The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley, is the second Guncle book written by this author, and I was very excited to be able to read it! This book tells the story of adult siblings Clara, Greg, and Patrick, as well as Greg’s children Maisy and Grant. In the first book, after the death of Greg’s wife and mother of the two children, Greg needs some time to recover so his children go to spend time with Patrick. Patrick comes to the rescue again in this book, while Greg prepares for his marriage to Lydia, which the children are struggling with. Patrick tries to help them prepare for the upcoming nuptials, doing some traveling, sight seeing, and learning about the different love languages. I really enjoyed this humorous and loving book, and feel like I learned about different places I have never been which I appreciated. I look forward to reading more books by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Fun to see what our favorite characters from the Guncle have been up to and get a glimpse into what the future holds for them!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early. The Guncle was one of my favorite books of 2021, so I was thrilled to be able to read The Guncle Abroad early. Sequels can be tricky and sometimes aren’t my favorite. The Guncle Abroad is an exception. This book is just as delightful as the first book. We fast forward 5 years and meet up with the characters we are familiar with. Patrick’s relationship with his niece and nephew is still going strong and is everything. I think that every kid (and adult) would love to have a GUP in their life.
I love Steven Rowley’s writing style and sense of humor. I cannot recommend this book enough. I’ve read 130 books this year, and this is easily in my top 5. Read this book! You won’t be disappointed!!

In "The Gruncle Abroad," author Steven Rowley reunites readers with the lovable protagonist, Patrick O'Hara, five years after his summer as caretaker to his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. With the kids now living with their father in Connecticut, Patrick finds himself in New York, determined to revive his acting career. As his second successful sitcom concludes, Patrick's professional life is thriving, but his personal life takes a backseat. Approaching fifty and single once again after ending his relationship with Emory, Patrick finds solace in his family support. However, when his brother Greg announces his upcoming wedding in Italy, Patrick senses an opportunity to reconnect with Maisie and Grant. Embarking on a journey through Europe towards the wedding, Patrick endeavors to impart his wisdom on the children, just as he had helped them cope with grief in the past. However, things take a chaotic turn upon their arrival in Italy. Patrick finds himself overwhelmed, managing a hesitant groom, his sister Clara's flirtatious behavior, a brewing rivalry with the soon-to-be-aunt, and two moody teenagers struggling to adapt to their new reality. The pinnacle of these challenges culminates in a calamitous rehearsal dinner. Will Patrick manage to save the day? Can teaching the kids about love help him mend his own fractured love life? And will the change of scenery provide Patrick the clarity needed to embrace maturity? In "The Gruncle Abroad," Steven Rowley masterfully blends humor and heart, delivering a highly anticipated sequel that explores the intricate bonds of family, love, and the process of self-discovery, even in one's fifties. Rowley's signature storytelling captures the essence of complicated familial relationships, leaving readers fully immersed in the characters' lives. Through Patrick's endearing and relatable character, the author skillfully navigates the challenges of love, loss, and personal growth, reminding us that it's never too late to find oneself. With his delightful prose and insightful narrative, Rowley once again demonstrates his ability to captivate readers and draw them into a world filled with laughter, emotions, and the universal quest for happiness. "The Gruncle Abroad" is a delightful continuation of a beloved story, reminding us of the resilience and strength that can be found within the bonds of family, and the transformative power of embracing change, even as we age.

The Guncle Abroad is a more lighthearted sequel to The Guncle. While I didn’t love it just as much as the original, it was great to see the characters grow and evolve. The addition of the Italian setting and fun new characters (aka The Launt) made this an enjoyable read

The one and only GUP is back five years following the events of book 1. This time he is asked to care for Maisie and Grant during a big family wedding in Lake Como. What follows is another hilarious and uplifting story about love, acceptance, second chances and learning how to adjust to a new normal.

This book was sitcom level funny. And still, despite all the cleverness and wit, there was a deeply emotional component as Maise and Grant were grappling with their dad getting remarried. I give Rowley so much credit for being able to balance the light and heavy so perfectly. Plus, being able to travel around European with the whole clan was the best experience!

Read if you like:
-LGBTQIA+
-European adventures
-Family centered stories
-Humorous fiction
-Tons of pop cuclture references

A sequel to The Guncle and just as funny. I enjoyed reading what happened to this family years later. GUP kept up his kind and caring character with his niece and nephew, while helping his brother out once again. A fun quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC.

