Have you ever wanted to hear what people would say about you at your own funeral? Is it too late to express how much someone means to you and how much you love them once they are gone?

The friend group in this book has that same thought after losing a friend of theirs in college to a drug-related death. Was it an overdose? Was it suicide? They had so much to say to him and could have made him feel loved and seen if they had the time. So, they make a pact that each has a one-time "funeral pass" to gather them all together for a living funeral, where the rest of the group will tell them how they feel and kickstart their life again.

This book has a pretty large cast of characters, and that can be a bit hard to follow. Also, it is full of ALL OF THE FEELS. So, although it has a heartwarming core, it's not a light or breezy read. While reading, I had a few times where I had to put it down for something more lighthearted. It's a meaningful and powerful story, but definitely has a slow burn to it, and requires you to buckle up and go along for the ride.

Unfortunately there were so many characters, I kept getting lost. guncle is a fav of all time but this one felt a little hard to follow with all the characters. Incredible plot idea. Looking forward to the next.

It’s ironic that Steven Rowley’s new novel is called The Celebrants because the celebrant in this situation is actually ME.

Here is a quick look at the life cycle of a Steven Rowley stan:
1. eagerly anticipate new release
2. purchase book the day it comes out
3. put on your bookshelf to look at adoringly
4. put off reading because you don’t want it to be over already
5. stress over not having read it and worry about seeing spoilers
6. give in to temptation and read the book in one sitting while wearing your favorite guncle-inspired kaftan
7. laugh, cry, process your emotions from the story
8. reread his other novels while he works on something new
9. start over at #1

After going through the unexpected death of their best friend Alec, a group of college friends make a pact to stay in touch after graduation and hold funerals for each person before they pass to make sure they leave nothing unsaid to their loved ones.

Told in alternating points of view, this story is broken into different parts focusing on the remaining five people in the friend group and the circumstances around their pre-funerals.

Decades have passed since they made their pact, and now one friend calls the group together one last time because he’s received a grim diagnosis and needs the celebrants to help prepare him for the end.

Steven Rowley’s books are the gold standard for contemporary fiction. It’s like you can see his beating heart on every single page. His writing stands out in such a specific way because he can take a normal shared human experience and craft it into something totally new that reaches the reader on a deeper and more thought-provoking level. With each new book he writes, you already know going in that you will laugh a lot, cry even more, and your heart will be touched forever.

The Celebrants isn’t just a story about a silly pact made by a group of kids. It’s a fresh and authentic look at friendship, first love, chosen family, parenthood, finding your purpose, and living each day as your last.

“My purpose, in this life, has been to love and spend it with you. I don't want us to be sad. Or bitter, or angry. I want to celebrate until it is over. And, when I'm gone, I want you to celebrate again because it happened."

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and my zaddy Steven Rowley for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

The Guncle was one of the best books I read in 2022, so I didn't know how Rowley could do it again with the Celebrants, but he did. I loved hearing the different stories of the group of college friends. Of their struggles and pains and how, when needed, they came back together to help each other. Plus the nod to one of my favorite bookstagrammers was great!

I love Steven Rowley! This book was just not for me though :( I think it had too many narrators and timelines and wasn't the writing style that makes me want to keep turning "just one more page."

Steven Rowley sure knows how to make sure readers will both laugh and cry and feel all the feels. It was clear that this book was written from the heart, and may have included some experiences or details from his personal life. I only wish this book had been longer to be able to better know and understand each character. Steven Rowley was an auto-buy author for me before this book, but unsurprisingly he will remain on that list.

"The Celebrants" by Steven Rowley is a poignant and captivating book that takes readers on a journey spanning twenty-eight years, from 1995 to 2023. What drew me in was the unique structure of the story, with each section dedicated to a different character, allowing us to witness their lives unfold after college. The concept of celebrating each other's lives when it's most needed may sound morbid, but Rowley masterfully infuses the narrative with compassion, humor, and love.

As I turned the pages, I couldn't help but reflect on the importance of cherishing friendships. The book beautifully showcases the joys, sorrows, and complexities of relationships, reminding us of the profound impact friends can have on our lives. It reaffirmed the significance of expressing love and appreciation to those we hold dear, long before it's too late.
Rowley's writing effortlessly blends emotional depth, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments. The characters feel remarkably genuine, making their struggles and triumphs all the more relatable. Throughout the story, there is a seamless balance between laughter and tears, leaving me both uplifted and moved.

In a world where true connections can sometimes be hard to come by, "The Celebrants" serves as a reminder of the power of friendship and the need to celebrate life's precious moments. It is a book that touched my heart and left a lasting impression. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating, emotional, and ultimately, life-affirming read.

A slow burn friendship novel for fans of The Big Chill and Rowley's other works, this is a good book about a good group of friends from various walks of life and with various problems (and solutions). It will make you laugh, make you cry, and when it's all over, you'll be calling (or texting) your group of Celebrants, too.

