I read and loved Rowley's THE GUNCLE two years ago and bought LILY AND THE OCTOPUS right after, so I was very excited to get approved on Netgalley for THE CELEBRANTS… did it still take me months to get to it and actually read ? Yes, it did ! But oh when I did - I loved my reading so much, another book that left me smiling through tears !

THE CELEBRANTS is a beautiful novel about the importance of friendship and those friends becoming Found Family. The book centers on five friends from college thrown together by random chance but forged together by fire when the sixth member of their group does just days before college graduation. It's about living in the moment, understanding the past honoring it while refusing to glorify it or dwell in it. Staying in touch, communicating, saying things out loud. Embracing the present and nourishing the curiosity for the future. Steven Rowley is an outstanding author with the fantastic ability to capture the bittersweet, with deep insight into his characters, and offering that to readers who in turn have a chance to reflect.

Steven Rowley is the master of writing about grief in the most honest ways- poignant and hilarious in turn. At the heart are the characters, who Rowley expertly makes you feel invested in deeply. The Celebrants is a love letter to the friends that formed you into adulthood and the lifelong ties that bind us together. Filled with humor, it will bring to tears again and again.

Rowley never disappoints. His stories are the perfect combination of heart and love, sorrow and humor and this one is no exception. Old friends who come together and support each other. Lives that take unexpected turns. The beauty and the sorrow of the ordinary parts of life. You will not regret reading this one.

with gratitude to netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley reminded me why I love this author so much that I did an entire drunk retelling of The Guncle (again, I am sorry for butchering the story Mr Rowley 😂)

This book was a beautiful story of friendship, found family, and making sure you hold nothing back when it comes to those you love.

After losing a friend in college, 5 remaining friends enter a pact to give each other each one funeral while they are still alive. It is such an amazing premise and Rowley just writes such lovable and real characters.

I cannot get through one of his books without crying so of course there were tears. This man can tug on your heart strings like no other. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to find hope during a bleak time. Don’t be afraid to lean on your people, that’s what they’re there for! 🖤

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the advanced reader copy and thank you, as always, @mrstevenrowley, for an absolutely heartwarming story!

I LOVED this book! Devoured it in two days. Really wonderful, realistic depiction of friendship and love. The characters all fairly leapt from the page, and the story sucked me in immediately. It's like a modernized take on The Big Chill that takes you on a roller coaster ride of all the emotions. Seriously, you'll laugh, cry, all of it. One of my top reads of the year to date.

After college, and the death of one of their own, a group of friends goes their separate ways. Though not before making a pact that if any of them are in trouble they could invoke their pact - which gathers them all back together to celebrate that friend’s life for their ‘funeral’, and to remind them how much they’re loved.

Thanks so much to Putnam Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Steven Rowley’s ‘The Guncle’ (which I really enjoyed) was the first book I ever wrote a review for, so I was super excited to receive an advanced copy of his new novel - and it did not disappoint.

This book has a super clever premise, that although obviously original, felt vaguely familiar. It’s filled with old secrets, LGBTQ representation, redeemable characters, and a poignant reminder to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you.

This one will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and you’ll want to give it a big hug at the end.

I love all of Steven's books, and this was no exception! So funny, heartfelt, and hopeful. I felt like there was a little something missing to make this truly special, but I still loved it.

After the sudden death of a friend a group of 5 friends make a pact to give each other living funerals so that they can hear all the good things said about each other at their funerals. So if you want to read a book about living life to the fullest and telling your loved ones how you feel about them while living, this is the one for you!
Steven Rowley has his amazing ability to construct the best kinds of relationships. I loved the way these characters were there for each other, without shying away from speaking ugly truths when necessary. Rowley is also quite capable of making me laugh out loud and ugly cry while reading his beautiful masterpieces. I loved it!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

A group of college friends make. a pact to celebrate each of their funerals while they're still alive so they know how much they are loved.

I kind of love this idea.

With Steven Rowley's witty yet emotional style of writing, we get chapters that alternate from the present to each of their funerals when they trigger the pact. Each funeral is vastly different yet still similar in that they bring the friends together in times of emotional distress to lift each other up and leave nothing unsaid. The characters are all different, and they have all (except the Jordans, who are now a couple) gone their separate ways after college. With one of the Jordans facing devastating health issues, we revisit the funerals of the other characters as him and Jordy wonder - is it time for Jordan to trigger the pact?