I adored this book! It's charming, witty, and full of life lessons on love and family. "I just mean there's nothing money can buy that beats life's free joys with the people you care about..." 💕 Patrick (GUP) is back with his charming niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, as they travel through Europe together to their father's wedding in Lake Como (yes, I took notes, the trip sounds fabulous!). Patrick does his best to teach the kids about love, and they do their best to teach him to follow his own rules. Lots of laughs once Patrick meets his rival, the kids soon to be Launt (Lesbian aunt), and especially his sister's wedding date Gustavo! 😂 And of course a few tears. Congrats to Steven Rowley, this sequel may be even better than the original, and that is saying something! Pre-order this one! 5/21/2024

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was already a huge fan of The Guncle and the Guncle Rule number one: Brunch is awesome 🤩.

But The Guncle Abroad took my breath away! I mean I was on a fantastic trip throughout Europe, arriving with the whole Guncle crew at one of my favourite spots on the planet: Lake Como, Italy! 🇮🇹

Patrick‘s brother Greg is about to get married to Livia, a wealthy Italian lady who happens to have a sister Palmina, an unflappable cool lesbian.

Now, get your snacks and drink and drink and watch the hilarious rivalry between GUP (gay uncle Patrick) and Launt (Lesbian aunt).
🤣

Most distinctly, I loved how Patrick taught his niece and nephew about love, how to love others and how to be loved in return. But wait? Is Patrick himself following his rules?

Guncle‘s Love Language Rules conquered my heart, so have all characters, the locations and the brilliant story wrapping some exquisite details of European culture and history.

Easy 5 stars! Absolutely recommended!!

I really enjoyed the first Guncle book and was so excited to see a book two! I loved this one just as much as the first book and look forward to more.

GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) is BACK! Patrick's brother, Greg, is getting remarried on Lake Como, and Uncle Patrick has once again been charged with entertaining Maisie and Grant all over Europe before the big day. Patrick has just broken it off with long term partner Emory and his long running sitcom Guncle Knows Best based on his relationship with Maisie and Grant is coming to a close.

In five years, so much has changed in their lives. The kids are growing up. Maisie has big feelings about her potential new stepmother. Uncle Patrick knows its his job to show the kids how to love and how their mom would be happy and proud of them all, but he struggles to relate to these more grown children and their opinion.

But, Patrick is much better at making The Guncle Rules than following them! And, now, the kids are catching on too!

What I adored:
-Similar to the first book, it is laugh out loud funny.
-Also similar, you will likely cry at some part too. Because as funny as GUP is, losing the love of your life is HARD. Time and space make that hard look differenct, but it will still hurt!
-The frenemy feud with the kids new Launt (lesbian aunt?)
-The flagship PRADA store scene in Milan. Swoon.
-The Sound of Music tour in Austria. So. Funny.

This is a sequel. You will need to read the first book to enjoy the second. This is a book that is packaged like a comedy. It's actually a beautiful story of a family committed to continue loving, imperfectly, after tragic loss.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam and Son's for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The Guncle Abroad debuts May 21, 2024!

What feels like a warm hug with a side of belly laughs? Returning to some favorite characters like Patrick O’Hara and his niece Maisie and nephew Grant! This time around, it is five years after The Guncle. The trio takes on Europe, starting in England and winding their way to Italy for a wedding.

Rowley delivers his classic snark, puns, and one-liners. He made me laugh out loud multiple times while reading and made me groan with the goofy jokes sometimes too. Most of all, this book felt like being there. I’ve never been to Lake Como, but through Rowley’s masterful imagery, I feel like I’ve been in a swanky hotel on its shore or ridden in a water taxi across the lake.

Full of old characters you’ll love to revisit and new characters you’ll love to meet, The Guncle Abroad is a fun and heartfelt sequel about loving again after loss and the importance of family.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Steven Rowley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. It was delightful to be back with the same crew, with a sprinkling of new, bright personalities thrown in. Loved the European setting….might have been one of my favorite parts of the book. Charming, funny and a little vapid at times. (Sort of like Patrick.). 3.5:/5 stars.

GUP is back! I loved The Guncle, and I might have loved The Guncle Abroad even more. The details about their European excursions were interesting without being overly detailed, and the way Maisie and Grant aged over the five years seemed so true to the characters it was easy to fall right back into the story. I especially love the sibling relationships between Patrick, Clara, and Greg- and Palmina kept things interesting!

