The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

A Five-Star Book Review

Collective squeals of delight sounded across the book universe when Steven Rowley announced he was bringing back GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick), Maisie, and Grant, in a new book this year. The Guncle Abroad, released May 2024, did not disappoint. There was laughter; there were tears; there was Prosecco.

About The Guncle Abroad (No Spoilers)

It’s been five years since that fateful Palm Springs summer when his niece and nephew invaded Patrick O’Hara’s post-Hollywood, quiet, but grief-filled existence. Now, the kids are facing a new challenge, their father’s impending marriage to Livia, a glamorous Italian marchesa. Maisie and Grant are less than thrilled about the nuptials and turn to Patrick for help while their dad asks him to reason with them. Ever the dramatic, Patrick decides that the best solution is to take Maisie and Grant on a European tour to learn about love languages and GUP’s rules on love. When they arrive at Lake Como for the wedding, not all of Patrick’s work pays off in the way he’d hoped, and shenanigans ensue.

What I Enjoyed about The Guncle Abroad

Reading The Guncle Abroad was like returning to a family reunion that you actually want to attend. Here are a few of the reasons I loved this book.

• Patrick: Our hero, our GUP, our snarky uncle with a cocktail. Patrick loves with all his heart even when he’s making a pun or sarcastic comment. We see more of his grief how it’s impacted his relationships in The Guncle Abroad, and that’s the depth that I love.
• Maisie and Grant: Is Maisie a bratty teenager now? Yes. Is Grant too inquisitive for his own good? Yes. Are they what give Patrick purpose? Also, yes. As they’ve aged into this story, you see their personalities become individualized, and you see how losing their mother Sara continues to impact them.
• The other characters: Mr. Rowley brings a host of characters to Italy this time. My favorite was Aunt Clara, Patrick and Greg’s sister. While so uptight in The Guncle, Clara begins to flourish in this book, seeking out her own glamour and fun.
• The message: Grief continues to be a theme in The Guncle Abroad. It couldn’t not be there, as Sara, Greg’s wife and the kids’s mom as well as Patrick’s best friend, has now been gone five years. The initial shock of loss has faded, but the pain and absence is still there. Mr. Rowley handles it carefully and shows that grief is unique for every character.

My Final Thoughts about The Guncle Abroad

My hope is that Mr. Rowley continues to bless us with more Guncle stories. Patrick and his loved ones are a special group, and I want to follow their journeys.