It was perfection, heart warming and humorous. All the characters are so well written, you want to be their friends. His books are a must read but be prepared to get those heart strings pulled to the max.

Beautiful tale of friendship, love and grief. A group of friend make a pact to get together to have living funerals for one another after the loss of one of their friends. The living funerals are meant for them to show each other how much they mean to one another. As their lives change they also uncover life changing long kept secrets.

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After adoring Steven Rowley's "The Guncle," I eagerly anticipated "The Celebrants," and it did not disappoint. This novel, spanning twenty-eight years, explores the profound bond between college friends who make a unique pact: to hold living funerals for each other, celebrating their lives while they can still appreciate it.

While the concept might seem morbid, Rowley handles it with remarkable warmth and humor, focusing on the power of friendship and the importance of expressing love. The structure, with each section dedicated to a different character's life, allowed for a deep connection to their individual journeys.

Rowley's ability to portray the complexities of friendship, love, and loss is truly exceptional, creating a story that is both heartwarming and deeply moving. "The Celebrants" is a testament to the enduring power of a chosen family, filled with joy, sadness, and a perfect balance of wit and emotion.

4 stars

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*The Celebrants* by Steven Rowley is a poignant and heartfelt novel about friendship, grief, and the importance of living life to the fullest. The story follows a group of college friends who, after losing one of their own, make a pact to hold "living funerals" for each other—gathering whenever one of them needs support. As they reunite years later, they confront old secrets, unresolved tensions, and the true meaning of their bond. Rowley’s writing is both witty and deeply emotional, making this a touching exploration of love, loss, and the power of chosen family. A must-read for fans of character-driven, uplifting stories.

I heard a lot of great things about this authors first book, which I haven’t had a chance to read yet, so I was excited to pick this one up. The whole premise of this book was unique and well written.

I loved the friendships and how they played out throughout the book, which took place over a multitude of years. I enjoyed reading about each characters life after college and each of their low points. The character development was superb.

I can’t wait to read more by this author. I will definitely be picking up anything they write or have written.

I thought this was really sweet and balanced grief with joy and humor well, which is always a strength of this author’s. However, I had trouble connecting for whatever reason and didn’t love all of the characters, so the second half felt like a slog. I think this is great and moving read for certain audiences and it was just a personal problem for me.

The Guncle is undoubtedly one of my favorite books, so I knew I would like anything by Steven Rowley! His writing is beautiful and he truly tells a story with the best sense of connection. After Alec dies very young, his best friends make a pact. Wherever they are in life, whatever they are doing, when one is at the lowest point in their lives, the rest of them will drop what they are doing and hold a living "funeral" for the person. The friends see each other through marriages, divorces, children, and everything in between. You will laugh, cry and feel all the feels. Recommend this one for anyone that wants a deep read!

This was an emotional, at times quite sad, and heartwarming read about a group of friends. One of their crew dies unexpectedly in college and from the grief, a pact is formed: they can call for a living funeral for themself at any time. The book starts 30 years later, but covers the living funerals they had throughout the years. Now, one of them has received a terminal diagnosis.

This group of people are all flawed, and not all easy to love. As you read about their funerals, their trials and tribulations, their losses and hurts, you get to really know them well, and you can’t help but love each one. And there’s no denying they’re a close and loving group of friends, a true found family. They’re all wildly different and they don’t always get along, but they have shared secrets, a lot of shared trauma and plenty of love that ties them together.

I was greatly moved by this book, I laughed, I cried and I know there are parts of this that will stay with me for a long time. I really felt connected to these characters. I felt for them and went through the ups & downs of their lives with them.

I loved the depth of emotions covered in this book, the highs and the lows. And at the end despite all the heavy emotions, it also feels heartwarming, though I was absolutely crying through the last chapter.

Through the plot of funerals and death, The Celebrants will remind you of the fleeting quality of life, of the importance of connections and friendships in life, to embrace those you love and let them know you love them, and to celebrate life when you can. Carpe diem, and smell the roses and all that.

Rating: 4.7⭐

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Steven Rowley's book The Celebrants tells the story of college friends who, on the heels of a tragedy, vow to celebrate each other. This is a story of personal growth for each of the friends; but, more importantly, it is about navigating relationships, recognizing value in others and expressing that value to them, to make sure those closest to us recognize how much they are appreciated. Each character is well-developed, and the descriptions of the relationships, which ebb and flow over the course of several years, are authentic.

I've struggled to express my thoughts on The Celebrants. I love this author's writing and narration, and I like this book; however, I went into The Celebrants ready to compare it to The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad, and this book is not those books. This book feels heavy; in fact, I had to set it aside, returning to it months later when the time was right. At the right time, for the right reader, this book is a treasure, but in a way that is different than The Guncle duo.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mr. Rowley, and publisher Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A touching exploration of friendship, grief, and celebrating life. Rowley’s writing is moving, with moments of both humor and deep reflection. Though a bit predictable, the emotional resonance is strong, leaving readers uplifted.

*The Celebrants* by Steven Rowley has an intriguing premise but ultimately falls flat. The story of a group of lifelong friends reuniting to celebrate life through unconventional “funerals” has potential, but the execution feels uneven. While Rowley’s writing is witty and heartfelt at times, the characters feel one-dimensional and their interactions often lack emotional depth. The pacing is slow, and the plot occasionally drags, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Though the book touches on important themes like friendship and mortality, it never fully delivers on its promise. Overall, *The Celebrants* is a forgettable read with more style than substance.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of lifelong friendships. The story’s mix of humor and heartfelt moments makes it both entertaining and deeply moving. Rowley’s characters are so well-developed that you’ll feel like you’re part of their tight-knit group. If you enjoy stories about the enduring power of friendship, this book is a must-read! 📚💖

An emotional read, with plenty of heart-warming humor. I loved the premise and was rooting for all of the friends as they dealt with real-life issues after meeting in college. An excellent reminder to pour into one another while it can be appreciated and to water the flowers given to you by those most dear. 👀

*I was honored to read an ARC of this book via
NetGalley and the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.*

After losing one of their own, a group of college friends vows that they'll give each other living funerals. Each person can choose the time and place of their memorial, often at a significant moment like a divorce or a career milestone. But this time when they gather, everyone is holding on to secrets, including one that could change things forever.

Rowley is also the author of The Guncle, among others, and his trademark wit and sentiment are present in The Celebrants. I laughed, I cried, I wished the story could go on longer.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

"Guncle” was, without a doubt, my favorite book of 2021. Stephen Lawrie's extraordinary talent for writing goes beyond simple storytelling. He is a true composer, deftly juggling the threads of our emotions and triggering a whirlwind of complex feelings that we have hidden inside ourselves for so long. In each work, he masterfully orchestrates a symphony that makes us laugh and cry at the same time, finding a deep response in our souls and leaving a lasting impression.

A heavy but touching book, as seems to be Rowley's trademark after the premise of the Guncle, prepare to feel your feels!

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! There's humor and heart! Its one I still recommend!

The premise on this one was much darker than I expected, and while I was very much looking forward to another work by Rowley I struggled to continue to finish.

I love Steven rowley. He stole my heart with the Guncle and this didn’t disappoint. While it didn’t live up to expectations set with the Guncle but the friendships and dynamics between friends was beautiful written.

I loved the premise and the idea of the book but for some reason it fell flat for me.
I enjoyed the friend group but I also felt like I don‘t know them enough to actually care about them.
It was a quick read and I would definitely recommend it but it sadly wasn’t for me.