I would like to thank Putnam Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I really liked The Guncle and was excited to see that Steven Rowley had written a sequel.The sequel takes places 5 years later. All of our favorite characters are there as well as some new ones. One small quibble, for myself, I would have liked a but more of "previously, on the Guncle", before launching into the new storyline. I remembered the original, but some bits were a little hazy. There was some backstory as the book progressed, but I could have used a bit more( just saying:). Anyway, it is 5 years later and Patrick is nearing 50. He is making strides in his professional life- he did a tv series called the Guncle:), and is now in England making a movie. He was in a relationship with Emory( whom we met in the first book) but that has now ended. Greg, Patrick's brother and father of Maisie and Grant is engaged to marry a woman named Livia. When the book opens, everyone is in Italy for the wedding. The book shifts in time to some weeks before, when Patrick finds out that his brother is remarrying and decides to take his niece and nephew on a European trip prior to the wedding. There is a lot going on in this book, all funny, but a lot to follow. Patrick tries to help Maisie and Grant come to terms with a stepmother, while coming to terms himself with the loss of Emory . Patrick and Greg's sister Clara, recently divorced is also at the wedding, with issues of her own. We also meet Palmina- Livia's sister, who is a lesbian- which gives us the word "Launt"( lesbian Aunt) to add to Guncle. It is funny, it is sad, it is heartwarming- a great companion to the original Guncle!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. There are issues in this story, and the uncle uses humor and his own kind of logic to deal with it, making this book a whimsical, yet feel good story that touches on serious subjects making this a very enjoyable story.

“I’m saying if you have good dishes, use the good dishes for a meal with someone you care about. If you have nice shoes, but you’re afraid to get them dirty, wear the good shoes and complete your outfit. Finer things. don’t save them for a day that may never come, enjoy them with someone you love now.”

“But the patriarchy doesn’t cause global warming, does it?”
Clara dipped her head. “Doesn’t it? All those men and their hot air.”

After finally beginning to feel better, my reading was still bit slow, but I knew I needed to read this book ASAP. It took me a bit longer to read than I normally take, but that was also because I was highlighting half the book! God damn if @mrstevenrowley didn’t do it again friends! This book still focused on our beloved Patrick, but also focused a lot on the entire family, and the kids as their lives changed yet again, especially effecting Maisie. Ahhhh my Maisie girl, my heart went out so hard to her as she dealt with not only “becoming a woman” (can we stop saying that sentence forever?) but also with her fathers impending wedding. I don’t think I have ever seen a male author even mention periods in a book, and I love that Rowley didn’t shy away from what Maisie would be going through at her age. I also found myself siding with Patrick against this whole Launt thing…nobody beats good old GUP…especially not GAP. I did enjoy getting to call Clara SAC….though she was insanely more enjoyable this time around! Overall this book had the heart I have come to know and love in Rowley’s books. It made me laugh (I can totally picture Patrick in a museum of mirrors,) cheer, cry, and want to hug all the people I love just a little bit closer. Move over Guncle Rules, it’s time for the love languages, and once you put the two together, you have a beyond beautiful life.

So while not as in depth or sad as the first, it still has laugh out moments that only 80s and 90s kids will understand (Air Supply, sideburns like Brandon Walsh), and let's face it Patrick is one of the funniest, most sarcastic characters I've read about in awhile.

However, and I'm saying this lightly, I felt it was missing a few chapters. Would love to have seen Palmina, the new "launt", which is short for lesbian aunt have a little bit more of an active role. Would also like to have a little more in depth descriptions of the European vacation. By the end, I felt it came too quick. We want more of the siblings - Patrick, Clara, and Greg in one equals a rollicking good time.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC of this very sweet title.

This is the sequel to The Guncle. This takes place approximately 5 years after the original, with many of the same characters, a few new characters, and a lot of new locations. I'm not much for plot recaps - you can get that largely from the blurb - but this novel was ultimately about continuing to overcome grief, finding new love, and appreciating love when you find it and in the manner that you find it. The wit and humor are very much like in the original. I was concerned about how well older kids would be handled. I think in one case it was handled brilliantly - the teenager was very familiar to this parent of a teen! - but I was just a little disappointed with the characterization of a 10 year old - I felt like he was written younger than he seemed. My ten year old did not regularly "squeal," with joy or otherwise, and Grant in this novel squealed at least 4 times (this issue - and some pacing issues from city to city - lead me to give this a flat 4, instead of a 4 point x).

Overall, this is a very well written, very sweet, quite funny novel that is a great palate cleanser from some of the darker, more difficult subjects many of us read (and that we see on the news and the world around us every day. Definitely recommended when you need a "feel good" or "pick me up." I would likely read the third of a trilogy (though I'm not necessarily asking for one) and do plan to check out other titles from this author.

Once I saw I was approved for the ARC, it immediately went to the top of my TBR list. Similar to The Guncle, I loved the banter and humor. In The Guncle Abroad, Maisie is 14 and Grant is 11. Although Patrick is dealing with their rebellion and jealousy, it is clear he would do anything for them. He steps up to help them get through their Dad getting remarried.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.