This book was an interesting foray into the lives of a group of friends who occasionally get together to celebrate their “living” funerals because of a pact they made in college. While I didn’t love the whole book the way it ended was perfect and emotional.

This book is going to be EVERYWHERE. It’s already been chosen as June’s pick for @readwithJenna and I have been lucky enough to read this early and let me tell you, it is so good.
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This book is being billed as #TheBigChill for a new generation. Also, side not if you don’t know this soundtrack it is perfection. One of my favorite soundtracks I had on double cd. Yes, I instantly just aged myself. Anyway, back to the book. A group of college friends made a pact. It’s been 28 years out of college and they are no closer to figuring out their lives. Whenever anyone needs it they reunite in Big Sur to throw each other a “live funeral” as a reminder what they mean to each other in times of struggle.
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This time it’s not the crumbling of a marriage, death of parents or art fraud. This time it’s for something so much more. @mrstevenrowleywrites has such a unique talent of writing topics that are heavy with such heart and the perfect dose of humor. There are many times I’m reading a sad book and just simply cannot, but this isn’t it. Yes, this book made me cry, but it made me laugh, it made me think, it made me feel all the feelings which is a true talent. This was a beautifully written book.
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Also, I highly recommend the audio. It is narrated by the author and it is so entertaining. This book comes out tomorrow!
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Huge thank you to @prhaudio @putnambookd and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was lacking for me . I had enjoyed Guncle so much that I had high expectations for this book as well. However, the character development was liking, and I cannot connect with a lot of the characters.

This was a story about friends who met in college and made a pact to celebrate their funerals while they are still alive. Although It did have the witty banter and humor that I expected from The Guncle, I did not enjoy this book as much as I’d hoped. I struggled to keep up with all of the characters and the audio felt a lot like an angry family gathering with a lot of arguing many times in book. I think there is definitley an audience that will love this book though.

Thought this was great! My favorite was the book shrooming scene. Hilarious! This was definitely emotional. Still love the guncle better!

4.5 ⭐️

All the things you’ve come to expect from Mr. Steven Rowley. Just wonderful writing and storytelling. The Celebrants was emotional, heartwarming, hilarious at times, full of witty banter and remarks, and overall thought-provoking. Rowley was able to make me both laugh and shed a few tears.

I love the way the story unfolded through the various living funerals and timelines, learning more and more about each character as we progressed.
This is a very character-driven novel and while those sometimes become slow for me, that was not the case here. There was exceptional character development and the way he chose to tell the story with each section dedicated to a specific character really propelled that forward.

This book reiterates how important friendship is, especially friends who become found family. I honestly love the idea of living funerals for those your loved ones so you can let them know the impact they’ve had on you and leave nothing left unsaid. 🫶🏼 I’ll be thinking about this novel for awhile!

Side note— I will say that The Guncle is still my favorite from Rowley, but this one definitely deserves to be recommended and read by all!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and publisher
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an eARC of the Celebrants in exchange for an honest review.

Steven Rowley quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading The Guncle, and in the same fashion, The Celebrants will have you laughing and crying as you ride the emotional roller coasters of these characters’ lives.

Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle have been friends since college, and though it’s been 28 years since they graduated, their pact remains just as strong. Over the years, they’ve met up in Big Sur to throw each other living “funerals” as a reminder that life is worth living. But this year is different because Jordan has a secret that could change the terms of their pact.

I wasn’t expecting this book to affect me as much as it did, but it was so heartfelt and raw in the way that it shined a light on the struggles of adulthood and the challenges we overcome in life. These five friends didn’t get to see each other often, but they were always there to lift one another up when they needed a reminder that their lives mattered, even if they couldn’t see it themselves. Highly recommend this book, but be sure to have a box of tissues nearby!

*Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing a copy of this book to review.*

I loved this story of college friends coming together later in life to reconnect and celebrate one another by throwing funerals (even though they're still alive). The writing is quick and heartfelt, and the characters are funny, witty, and lovable. I was surprised by how much I loved the Guncle, and for me, The Celebrants was a fantastic follow-up. Rowley is a talented writer and a keen observer of the world around us. I have to imagine he is a wonderful conversationalist. I'll certainly be adding him to my list of must-read authors!

While I wish I could have loved this, it fell flat. There was to much going on nothing was explain and I have a hard time with who was who. I love the first book by him this was not good

3.5 stars

Five friends lose one of their group before graduation. To make sure they aren't too late to let the others know how they feel about them, a pact is made. When in need of each other the most each may call the pact into action. They will all come together and have a funeral. One for each of them.
The storyline going from present pact to the pacts of those in the past years.

I loved the Guncle, however this story was slow. I wasn't really invested in most of the group.
But the humor and sarcasm was still great. And I loved the mushrooms on the ferry section to spread paprika and ashes.

Steven Rowley is an author that I look forward to reading. I wished I could meet the people in this friend group.

This book was a bit of a let down for me. I like the idea and concept but the execution wasn't quite there for me. It might be because I struggle when a novel focuses on too many characters. There were some good emotional moments.