Looooved The Guncle and really enjoyed being back in this world! It wasn’t perfect and definitely wasn’t needed as a book but it was full of adventure and heart.

While it was very nice to catch up with my favorite characters 5 years after the events in "The Guncle", this one just didn't have the same flow or emotional pull. I found it a bit slow and it just took me a long time to get through. I liked the new characters that were added, and I do hope there's another sequel in the future to see how they are all fairing!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

To start, I loved "The Guncle," which came out at a time when we all deperately needed a feel good book. It was cute and quirky and wholesome and just a delightful journey. So I acknowledge that I came into the sequel with heightened expectations.

The sequel sees Patrick traveling across Europe with Maisie and Grant en route to their dad's/Patrick's brother's wedding in Italy. Maisie is opposed to the marriage and wants Patrick to intervene. He takes this as his cue to teach the kids about love as they travel through France, Austria, and Italy. But Patrick is also coping with his own feelings about the demise of his relationship with Emory. And as they arrive in Lake Como for the wedding, Patrick has to face all kinds of hurdles, including a new nemesis = the kids' soon-to-be-launt (Lesbian Aunt), a divorced sister who brings an unexpected date, and Greg's uncertainty about whether he's doing the right thing for his kids. Will the wedding happen, and if so, will everyone come to terms with it?

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was just missing some of the magic from the original and almost seemed satirical at times. But it still was good fun and made me want to travel to Italy.

Overall: 4/5

I really missed these characters, so was very excited to pick up the second installment. While I preferred the original storyline better, I loved the character development and the love shared between these characters.

The Guncle was a 5 star read for me and something about this follow up fell flat. It was a story that didn't hold as much magic for the reader and I didn't feel the special connection between Patrick and the kids this time. Everyone is older and that's really the only plot point.

I loved loved loved The Guncle so I was so excited for this sequel! In a lot of ways, The Guncle Abroad felt like coming home. It was filled with Rowley's signature quick wit and humor combined with authentic heart-felt moments. I'm so looking forward to seeing these characters on screen! If you loved The Guncle, The Guncle Abroad will feel like a hug from an old friend.

I mean, if you loved the Guncle, you will love the Guncle Abroad. Despite some cheeky comments about sequels, this is more of what we all loved the first time around. The kids are older and snarkier, the Guncle is older and grumpier, and everyone is more lovable. And there is a Launt involved, the guncle's lesbian aunt nemesis, who charms everyone including the reader.

Read if you love:
*hilarious family dynamics
*mentorship & life lessons through a funny lens
*love after loss
*coming of age books told from an adult's perspective
*second chance romance

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 .This was such a cute book! I’m so glad we got to revisit this family again, even after the first book got a happy ending. We all know happy endings don’t always last, so coming back to Patrick, Maisie, and Grant as they’re all growing up was so sweet. If you read the first one, you’ll hopefully love this book too! If you haven’t read the first book, what are you waiting for?!

I adore Steven Rowley and was beyond excited to re-join The Guncle on his latest story. This book had the same banter and humor that endeared me to Patrick in book one and it felt good to sink bank into his characters. I will admit I was not as emotionally invested or moved in book two, but I enjoyed it just as much as book one. So glad I got to continue on with these characters for a bit longer.

This book was super cute! I don't think I would have loved it if I hadn't loved The Guncle so much (AKA don't read this as a standalone), but because I already knew and loved these characters I had a blast reading it.

Was it as good as the first book? No, not at all. But did it have me in my feels and smiling ear to ear? Absolutely.

I loved that this book felt like a vacation, and I loved that we got to see these characters years after the first book and check in on them. I thought the pacing was a little off, but it didn't bother me too much since I read the book quickly.

If Steven Rowley keeps writing Guncle books, I'll keep reading them - simple as that!

How special to get more of one my favorite books. The Guncle Abroad does everything the Guncle did so wonderfully, and I loved the roamnce added into this one. I could read so many books about these kids and GUP. LOVED!

Oh to be back with Patrick but this time abroad! What fun this book was! It was the perfect follow up to The Guncle. There were shenanigans, witty one liners, GUP moments and of course lots of depth and heart!
While I adored the original, I actually loved this one slightly more. The European adventures were visually descriptive and transported me right alongside Patrick, Maisie, and Grant. I loved the premise of a big wedding on Lake Como as well. Which allowed for even more interesting characters!
Rowley is able to flawlessly balance the humor and lightheartedness with emotional and heavier content.
I will forever be a fan of his and will be recommending this book (along with The Guncle) to everyone I know!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Putnam for my #gifted ebook!

In The Guncle Abroad, we reunite with Gay Uncle Patrick, affectionately known as GUP, five years after his transformative summer with his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. When Patrick's brother, Greg, announces his upcoming wedding in Italy, Maisie and Grant are less than enthusiastic. Sensing their apprehension, Patrick embarks with them on a journey through iconic cities and picturesque landscapes, guiding them through the complexities of love, just as he once helped them navigate the depths of grief. Their journey is filled with laughter, tears, and the magic of discovery, and once again, he ends up learning from them as much as they learn from him.

