Again, Steven Rowley had me laughing, cringing and crying all over again! The Gruncle Abroad was just as good as the first and I fell in love all over again with the Gruncle. I can’t recommend both books enough as it transports your heart and mind into a world of love, heartache, and laughter all at once

The Guncle was my first book by Steven Rowley & it took me by complete surprise. I expected a light, funny story & while I did get that, there were parts that completely gutted me. It was a 5⭐️ read for me. When I was granted the opportunity to read The Guncle Abroad ahead of its May 21st publish date I was thrilled.

The Guncle Abroad picks up five years later. Patrick’s brother Greg has found a second chance at love with Livia, Italian royalty. The kids are having a difficult time leading up to the wedding & Greg knows just who to call. Maisie & Grant end up in Europe & jaunt throughout Europe with their Guncle Patrick while he introduces them to different love languages in hopes of helping them warm to the idea of their father remarrying. The banter & undeniable love between Patrick & his niblings is something special. Thinking back to where they were five years prior, when the children came to spend the summer with him after their mother’s death vs where they are now is beautiful. Seeing both Sarah & Joe honored all while these characters have found ways to move forward closer than ever had me choked up. These are characters I never tire of & can only hope to get more of one day.

I am so appreciative of NetGalley, Steven Rowley & Putnam Books from Penguin Books Putnam for the digital ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it.

Patrick, or GUP (gay Uncle Patrick), is BACK! I was so excited to dive into this much-anticipated sequel! I did a tandem read, listening to the audiobook performed by author, Steven Rowley, while reading my digital ARC.

Rowley's narrative performance IS Patrick. And the best part of having Rowley perform the audiobook, is you can guarantee every nuance, emotion, and joke are delivered with perfect timing!

Patrick has revived his acting career and is in London wrapping a feature movie role when he gets the wedding invitation to his brother Greg's upcoming nuptials in Lake Como, Italy. Greg's kids, Grant and Maisie, are struggling with this big life transition, and Patrick offers to take them on European trek before the wedding. From London to Paris, Austria, Venice, and Lake Como, this book is a dream-like escape full of the sites and foods of Europe! The book is brimming with that perfect mix of heart and humor, and I adored the influx of new characters, especially Grant and Maisie's new 'Launt' (lesbian aunt) who tries to claim 'favorite relative status' from GUP! Rowley brilliantly explores the complicated bonds of family and love that is relatable to all types of readers. Fans of The Guncle, will love watching Patrick's relationship evolve with Grant and Maisie as they becoming teenagers with bigger ideals, independence, and personalities. And as someone quickly approaching 'middle age' status, (Patrick celebrates his 50th birthday in the book!), I also really adored Patrick's exploration of rediscovering himself in both his career and relationships. Readers can expect to smile, grieve, celebrate, and laugh in this perfect summer read.

Oh, Patrick... how I love thee!!! I was incredibly fortunate to receive an ARC for the sequel to one of my most favorite books ever, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I wasn't sure how Rowley would be able to meet my expectations (silly me!), but alas they were not only met, but actually exceeded. I loved reuniting and catching up with this amazing cast of characters and meeting some fun and quirky new ones (I'm looking at you, launt Palmina) five years later. In true Rowley fashion, this book had me in my feelings; I laughed hard and cried hard and loved hard. Long live GUP!!! A HUGE thank you to Putnam Books, NetGalley and Steven Rowley for an ARC of this gem in exchange for my honest opinion. This was such a heartwarming, amazing read. I LOVED IT!

Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5+ stars
Story 4.5 stars

If you loved The Guncle, you will love The Guncle Abroad too! It was so wonderful to be back with Patrick, Maisie, & Grant. The story picks up 5 years after The Guncle and whether our characters want them to or not, life continues to move forward.

Steven Rowley does such an incredible job tackling the subject of grief and he balances those emotional moments so well with humor and light. I loved how Sara was still very much a part of the story. The secondary characters were amazing and the shenanigans between Patrick and Palmina (Launt lol) had me laughing so hard. I also definitely want to visit Lake Como, Italy ;) The story did meander a bit in the middle, but the overall message of healing and love was beautiful and this was such a feel good read. Rowley narrates this book perfectly and his comedic timing really shined. I loved all the different voices he used and I strongly urge readers to listen to this one!

CW: death of parent (past), grief, references to Harry Potter

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

All of the charm of The Guncle, but with an international setting. I specifically chose to read The Guncle Abroad while traveling abroad myself. This sequel to the Guncle picks up 5 years later, Maisie and Grant are back, now 11 and 14 and are not pleased that their dad is planning to remarry. GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) is there for the kids when they need him. He offers to take the kids traveling through Europe for a few weeks and then meet up with the rest of the family for the wedding in Lake Como. GUP feels it is his responsibility to teach the kids about love, love languages. and help them understand their father's fiancée. This book focuses on Patrick's romantic and familial relationships. As he works to impart all of these love lessons on his niece and nephew, he realizes he doesn't quite have it all figured out. Did The Guncle need a sequel? No. But am I glad Steven Rowley wrote one, 100% yes.