I didn't love it as much as The Guncle, but the subject matter and tone were different in this one. Very well done, Mr. Rowley, and get the tissues ready for the last couple of chapters.

Also, I now need some kittens to bottle feed, and a caprese sandwich. IYKYK.

I wanted to save this for my first review of Pride month because The Celebrants truly celebrates LOVE in all of its glorious forms.

Promoted as a modern “Big Chill”, and I totally agree! Rowley highlights how relationships over your lifetime shape you. It made me think of the recent hit, Happy Place, but 20 more years down the road. True friends become family that will always be there for you.

Told in multiple timelines as each of five college best friends has “living funerals” over the 28 years since their graduation and the traumatic death of their sixth friend. Rowley is a master at making somber stories feel light and hopeful. I adore his writing and his narration. I laughed, I cried, I related. 🩷

*The characters here are all turning 50 and while I personally think this book is so relatable, I’m not sure a very young audience would feel the same.

The Celebrants - 3⭐️

Quick synopsis- a group of friends gather to celebrate their own living funerals, one at a time, when each is at rock bottom.

My thoughts: While a great idea, this fell a little flat. Perhaps more character development would’ve helped me feel connected to the friend group and made me more invested in the story. Instead of feeling like relatable flawed humans, each character felt kind of blah, unlikeable, and had me wondering how and why these people were friends. The plot line with Mia was also something I personally wasn’t a fan of. Still there were plenty of funny and sweet moments that helped keep this enjoyable, and the ending helped redeem it a bit for me. Fans of The Midnight Library may absolutely love this, as I had some similar feelings and gripes with both books.

I will always want to read this author’s books. The Guncle was really special to me, and holds a special place in my heart. Despite not loving this book, I still can’t wait to see what’s next from this author!

As depressing as it sounds, would you rather have a "funeral" with friends before you pass? If you went through something and needed your friends to pick you up. Things wouldn't be left unsaid always haunting you.
My Dad passed quickly. We are almost to his 6 year anniversary which is crazy. He was going in and out of lucidity in the hospital and I kept telling him I loved him and he would say it back and after the 5th time he looked at me and said “Laura I know,” with a smile on his face. Then I started to cry and he looked away then looked back surprised to see me asking what was wrong. It was one of the harder days of my life. If only I had known we would lose his mind so fast.

I remember the Big Chill when I was a kid. I loved all the actors in it. This was definitely that vibe with our elder millennial, gen x, xennials issues of nowadays. So many themes of lifelong friendship, life events and their impact, and grief.

Thank you putnambooks and netgalley

What did this book for me was the ending and how it wrapped up. At times it felt so slow but the ending made it worth it. This book is paced exactly how it should have been. It was SO good. For me it really picked up after we found that Craig is Marielle's baby daddy. I loved the back and forth from Alec's funeral to each other theirs and then what was going in with Jordan in those times. So beautifully well done. Can't wait for more from Steven Rowley, he has this ability to entertain and teach valuable life/relational lessons at the same time.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC! The Celebrants is an emotionally resonating, laugh out loud funny, delightful novel. I adored the friendship among the titular group and the individual friendships explored between them. What a unique concept (the “funerals” thrown in honor of each member of the group) that allowed for an emotional and entertaining exploration of adulthood, grief, friendship, terminal illness, and more - the most present themes being love, growth, and what it means to go on in the wake of a beloved one’s passing and how it affects the orbit they left behind. I absolutely loved this novel and can’t wait to explore Rowley’s backlog. Side note: how cute is it that Rowley and his husband (Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane) released books on the same day and are in tour together?! Goals. 4.5 stars!

This was a very character driven story with a lot of heart. The characters in this one are so real and so complicated that I wanted to get to know them better.

The group of 6 in The Celebrants become close friends in college after switching colleges and being the newbies, but not freshman. Alec, Craig, Naomi, Marielle, Jordan, & Jordan are the like the six muskateers until the sudden death of one of the groups rocks them all.

