The Guncle Abroad Summary, Characters and Themes
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley is a heartfelt and humorous follow-up to The Guncle, centering around Patrick O’Hara, a fifty-year-old gay man who once again takes on the role of caretaker for his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant. This time, their journey takes them to Europe, where they navigate family dynamics, grief, and love.
As Patrick accompanies the children to his brother’s wedding in Italy, he reflects on his own life choices, tries to impart wisdom about love, and grapples with the complexities of growing older. This witty and touching story is a celebration of family, personal growth, and second chances.
Summary
Five years after the events of The Guncle, Patrick O’Hara, affectionately known as GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick), finds himself once again playing the role of caretaker for his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant.
Now teenagers, they are struggling to adjust to their father Greg’s decision to remarry after the passing of their mother, Sara, who was also Patrick’s best friend. Greg’s new fiancée, Livia, is an Italian heiress, and the wedding is set to take place at Lake Como, Italy.
Although the children are not thrilled about this, Patrick takes them under his wing for a cross-country adventure through Europe that begins in Paris and ends at the wedding.
Throughout the journey, Patrick tries to help the children process their emotions, particularly their mixed feelings about the wedding.
Maisie is the most resistant, displaying a stubborn refusal to accept Livia, despite occasional moments of liking her. She even asks Patrick to break up the wedding, an idea he gently counters by teaching the kids his own unique brand of “Guncle Love Languages.”
These lessons are intended to help them understand love, just as Patrick previously helped them navigate grief after their mother’s death.
While the children grapple with their feelings, Patrick has his own emotional challenges. He is recently single after breaking up with his much younger boyfriend, Emory, and struggles with the idea of growing older.
Patrick’s existential concerns about aging—highlighted by his inability to understand why he broke up with Emory—are a recurring theme as he juggles both his own insecurities and the needs of his family. The trip forces him to confront his fears of loneliness and loss while also reflecting on the nature of love, both familial and romantic.
When they arrive in Italy, the wedding preparations become chaotic. Greg is dealing with cold feet, Clara, Patrick’s sister, is causing drama by flirting with other guests, and Patrick finds himself in an unexpected rivalry with Livia’s charming sister, Palmina, a “gay aunt” who wins over Maisie and Grant with ease.
This rivalry plays out in humorous exchanges, especially when Palmina challenges Patrick’s wisdom and wit, making him feel increasingly insecure.
The climax of the story centers around the wedding’s rehearsal dinner, which devolves into a disaster. Patrick is left questioning whether he can salvage both the wedding and his own relationships.
In the end, the book is about rediscovering love after loss—whether through family, friends, or romance—and embracing life’s imperfections. Patrick, through his trademark humor and resilience, helps the children understand that love is not about replacing what was lost but cherishing the connections we continue to make.
The Guncle Abroad blends humor, heartache, and self-discovery, reminding readers that love, in all its forms, is worth fighting for—even in the midst of chaos.
Characters
Patrick O’Hara
Patrick O’Hara, or “GUP” (Gay Uncle Patrick), remains the heart of The Guncle Abroad. In this sequel, Patrick has grown in many ways since his initial time with his niece and nephew, but he is still grappling with issues of love, loss, and aging.
At fifty, Patrick is facing an existential crisis, made evident by his breakup with Emory, who is sixteen years his junior. Patrick is introspective, questioning his own desirability and compatibility as he enters the later stages of life.
His wisdom, humor, and heart are still present, but now they’re more tempered by his awareness of aging and the passage of time. Patrick’s ability to navigate emotional complexities is clear as he helps Maisie and Grant process their grief over their mother’s death while also navigating their conflicted feelings about their father’s impending remarriage.
His witty personality and penchant for doling out life advice in the form of “Guncle Rules” provide a humorous yet insightful lens through which he views the world. Yet, his self-awareness and moments of vulnerability—particularly concerning his loneliness, his fear of growing old, and his lingering feelings for Emory—make him a multi-dimensional, relatable character.
Patrick’s journey through Europe with his niece and nephew isn’t just a physical one. It is a metaphor for his emotional quest to rediscover love and connection after loss.
Maisie
Maisie, the teenage niece, is perhaps the most complex character in terms of her emotional depth and her difficulty in adjusting to her new reality. Five years after her mother’s death, Maisie is still struggling with grief, which manifests as resistance to her father’s remarriage to Livia.
Her attachment to her late mother, coupled with her desire to preserve her memory, leads to irrational behaviors, such as her fluctuating attitude toward Livia. She alternates between liking Livia and plotting to end her father’s wedding, which speaks to her emotional confusion and her deep-seated fear of change.
