I am so happy that this sequel is just as good as the first Guncle book! It takes place about five years later when the kids are older and life as moved on. Some major events are about to take place in the lives of Maisie and Grant (and their dad) and Uncle Patrick is once again there to help them out and learn a few things about himself along the way. The jokes are fantastic and the story is sweet and emotional at times. I loved it!
Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC!

“There are times when one’s heart dictates and its best to simply stop arguing and obey”…

Five years after Patrick (or, GUP as he is lovingly called), spends a a summer with hs niece and nephew, they are once again in need of the kind of guidance only a Guncle can provide. Their father, Greg, is planning on getting remarried in Italy. Not only is it a whole world away from where they lived but the children (Maisie especially), are still grieving their mother Sara. GUP to the rescue…and as before, he may find himself being rescued right along with the kids.

“The Guncle” was one of my favorite reads, EVER, so when I saw Steven Rowley was writing a sequel, I was beyond excited! Filled with hilarious one-liners in the form of Guncle rules and various song quotes, Patrick once again captured my heart. Although this story has just as many laugh-out-loud moments as its predecessor, at the heart of things is a family grieving. Patrick is able to help them see - and learn himself - that moving forward does not mean you have forgotten your loved one. In fact, it’s just the opposite: loving again as they loved you can be the very best way to honor them. What I found most interesting is that Sara passed away before the events of the first book even happened but she is always very much present in the stories. It’s nearly magical how Steven beautifully honors her memory - indeed you feel like you know her yourself in the pages. Not to mention the beautiful setting of Italy - it provided the perfect backdrop for this story.

This story deserves each and every star! My soul needed it and I am so glad to have gotten to know these characters over the years. I suppose my only question is, where will GUP go next? I can see more adventures - Maisie will be going to Prom in a few years after all :)

Thank you to Netgalley, GP Putnam and Sons and Steven Rowley for the ARC! “The Guncle Abroad” releases May 21, 2o24. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_botttle) shortly :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of The Guncle Abroad.

I loved the Guncle and I was so excited for this sequel! It's been 5 years since the events of the first book and lots has changed. Maisie and Grant are no longer little kids and Patrick's brother Greg is getting remarried to an Italian aristocrat. Patrick is in London filming a show. He is in charge of entertaining the kids for a few weeks while Greg and his fiancee prepare for the wedding. First thing the kids say when they see him is, "Help us stop this wedding." Oh dear.

Patrick is still Patrick while he is navigating being the uncle of a tween and teen who are struggling through a new change. He's a fabulous character still, and the kids are perfect older versions of themselves. My favorite new character is the bride's lesbian sister, who the kids are calling their launt (lesbian aunt). She is an excellent foil to Patrick.

The jokes keep coming and the setting in Lake Como is beautifully described. I had a great time with this one.

📚 The Guncle Abroad
✍ Steven Rowley
📖 Contemporary Fiction
⭐3.5/5

➡ Patrick, Maisie & Grant are back in the follow-up to 2021's smash hit 'The Guncle' and this time, they're headed on a European tour. Expect more Guncle rules, hilarious takes on the many languages of love and a Prosecco-filled Italian wedding.

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and the author for an advanced copy of The Guncle Abroad. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: I adored The Guncle and find Steven Rowley's humor unique and hilarious so I was thrilled to see that he'd written a sequel that gives readers a lens into the original novel's beloved characters after five years have passed. I really enjoyed the first half of the book where Patrick, Maisie and Grant go on European adventures and he teaches them lessons about life and love. It felt like a perfect follow-up to their dynamic from the first book. Although I really enjoyed reading this as an ARC, I cannot wait for the audiobook of The Guncle Abroad as Steven Rowley frequently narrates his own books and his voice brings an almost impossible level of levity and sass to Patrick's character. As a side note, I would not consider this a stand alone novel and highly recommend reading The Guncle prior to diving into The Guncle Abroad.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I wish that the European galivanting had lasted longer. It felt like each stop on their trip was somewhat clipped and I would have loved to get a bit more of Patrick's lessons and of their adventures before they reached final destination. And where I felt charmed by Patrick's overbearing personality in the first book, some of his antics got to me by the end of this one and I was left feeling a bit frustrated by his need to insert his humor in inappropriate situations. Overall though, this book brought me so much joy and I was giddy to revisit some of my favorite book characters as they encountered another phase in their light approach to grief and living.
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Read if you love:
*hilarious family dynamics
*mentorship & life lessons through a funny lens
*love after loss
*coming of age books told from an adult's perspective
*second chance romance
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See also: The Guncle, Family Family, Good Company

Maisie, Grant, GUP and the crew are back with a new Dilemma in The Guncle Abroad. Greg has decided to tie the knot for a second time and the kids are not exactly onboard with it. Enter Livia - Greg’s fiancée, Palmina - Grant and Maisie’s “Launt-to-be” and Gustavo aka Groot - Clara’s love interest, and we have an all star cast with laughs a plenty.

