I adore Steven Rowley. Each of his books are vastly different— so if you’ve only read The Guncle, do NOT expect a repeat. All of his books do seem to include an element of grief though, so I LOVED the message behind this one— tell your people you love them WHILE they are here! Don’t wait for their eulogy to say what needs to be said.

This was written with Rowley’s wit and humor, and there is love in this book. But I just wasn’t convinced these friends were really friends 🤣 Most of the time it felt like they were annoyed by each other more than anything else. I don’t know if I needed more of their backstory, or more good times and not just bad times, or what— but I wasn’t sold on the friendships that were supposed to be the foundation of this book.

Bottomline, it’s a 5⭐️ message, but the execution fell a little flat for me. That said, I’ve read Rowley’s entire backlist and will continue to read anything he writes in the future. Not only are his books great, but he seems like a real gem of a human being too. While this one missed the mark a bit for me, if you are curious about it at all, I’d encourage you to give it a try for yourself!

I loved his other book, The Guncle, so I couldn’t wait to read this one! The writing and quirky characters had me laughing out loud and also wishing I was part of their friend circle! Such a great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Despite a somewhat slow start, this unique storyline really delivers in a way that only Steven Rowley can accomplish. It's dark, uplifting, witty, thought provoking, depressing, and inspirational.

Just before graduation, five college roommates make a pact after the funeral of their dear friend that all following funerals will take place while they are each still alive. The pact is invoked when one of the friends is facing particular hardship as a way to show them how loved and supported they are. The group may not keep in constant touch as they all go their separate ways after graduation, but they know they are truly family to one another and can always pick up where they left off. We then follow the group over a period of 30 years and five "funerals".

Rowley does an excellent job of portraying the types of friendships that can only come from the college experience, or at least having lived with the same friends for many years. I loved watching the friendships evolve over the years and the growth of the characters after attending each funeral. Mortality and grief are contemplated in though provoking ways that will make you rethink how to truly live and how to honor those who have made an impact on your life.

Not only do I love a page turner. I love a book where I want to jump in and be friends with the characters. This was a charming, whirlwind of emotions….grief, humor, life after love, lifelong friendship and all the things between. Like a true Steven Rowley book, tons of laughter in this book. I didn’t want this book to end.

I have never highlighted more quotes in any book, especially towards the end. This book made me appreciate so many friends that are always there for me. I just wanted them to know how much I loved them….make sure no words were ever left unsaid.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

So good. Brimming with complex characters and emotions. Couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it more than "Guncle", which I loved.

Steven Rowley has become one of the authors I go to to seek comfort. The Guncle was one of my favorite books of 2021 and a book I continually recommend to people. The Celebrants is going to join that recommendation list!

When a group of college friends mourns the loss of one of their own, they make a pact to come together in times of need to share their love and appreciation for one another, to let each other know what they mean to the others while they are living. For what is the point of a funeral but for the living to celebrate the dead? This way nothing will be left unsaid.

I went into this book blind, only with the comparison of this book to The Big Chill. and loving the author's previous work. The Celebrants lived up to my expectations and I can see myself coming back to this book again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and, of course, Steven Rowley.

I loved this book! It was a balance of witty, thought provoking, poignant, and inspiring. Rowley has a skill in writing characters you want to be friends. This book made me laugh, it was was hopeful and heartwarming. It made me reflect on the chosen family in my life and all the moments if gratitude that are often left unsaid. Grateful for the opportunity to read "The Celebrants" and will be recommending it to customers and friends.

Oh man - Steven Rowley just hit me with a sucker punch of emotion. 5 friends band together after the death of their college friend to throw each other “living funerals” at points in their life when they need it most so they can share the impact that person had to their face instead of after death. Beautiful story of friendship and found family.

I didn't love it. I really, really loved The Guncle so I had high hopes but this one just didn't do it for me. There were funny moments and poignant moments, but overall I just couldn't get invested in any of the characters, except the Jordans. I hope Mr. Rowley does the audio himself because The Guncle was amazing and I think this one would be much better that way.

Such an amazing read! Very authentic characters with real emotions and things to work through. It was so enjoyable and lighthearted at parts, but also deep and well-written. The characters are well developed and have great stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Steven Rowley!

This will be a HIT! To be honest, it took me a bit to get into it. I couldn't see how this group of people were friends at the beginning at the beginning. But then-it hit me and I was hooked. I read most of it in one sitting. Such an interesting story about a group of friends who graduated in 1995 and after one dies early, they decide to hold their own funerals in times of need and not wait until they are dead to tell each other how amazing they are. They come together over the years, after a divorce, parents' death, etc, until present day where one of them is actually dying and they've come together again. There are sad parts, funny parts (the cruise around NYC was hysterical), and I literally hugged my Kindle when I was done with this story! LOVE!

