I love these characters. Nothing tops the first Guncle book, which was just a delightful story that came at the perfect time during the pandemic, but revisiting them years into the future was so fun!

Oh my gosh, I LOVED returning to the world of GUP! I adore Patrick and it was so fun to see Maisie and Grant as older kiddos. Patrick’s wit and banter keeps me coming back for me. I love seeing him grow and show up for his niece and nephew. Absolutely adored this one!

Patrick is in charge of his niece Maisie and nephew Grant on a whirlwind European trip which will end in the wedding of Gregory and his fiancé. Maisie and Grant are apprehensive of their dad's new marriage and are trying to convince Patrick to help them make sure it doesn't happen. Patrick takes them across Europe as he tries to show them love and work through their grief. Overall, a heartwarming sequel with a great setting, set five years after the first book. Some of the characters did seem a little type casted, but the heart was still there.

Wedding season is upon us and even the Guncle needs to travel ...
The Guncle Abroad takes us back into Steve Rowley's Guncle world but five years have passed since the event in The Guncle and Patrick's brother Greg has fallen in love again and is preparing his marriage to an Italian Marquesa right on the shore of Lake Como but his kids Maisie and Grant, a teen and a tween by now, are not on board. This puts the spotlight on Patrick and his relationship with the kids yet again as he takes the kids on a whirlwind tour of Europe to take their minds off the impending nuptials and teach them a thing or two about love and family.
If you liked the Guncle I am sure you will like this one as well. This book is clever, witty and deeply emotional as Maisie and Grant are grappling with their dad getting remarried. Steve Rowley is a master at the art of balancing the light and heavy, deeply philosophical thought and witty banter. This was fun to read!

After loving the Guncle I was so excited to see that there was a sequel coming out and it didn’t disappoint. While it didn’t quite capture the magic of the first one (I honestly wasn’t expecting it to) it still was a very enjoyable read with amazing settings. The Guncle was such a special book that I think any book trying to follow it was going to fall a little short. The fantastic setting helped make up for the parts that fell a little short for me. This one relied heavily on stereotypes more so than the first book which contributed some to my rating. It was nice to get more depth from some of these characters since we already knew so many of them.

The ending was so special and wonderful. Reading it brought tears to my eyes and I felt like Rowley did a good job of wrapping things up. I would have loved to see a little bit more of what happened after, but the ending was still great.

This was a 4.75 overall for me.

The Guncle Abroad was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it did not disappoint! It was great to reconnect with GUP, Maisie, and Grant!

Patrick and family are back for another adventure, this time with a wedding and travel! Patrick's brother, Greg, is getting married to an Italian social lite. His kids, Maisie and Grant are not happy about the upcoming nuptials. They have both grown since they spent the summer with Patrick. Patrick takes it upon himself to convince his niece and nephew what love is while they want him to talk to Greg and get the wedding called off. Hijinks ensue when Patrick becomes involved in a rivalry with the kids' soon to be launt (lesbian aunt) and his sister having her own romance, left and right,

I felt that this one relayed to heavy on stereotypes. However, I loved the traveling that Patrick and the kids do. I also loved Patrick's humor that was still just as sharp this go around.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

🎧 THE GUNCLE ABROAD by Steven Rowley
⭐️⭐️✨⭐️

Genre: contemporary fiction
Did I cry: yeah honestly
Published in 2024

💭: after absolutely adoring THE GUNCLE, i was so so excited to pick this up and continue following Patrick and his niece and nephew.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. What i didn’t love about this was in-part made up for by the setting, the ending & the writing. Galavanting around Europe in the days leading up to an extravagant Italian wedding… cmon. Nothing beats that. The ending really was so special and wonderful and brought (many) tears to my eyes. I kind of wish we got more out of the ending in terms of like what happened after, but nonetheless it was still great. The writing had that same GUNCLE charm but with a little more depth since we knew the characters fairly well at this point. Each character had their own character arc which was so special to see after two books, and that really came to clarity by the end.

I think that Patrick’s character in this book was sort of abrasive in terms of being slightly offensive and entitled. He was made to be more naive and aloof in THE GUNCLE whereas this one, his behavior and dialogue felt a lot more intentionally malicious at times which felt kinda icky. This book didn’t have that same magic that THE GUNCLE did, but I feel that any succeeding book might have had difficulty with that. I definitely think it’s worth the read, but try to separate it from THE GUNCLE to avoid heightened expectations!

PS — the audio was wonderful and read by the author himself🙌🏼

4.5/5 stars
Delightful once again!
Thank you Steven Rowley for sharing the lives and loves of Patrick, Maisie, Grant, and their families with all of us!

What a treat! This book is fun, engaging, and heartfelt. If you liked The Guncle, this is a must read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early access!

What a lovely follow-up to The Guncle! Picking up 5 years later, The Guncle Abroad is again the story of GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) and his adorable niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, this time as they travel across Europe to attend a wedding. Along the way, Patrick teaches the children lessons in fashion, chocolate, The Sound of Music, and family dynamics. There are meltdowns, reconciliations, a sibling-in-law-to-be rivalry with a Launt (Lesbian Aunt), and, most importantly, the Love Languages of GUP.

As Patrick imparts nuggets of wisdom to Maisie, Grant, and anyone else who will listen, he travels a path of self-discovery and acceptance. I cannot even express how much I love both The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad. I recommend reading these books in order, and I can imagine myself reading and listening to them again and again. As in The Guncle, The Guncle Abroad audiobook is read by the author himself, and this version is not to be missed.

