3.5 stars! Did I love The Guncle? Yes. Did I love this sequel? Not as much as the first, but yes. Would I read a third book? Absolutely! While I didn't think this book had quite as much charm as the first, I found myself rooting for the characters once again and I loved the ending. Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - pub day is 5/21/24!

Rowley's writing is as witty and engaging as ever, with laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with moments of quiet reflection and emotional depth. His descriptions of the Italian countryside are vivid and immersive, transporting readers to a world of rolling hills, vineyards, and sun-drenched piazzas. Through Patrick's eyes, readers experience the beauty and magic of Italy, as well as the universal truths and challenges of the human experience.

At its core, "The Guncle Abroad" is a story about the power of love, resilience, and the bonds that connect us across distances and differences. It is a testament to the transformative power of travel, friendship, and embracing life's unexpected twists and turns. Whether you're a fan of the original novel or new to Patrick's world, "The Guncle Abroad" is a must-read that will leave you laughing, crying, and longing for your own Italian adventure.

This is a sequel that I didn't need but that I also wanted, without knowing that I wanted it.

GUP, Maisie, and Grant are back and ready to hit Europe! We've got a wedding to prep for, growing pains to deal with, and a non-stop script of sassy, hysterical, and unabashed life lines from the incomparable Patrick O'Hara, which all amounts to another enormously ebullient novel.

It's a travel book without being a travel book and a life lessons book full of life lessons. It's hilarious, of course, especially Patrick's rivalry with Palmina, the kids' soon-to-be "launt" (lesbian aunt, to Patrick's horror). Once I started, it was hard to stop. Plus, I cried this time.

Patrick O'Hara makes a return in Steven Rowley's "The Guncle Abroad," reuniting with Grant and Maisie five years after their summer of grief. Together, they embark on a trip to Europe ahead of their father's wedding. However, Grant and Maisie, not happy about the impending marriage, seek Patrick's help in thwarting it. As Patrick imparts lessons on love to his niece and nephew, he confronts his own feelings of loneliness at nearly fifty, contemplating its implications on his love life and acting career. Amidst it all, the children's excitement over their new "launt" - a lesbian aunt - adds a fresh dynamic to their relationship with Patrick. Determined not to lose their affection, Patrick engages in a playful competition to maintain his "guncle" status.

If you liked “The Guncle,” “The Guncle Abroad does not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm glad GUP and kids were back! This was a fun book, though I wish I was listening to the audiobook like book 1. The narration was everything and I felt like by reading book 2, I missed that a little bit. Patrick's relationships and his special rules for life were enjoyable really showed his character. Teaching love languages through Europe was a special part of the book. Overall, I highly recommend.

Five years have passed since actor Patrick O’Hara (aka Guncle) ended his caretaking arrangement with his brother, taking care of his niece and nephew while their father recovered after his wife’s death. Patrick has gone on with his life since then, restarting his acting career and staying close to his beloved niece and nephew. Now, in “The Guncle Abroad,” Patrick is reunited with them as they travel to Europe for their father’s wedding in Italy. As often happens, the children are not happy that their father is remarrying and are determined to stop the wedding, with Patrick’s help.
The story that follows is full of laughter, misadventure, and love. Patrick reacquaints himself with the day to day challenges of his niece and nephew even as he is considering what his life is as he faces turning 50. “The Guncle Abroad” is full of love, family, sadness, humor, and sarcasm —everything that I Iove!
Thank you to publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for a free download for review. And thank you to author Steven Rowley for creating Patrick O’Hara!

The Guncle Abroad
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The way I squealed when this popped up on my NetGalley shelf, I was so looking forward to reading this sequel and it did not disappoint! The moment we step out of Heathrow our European dream starts. From eating macarons while drinking the most decadent hot chocolate you’ve ever had in Paris, to pretending to be Julie Andrews and floating through the foothills in Austria, to finally heading to Venice where you’re more likely to hop on a gondola than step foot in a car. The Guncle Abroad navigates the inner workings of family and what comes next after loss. It’s honest, witty, real, and hilarious. I loved seeing how all the relationships in the story evolved from the first book. To me it almost felt like a coming of age story regardless of your age. I’m so happy this book exists ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Yay! The Guncle is back!!! And this time his brother Greg needs him to watch Maisie and Grant while he prepares for his wedding to an Italian marchesa. Five years has passed and Patrick is firmly established in NYC and has recently broken up with his boyfriend Emory whom he misses terribly. Maisie is a sullen teenager and Grant is a typical preteen boy complete with all the body noises and gestures that are part of that age. The kids don't want their dad to remarry and they work hard to enlist Patrick to come to their side and prevent the marriage. Patrick is of course nonplussed by all this and decides to take the kids to Europe for several weeks before the wedding takes place on Lake Como in Italy. What happens along the way is laugh out loud merriment. One of the trips they take is the The Sound of Music tour in Austria and I haven't laughed this much in a long time when I read this.
Every character in the book is well done and each has their own wonderful personality. Patrick meets his nemesis in Palmina, the lesbian aunt (Launt) who is also sister of the bride. Jealousy abounds.

This book is full of witty banter and clever dialogue. I certainly hope Steve Rowley gives us more of the Guncle in future books. Such a fun book.
I highly recommend this.

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

My Thoughts: It was good, not great! GUP is still fantastic, loyal and funny but the story just missed the mark for me. The characters are so sweet and endearing but the whole middle of this book dragged a bit too much for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Since I read Steven Rowley's The Guncle last year, I couldn't wait to read the sequel, The Guncle Abroad, and I was not disappointed. In fact, this story is told with just as much heart and humor as its predecessor.

