Steven Rowley instantly captured my attention with his witty and sweet-natured The Guncle. The Celebrants, his follow-up book, is a more grown up outing that follows a group of friends who have been close for twenty years - The Big Chill, but with a more present tragedy. And I definitely detected a whiff of St. Elmo’s Fire. The book is very engaging and provides another lovely series of character portraits but didn’t grab me as hard as The Guncle.

A group of five friends gathers in Big Sur, California, at a beach house called Sur La Vie. It might be five years between gatherings, but they will all arrive. It’s a matter of support – each of them is going through it in their own way – and serves as a strengthening measure to their twenty-eight-year-old friendship. Whenever any of them needs it, they call the others together for a mock-funeral and review the good and important things in their lives. They do this in memory of their missing sixth member, spacy stoner Alec, who passed away of an apparent overdose when they were in college together. The idea is to encourage each other to keep living.

The fivesome are Jordan Vargas, an emigrée and public relations executive who faces down cancer head-on; Jordan – Jordy - Tosic is Jordan’s husband, a swimmer and world traveler – known as “the Jordans” by their friends; Naomi Ito, a lighthearted and heavy-drinking music label executive; Craig Scheffler, a distant and stuffy gallerist whose career hits the skids when he’s charged with art fraud and whose old-man ways earns him the nickname “nana” from the group; and animal-loving sanctuary owner Marielle Holland, Alec’s girlfriend, whose political career stalls when she takes time off to be a mom.

Every once in a while, someone in the group invokes the pact; Marielle when her infidelity-laden seventeen-year-old marriage implodes, leaving her a single mother to Mia; Naomi, when both of her parents die in a plane crash, leading the entire group to try to help her get over the incident by learning to fly a plane; Craig, when the aforementioned art fraud case happens and the gang becomes determined to help him beat the charges. When Jordan finally invokes it, it’s for a very serious reason. But friendship, the humor and the love endures.

Sometimes the sap overcomes The Celebrants’ best instincts. Its one-liners can be a little too cutesy, its repartée a little too snippy. Sometimes you can feel Rowley dollying in for the big tear or the big laugh. Some running jokes grate (Jordan’s tendency to declare something “all too (a famous nineties woman with the first name Courtney – Cox, Thorne-Smith etc.)” becomes ANNOYING after the first few times it happens) and the conceit of naming two of his characters Jordan is irritating. But the book is too beautiful to be ignored. It feels cinematic in the best and worst of ways.

There are multiple romances in The Celebrants – one a frustrated love story between Marielle and Craig, the other the tender connection between the Jordans – and both function beautifully but come in as secondary factors to the group bond, as they should.

There are big sentimental nudges, warm romantic feelings, and the sense that life ebbs and flows with the tiniest of nudges. So it is in fiction and so it is in life. I can’t rave about this book as I did over The Guncle, but The Celebrants is still a good – if more intense – time.

I loved Steven Rowley’s The Guncle so much that as soon as I saw an opportunity to get an advance copy of The Celebrants, I jumped on it! This book did not disappoint.

The Celebrants is a character-driven story of five friends and their lifelong quest to be there for each other. After the death of their friend Alec, just before graduating from Berkeley, the group makes a pact to give each member a “funeral” while they’re still living, so they will know how loved they are and nothing will be left unsaid.

The others in the group—Naomi, Marielle, Craig, Jordan, and Jordy—go their separate ways, but return to each other whenever one of them needs it. We see each friend as they face life’s challenges over the years, and we see what drives them to invoke the pact and reunite with their friends.

This book spans decades in the lives of these characters, but it focuses mainly on husbands Jordan and Jordy (known collectively as “the Jordans”). This time, it’s Jordan who has invoked the pact, and the group gathers once again to celebrate one of their own, to confront their grief, and to support each other.

I loved this book for its intimate portrayal of the human experience. These five friends go through the same losses and grief that we all do. They fall in love. They fall out of love. They make mistakes and they suffer the consequences. They feel betrayal, anger, frustration, sadness, hopelessness, and hope. This book is about the type of family that a person can choose to create for themselves. And it shows us that there is no one right way to live.

Sensitive readers should know that this book contains adult language, references to drug and alcohol use, suicide and death, and sexual content.

