Another charming adventure with “GUP” GAY uncle Patrick. Gunk is enlisted by his brother Greg to shepherd his two children, Maisie and Grant, to his wedding to Italian royal Livia. Those of us who recall the earlier novel are aware that this won’t be easy.

Maisie hates the idea of their father marrying Livia. Patrick is mourning his own relationship. This leads the reader to a delightful romp as Patrick takes the children from London to the wedding destination on Lake Cuomo. It is an interesting trip. Patrick tries to prepare the children, as they insist he stop the wedding.

When they finally arrive at Lake Cuomo, a new cast of eccentrics join the pre-wedding preparations.

I enjoyed the book, though I felt that the second half was a bit thin. I can’t wait to see the film. This will certainly be enjoyed by those of us who were fans of the original GUNCLE novel. I’m not sure it’s a perfect standalone novel.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to join Patrick and his minions again.

Steven Rowley's "The Guncle Abroad" has me feeling all the feels. Absolutely just the book I needed to read right now. The perfect blend of comedy, and heart.
Our beloved Guncle Patrick is back. His career, excellent, personal life, well not so much. It's all put on pause when he receives an invitation to join his family in Italy for his brothers wedding. Feeling like his niece Maisie and nephew Grant might need some extra attention with the news of their fathers marriage
Helping in the best way he can, the way he did after their mother's death, Patrick travels with the kids through Europe on their way to the wedding, teaching them about love and life.
Once they arrive in Italy, a whole cast of characters is introduced to us from the bride-to-be's side of the family..including a new "launt" (gay aunt), a rivalry begins!
Juggling wedding responsibilities and the emotions from the kids, who are growing and changing and coming into their own, can Patrick handle it all? Will it be a success?
This book had me laughing and smiling so much. So many times I saw myself in the dialogue from Patrick... pop culture reference conversations and snappy one liners galore, a surprise ending that had me tearing up...oh, and a mention of Tori Amos!

3.75 ⭐️ rounded to 4

Well this was cute!! Everyone’s grown up.

I loved the characters, the emotion, the funny moments, and the idea of it all. The last 1/3 of the book was my favorite! Patrick is such a fun character. Not as sad as the OG The Guncle, but full of all the same stuff we loved.

I think the plot dragged quite a few times which led me to skim some parts and not fully hold my attention. I also felt like not all characters (newer ones) mentioned were given the chance to fully expand and develop. I would have loved to see more development.

Excited for a third book… maybe?? Hopefully?? I’d recommend!

I absolutely adored The Guncle so I had to have this. This story seemed a bit too similar to the first which disappointed me a bit but I still liked it. There was some good messages in the book and I loved how it ended. Patrick is a great character and I honestly feel like I’d read any adventure he gets into.

I loved entering back into the world of the Guncle! I particularly enjoyed all of the destinations and travel references. However, in comparison, The Guncle is still at the top of my list. This follow-up fell a bit flat for me.

This a 4.5 star read for me, it captured the essence of family bonds, the complexities of love, and the journey towards self-rediscovery. I loved seeing the character's growth over the course of the novel and how their self-discovery was woven into the storyline perfectly, it was the perfect amount of emotional satisfaction. I love how the author weaves all of the characters and the various little subplots all together. The perfect sequel that offers all of the feel-goods and even humor.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

If you were a fan of the Guncle, you should definitely pick up the Guncle Abroad when it comes out 5/21!

GUP returns with Patrick taking Maisie and Grant on a European vacation to learn about love on the way to their dad’s wedding. The kids are grappling with their dad getting remarried and what that means for them as a family and Rowley tackles this topic with humor and wit like always! I adore Patrick and how Rowley is able to make him so funny while also tackling some deep topics. I really enjoyed some of the new characters as well such as the Launt (Lesbian Aunt).

I did wish there was a bit more character development for Livia, the new stepmom. However, that’s my only complaint! The ending was absolute perfection and my favorite part of the book. This is probably a 4.5 for me- such a sweet and cute book!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

I was so excited to see there was a sequel to the Guncle. I was dissapointed with the story this time it didn’t have the magic like the first one. It seemed rushed. I was hoping for a read like the first book. Would I read more of the Guncles adventures of course I would

A follow up to The Guncle, this novel has a slightly different tone but is just as enjoyable.

Fast forward 5 years and the Guncle is taking his niece and nephew to Europe to travel before ending up in Italy where their father is getting remarried. Patrick takes his duties seriously and tries to support Masie and Grant while they struggle with the idea of a new mother. Patrick has also broken up with his last boyfriend and is questioning everything about love.

Fans of the Guncle may not find this novel as funny, but is stands on it's own as a testament to love, loss, family and how to move forward.. Excellent settings and descriptions and a wonderful cast of new and old characters make this a delightful read.

The Guncle Abroad follows Patrick as he goes to care for Grant and Maisie after their mother has passed away. Rowley excellently balances the heavy stuff with the sit-com humor stuff in a way so that neither is overshadowed by the other. I'm also in love with the whole European trip (Patrick in Europe is such a mood). While I didn't feel this book was as strong as the original, I would whole-heartedly recommend this title to anyone craving more Guncle, and I sincerely hope that Rowley has a third book in store for us.

A perfect follow up to The Guncle, the same blend of humor, love, and those tinges of sadness that come with adulthood, with growing up and navigating change. I enjoy Rowley's writing for the laughter but I love it because his characters are witty, joyful, and compassionate and loving, and you can feel his genuine care for his stories, the characters and his readers.