The sequel we have all been waiting for to the lovely "The Guncle" series! Patrick (aka GUP), Maisie, Grant & the beloved cast of characters are back, but this time to travel the world!

Steven Rowley weaves humor throughout the narrative, keeping the story light and entertaining while also throwing the reader into a slew of emotions for the characters from happiness, sorrow, and joy. I found myself laughing out loud at Patrick and his family's antics and highlighting sentence after sentence of the character's witty banter.

Even though it has been a while since I read the first book in the series, I found myself quickly drawn back into the familiar world of the characters, eager to follow their new adventures and see how their relationships unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an early copy of the book. #TheGuncleAbroad #NetGalley.

DNF @ 25%

As much as I love these characters some books aren’t meant to have sequels and I feel this is one of them. I was forcing myself to continue to read instead of enjoying the book. I missed the connection I had to the characters in book one. The antics but deep moving moments that I loved so much from the original were missing and I know I only made it 25% but being a sequel we shouldn’t have such a build up to get back into the groove of things.

Overall what I read was cute but not living up to the original so I’m going to allow The Guncle to live as a standalone in my mind since it’s a top book ever for me.

Giving a 3 bc I do see how this will land with The Guncle audience it just wasn’t hitting right for me.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons, Steven Rowley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ebook edition in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the follow-up to Steven Rowley's "The Guncle" and it was every bit as heartwarming and wonderful as the original! The author is a master of creating characters that are imperfect and dynamic that the reader can relate to and learn from. I wish I had these characters in my real life! I will miss them now that I've finished to book.

I loved the European settings-England, Paris, Austria, and Lake Como. It was fun to travel first class virtually with Patrick, Masie, Grant, and the gang! Everything wasn't always smooth sailing, but eventually everybody worked through some difficult family issues and came out the other side as a more mature person and part of a closer family.

I loved it!

I am on such a five star streak and I’m loving it! This was such an easy and solid five stars!! This book melted my heart, but I wasn’t surprised in the least.

After falling absolutely in love with Patrick and his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, I was so excited to see we were getting more of this beautifully messy, and lovable family.

It’s been four years since the death of their mother and Grant and Maisie are back with their GUP on a vacation of sorts. Their dad Greg has found love again and is getting married, and the two will spend some time with Patrick until the big day.

Maisie in particular is struggling with the idea of a step mom, and is expecting Patrick to help her talk their dad out of the wedding. Instead of his epic rules for life, he spends the time sharing with them all the ways in which you can show and accept love. So, starting in England, they travel from country to country on their way to the destination wedding in Italy, where GUP attempts to soften Maisie a little.

This book was absolutely amazing. Equal parts heart wrenching and soothing balm, this was filled with humor and love. The writing is just unrivaled. This was truly a favorite of the year!

Four years after his niece Maisie and nephew Grant came to stay with him for the summer, actor Patrick O'Hara finds himself once again in charge of his niblings. But this time, they're gallivanting about Europe in the weeks leading up to the wedding of Patrick's brother to an uber-wealthy Italian woman. Maisie and Grant aren't too keen on the idea of their father getting remarried, and understandably are worried that their stepmother will try to replace their mom, who died just before that summer with Guncle (gay uncle) Patrick. So while he's escorting them through London, Paris, Salzburg, and Venice, Patrick's also trying to teach Maisie and Grant the many ways people can show love for one another — including allowing their dad to get married again.

This book can't be read without reading The Guncle first, but good lord, they're both excellent books, so get on that already! In the opening pages, I was a bit concerned that this was going to be a retread of the first book (but in Europe!), but my fears were quickly assuaged, and this became an absolutely delightful read. Read The Guncle and then read this. It's fantastic.

Steven Rowley might be one of my favourite writers of all time. His characters all have such a perfect wry sense of humor that is laugh-out-loud funny. The Guncle Abroad was easy to pick up and read, something I usually really struggle with in sequels, as it's hard to remember all the characters you first met and fell in love with years before- not the case with this one. For me, the Guncle Abroad really didn't have that same magic as The Guncle until about the halfway point, where I felt it really picked up steam. I'm excited for our patrons to get their hands on this one!