I wanted to love this book as much as I did The Guncle but something was a little bit off for me early on in the book. This could, of course, be because I adored The Guncle so much that nothing could ever live up to it. However, the laughs were generously sprinkled in and by the last third of the book I found the appeal of this amazing story and cast of characters return in full force. By that time, I didn’t want the book to end.

There’s something about Rowley’s writing that makes me feel like I am catching up with old friends. Reconnecting with Patrick, Maisie and Grant felt like a long awaited reunion. The beginning of the book lacked the intimate connection I felt to these characters in the first book. That connection grew stronger as the book came to a close. I really, REALLY hope that there will be yet another sequel to this book. Emory was a great addition and I love his wit as much as Patrick’s.

And I want to add that I will pick up any book Steven Rowley writes. I have read three of his books so far and find that his writing style and sense of humor are exactly what I need. I am sure several readers have this same connection.

Thank you to Penguin Group, Putnam Books, NetGalley and especially the author, Steven Rowley, for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.

There's some meta commentary baked into this book regarding the value of sequels that is so spot on. And applies here. Was this as great as the original Guncle? No. Did I love the characters and did it feel like a warm hug to revisit them and see what they were up to 5 years down the road? Absolutely. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and feel like anyone who loved Patrick, Maisie, and Grant the first time around should definitely pick it up. Just manage expectations. The final third of the book is the strongest. The first half reads a bit like a travel guide infused with Patrick-isms. It's a fun read, perfect for a vacation. 3.5 rounded up to 4 because Patrick.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for this honest review.

It’s cute and an easy read, but it’s missing some of the magic of the first. The Guncle tries to encourage his niece and nephew to give their soon to be stepmother a chance and takes them on a European vacation before the Italian wedding. Some humorous lines and quaintness, but perhaps it’s time to move on from the characters.

An easy 5 star read. The novel has all the quick wit and snappy dialogue of the original. In this one, the Guncle and his beloved niece and nephew are traveling in Europe to attend a wedding with some very loaded emotional stakes. Paris, Venice, Lake Como... the first half of the book takes you around the world. The second half remains mostly in Como and revolves around the wedding. Somehow Rowley still sneaks a surprise twist in there, and tugs at the heartstrings again as he did in the first book.

I can picture this as a great summer read and will easily recommend it to all readers, spanning the spectrum from rom-com to Literary.

So happy to be back in Patrick, Maisie and Grant's lives!

This takes place years later with the kids not so much kids anymore. Patrick is asked to come to the rescue again, as his brother has found love with a rich, Italian heiress. The kids aren't taking it well. So who do we call? Our favorite GUP!

Patrick is working overseas, single and flies the kids over for some GUP rules while experiencing the finer things in life. We are taken throughout Europe while Patrick and the kids navigate all the changes in their lives.

I was laughing out loud but having heartfelt smiles reading this beautiful story of finding your second love after tragedy.

Maisie and Grant are just the coolest kids who are continuing to grow.

If you loved The Guncle, you are in for a treat!

Thank you Netgalley, publishers and author for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Lush. That's the word that keeps coming to mind as I recall the enjoyment of reading The Guncle Abroad, a sequel to The Guncle. Patrick has been asked to accompany his niece and nephew (his "niblings") to Italy for their father's wedding to a wealthy, titled woman.

The first part of the novel is a comedic but rich travelogue. Patrick's a successful actor, a world traveler, and a brilliant raconteur who can quote movie lines going back decades. In the first book, Maisie was nine and Grant six, and they were grieving the loss of their mother, who had been Patrick's dear friend in college. Patrick was also emerging from the death of his sweetheart, and as he took the kids for the summer, the three of them bonded deeply.

Now that bond is being tested. Maisie is a typical teenager who is adamantly opposed to her father's impending marriage. Grant is still as cute and childlike as ever, but he's changing, too. As Patrick tours them around Europe before they reach their destination, the reader is invited to share the experience with Patrick as witty, sardonic guide. But Patrick has his demons, too, and on the verge of his fiftieth birthday must learn to lower his defenses, become vulnerable, and live fully. This is a story of human frailty and foolishness, funny, colorful, and at times profound. As I read, I could see the scenes spooling out as if on a theater screen, especially the dramatic, gratifying ending. A fine followup to The Guncle.

The Guncle-verse is back! The first book was an incredibly bright spot in my reading journey, and I was so excited to return to these characters in a new environment & circumstance!

Patrick’s life has changed immensely in the 5 years since his summer with his niblings (niece and nephew). On the precipice of his brother’s wedding, he and his niblings are reunited to travel Europe, and figure out their own feelings around their lives. Are the kids ready for their dad to re-marry? Is Patrick ready to receive love from others? In this tale, you get to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and enjoy some pasta along the way.

While I loved the premise of the book, the first half felt stalled in reminiscing on what was, both in the previous book and 5 years that had passed. There wasn’t much to engage with it and it felt a bit explanatory in its ways. Once the plot picked up, I absolutely could not put this book down. Recommend for those who love these characters and want to spend more time with them.