Patrick O'Hara, or GUP, as he is affectionately known by his niece Maisie and nephew Grant, is in his professional acting prime when he is invited to his brother Greg's Italian location wedding. Since the kids are having trouble adjusting to the prospect of this new family arrangement, Uncle Patrick steps in to spend time with them and smooth things over - maybe;) My favorite part of the book was when Patrick was whisking Maisie and Grant on their European tour seeing highlights in France, Austria and beyond. He may be almost 50 years old, but he has all his old charm!

I will enthusiastically recommend this to all sort of readers.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gay Uncle Patrick returns! After hearing his brother is remarrying in Italy, Patrick takes his niece, Maisie, and his nephew, Grant, across Europe to experience the finer things in life and learn about love. When they arrive in Italy, Patrick feels overwhelmed. He is single, breaking things off with younger Emory. His brother is having cold feet, and his sister is flirting with guests! Maisie and Grant are having a difficult time accepting their new potential stepmother, and Patrick starts a rivalry with the kids' soon-t0-be launt.

As this is a sequel, I was not sure how much I would enjoy this book. This was laugh out loud funny, combining love and growth with giggles.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Back for another adventure, this time five years older and (potentially) wiser, Gay Uncle Patrick (affectionately known as Gup), and his nibilings Maisie and Grant, take on Europe as Patrick attempts to impart wisdom and humor on a younger generation.

Patrick’s brother, Gary (and the father of aforementioned Maisie and Grant), surprises everyone by announcing his impending nuptials to Italian marchesa Livia, much to the dismay of his children. In an effort to give the engaged some space to plan their extravagant wedding, Patrick and the kids take Europe by train (and car and <i>Sound of Music</i> tour bus)– meeting the rest of the family at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo at Lake Como in Italy.

Dealing with not only his beloved niece and nephew’s attempts to thwart the marriage, his sister’s decision to land a rich, Italian husband, his own relationship ending, and the impending 50th birthday that looms– Patrick also has to handle the unwelcome introduction of the launt, or Lesbian Aunt.

Sequels rarely capture the magic of the first, but, somehow, THE GUNCLE ABROAD proves to be special in its own right. A touching story about grief and the acceptance of moving forward in life and love, I can admit I was teary eyed more than a few times while reading– but Patrick’s characteristic banter and self-deprecation, as well as the heartwarming love between the GUP and his wards, kept the book light enough for me to enjoy in a single sitting.

Back with just the right amount of wit and warmth, THE GUNCLE ABROAD is a European delight for old (and new) fans of Steven Rawley.

An absolute delight to read, just as the first Guncle book was. So fun and earnest and honestly, I have no complaints.

Loved sequel! I was so excited to read this after finishing The Guncle! I felt this one was much more emotional than the first, even though they deal with separate feelings. Great continuation of the characters and adding on to them through their life. Such a heartfelt book and loved all the traveling!

Thank you Steven Rowley and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Guncle is one of my favorite books of all time so seeing there was going to be a sequel made me SQUEEL. It did not disappoint! If the Guncle is 10/10, the Guncle Abroad is 9.5/10. It is an almost perfect book. I laughed and I cried. I loved getting to know more about the characters. Maisie is my absolute favorite. I will read every single book in the Guncle series. I can't see myself ever getting tired of it.

The Guncle is in my top 5 favorite books from the last few years so I was very excited when it was announced that a sequel was publishing this year! When it came time to read it though? I was nervous! Would it be as good? Would this be the Steven Rowley book that I didn't enjoy? #booknerdproblems

The answer to that last question? NO! I loved it! Just like the first novel it is funny, touching and so well written. GUP is as funny as ever and with a new "nemesis" in his life he is even funnier! I love the relationship he has with his niece and nephew and I especially love watching Patrick evolve and allow himself to love and be loved.

Mr. Rowley has become an auto-buy author for me. I cannot wait to see what he does next!

Be still my heart, the return of the Guncle! Though not as immediately captivating as the first, I'd still sign up for whatever adventures may come next for GUP. Please tell me there will be more.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Publishing for the opportunity to read The Guncle Abroad ARC! Those who know me know that The Guncle is one of my favorite books. I was so excited when I got the email that I received The Guncle Abroad ARC. It definitely lived up to my expectations. I loved how we still got one on one time of GUP, Maisie, and Grant. But I also enjoyed getting to see into some of the other family members lives a bit more. I loved Patricks love/hate relationship with Palmina. I honestly was not expecting the ending at all, but it was a very fun way for the book to be wrapped up. I am anxiously awaiting for the on screen adaptations of the first and second book...... Steven Rowley, your writing entertains me every time. EVERYONE needs to read The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to Penguin Group and Netgalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this book! And to Steven Rowley, thank you for bringing back one of my favorite characters, the Guncle, a.k.a GUP (gay uncle Patrick).

Once again, I fell in love with the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their adventures. Patrick was on a quest to teach his niece and nephew about love. They grieved the death of their mother a few years prior and are now struggling to accept the fact that their father wants to get married again, dealing with all the emotions that come with that and not wanting the memory of their mother to be erased. Trekking through Europe, he showed them the many ways people can express love, and discovered how to truly let love in himself.

If I could give this book more stars, I would!

I loved The Guncle! So to have received an email for this next installment made me so happy. I enjoyed this book and was just so happy to be with Patrick, Maisie and Grant again. I felt like I went on this warm and great journey with them like I did with the first book. My hesitation on giving this great story is the pacing. It felt a little too long in certain parts and I wanted more of the last part of the book. Thank you Steven Rowley, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this digital copy!