Review: The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
The Guncle will forever be a favorite book of mine. It’s one of those stories that was so visceral of an experience when I read it, I can’t help but recommend it to everyone I know. It was a personal book for me and when I learned there was a sequel, I was thrilled to revisit these characters. I thought this was very well done for a sequel. It opened up a lot of feelings for me, some of them anger that the characters were being put through these things! I felt indignant and defensive of Sara’s memory. But then I realized that a writer’s job isn’t to craft perfect characters; it’s to craft real characters.
While the language is witty and the banter is fun, at it’s heart, this is a story of moving forward with grief. Grief isn’t something we leave behind, it walks with us every moment of our lives. So while I was sad and frustrated by parts, I also know it was necessary. By the end I was grinning ear to ear.
Synopsis:
“Patrick O’Hara is back.
It’s been five years since his summer as his niece Maisie and nephew Grant’s caretaker after their mother’s passing. The kids are back in Connecticut with their dad, and Patrick has relocated to New York to remain close by and relaunch his dormant acting career. After the run of his second successful sit-com comes to a close, Patrick feels on top of the world . . . professionally. But some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single again after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has a family to lean on. Until that family needs to again lean on him.
When Patrick's brother, Greg, announces he’s getting remarried in Italy, Maisie and Grant are not thrilled. Patrick feels drawn to take the two back under his wing. As they travel through Europe on their way to the wedding, Patrick tries his best to help them understand love, much as he once helped them comprehend grief. But when they arrive in Italy, Patrick is overextended managing a groom with cold feet; his sister, Clara, flirting with guests left and right; a growing rivalry with the kids’ charming soon-to-be-launt (lesbian aunt), and two moody young teens trying to adjust to a new normal, all culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner.
Can Patrick save the day? Will teaching the kids about love help him repair his own love life? Can the change of scenery help Patrick come to terms with finally growing up?
Gracing the page with his signature blend of humor and heart, Steven Rowley charms with a beloved story about the complicated bonds of family, love, and what it takes to rediscover yourself, even at the ripe age of fifty.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
Returning to These Characters—The Guncle is one of my favorite books of all time. I loved the characters so much and the story. It left an indelible mark on me so I was THRILLED when this arrived in my inbox.
The Tone, Writing—I love Steven Rowley’s writing. It’s sharp and witty but full of little wisdoms that borrow into your heart.
The Expressions of Grief—One of the things I love about the books is this series is how it explores grief from so many different angles. Children losing a parent, a spouse losing their parent, a best friend losing their other half. It’s quiet in it’s complexity and makes you laugh out loud while also tear up.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
2nd Act Pacing—Things in the 2nd Act got a little funny for me. It felt a little choppy as we got to the “main events.”
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: N/A Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
brief ention of Harry Potter/JK Rowling, grief, ableist language