Our favorite literary uncle is back! This sequel to The Guncle takes place five years after Patrick’s niece and nephew spent the summer with him in Palm Springs. Patrick is nearing his 50th birthday and his acting career is going strong. Grant is now 11 and Maisie is 14. Their father and Patrick’s brother, Greg, is getting remarried. Grant and Maisie are not happy about this and want Uncle Patrick to stop the wedding from happening.

Five years after helping Grant and Maisie with their grief after the death of their mother, Patrick is spending this summer helping them learn how to love again. It is a summer of second chances for all three of them.

With Greg’s upcoming wedding to Livia taking place at Lake Como in Italy, Patrick takes his niece and nephew on a trip through Europe before heading to the wedding venue. I loved traveling to London, Paris, Salzburg, and Venice with Patrick, Grant, and Maisie.

This book had me laughing. Patrick is a hoot! Who wouldn’t want to be friends with him. As much as I laughed out loud while reading this book, it also brought me to tears. Watching Grant and especially Maisie struggle with the idea of their father finding love again was heartbreaking.

“It was the sad truth about losing someone - your certainty about who they were faded with memory.”

“And change is the biggest part of living."

This was a great follow up to The Guncle. It shared the same humor, the witty banter, and the Guncle Rules everyone loves. I loved the new characters, and I loved seeing Maisie and Grant a little older. It was overall a really cute follow up, and I love the happy endings all around.

After absolutely loving The Guncle, I was so excited to read this. It was fun to have Patrick's voice in my head again and he was still just as hilarious and heartwarming. But overall, the story felt a little rushed. The Sound of Music references made up for that, though

4.25/5 stars. This book made me laugh and made me cry. I had my emotions all over the place and I honestly was here for it. After The Guncle I didn't see the need for a second book, but after reading this I feel like it was the perfect continuation of the story.

I loved The Guncle and was very excited to step back into Patrick’s world. While I loved Patrick’s connection and relationship with his niece and nephew, I found all the sarcasm too much this go round. It disconnected me from the story and I just wanted to enjoy all the banter. I wanted more of Patrick traveling with his niece and nephew, felt like it was rushed and over really fast.

I do love all the themes and how Steven approaches tough subjects, like grief and growing up. It’s real and many people can connect to it.

Overall, it was good but I just didn’t feel as immersed as I did with The Guncle.

Patrick is back but this time around he’s traipsing around Europe with his niece and nephew, Maise and Grant. Their final destination is Lake Como, where Maise and Grant’s father is getting remarried. Patrick is single after a recent breakup and he’s taking a little break from acting. Maise and Grant want to stop the wedding.

I think I might have enjoyed this one better than the first book, only because I love to travel, and I loved all the descriptions and activities in the different European cities! It was such a charming and entertaining read. Patrick made me laugh and his relationship with his niece and nephew warmed my heart. I was surprised how everything ended, but it was perfect. I hope there will be more Guncle books in the future!

Thanks, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the advance review copy via NetGalley and @PRHAudio for the #gifted audiobook. #PRHAudioPartner #sponsored (Available now!)

Patrick returns to his Guncle (Gay Uncle) duties to shepherd his slightly older niece and nephew across Europe to Italy, where his brother (their dad) is getting remarried.

I need a travel company to organize a “Guncle Tour of Europe” immediately! I want the best hot chocolate in France, a visit to the Prada flagship store in Milan, and to dance through Austrian fountains ala Maria and the Von Trapp kids in “Sound of Music.” Tour guides are required to be sarcastically funny, a wee bit defensive of their age, and all-around fabulous with impeccable style (silk ascots are a must). Extra points if you throw in a rivalry between our beloved Guncle and new Launt (Lesbian Aunt).

I adored THE GUNCLE and was thrilled to see a sequel. It was charming, funny, sweet, and full of Rowley’s signature blend of bon mot and deep thoughts. I received a copy of the e-book in December, but I was determined to wait for the audiobook. I was rewarded for my patience. I think hearing the author deliver Patrick’s jokes and wit is exactly the way to receive them.

This is definitely a sequel, though. You’ll want to read THE GUNCLE to fully appreciate Patrick’s relationship with his niece and nephew, his widowed (and about to be remarried) brother, and his hilariously straight-laced sister.