4.5 stars. Let me start with Steven Rowley, in general. I'm a huge fan of his work. I've read all of his books and really liked them all. He is just a stellar storyteller. I think The Guncle may be my personal favorite but this one & Lily and the Octopus are a close second (it's a tie). And the Editor was outstanding although my least favorite of his books. Even my least favorite of his books was a GREAT read. At this point, he's an auto-buy author for me. His books are very different but they are all great. This one, The Celebrants, is no exception. It's probably the most like Lily and the Octopus, in my opinion. It's not The Guncle, part 2. If you want another The Guncle, this is not it. This is a completely different but completely outstanding novel. This is a character-driven novel about friendship, grief, found family, and so much more. I don't want to go into much detail about this one because one of the things I loved most was the unfolding of this story - of these people, of these relationships. I think that unfolding was superbly done and you'd be missing some of the essence of this book to know too many details going on. There is some darkness here BUT Rowley excels at adding some warmth and levity despite the darkness which gives the entire novel a bit of needed balance. I love that Steven Rowley always seems to surprise me with how diverse his stories are and yet how full of love and warmth they are. They are just wonderful reads. I definitely recommend this one but please know that it's a very different book than The Guncle so manage your expectations accordingly! Honestly, I really don't think you can go wrong with ANY of Steven Rowley's work!

When a member of their close knit college group dies shortly before graduation, five friends decide to gather for “living funerals” to be there for each other. The goal is to leave nothing unsaid and no feelings unfelt.

I knew I was in for loads of emotions going into this book, but I was left feeling annoyed with pretty much every character and their privilege. Even with this pact, I had a hard time believing these people would stay friends for 25 years. They even say they hardly talk/see each other in between their funerary obligations, so how can they offer insight and comfort when called upon to honor one of them?

CW/TW: death of a loved one, terminal illness, cancer, divorce, incarceration, death of parents, plane crash, AIDS, grief

Emotional and smart definitely sums up a Steven Rowley book. The Celebrants is no exception. You've got a diverse, elective group of college friends who, after the unexpected death of one in their group, make a pact to get together for a "living funeral" for each of them so that nothing is left unsaid while they are alive rather than having regrets.

I recommend The Guncle to almost everyone. This was totally solid and I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it will get quite that amount of mass love. That said, if you go in with the right expectations, you'll enjoy it.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy of this book.

This is a story of friendship that has lasted decades, cemented in stone when one of their best friends died by suicide shortly before college graduation. Never wanting to face the loss of each other or doubts of how much they mean to one another happen again, the friends make a pact.

Whenever any of them is at their lowest, they will call for a living funeral. One that will allow them to see how long they will be missed. It’s been 5 years since the last funeral, and now Jordan has a secret that might change everything.

Steven Rowley writes with wit and humor as we see the lowest point in each character’s life when the previous funerals are reflected on. But he really shines, in the final chapters when these friends help Jordan and his partner grieve. It’s a lovely book about grief and friendship.

The Celebrants by Stephen Rowley is a wonderful ode to lifelong friendships with a twist. When Alex, one of the original members of the group of six friends from Berkeley, dies young the rest of them form a pact. Instead of having to wait until you are dead to hear all the nice things friends say about you – you can call the group together when you need it for your living “funeral”.

Various members have called one for different reasons – Marielle needed one after her divorce, Naomi wanted one after her parents died and all I will say about Craig is his happened after some criminal charges. Now Jordan has a big secret to share so will he call his “funeral” or will his husband Jordy call it for him?

I literally loved this book and all the characters and I laughed and cried with them. This book has been mentioned as the “Big Chill” of today and I heartily agree. Rowley is a writer that I will always read!

I loved the Guncle by Steven Rowley when I read it a few years ago and this was another great one. A group of five friends from college have a pact that the will hold funerals for each other while they're still alive so they know how much they're loved. The book follows each of these funerals over the years as the main characters grow and struggle through life. The characters were unique with distinct personalities and I loved reading their dialogue and relationships with each other. This book is witty and emotional and sweet all at the same time.

“It’s all going to kill you. You might as well do something fun.”