Thank you to author Steven Rowley, Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved it so much!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and author for the ARC!

After loving The Guncle I was thrilled to read this! Of note, I did reread The Guncle prior to starting this. There is a time gap between the Guncle and The Guncle Abroad so the characters do grow up. As always though, Patrick, Maisie, and Grant bring hilariously heartfelt vibes. I love that they grew up but I was actually a little sad. It did bring new character issues for Guncle Patrick to address - especially Maisie who is not in elementary school any more. The Humor in this story is so on par and wholesome. I also couldn't help but laugh at the JK Rowling call out. Patrick and his quotes have me snorting constantly throughout the book, the queer pop culture references were superb, and Mr. Steven Rowley I am BEGGING YOU to write a book specifically featuring the "LAUNT". This book was all about the characters - and you also get Clara and Greg showing up from The Guncle and their relationship with Patrick was the cherry on top to wrapping up the adventures abroad.

Steven Rowley's "The Guncle Abroad" takes readers on a heartfelt journey filled with laughter, tears, and profound moments of connection. Building on the beloved characters introduced in his earlier novel "The Guncle," Rowley crafts a sequel that is both a delightful continuation and a standalone exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the healing power of love.

At the center of the story is Patrick, affectionately known as GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick), who is still reeling from the loss of his partner and navigating his role as a surrogate parent to his niece and nephew. When circumstances lead Patrick and the children to embark on a summer adventure abroad, Rowley expertly captures the challenges and joys of familial relationships in a foreign setting.

The novel shines in its portrayal of Patrick's emotional journey. His witty humor and vulnerability resonate deeply as he grapples with his own grief while striving to be a source of stability and guidance for the children. Through Patrick's perspective, Rowley deftly explores themes of resilience and the transformative power of embracing life's unexpected twists.

Rowley's writing is both tender and humorous, balancing poignant moments with laugh-out-loud anecdotes. The interactions between Patrick and the children are heartwarming and authentic, showcasing the evolving dynamics of their makeshift family. The supporting characters add richness to the narrative, each contributing to Patrick's growth and offering insights into the complexities of love and loss.

While "The Guncle Abroad" is a sequel, it stands on its own merits, welcoming new readers into Patrick's world while providing satisfying depth for those familiar with the characters from "The Guncle." The novel's pacing is engaging, with each chapter unveiling layers of emotion and revelation.

In conclusion, "The Guncle Abroad" is a poignant and uplifting novel that celebrates the bonds of family and the transformative power of love. Steven Rowley's storytelling prowess shines brightly, delivering a narrative that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. For readers seeking a touching exploration of grief, resilience, and the joy of second chances, "The Guncle Abroad" is a must-read.

The Guncle was one of my favorite reads, so I was understandably excited for The Guncle Abroad. While it hit all of the points, I found myself wanting more this time around. I wanted to see more of Patrick interacting with the kids and less of him being in his head. There were so many little plots happening in this that it felt a little slow at times and overwhelming at others. It was still a fun read and I highly recommend for any other Guncle fans out there.

THE GUNCLE ABROAD picked up where THE GUNCLE left off with our lovable GUP, Patrick. I’ve never looked forward to a sequel more than this, and I can happily say it did not disappoint.

Did it live up to THE GUNCLE hype? Yes. Was it as lovable as the first? Also, yes. But did I love it as much as the first? No, but it was still an incredibly heart warming story.

I’m usually not one to compare two books in a series, but it’s really hard to do given the fact that these books are so heartwarming and pull at your heartstrings. I really like how Rowley interweaves so many underlying plot lines with the main focus of THE GUNCLE ABROAD being about love and the family you create.

But the biggest takeaway is once again (like THE GUNCLE), grief. In this story, we learn where each character is along their grief journey and how it affects everyone differently. Bottom line is to accept where people are, even if you’re grieving the same person and you’re at a different stage.

Biggest thanks to NETGALLEY and PENGUIN GROUP for this e-ARC.

Content warnings: grief, death of a parent

I absolutely loved The Guncle and Steven Rowley's earlier books, but The Uncle Abroad was a miss to me. I enjoyed visiting the various European stops on their trip, but other than that I felt this writing was forced and just trying to capitalize on it's predecessor's success.

I loved this so so much. So great to be back with old friends! The Guncle was one of my favorite books so this was highly anticipated. It did not disappoint!

4 fun stars
The Guncle Abroad is a fun summer romp without having to pack your passport. I became acquainted with GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) in Rowley’s first book. Everyone is 5 years older, dad is getting married, so Patrick takes teens Maisie and Grant on a European vacation before the Italian wedding.

A few serious moments, minor drama, delicious chocolate – a family who learns and loves. What’s not to love? I enjoyed the characters and the humor. If you’re looking for a dramatic plot, this is not it. If you sometimes need something light and a bit sweet, The Guncle Abroad will satisfy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While this didn’t pack quite the poignant emotional punch of The Guncle, it was really nice getting to catch back up with this lovable cast of characters and see where they have been in the intervening years. A nice light summer read.

Thank you Steven Rowley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

LOVED The Guncle. Liked this sequel. Is it the travel storyline that dropped me down in stars? The lack of growth and continuing endearment of the characters? I can't put a full finger on it, but as much as I went into this title *wanting* to love it, I just wasn't as emotionally invested in it or laughing out loud like I was with the first one. Will I still read (or especially *listen*) to anything by Steven Rowley? Absolutely.