I’m always skeptical of a sequel when I enjoyed the first book so much, but this did not disappoint! There was so much to love about this book. The author has a unique way of tackling the topic of grief and love with a sense of humor but also seriousness.

The setting of the book made me want to travel throughout Europe and try all the best things.

I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of The Guncle Abroad by the wonderful remarkable Steven Rowley. Those who know me personally know I shout from the roof tops the praise of not only Mr. Rowley but his previous works, especially the Guncle. Which at the time it came out I guess I needed it more than I knew. It lifted my spirits and just made me happy for weeks after. It was a book that I understood the character of Patrick(Gup-gay uncle Patrick), his pop culture references and his wit and everything about him was like looking in a mirror. You always see other people identify with characters and I used to ponder will I ever find my own. The answer was obviously yes, I laughed and I cried and I felt absolved. I’ve now reread the book 3 times over and it still holds the same emotions as the first time. It helped with processing my grief after losing two affluential members of my family to Covid and it honestly felt like a hug saying it’s okay we will get through this together.

Now that I’ve shared the importance of the first book onto the highly anticipated sequel. Once more I was swept up in Patrick’s, Maizie and Grants world. A little time has passed and there’s a wedding on the horizon in Lake Como, Italy for the kids dad and Gup’s brother Greg. Feelings are on the high, loss and grief are still key, and once more there are life lessons to be taught, learned and implemented. Can everything go smoothly, and will there be a happy ending? But most of all can the family come together and be as one? We have been given such an incredible follow up to the Guncle and I’m really loving the themes and story in this one. I sobbed from happiness yet again! We were given our own vacation abroad through Europe and were invited to live vicariously through the writing! Thanks Mr. Rowley…. But seriously thank you for writing this story and gifting us with these characters, also I’d like to note that after I finished crying that it ended I read the acknowledgments and started back up again! It gives hope, happiness and above all a sense of written magic! I am absolutely floored and I can’t wait to buy and reread it when it releases on May 21!

"The Guncle" returns five years later, having spent a summer with his niece Maisie and nephew Grant following their mother's death from cancer. This time, he embarks on a European adventure with them, aiming to impart lessons about love. Freshly separated from his boyfriend Emory, Patrick endeavors to demonstrate to the children the importance of their dads' impending wedding, while also exploring the concept of love languages for himself. However, the journey is fraught with family chaos and complications, raising doubts about the worthiness of the extravagant trip and wedding. "The Guncle Abroad" exceeds expectations as a sequel, delivering hilarious banter, vivid depictions of their travels, and a heartwarming narrative of second chances, love, and self-discovery. The characters' relatability, particularly for readers who have experienced similar circumstances, fosters a deep connection, while Patrick's compassionate guidance through life's challenges resonates profoundly. The introduction of their new Launt adds a dynamic element, especially empowering Maisie with a strong female role model.

The Guncle is back 5 years later after spending the summer with his niece Maisie and nephew Grant after their mom passed from cancer. This time though to take on Europe with these two and teach them what it means to love. Recently separated from his boyfriend Emory, Patrick attempts to show the kids that their dads upcoming wedding is what’s best for them all while also potentially teaching himself the value of the love languages. This all leads to a bit of family chaos and of course complications that begs the question is this fancy trip and wedding really worth it?

The Guncle Abroad was everything I wanted from a sequel and more🥹 Rowley delivers banter that will have you laughing out loud, gorgeous detailed scenes of the places they visit, and a beautiful story of second chances, love and rediscovering oneself. Since The Guncle I’ve felt very connected to the kid’s characters as I went through a similar circumstance. My teenage self felt seen and heard in so many ways and healed in others from the way Patrick delivers life lessons and so gently and honestly helps the kids get through these tough stages of life. But then to bring in their new Launt!! The duo is dynamic and her strong female role for Maisie especially was empowering!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What you get:
❤️Family Rivals
❤️Laugh Out Loud Funny!
❤️Emotional
❤️European Setting 😍
❤️Second Chance Romance

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

I read the first book and enjoyed it so I was excited to read the sequel. I loved seeing their character growth but the story felt a little long to me. The lessons taught about love by Patrick and those he learned were enjoyable but I found myself skimming towards the end.

The Guncle Abroad is a sequel to The Guncle which I found to be charming in witty. I read The Guncle several years ago and it took a bit of time to remember some of the details. The Guncle Abroad is a continuation of the wit of the first book but began to feel forced after awhile. The tension between Patrick and Palmina felt forced and not thoroughly believable. Over all, an enjoyable read.

I didn’t enjoy this much as I expected to. The beginning felt very slow and more like a travel guide. The plot takes off in the second half, but honestly felt mean rather than funny. I thought the GUP got a little too snarky and judgmental. I did enjoy the last 25% and the balance of heart and humor. Something was missing for me here, and I don’t know that I’d read another.

I was so excited to read the follow up to The Guncle and although I didn't love it as much as the original, it was a fun return to the characters. I loved the parts in the book between Patrick and the kids, all the banter between the new Launt and Patrick got a bit redundant. I loved the ending and for some reason I didn't see that coming. What a fun surprise!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.