Book ~ "The Guncle Abroad" (2024) Steven Rowley

From Goodreads ~ 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?

Patrick and Sara were best friends in university and she ended up marrying his brother, Greg, and they had two children, Maisie and Grant. When she died, Patrick had Maisie and Grant stay with him in Palm Springs for a few months to help them grieve. 

It's five years later and Patrick has moved to New York to be closer to them and revives his acting career. He is nearing 50 and conscious of getting old so recently broke up with his younger boyfriend, Emory, because he didn't think Emory would want to be with such an old man.

Greg is getting married to Livia, a rich Italian. Maisie and Grant (especially Maisie) are having a hard time with this and Patrick offers to take them on a mini vacation across Europe teaching them lessons on their way to the wedding in Italy. Once they arrive, Maisie really puts the pressure on Patrick to break up Greg and Livia but Patrick isn't sure this is the right thing to do.

This is the sequel to The Guncle (Guncle = gay uncle),which I read last year and it was cute. I liked Patrick's manner and his interactions with the Maisie and Grant. It is written in third person perspective with the focus Patrick. As a head's up, there is swearing.