Alec was the one that was the comedian and the one to likely be the buffer in any situation so his death hits everyone hard. They all come up with a pact. They decide to do "living funerals" for each other if they are ever feeling down and out and need to be lifted up.

The Jordans are the couple that are relationship goals! Craig is the crumudgeon of the group,but he is one that grows on you. Naomi is a people pleasing perfectionist. Marielle is someone who doesn't like to be alone. They all come together after decades of friendship when called on for these living funerals. Marielle is shattered after her failed marriage and is trying to handle being a single mother. Naomi's tragic loss of her parents makes her wonder where her place is in the world. Craig gets in legal trouble after an art fraud. And the Jordans are facing another cancer scare.

This one will tear at your soul. I'm not typically a fan of character driven novels, but I did enjoy this one. The characters were so complex and real that I cared what happened to them. I wanted to know what was going to happen in their lives. The writing is amazing and the pace is just right. If you liked his previous books, you will like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Celebrants“ is an enjoyable yet emotionally impactful book. It tackles themes of grief while still managing to be beautiful and heartwarming. This story revolves around five friends who form an unbreakable bond after a tragic event, leading them to hold living funerals for anyone of them who needs it, allowing them to feel support during low points in their lives. The characters each have so much depth and getting to know each of them just drew me further into the book. Rowley's writing style was just for me. I laughed, cried some, but overall enjoyed the book in its entirety.

“Yes, Mr. Security Guard, I DO realize the museum is closing. But do YOU realize that this soaring ceiling matches my book perfectly?!”😆 Aaah, this book y’all. I laughed, I cried, I gasped. Whenever anyone asks for a rec, The Guncle is my go-to. Mr. Rowley has done it again with this beautiful book 🧡.
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Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle make a pact in college after tragedy strikes. They swear to come together and throw a living funeral for any friend who triggers the pact during a time of crisis. There’s a divorce, a felony, sudden family deaths. But nobody is prepared for Jordan’s news, least of all his husband, Jordy.
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Heartwarming and heartbreaking, this book alternates between the present day “funeral” and funerals past. It’s a story about friendship, how it flexes and bends across space and time. And then there’s the true friends who will always be there to lift you up during your darkest moments. Rowley deftly balances witty dialogue with emotional gut punches and lessons on life and love. *I swear I’m not getting choked up just writing this review 🥹.*
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Perfect start to Pride Month 🧡. Thank you to @putnambook and @netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The Celebrants - Steven Rowley
5/5⭐️
Pub Date: 5/30/23 🎉OUT NOW!🎉
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“My point is, we were all figuring out this thing called life, and in truth we probably are still. But there is always someone a little further down the path, and if they have a kind heart, if they truly care about others, every so often they turn back and light the way.”

There are a lot of very long winded reviews here so if you want details you can find them. All I want to say is this book is NOTHING like The Guncle so don’t expect to laugh out loud and be amused. But it is a wonderful story about life, friendships and appreciating who and what is in front of you. It starts a little slowly, but stick with it. And I really loved the way it ended. Four stars. Thank you Netgalley for an eARC!

Steven Rowley has written some excellent books, especially the fabulous "The Guncle." I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to read his latest book. The Celebrants focuses on five college friends who while mourning the loss of the sixth member of their tight group decide to create a pact where they have living funerals for each other whenever one of them needs to be reminded that their life is worthwhile and they are loved. This story took me a while to get invested. I initially struggled to connect with the characters because you get so little of them each time we meet up with them over the years. However, as the book continues, and this group of friends gets together again and again for each living funeral, you start to connect with them and care about what happens to them. It isn't as powerful as "The Guncle" but it still made me cry in the end.

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley showcases the same whit and charm as The Guncle but explores a heavier topic. I love Rowley's writing and humor, which carries through this book. We meet a group of middle aged friends who originally met in college. After they lost their friend Alec at 22 they have gathered together to host "living funerals" at the moments that they have needed each other the most to stay connected. This year there is a big secret that is yet to be revealed.

This book is full of heart - you will laugh and you will cry. I don't want to give too much away. Steven Rowley is an auto read author for me and this book will convince you of that too.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC - The Celebrants is out now!