercoaster with just enough tension to bring you to the finish line.

The sibling representation and its nuances are so carefully done, and encompass my own memories of siblinghood. The squabbling between Guncle and Launt is over the top but decently resolved. Patrick is himself, of course.

The next stage of grief is the intangible "other" character in this book, and it adeptly captures what it means to love those who are gone, yet continue to grow. Chosen family and the family we make together - within the queer community and outside of it - cannot and should not be underestimate in its importance.

I finished this book with a twinge in my heart, and am grateful for it!

I loved The Guncle and was very happy to find this sequel. And, again, loved this book. The author has a writing style that is right up my alley and his humor had me lol-ing. The characters are so endearing and well fleshed out. I want to be part of the family. Add in the “abroad” part of the book and I was hooked. Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this amazing book with me and thanks to Steven Rowley for returning to the story of The Guncle.

5 stars for The Guncle Abroad! I read The Guncle two years ago and thought it was "just okay". I went into The Guncle Abroad with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I just loved watching Patrick with Maisie and Grant and was in love with the European setting in this book. This book is a perfect blend of funny, emotional, and adventurous. I was so impressed that I went back and reread The Guncle and liked it more than the first read.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and Steven Rowley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Guncle Abroad will publish on May 21, 2024. I highly recommend that you pick it up!

The following is a copy/paste of my Goodreads review:

Very solid 4.5 stars! The Guncle was about handling grief. The Guncle Abroad is how to move forward after grieving. Very much like the first book Patrick tries to teach Macie and Grant an important life lesson but ends up learning just as much himself.

The first book really hit all the feels and holds a special place with me. I loved the second book almost as much- it will also hit all the feels but not as deeply as the first. If you loved The Guncle I highly recommend continuing the story.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an uncorrected proof to read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was really cute and I was immediately swept up into GUP's humor and antics. The first half was a 4 star book, but the second half lagged for me. I found the last few chapters drawn out and the book was a good 25 pages too long. I loved that the kids grief and wishes were taken into account, because that is too often not the case in real life.

I didn't however like the "blood" scene and tantrum as another reviewer labeled it. Definitely not realistic or necessary. I think that could have been handled much better. I also didn't like the reference to infidelity. If you are building a case for a heartfelt romance, mentioning that a partner doesn't get jealous of a "Pip here or there" really kills the mood.

Overall, a fun sequel and worthy of a summer read while dreaming of going along on their vacation.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my #gifted advanced copy and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of The Guncle Abroad! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★ (ALL THE STARS)

I was obsessed with The Guncle but The Guncle Abroad will hold such a special place in my heart. Steven Rowley writes the best books that I never want to end. The Guncle Abroad was full of self-discovery, heart, humor, and love. If you have not read The Guncle, please read that one first, and then pick this one up. I promise you will fall in love with Patrick and the rest of the amazing characters in these two books!

I love how Rowley is able to blend humor and love together to create such a beautiful story about family and self-discovery. He creates characters that are just so relatable. I listened to most of this book on my morning walks, and found myself either with tears streaming down my face, or literally laughing out loud. I love authors who have the ability to illicit such emotions in readers. I know this book will be one of my favorites this year. The ending was just magnificent and I can’t wait for more readers to fall in love with GUP, Grant, Maisie and the rest of the crew!

“You’ll never know what you want until you know for certain who you are.”

🎧I started with the physical book and then when I realized Steven Rowley was narrating the audiobook, I quickly made the switch. I cannot recommend this audiobook enough! Rowley as a narrator is pure perfection. I don’t know why, but hearing the author read the book truly elevates your listening experience, and Rowley clearly delivered! What a memorable and flawless performance!

💙Second Chances
💙The Most Amazing Banter
💙Rivalry Between GUP and Launt
💙Found Family
💙Italian Backdrop
💙Self-Discovery
💙Heartwarming
💙Laugh Out Loud Funny
💙Pop Culture References

Posted on Goodreads on May 14, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 21, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 21, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This sequel to The Guncle picks up five years after the events of the first book, in which Patrick spent an eventful summer with his niece and nephew after his friend/sister-in-law died. Maisie and Grant are now 14 and 11 respectively, and their dad (Patrick’s brother) is getting remarried, much to Maisie and Grant’s displeasure. Patrick takes them for a month long trip around Europe in which they try to convince him to interfere in the wedding, while he tries to teach them some Guncle love lessons, and then they all go to Italy for the wedding (as Greg’s fiancée is from a wealthy and titled Italian family).

Like the first book, this one is such a charmer. And also like the first one, it manages to be both light and funny, and emotional - I truly both laughed and cried multiple times. If you loved The Guncle, you will love this one too. And if you haven’t read The Guncle, this shouldn’t be read as a stand-alone, so go read that one first and then come back and read this!

Thank you NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of The Guncle Abroad.

We are once again back with Patrick and his niblings Maisie and Grant. When Patrick's brother decides to get remarried he asks Patrick to bring his kids to Italy for the nuptials. Patrick, fresh off a breakup with Emery, decides to use this time to impart more Guncle rules and to teach Maisie and Grant about love.

This book is filled with the same amount of humor as book one. Patrick once again has the perfect comedic timing for all situations and his relationship with Maisie and Grant flourishes. Maisie is definitely hitting those teen years in this book. She is not on board at all with her dads plans to remarry and asks Patrick to help stop the wedding. Grant once again killed me as he is so cute and funny. Patrick tries his best to get both kids on board with the wedding and to help them understand that just because a new person is entering their lives that does not mean that their mother's memory will be gone for good.

While Patrick teaches his niblings about love he comes to some self realizations as well particularly with his relationship with Emery. I was heartbroken to see that these two had split prior to the start of the book but I do understand some of Patrick's reasons. He is concerned that the age gap between them will end up causing issues so he decides to protect his heart and end things. However, as we all know that is not always the best decision.

The Guncle Abroad takes us on a tour of Europe to some of its most romantic spots as we learn about love and moving on through Guncle rules. Filled with humor and new characters this is the sequel we all wanted after The Guncle. The ending is wonderful and perfect for each of the characters. It is filled with light hearted moments while also touching on topics such as grief and changes in family. The Guncle Abroad is a wonderful read that everyone should pick up.

I fell in love with Patrick in Guncle, and so I was so excited for his 2nd book. This one unfortunately just didn’t have quite the same appeal. The first one made me cry and laugh, and this one was nostalgic but didn’t give the same emotion.

I really liked The Guncle and all of its mixture of humor with heartfelt moments. This one didn’t grab me as much. I felt the trip with the kids in the first third was a bit slow and hard to fall into.

This one felt a bit less charming. It might have been the older ages of the kids, but it fell a little flat for me.

But, the last third really made up for its earlier shortcomings. It ended really beautifully and I’m glad I stuck with the book. I also loved seeing the improved relationships between Greg, Patrick, and Clara.

Gustavo was also a phenomenal addition.

Three stars! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.