I absolutely loved the first Guncle....so much! This was a solid 3 for me-I felt like the story would not be enjoyable at all if you hadn't read the first book. Also, it felt like the story jumped around with very little explanation of what was happening-like you were just plunked down in the middle of a story that had been going on for four years without the benefit of having experienced any of those past four years. It still had a lot of heart and humor-and if you loved Guncle you won't be disappointed with this sequel!

THE GUNCLE ABROAD review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

🧳After reading and loving The Guncle last year, I was so excited to see that a sequel was coming out! I was so excited to read more about Patrick, Maisie, and Grant and this book completely lived up to my expectations! Dare I say I loved it even more than the first book?! 🥹

🧳Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
It’s been 5 years since Maisie and Grant spent the summer living with their guncle Patrick following the death of their mom. Now their dad is getting remarried in Italy and they have mixed feelings about his pending marriage. Guncle Patrick decides to spend the few weeks leading up to the wedding exploring Europe with Maisie and Grant to hopefully ease their concerns. But when they finally get to Italy for the wedding, things are even more disastrous than Patrick could have predicted.

🧳Like the first book, this one was equal parts happy/cute and also saaaad. I cried at the ending of this one (the letter?! 😭😭). If you like The Guncle then THE GUNCLE ABROAD is a must read in my opinion. Definitely a sequel that lives up to the first book!

🧳Thanks @penguinrandomhouse for my digital copy!

This book is a great sequel to The Guncle. Filled with cutting wit and family fluff it is a positive addition to any collection. Definitely a feel good read and a must have for any summer reading list.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After reading The Guncle, I was ecstatic when I saw a second book being released. Steve Rowley continues to have the ability to tug on your heart strings while weaving in humor throughout. There are so many characters that I have so much appreciation for. While Patrick tends to try and push people away, he truly has an infectious personality. Like in The Guncle, you continue to see Patrick’s growth. Additionally, it was emotional to see how much Maisie and Grant have grown up as well. This story shares different perspectives of Sara and the person she was and the impact of what they lost with her passing. This is a heartfelt story of the ability to open up to new relationship and allow them to process grief with you. Steven Rowley truly has a thoughtful approach to the topic of grief. It was an enjoyable journey while things were light and airy, and when things felt deeper and emotional.

If you enjoyed The Guncle and haven’t had the opportunity to read The Guncle Abroad yet, make sure to add this to the top of your tbr list as this book is now available. It’s a perfect summer read that will have you wishing you were drinking wine on vacation. Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m really hoping there’s a third book to this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

I read The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad back to back, and I’m so glad that I did! It was so fun to see what Patrick and his family were up to about 5 years after The Guncle ended!

Patrick’s brother, Greg, is about to be married to a beautiful woman named Livia, who is rich and from Italy. Maisie and Grant are really struggling with it, so unsure of what else to do, Greg asks Patrick to take the kids for a couple of weeks. Patrick has been in London filming a movie, and decides that a European vacation with their fun Guncle right before the wedding could just be what the kids need.

During their journey, Patrick is determined to help the kids learn what love is so that they’ll be able to open their eyes to their father’s marriage. Although Patrick feels conflicted about anyone being married to Greg besides Sara, ultimately he wants his brother to be happy. Unfortunately, the kids are harder to crack than he was anticipating, especially Maisie.

Patrick is also dealing with some hardships in his own life, as he’s going through a break up from someone he really cares about. He’s also jealous of the prospect of the kids getting a Launt- a lesbian aunt who is very cool and impressive.

As the big day arrives, family chaos ensues. As the kids fight to keep their dad and prevent Livia from replacing their mom, everyone learns valuable lessons about each other, love, and how to move forward after death.

The Guncle Abroad was just as charming and fun to read as The Guncle! It’s definitely a good summer read with some great messaging as well!

The Guncle Abroad is a great look back with the beloved characters from Guncle!

Love the humor, fun and heart that Steven Rowley includes in every book and definitely this book is no different! Highly recommend!❤️

It was an immense delight to be back in the world of Patrick, Maisie and Grant. This sequel kept the humor and introspection and added travel. Loved it!

I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about The Guncle before, so I’m sure you can imagine how excited I was for a sequel. I actually got access to an advanced e-copy and started it months ago, but quickly realized I wanted to wait and listen to the audiobook narrated by Rowley himself instead.

📖 In this sequel, Gay Uncle Patrick is back, but on a European adventure with the kids on their way to Italy for a family wedding.