Another fun, refreshing, and uplifitng family story from this wonderful author! This is a sequel to The Guncle, although the author so perfectly fills readers in that it works perfectly as a standalone book. This book takes place five years later, just before Patrick's brother, Greg's, wedding in Lake Como, Italy. Maisie and Grant are having a hard time adjusting to the wedding, so Patrick agrees to take them on a European trip a few weeks beforehand. Like in The Guncle, you will laugh, and you will cry. Patrick is so funny, but the author doesn't shy away from all of the issues that families face, and the many stages of grief and loss.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Guncle Abroad” in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed The Guncle, but struggled to stay interested during the first half of this book. It read more like a travel guide with some jokes mixed in that didn’t really land - almost like the author was trying too hard for laughs. When the family all ended up together in Italy, the story grew more interesting and I am glad I stuck with it until the end. It just didn’t live up to the expectations I had after reading the first book.

The Guncle Abroad is the second Guncle novel from Steven Rowley about a gay uncle(Guncle),Patrick O'Hara, whose niece & nephew, Maisie & Grant, lost their mother 5 years ago. Patrick introduced his brother Greg to his best friend Sara, and their marriage produced Maisie & Grant. When Sara passed, Patrick watched over the kids in his Palm Springs home while Greg went to rehab. That was the summer of recovery from their loss. Greg has fallen in love and is getting married to an Italian aristocrat, and he asks Patrick to bring the kids to Italy for the wedding. Patrick is working in London, so the kids are sent there, and the three of them make their way to Como via Paris & Austria. Throughout the trip, Patrick tries to teach the kids about love, because they are not thrilled that their dad wants to get married. Maisie, who is fourteen, is especially bent on getting Uncle Patrick to stop the wedding. Patrick is turning 50 soon and is also trying to get over a break up with his boyfriend, who is 10 or so years younger than him, and he thought he was just speeding up the inevitable, eventual break up when Emory, his boyfriend, got tired of "the old man". Steven Rowley's writing is very funny and full of emotion. I laughed and teared up throughout. Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers ebook to review.

I laughed my way through this story! Steven Rowley’s Patrick is whip-smart, witty and hilarious. His one liners are quick blink and you’ll miss them savage, but playful. I haven’t laughed that hard reading a story in a minute. Groot had me snorting with laughter!

I loved the tender moments, the Sound of Music reenactments, the delicious hot chocolate scene. I cried at a drop of a hat at any and all mentions of Sara.

If you’re looking for a feel good story, pick up this book! It’s a sequel, but I found that it could also work as a standalone. But if you haven’t read THE GUNCLE yet, pick up a copy of that one too.

I absolutely adored The Guncle, so I was so excited for its sequel. I typically keep my expectations low for sequels, but I was pleasantly surprised here. I will say it takes about half the book for the plot to really pick up, and it is generally a slow book overall, but Steven Rowley is the king of quip and unexpected heartfelt moments so making it to the end is always worth it.

“The truth is, there are a thousand ways that love ends, but there is only one way it begins and that’s by opening your heart to another. It’s something I didn’t think I dared do again until two rotten kids stepped into my life and reminded me of everything love could be.”

How do you follow up a beloved Thurber Award winning novel? By taking the show on the road! It’s a long way from Palm Springs to Europe but thankfully Patrick has packed his sarcastic wit and his deep affection for his niece and nephew.

It’s been five years since GUP (gay Uncle Patrick) took over parenting Maisie and Grant for the summer; their mother, Patrick’s dearest friend has just died and their Dad, Patrick’s brother, checked into rehab. Everyone is working toward the new normal when the bombshell is dropped - Greg is getting remarried and the kids are not happy about it.
Patrick takes the kids on a pre-wedding adventure through Europe as he unfurls the Guncle Love Languages in an attempt to smooth the transition as they make their way to a lavish Lake Como wedding venue. Grief is still percolating just under the surface and Patrick’s attention toward these little loved ones just might be putting his own grief process on the back burner. The line up of uproarious characters file in and things start to unravel, with the result being Rowley’s quintessential scenes and one-liners! References to Broadway and movie musicals was the icing on the cake. Reading this follow up to a book I dearly love was like the best belly laugh and the most heartfelt warm hug wrapped into 320 pages.

I loved The Guncle Abroad as much as The Guncle. I enjoyed the humor, sarcasm, banter, Patrick’s witty quick responses. I found him many times just hilarious!😂🤭 His lessons cute and entertaining. I welcomed the entertaining rivalry between Guncle and Launt.😉 Hoping for a 3rd book.

GUP is back and just as funny as ever! Sequels are always a mixed bag, but when I was cackling on page one, I knew this one hit the mark. I loved seeing Patrick, Maisie and Grant travel Europe together. Their banter is so enjoyable. I also really found Patrick’s jealousy of Palmina, the kids’ new “launt”, so hilarious. The hand jive mistranslation had me CRYING. There was a lot of great humor in this, but I also really enjoyed the sweeter moments between Patrick and the kids and also Patrick and his siblings. I think fans of The Guncle will be very pleased with the rest of the story and these characters.
CW: mentions of parental death, grief, mentions of addiction

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.