The Book:
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Published: May 21, 2024 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Date read: January 19, 2024
The Characters:
Patrick
Maisie and Grant
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The Plot (from Goodreads):
Patrick O’Hara is finally in a league of his own…professionally. Inspired by his stint as Grant and Maisie’s caretaker after their mother’s passing, Patrick has “un-stalled” his acting career with sit-com, Guncle Knows Best . Still, some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single and lonely after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has family, right?
When his brother Greg announces his big, second wedding in Lake Como, Italy, Patrick feels pulled toward Grant and Maisie and flies to Europe to attend the lavish event, only to butt heads with a newfound Launt (Lesbian Aunt), curb his sister Clara from flirting with guests, and desperately restore himself to the favored relative status in the eyes of the kids, as they struggle to adjust to a new normal. But is it Patrick’s job to save the day? Or is simply celebrating love enough to quell the family chaos?
Gracing the page with his signature blend of humor and heart, Steven Rowley delivers the long-awaited sequel to a beloved story, all about the complicated bonds of family, love, and what it takes to rediscover yourself, even at the ripe age of fifty.
My Review:
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thank you to @putnambooks for this @netgalley ARC! This was one of my most anticipated releases this summer.
The Guncle Abroad was just as delightful as I hoped it would be. It takes all the clever wit of The Guncle and changes the setting to many gorgeous European cities! Instead of doling out Guncle Rules, this time Patrick is lecturing the kids on Guncle Love Languages.
Steven Rowley handles grief so well, and I say that as someone who lost her mom around the age Maisie and Grant were. The original Guncle will always hold the most special place in my heart. It makes a big difference to have someone like Patrick in your life.
Sequels with the same characters are hard, and I really appreciated this book for the opportunity to revisit the people we loved so much in the first book. The ending especially felt like the Guncle we know and love!
Has Steven Rowley always used this many semicolons? I listened to audiobooks of all his previous novels, so I didn’t notice! Not a critique, just unique and funny I didn’t know.
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