True to Rowley’s writing style, there are moments of humor, moments of sadness, and moments of growth all rolled up together into a beautiful story.

Now, we don’t only have a Guncle, but also a Launt! I about died when he talked about how a Launt would likely throw you in her Subaru to go buy artisanal dog treats 😂. Their little rivalry was hilarious (hand jobs 😂🤦🏻‍♀️).

Steven Rowley is incredible. I love the growth of Maisie, Grant and Uncle Patrick from The Guncle to The Guncle Abroad. The attention to detail of each location that they traveled felt like I was walking back through the streets with them. Palmina quickly became a new favorite, with tons of laughs from her bickering with GUP.

The author is absolutely unmatched in creating a masterpiece that will make you both cry, reflect, and laugh hysterically out loud. Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

(I also had the pleasure of meeting Steven Rowley at an author event, and I can confirm he is just as funny in person!)

Quick and Dirty
-sequel to a beloved book
-contemporary LGBTQ fiction
-all the feels (especially joy)
-better on audio

"Patrick O'Hara is called back to his guncle duties . . . This time for a big family wedding in Italy."

What Worked
What a joy this book was to read! Connecting with Patrick and the kids again was so delightful that I literally smiled the ENTIRE time I read/listened to this book. Rowley has a way of blending humor/satire with heavier emotions that is sheer genius, in my opinion. Every single one of his books feels like a reflection of the human experience: complex and overwhelming at times. The evolution of this story truly felt like a journey, with lessons, pitfalls, and triumphs along the way. Patrick's storyline felt VERY relatable, giving everyone in that 40-50 age group a character that highlights their own experience: aging, relevance, fear, exhaustion, etc. And, of course, his life lessons are spot on, mixing wisdom with the old-world charm of the European settings. This one had me missing Europe in the best way, eager to book another trip soon. Listening to The Guncle Abroad is the way to go; Rowley's narration is EVERYTHING, bringing Patrick to life in a way the written word cannot do. I tried reading the ebook but found much more joy in listening.

What Didn’t Work
While there may be a few little things (too many characters, a tad too long), nothing about this book warrants negativity.

Read This If
If you loved The Guncle you must read this. If you need a good laugh, you must read this.

A wonderful sequel to The Guncle! I truly enjoyed seeing the how the characters had grown a few years down the road, especially the children. While their grief was not as acute, we saw how love and loss become integrated into the lives of the characters and how they continue to move forward. It would have been easy to paint the picture of a stereotypical "evil stepmother," but I appreciated how Rowley did not fall into this trap and focused on the characters' development and acceptance of new love and people into their lives.

I loved this book! I was hoping it would live up to the first guncle book and it absolutely did. I think everyone needs a guncle in their life. This book had me laughing out loud and reading out parts to my husband that I couldn’t help sharing. So many lessons on love and living your best authentic life in this book. 5 stars!

An easy 5 stars… dare I say better than the first??

This book was such a treat! Not only was it incredible to be back with GUP and the kids again, but it was so nostalgic for me because I’ve done almost this exact trip before! A few years ago 3 of us went to Europe for almost a month, and traveled through Italy, France, and Spain. On our adventures, we crashed two weddings (one in Lake Como, just like in the book!), ate at Angelina (just like in the book!), got a little lost in Venice (just like in the book!), marveled at how small the Mona Lisa is in person (just like in the book!), visited the Prada store in Milan and felt hopelessly out of place (just like in the book!), and on and on like that… So, needless to say, this was a lot of fun to read, and allowed me to relive one of the best experiences of my life.

Steven Rowley has outdone himself with this one, and wrote a sequel even better than the original—something that never happens! Chock full of his signature wit and charm, this book replicated everything I loved and felt about the first, and then took it and improved upon it! Like the first book, this one explores themes of grief and loss, but it builds and expands by also examining things like aging, loneliness, and moving on. In The Guncle Abroad, we see all the characters grow and change and come more fully into themselves, and despite the serious message at its core, the book is entirely heart-warming and hilarious. When I tell you I cackled out loud so many times, I mean it! (You’ll see when you get there, but the musical Grease will never be the same in my mind.)

Thank you so much to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copies of this book! It was a joy to read and so much fun to travel the world through The Guncle’s eyes. I really hope that one day we get more of Patrick, Maisie, and Grant (and even Palmina).