Just as the first book, The Guncle Abroad captured my heart from the very first page. Every page was filled with warmth and authenticity. Steven Rowley's storytelling is as captivating as ever, mixing lessons on love, laughter, and self-discovery with exciting European experiences.

I adore these characters. Massie and Grant's infectious energy and GUP's trademark wit made me laugh out loud and cry with them as they navigated the highs and lows of their European escapade. And now the kids have a LAUNT (lesbian aunt)!

The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad are more than just stories— they are a celebration of life, love, and the unbreakable bonds of family. These two books hold a special place in my heart, and I know they will stay with me for years to come. If you're looking for a heartfelt tale that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between, you have to read this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam for this advance copy of The Guncle Abroad in exchange for this review. The Guncle was one of my favorite reads when I read it, and I was so excited to see what Patrick has been up to.

I’m glad I waited to tandem read this with the audio, because the author does a wonderful job of bringing the setting to life - this one didn’t hit has hard for me because the first third read a bit like a European travel guide, and I’ve never had the opportunity to visit some of those places, so it felt a bit info-dumpy at first, but listening to it made it very enjoyable. I really enjoyed how the story picked up and we really got into the plot. I definitely enjoyed the banter and the writing, as always.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this review! The Guncle Abroad is out now!

I think it was a mistake to read both Guncle books back to back. I may have enjoyed this one better if I hadn’t gotten tired of the dynamics. I also hated that everyone was saying that the kids’ stepmom was going to be their mom. Those are two different roles, and I wish there had been a better discussion about how no one could replace their mother.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley. Thank you to #netgalley and Steven Rowley for the digital ARC.

Rowley does it again! After his first-rate, five star novel The Guncle, he brings us The Guncle Abroad.

In The Guncle, we dealt with the death of Greg's wife, and author Steven Rowley (along with main character Partick O'Hara) masterfully guided us through that grief. Spring forward 5 years, and set in Italy, Gup, Gay Uncle Patrick strikes again! However, this time Maisie is 14 years old and Grant is 11, and Patrick's brother Greg is getting remarried. Most of the family is still reeling with the death of Sarah (Patrick's best friend, Greg's first wife, and Maisie and Grant's mother). How will the family accept Greg's new wife, Livia?

Rowley guides us through all the fun of a destination wedding in Italy. We are reunited with Patrick and Greg's sister Clara. We revisit memories of Patrick's first love Joe, and ex Emery. Will Patrick let go and discover a new love in Italy? Also, we are introduced to Launt, the lesbian aunt. Rowley has a way with words that will have you laughing out loud one moment and blinking back tears the next. His witty writing is full of so much fun and banter. I can't get enough! Gup is one of my most favorite characters, he's fifty years old now and trying to figure out love for himself. The Guncle Abroad is touching, heartwarming, clever, and simply so much fun!

Sadly, i could not get into this book. No worries, didn’t books satisfy different people! That’s the beauty of reading.

A great follow up to the first book. Patrick finds himself re-examining what love is as he takes his niece and nephew around Europe for the summer. The humor and heartwarming moments were well balanced and I appreciated that the kids aged in their language and mannerisms. I think the only thing that kept the book from being a full five stars for me was the flow. There were a lot of settings changes (which makes sense as it was a vacation book). However the plot also had clear sections and time jumps too, which unfortunately made it feel like several small books in one at some points. It didn’t overshadow the enjoyment for me, but it is something to consider before reading.

Definitely pick up this book if you enjoyed “The Guncle” and I think you’ll enjoy it as you relax this summer.

How in the world did I not post my review for this epic, laugh out loud, finding yourself tale?!

The Guncle Abroad was, somehow, even more touching to my heart than The Guncle. The children have aged, their hearts have changed with the grief, their perspectives on life have changed with time, and well, their Guncle may not hold all the answers. Except, he's got a few more life lessons for them, all in the hopes that his brother may have his second chance at love. Patrick is feeling just as wrecked by love as his dear niece and nephew are, but his love for them outweighs his hardened heart. Like the kids, he's aged too, and he's not feeling too kind towards what that may mean for him as an actor. Is he past his prime?

Together, Patrick and the kids discover the language of love through a funny and heartwarming tour of Europe and a wedding, with a LAUNT no less, that teaches all of them how to let love in again. When I tell you I sobbed and laughed, sometimes at the same time, I am not lying. Steven Rowley knows how to tell a story that takes you out of your world and into the pages, one that is somehow both relatable and realistic, but also an escape. It's another beautiful piece of work.

GUP has returned, along with the kids, each a bit older and more knowledgeable. This time, he's journeying through Europe. The rules (GUNCLE Rule) still apply, yet now it's all for the sake of love. GUP's mission is to escort his niece and nephew to Europe for his father's imminent wedding, an event neither child is enthusiastic about, each for their own reasons. The ending was unsuspecting and sweet. A cute overall story about families' bonds that can actually strengthen with the right support.