The Guncle Abroad expands the Guncle universe a bit with clearly a setting abroad and a focus on Patrick helping his niece and nephew, now older and with all the adolescent/pre-adolescent needs and changes, navigate their father's impending marriage. Having helped Maisie and Grant deal with grief, can he help them learn about love? And what can Patrick learn for himself once more? Here come Guncle's rules for love and you know you will leave learning about love but maybe a few other things as well.

I cry with laughter, get misty eyed with the quietly impactful moments of sadness and growth. A great book once more.

Steve Rowley never fails to write heartwarming books filled with lovable characters and clever dialogue that jumps off the page. The Guncle Abroad brings back the captivating characters many readers fell in love with over the past three years. The same wit and charm come through this sequel that, brings back the joy of the first novel. This sequel will please fans of the original and cultivate new fans of The Guncle series.

Several years ago I stumbled upon Steven Rowley's book The Guncle and was blown away by the humor, love and life lessons of the book. The sequel, The Guncle Abroad, is the rare sequel that may even be better than the original. This book is wonderful. It is such a fun read and the same humor, love and life lessons shine through the story. I really hated for the book to end and can only hope the author is busily writing the next chapter in his character's lives.

I could read a thousand Guncle stories. Terribly witty, quietly devastating, and there’s a running joke about the hand jive that made me laugh out loud every single time. Now who wants to take me to Paris for hot chocolate?

Guncle Patrick is back for another adventure, and this time, it involves Lake Como and his brother Greg’s wedding. The first book was hilariously clever, and I felt the same after reading The Guncle Abroad. The relationship between Patrick and his niece and nephew is adorable, and I loved that he showed them the importance of love through his Guncle Love Language Rules this time. I loved feeling a part of the family. Rowley brilliantly combined his hilarious humor with relatable, emotionally charged topics while exploring European culture and history. The ending was perfect, and that letter Greg gave Mazie made me tear up. It is always hard to compete with the first book, but this sequel also stole my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin Group for giving me a copy of the book.

Reading The Guncle Abroad was like catching up with an old friend. Five years have passed since the Guncle. Patrick O'Hara is back to acting, starring in the sit-com Guncle Knows Best. Patrick's brother Greg announces he is getting married in Lake Como, Italy. This throws his children Grant and Maisie for a loop as they are not taking the news well and are conflicted about gaining a new mother, The Guncle steps in to save the day.

I loved the character development in each person since the previous novel. As always author Steven Rowley delivers such witty dialog and banter.

This was such a great uplifting story with many life lessons of love, family and acceptance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this great book.

4.5 stars

Thank you to Steven Rowley for the gift that is GUP! :) I am a huge fan of The Guncle and was ecstatic to receive this sequel. Emerging myself back in the world of GUP and his niblings was sooo good.

GUP was once again called up to help with his niblings, Maisie and Grant, when his brother Greg was about to remarry. The kids are not fans and enlist GUP to help stop the wedding. GUP has his own set of issues but takes the kids on a European adventure to teach them about the love languages that are not only beneficial for them but himself, too.

I was LOLing from the very beginning. GUP's sarcastic humor picks up right where we left off in The Guncle and we shared some tender moments with these characters, too.

Definitely recommending this to all my book loving friends.

Patrick, Grant, and Maisie are back and wow what a fun sequel! Picking up five years later, Patrick is closing in on 50, Grant is 11, Maisie is 14, and Greg is getting married! With Greg's big announcement comes another GUP, Grant and Maisie adventure, this time in Europe, and more Guncle rules this time referred to as "Guncle Love Languages". As everyone prepares for the wedding, we are reunited with the O'Hara family and meet some new characters including a new "launt". This was as perferct as a sequel could be. Steven Rowley's witty dialogue kept me laughing out loud throughout and the story's tender moments had me in tears in a way only great books can.

Thank you NetGalley amd Putnam Books for this ARC. If you loved The Guncle, you will love this sequel as well.

Rest assured, Patrick O’Hara is still the best Guncle out there. It’s five years after the life-changing summer he shared with his nephew and niece, Grant and Maisie. Grant’s lisp is all but gone, and Maisie is settling into teenage angst. When their father, Greg, announces his engagement, the children do not take to it well. Their Guncle comes to the rescue and whisks them around Europe before joining their family, and new Launt Clara (lesbian aunt, naturally), in Italy for the lavish wedding.

Patrick has found and lost love yet again. His career has experienced a reawakening, but he can’t get recent ex Emory off his mind. This summer, Grant and Maisie are teaching their Guncle just as much as he is teaching them.

This was a well-done sequel and holds true to the original. I adored getting to know all the characters again, and was just as much charmed by Patrick as always.

One thing - Sex and the City fans know Big is not Mr. Big’s last name. His name is John James Preston. That drove me crazy 😜

Thank you to @netgalley and @mrstevenrowley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review! I love The Guncle Abroad wholeheartedly!

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam & Steven Rowley for an ARC of The Guncle Abroad in exchange for an honest review.

Having absolutely loved The Guncle, I was so excited to see The Guncle Abroad and even more thrilled to receive a digital ARC for review.

Patrick's new adventure was just as amazing as his first, if not moreso! And we get introduced to a Launt this time. The showdowns between GUP & Launt were epic! I literally laughed out loud so much, Rowley knows how to perfectly combine comedy with a realistic heartfelt story. The Guncle series is the perfect medicine for a reading pick-me-up or to get a reader out of a slump. I love how much I smile while reading his work.

I desperately need these books to be turned into a sitcom, mini-series or movie(s), PLEASE!

In case it is not obvious, Rowley hit another homerun with The Guncle Abroad and I truly hope there are more to come for GUP!

5 Stars