Five U.C. Berkeley students gather for their close friend and dorm mate Alec’s funeral.  They form a pact that when one of them calls, everyone will gather to celebrate a funeral for the living where nothing is left unsaid. This may sound morbid, but each “living funeral” becomes a celebration of love, friendship, fun and hilarity. This book spoke to me in so many ways and made me snort laugh in public frequently.  I am a first time Rowley reader, and I am not sure if any other story will compare to how this story made me feel.  Not only was it infused with hilarious moments, but it has profound messages on finding oneself and one’s lifelong loves. The found family trope was so beautifully characterized by this tight knit group of friends.

Courteney Cox once said, “I love that you can be laughing one minute and crying the next, and then be shocked the next. I like things that provoke emotions to such extremes!”  I am solidly in Courteney’s corner on this one and I like The Celebrants by Steven Rowley for provoking all the extreme emotions in me.  Preorder The Celebrants today because it will be out on May 30th.

3.5 🌟



I was so excited to read this book after loving Mr.Rowley's The Guncle.

I think I went into this one expecting the same kind of humor with the warm fuzzies. So maybe my lukewarm feelings are on me because usually, I love books about friendship and their dramas.

The Celebrants is just that - a group of college friends - an eclectic group who after the death of one of the friends, made a "pact." They decided that if life got too stressful, too hard, too lonely, they would throw a
a "living funeral" for them - to help celebrate that person while they are alive.

It actually sounds like a good plan. And years later some of the friends call in on the pact - as their lives are peppered with crisis. But one of the friends is holding back a secret -which is very poignant - seeing they are celebrating the "lives" of others. The ending is heartfelt, and I think the story hits on the right notes of grief and loss.

Again, I think I walked into this book waiting for the Gungle to jump out sometime. And while there is intelligent and witty conversation, I didn't feel like I got to know these characters well. Steven Rowley is a fantastic writer, and I will be thrilled to read his next book.


Thank you [ad|partner] @putnambooks for this gifted book

I was so excited to receive an #ARC of this book as I was a huge fan of the Guncle. With similar charm, wit, and humor though the somber tone and challenging themes carried throughout the story. A ‘Big Chill’ for our time, I appreciated the exploration of the aging experience, complete with health issues, divorce, aging parents, and a “what’s next” lens. Some pieces were laugh out loud funny and that kept it from becoming too dark.

I was drawn to this one because of the unique premise and the whole concept of living funerals, what a wonderful idea. Initially the idea of that can sound a little bleak, but the thought of making sure loved ones know exactly how you feel and what kind of impact they have had on your life is so special and touching. I love the authors brand of humor and wit and there was some wisdom here that really spoke to me. While there is a lot of emotional trauma here the balance between the heavier stuff and lighter moments was great for me and I found it to be heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Fans of The Guncle will be pleased.

Last summer I picked up The Guncle to take with me to my vacation in Hawaii as I thought it would make a great beach read, and wow, it was so much more and became one of my beloved books read in 2022.

So when I had the opportunity to read an early copy of The Celebrants, I jumped right in. And wow, did Steven Rowley ever deliver! I’m not really a contemporary book reader. I’m a full on Sci-fi lover. But after reading The Celebrants I scoured the internet and bought all four hardback editions of Rowley’s books. I had to have them ALL for my library. And when they come in I need to go back and read his first two books.

In The Celebrants, we get a The Big Chill meets Four Weddings and a Funeral vibe. And I loved it! 5 college best friends, Naomi, Jordy, Jordon, Marielle, and Craig, make a pact at Alec’s funeral, the sixth friend of the group, that rather than wait until they’re dead, they’ll have their funerals while still living so they can let each other know how much they mean to each other. Each of the group can enact the pact whenever they feel they need it most.

Over the next few decades, one by one, each gets their own living funeral. And each funeral is so very different from each others’. I laughed hysterically, my eyes were leaking, I had major goosebumps. I experienced All. The. Feels!! I was so completely invested in each and every one of the celebrants.

I can’t wait to read Rowley’s back list!

*Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the early eGalley!*

4.5 stars

After the unexpected and sudden death of one of their friends, a group of college friends make a pact to throw each other "living funerals." 30 years later, their funerals seem to only bring to light missed opportunities and life regrets. When one of the friends gets a terminal diagnosis, their collective promise takes on a whole new meaning.