Rowley writes with such humanity and authenticity that readers are fully immersed in these characters’ lives and get to journey alongside them as they experience loss, joy, and longing, face their fears (the skydiving experience was spectacular) and brave new beginnings. This was such a moving story with tremendous depth and character development that lends itself to reflection and leaves readers with an ever important reminder to not wait on telling those people in your lives how much they mean to you, how they’re valued, and their lives matter.

Rowley’s writing of the friends’ banter and conversation is spectacular - the timing, voice and vulnerability brought an intimacy which made the reader feel like part of the group. I also found the structure of the story very thoughtful and enjoyed seeing these characters and their relationships evolve through life’s events and growing pains. Much like The Guncle, The Celebrants will stay with me for a long time.

I know so many adored The Guncle but I came into this novel with fresh eyes as I hadn't read his previous work. This had me laughing out loud simultaneously tugging at my heart strings. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The award for most highlighted quotes on my kindle goes to,.. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley!! The Guncle was one of my favorite books I read last year so I was SUPER excited to be able to read The Celebrants for an early review!

A group of 5 friends reunite throughout the course of their lives for 'funerals' after a pact was made on the night of their college friend's funeral - hoping that in their darkest times, they'll know how much they mean to each other. This book was so beautiful, heartwarming, but with the classic Steven Rowley humor. This is a must read!

Moving and sad, this novel was enrapturing from start to finish. You waste no time getting to know the good, the bad, and the ugly of this group of friends, who are loveable and relatable despite their very real flaws. This novel is a beautiful story about the importance and value in knowing you are loved and telling those around you that you love them. Leave nothing unsaid.

Wow, Rowley's books are so lyrical and beautifully written. The Celebrants is exactly the kind of quality I expected when I saw it's upcoming release. This is a really hard read, I think I got to about 5% mark and realized what exactly was going to happen (long game) in this story and it felt just so devastating to read further. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, but it's still a beautiful story for anyone wishing to read this tale of grief/life.

This author truly has a gift of crafting characters that are unique and a story that is emotionally driven. This feels reminiscent of what it's like to have your core group of friends. The ones you have grown with, went through life’s ups and downs, and have a bond with that goes beyond the word friend. This group of friends felt like that to me. He curated characters that are flawed, but still perfect by engraining them with a wide diverse emotional range.

How this author seamlessly intertwined grief with witty dialogue making this an entertaining read without being too heavy. His ability to switch between timelines while also having a multiple POV and never losing his audience along the way was masterfully done. This is a moving book that will touch your heart from beginning to end. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t leave you when it’s over and I guarantee you will be thinking about it for years to come

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC and Steven Rowley for this beautiful book.

Let’s just get out of the way that reviews are/will compare Steven Rowley’s new book to The Big Chill but set in 2023. There. Done. Here’s the bigger thought/question I have: would you want to have your funeral with those who mean the most to you before your actual death? Don’t we wish we could sit there and hear the memories people have of us, the impact we made on them, the trivial things they remember but we’ve forgotten? That is what Marielle puts forward to the group of five friends (Marielle, Naomi, Jordy, Jordan, and Craig) after their sixth partner in crime at Berkeley, Alec, dies. The funeral is a one time use at your discretion, no questions asked by the others. So when members of the group go through various traumatic events in their life, the group meets at the Big Sur house to talk all about the positives of the person who brought them together.

Except this time. This time, death is lurking nearby for one of the Jordan’s and he is seeking the best way to tell his friends. For nearly thirty years, there hasn’t been another death of the five, just a “death” of a life event. As Rowley takes us through each living funeral, he unwraps the importance of telling people what you think while you can. The impact they make on you. The importance of communication and how your words affect people. Each funeral also had its own theme so to speak: rebirth, discovery of self, courage, drive, mortality to name a few.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on May 30, 2023. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #stevenrowley #thecelebrants #putnambooks

Tackling tough topics, particularly grief and loss, seems to be a theme for Rowley, which he expertly handles with humor and heart. This ensemble cast of characters is alive with witty banter and deep emotions, and the kind of playfulness and pain that can only be exacted by people who have known you most of your life. This is a book about growing up, growing apart, and growing together again, and making sure that no matter what life throws at you, you leave nothing unsaid when it counts. Thank you to @NetGalley and G.P. Putnam for the opportunity to read this STUNNING ARC!

Steven Rowley has done it again. He has a way of making you laugh through the sad, feel all the feelings, and puts you right with all of the characters of the book.

THE CELEBRANTS is so so so good
A group of friends make a pact in college that they’ll have their funerals before they die… in their 40s they start to call for the funerals and this is the story of friendship and life and love and who we call upon when we most need to know we are important