The second verse is not the same as the first . . . but it is also funny, warm, and delightful. Read my full review here.

Today—May 21—is publication day!

#NetGalley #PenguinGroupPutnam #TheGuncleAbroad ( )

The Publisher Says: From the nationally bestselling author of The Guncle comes the much-anticipated sequel, in which Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties…at a big, family wedding in Lake Como, Italy.

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.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Teenagers. Yikes! Maisie's dad is getting remarried to a Very Glamourous Italian, which is NOT a way to a bookish teen girl's heart. Grant is eleven, doesn't really have a lot of interest in the wedding parts, but will—he thinks—definitely prefer his life without an Italian marchesa for a stepmom, since Maisie's churned those waters. The gruesome twosome turn to their truly belovèd Guncle Patrick, their Dad's big brother, for help stopping what they see as impending disaster.

Guncle ("gay uncle" if you need a refresher) has, in agreeing to "help" them, got a plan. The issue with plans is that teenagers, with their fully adult-strength emotions and complete absence of perspective, most often see through plans and get...stroppy...when they feel manipulated.

Clever Guncle...take the kids on a European tour, since he's already finishing up a film role in London, and talk to them...remember "Guncle Rules"? now they're "Love Languages"...while working through their fears about their Dad moving on from their Mom's early death. It will, not coincidentally, help him move on from his recent breakup with Emory, whom I feel sure we've all forgotten from The Guncle. At any rate, it's a welcome distraction from the entertainment business for a successful...again...sitcom...again...star, and a man about to turn the Big Five-Oh. Yep, the guy who found being loudly reminded by his loving niece thay he was forty-three tantamount to a hate crime is a half-century old.

Does his wiliness now exceed his willingness to be there for his family? Close-run thing if you ask me.

Well, Rowley's still got his humor vein open. I loved this bit:

“Sequels are either too bloated, too stuffed with B-team actors or characters or Ewoks—things that weren’t good enough for the original. A cash grab to profit off something that was probably a fluke in the first place.”

Cassie glanced at the surrounding patrons, perhaps wishing she could dine with one of them.

“The only time it maybe works—and I mean the only time—is when there wasn’t an ending that was entirely happy, when not everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Otherwise you have to undo someone’s happy ending to create more drama for your characters, and no one likes a happy ending undone. And what stories these days don’t have happy endings?”

Thus Patrick to his long-suffering agent...and Author Rowley tipping his hat to the audience. It's not the first time I've been here, so pay me the respect of telling me you're aware of that fact. I appreciated it, and was simultaneously amused by it. It joins the host of amusing moments that this whirlwind tour of Europe that must be completed in time for the destination wedding on Lake Como...shades of Patrick Dennis and Around the World with Auntie Mame, another sequel that has to undo a happy ending...and you get a fun, funny summertime escape in book form. That is a wonderful lot.

Of course, this is not the first time we've met these characters, so there's a lost sparkle that can't be recreated no matter what one does. In its place is a luster, the warm burnished glow from a fine silver samovar, one that always spills its tea warmed to perfection into your perfectly prepared cup. Sweet...the return and humanization of oldest sister Clara in her latest reinvention of self...bitter, Patrick's jealousy of the marchesa's lesbian sister who woos her way into Maisie and Grant's affections...fun, the comical nightmare rehearsal dinner like something from The Philadelphia Story, only...um...earthier, and honestly de trop. Tropes. Well polished, gleaming tropes that most story-loving readers want to read because they are familiar and dear and relatable. What story about a wedding that deserves one's attention at all doesn't feature some concatenation of mishaps?

The utter charm of how the world rights itself in romantic fiction is a source of delight.

Come be delighted. (But dear GOD, the w-verbing has got to stop!) ( )

3.5 Stars

The Guncle is back and is still in fine form!

Again, I don’t want to go into too many details. What I will say is that often, sequels have an upward climb to maintain that glowing first feeling of the original and while completely understandable, the older Maisie and Grant weren’t as captivating as they were 5 years younger. I completely know that Rowley depicted these characters realistically but sullen and antagonistic with an uphill battle to try and really engage these two dulled the shine for me.

However, Rowley brings back Patrick’s trademark wit and snark (especially deployed against a new nemesis), and I was continuously charmed by his world weary view, his apt observations of love which he too, needs to embrace and employ.

The one constant in life is always change, and this continued commentary on grief was a poignant reminder of its effect on how people heal and evolve without those they loved dearly.

Overall, honestly, I never expected to get another book about Patrick and company, but if Rowley deigns to give us more, I’ll be here to read their next adventure! Cheers to that wonderful ending!

Thank you to the author and GP Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review ( )

I was not as enamored with this installment as I was with the first installment of this series? mini-series? I'm not sure what it is or is going to be!

While The Guncle was a book about growth, emotions, and having faith in oneself, I found this book to be one of selfishness. Although I can understand some of it on Maisies' side (her age gives her a tiny break from me), everyone else just seemed more worried about themselves and filled with deep introspection at all times.

The first book reminded me a lot of Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade, and in my opinion, that is what made the book ideal. This book just got bogged down in all of the "poor me" garbage. Yes, we did have an interesting HEA, but I wish I hadn't had to be as depressed as I was to get to it.

I recommend this book, but not as wholeheartedly as I recommend the first one.

*ARC supplied by the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, the author, and Edelweiss. My thanks. ( )

Patrick aka Guncle is back again. This time we get familiar with his brother and sister. Patrick's brother, Greg is getting married to his fiancé, Livia. It will be a family affair with his sister, Clara coming for the wedding. This means that it is up to Patrick to do is uncle duties again and watch Grant and Maisie.

I did not realize just how much I missed Patrick, Grant, and Maisie until this book. Maisie and Grant are more grown up, so they are not as easily charmed by Patrick's words of wisdom, which are a lot from movie/tv show references. Yet, these three share a special bond with each other.

It was nice getting to know Maisie and Grant's father. He is a good father. Clara is a hoot. She and Patrick share their sense of humor. So, you can imagine the fun times they shared and then you add into the mix, Livia's lesbian sister, Palmina. Fun all around. I absolutely loved every moment of this book. ( )