This book definitely has a lot of sad components and may be triggering to readers impacted by terminal illness. Still, it is easy to fall in love with this group of friends and the way their stories weave together. It wasn't until the end that I really reached my true fondness for the Celebrants. I loved Rowley's message celebrating life and reminding readers to make sure they tell loved ones how appreciated they are. Yes, there is a lot of sadness in this book, but there are also light-hearted, humorous moments and a heartfelt message at the end.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and it was touching. I felt the friend group was too large to feel like you could really connect with and understand each character. But, I did enjoy the moral of the story even if it felt a bit meandering at times. Not my fave by this author.

3.5/5

“ Thousands of candles can be lit from a single one, and the life of that candle will not be shortened. That’s what you do for others. You light their candle with yours.”

This was my first read of Steven Rowley’s. I have seen many talk about The Guncle but have yet to read it. When I saw this one I was excited. This story was very emotional but heart warming. It encourages you to tell the ones you love that you love them while they’re here. Four friends that attended college together decide to have living funerals for one another after the passing of one of their friends. They decided to make this pact and to come together whenever one of them felt their life was too chaotic to handle by themselves. This would allow everyone to remind the person who called the pact how loved and special they are. It was a sweet story, but was not what I usually read so I felt that it was a bit slow for me. However, I do believe a lot can be taken from this book!

I jumped into this book blind. I’m so glad I did. It was such a gem that will stick with me for a long time. I loved the friendship group. The whole idea of a living wake. So good. So sad

The Guncle (May 2021) was a stand out book me. And when I saw Steven Rowley’s new book is a twist on The Big Chill it became a must read. Six people become best friends while at Berkley in 1995. They have a big reaction to one of their own dying at the age of 22. And in their grief they hatch a pact to have living funerals for each other. By doing that words and feelings don’t go unsaid to each other. The group of five head off to their lives in different directions. The book follows through time jumps as each one calls for a funeral. A divorce, death in the family, and even a crime are all reasons the friends gather and support each other. They give the person the lift they need to continue on and it gives a moment to catch up with one another.

This book has funny moments but lacks the laugh out loud humor of the Guncle. I think that is partly because they are gathering in times of difficulties and trial. But there is still warmth, love and friendship. I also thought I’d get through the book without crying but the last page got me. I really enjoyed this book and the diverse characters. And it is always a nice reminder to not leave things unsaid to friends and loved ones. I also like that the section headings are named for songs from the Carpenters. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

After the devastating loss of a student five days before college graduation, his closest friends decide that nothing should ever be left unsaid. The five friends make a pact to always celebrate each other's lives NOW, rather than wait for death. We follow the friends as they navigate divorce, loss of their parents, career ending mistakes, and a terminal diagnosis. You will fall in love with the relationship these friends have with each other, and you will close this book inspired to not leave anything left unsaid, and to celebrate life NOW!

Steven Rowley writes about grief like no one else. His powerful stories of friendship, loss, and love are unmatched. I can not recommend this book (and any of Steven's other books) enough to anyone struggling with grief. You will sob the most healing tears as you are reminded that we are never alone in our grief journey. "The Celebrants" will

Six U.C. Berkeley transfer students are connected in life and in death in this latest novel by Thurber Prize winning author Steven Rowley. My fondness for every one of his novels is undisputed, and this latest is no exception. The Celebrants is a departure from his humor filled, yet poignant best seller The Guncle, and I embraced it as a completely different reading experience. While the snappy dialog remains, the serious subject matter is more expansive.

At the funeral of one of these young close friends, the remaining five make a pact to reunite when each truly needs the support of the forever friend group. Over the course of 30 years, these “living funerals” provide unique glimpses into the complicated histories and difficult times with each other and with their life circumstances. With moments of both humor and sorrow, this novel was as much about redemption as it was about reflection. The premise and the structure was interesting and fresh and as someone who has recently traveled the road of profound grief, I found it cathartic. The lessons cleverly slipped in among the pages will not soon be forgotten.

This novel will especially resonate with readers who enjoyed The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin & The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer.

Thank you to Net Galley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.