The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley Summary

The Guncle Abroad follows Patrick O'Hara as he returns to his "guncle" (gay uncle) duties when his brother Greg announces plans to remarry in Italy. Set five years after the first book, Patrick travels to Lake Como with his now-teenage niece Maisie (14) and nephew Grant (11) for the wedding. While helping the kids understand love and adjust to their father's new relationship, Patrick juggles a groom with cold feet, family drama, and his own midlife crisis approaching 50 after breaking up with his boyfriend Emory.

Steven Rowley is a New York Times bestselling author known for his signature blend of humor and heart. Originally from Portland, Maine, he's written six novels including Lily and the Octopus, The Editor, and The Guncle, which won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. A graduate of Emerson College, Rowley worked as a freelance writer, newspaper columnist, and screenwriter before his breakthrough success. He currently resides in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, writer Byron Lane, and two rescue dogs.

The Guncle Abroad appeals to readers who enjoy heartfelt family dramadies with LGBTQ+ representation. Fans of Steven Rowley's previous work will love returning to Patrick's world, while newcomers seeking stories about blended families, grief, midlife reinvention, and unconventional family bonds will find it deeply relatable. It's perfect for readers who appreciate witty, character-driven narratives that balance humor with emotional depth, particularly those navigating life transitions or interested in stories about chosen family and the complexities of modern relationships.

The Guncle Abroad delivers Steven Rowley's signature emotional intelligence wrapped in sharp humor, making it a worthwhile read for both returning fans and newcomers. As an instant USA Today bestseller and Indie Next Pick, the sequel successfully expands Patrick's journey while exploring universal themes of love, family, and self-discovery at midlife. The Italian setting adds glamour to the heartfelt exploration of blended families, teenage rebellion, and second chances. Readers praise Rowley's ability to make you laugh and cry while addressing real issues around aging, identity, and belonging.

While The Guncle Abroad works as a standalone novel, reading the first book enriches the experience significantly. The original Guncle establishes Patrick's relationship with Maisie and Grant during their mother's passing and introduces key dynamics with brother Greg and ex-boyfriend Emory. However, Steven Rowley provides enough context about the five-year gap between books that new readers can follow the story. For maximum emotional impact and character development appreciation, starting with The Guncle offers fuller understanding of Patrick's growth journey and family relationships.

The Guncle Abroad explores:

• Family bonds and blended family dynamics as the children adjust to their father's remarriage after losing their mother.
• Midlife reinvention emerges through Patrick's approaching 50th birthday and career transitions.
• Love in its many forms—romantic, familial, and chosen family—drives the narrative as Patrick helps Maisie and Grant understand love while healing his own broken relationship with Emory.

Additional themes include grief's long-term effects, growing up versus staying young, and finding yourself through service to others despite personal turmoil.

The wedding at Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como becomes the backdrop for escalating family drama in The Guncle Abroad. Patrick manages his brother Greg's cold feet, sister Clara's inappropriate flirting with wedding guests, and growing rivalry with Palmina (the bride's lesbian aunt, dubbed the "launt"). The tension culminates in a disastrous rehearsal dinner that threatens the entire celebration. Throughout the Italian festivities, Patrick juggles teenage angst from Maisie and Grant while confronting his own relationship regrets, ultimately leading to personal revelations about commitment and family.

The Guncle Abroad concludes with Patrick and Emory's unexpected wedding, symbolizing Patrick's willingness to embrace commitment after spending the book helping others with love. This ending represents significant character growth as Patrick, who began the story single and resistant to settling down at 50, chooses vulnerability and partnership. The family's acceptance of change—both Greg's new marriage and Patrick's rekindled relationship—demonstrates collective healing. Steven Rowley leaves the future purposefully open-ended, suggesting that love manifests unexpectedly and life remains a journey of continuous growth.

In The Guncle Abroad, "launt" is Steven Rowley's clever portmanteau combining "lesbian" and "aunt" to describe Palmina, the bride Livia's sister. This character creates unexpected rivalry with Patrick as both compete for Maisie and Grant's affection during the Italian wedding festivities. The "launt" concept mirrors Patrick's own "guncle" identity, highlighting how LGBTQ+ family members often play special roles in children's lives. Palmina's presence challenges Patrick's position as the kids' primary non-parental confidant, forcing him to confront jealousy while recognizing that children benefit from multiple loving adult relationships.

Five years after their mother's death, Maisie has transformed into a rebellious 14-year-old struggling with typical teenage angst complicated by her father's remarriage. Grant, now 11, is described as a regular preteen with hands constantly glued to his game console. Both children resist their father Greg's new relationship with Livia, displaying reluctance to congratulate the couple without prompting. Their teenage moodiness and adjustment challenges require Patrick to employ different guncle strategies than the grief counseling he provided in the first book, as Steven Rowley explores how children's needs evolve through developmental stages.

While The Guncle Abroad doesn't focus as heavily on explicit "Guncle Rules" as the first book, Patrick O'Hara's philosophy centers on:

• honest communication,
• unconditional love,
• treating kids like capable humans.

His approach involves validating emotions while encouraging growth, using humor to diffuse tension, and modeling authenticity. Throughout the Italian wedding chaos, Patrick applies his guncle wisdom by helping Maisie and Grant process complex feelings about their father's remarriage, demonstrating that understanding love requires acknowledging its messy, imperfect nature alongside its beauty.

The Guncle Abroad shifts from grief to love as its central theme, while maintaining Steven Rowley's signature humor-heart balance. The first book focused on helping children process their mother's death in intimate Palm Springs settings, whereas the sequel tackles blended family adjustment against glamorous European backdrops. Patrick evolves from reluctant caretaker to intentional family anchor, now facing his own midlife reckoning. While The Guncle established relationships and the guncle concept, The Guncle Abroad explores how those bonds mature and adapt, offering broader scope with Lake Como's grandeur and more complex family dynamics including the bride's Italian relatives.