Maisie’s intellectual curiosity, represented by her love for reading authors like Stephen King and Agatha Christie, contrasts with her emotional immaturity. Her inconsistent feelings and her manipulative tendencies, particularly using Palmina to fuel Patrick’s insecurities, reflect her internal struggle.
She is still a child trying to understand adult emotions like grief, love, and the complex dynamics of family life. Patrick’s role in helping Maisie come to terms with love is crucial, as he tries to teach her that her father’s happiness does not erase her mother’s memory.
Grant
Grant, in contrast to Maisie, is a more laid-back and easygoing character, though he is equally affected by the changes in his family dynamic. Grant is largely passive, going along with what others say and do, and finds comfort in distractions like mobile phone games and gelato.
He is not as emotionally expressive or resistant as Maisie, but his silence and passivity are indicative of his own form of processing grief and uncertainty. While Maisie actively resists the wedding, Grant is more of an observer, trying to adjust to the new normal in his own quiet way.
Despite his passive nature, Grant’s loyalty to his family is clear. He loves spending time with Patrick, and while he does not vocalize his emotions as strongly as Maisie, it is evident that the loss of his mother and the changes in his father’s life affect him deeply.
Grant’s quiet presence is a reminder that children cope with grief and change in different ways, and not all forms of emotional expression are loud or overt.
Greg
Greg, Patrick’s brother and the father of Maisie and Grant, plays a more central role in this book as he prepares to remarry. Greg’s character arc is one of recovery and rebuilding.
After battling addiction and the death of his wife, Greg is ready to move on and start a new chapter with Livia, but his children’s resistance adds complexity to his situation. Greg’s decision to remarry highlights his desire for stability and happiness, but it also brings up unresolved feelings of guilt and grief.
His relationship with Patrick is layered with tension, as Patrick initially struggles to accept the idea of Greg moving on, especially given how close Patrick was to his late wife, Sarah. Greg’s confrontation with Patrick about living by his own advice reveals Greg’s growing frustration with his brother’s emotional avoidance.
Greg’s character is one of quiet resilience—he has fought his demons and is now focused on finding happiness for himself and his children. His conversations with Patrick are some of the most emotionally charged moments in the book, revealing the deep bond between the brothers, as well as the challenges of navigating family dynamics in the wake of trauma and recovery.
Clara
Clara, Patrick’s older sister, was initially portrayed as antagonistic in the first book, but in The Guncle Abroad, she has mellowed after her divorce. Clara’s character now represents a woman coming into her own after a difficult marriage, but her newfound liberation is tempered by a deep vulnerability.
Her divorce has left her with a sense of loneliness, and her previous controlling tendencies are softened as she seeks to rebuild her own life. In this book, Clara’s role is more comedic, often flirting with guests at the wedding and embracing her new single life with enthusiasm, but there’s an undercurrent of sadness and insecurity that lingers beneath her flirtatious exterior.
Clara’s relationship with Patrick has evolved since their conflict in the first book. Now, instead of being combative, she shares a deeper understanding and kinship with him.
Both siblings have been through emotional upheaval, and their shared experiences of grief, loss, and love make their bond stronger in this installment.
Palmina
Palmina, Livia’s sister, is a new character in this book and serves as a foil to Patrick. She is chic, confident, and effortlessly charming, quickly winning over Maisie and Grant.
Palmina’s presence triggers Patrick’s insecurities, as he feels threatened by her influence over the children. Palmina’s sharp wit and sophisticated demeanor make her a formidable opponent, especially when she jokes about stealing hearts as her love language.
Patrick’s rivalry with her is tinged with both admiration and jealousy. Her ability to outwit him in social situations is a source of both comedy and tension in the book.
Despite her intimidating exterior, Palmina is not portrayed as malicious. Instead, she adds depth to the dynamic between Patrick and the kids, offering an alternative form of mentorship that challenges Patrick’s role in their lives.
Palmina’s character serves as a mirror for Patrick, reflecting his own fears of being replaced, not only as the kids’ primary guardian but also as a source of wisdom and love.
Livia
Livia, Greg’s fiancée, is a central figure in the emotional conflict of the novel, though she remains somewhat enigmatic. Livia is kind and caring, genuinely wanting to build a relationship with Greg’s children, but her presence is a constant reminder to Maisie and Grant that their mother is gone.
Livia’s character is defined by her patience and understanding, as she navigates the emotional landmines set by the children’s grief and resistance. However, her character does not have as much depth or screen time as others, which makes her more of a symbol of the family’s future than a fully fleshed-out individual.
Overall, Livia’s role in the story is to embody the new beginning that Greg seeks. Her character represents change, stability, and the possibility of happiness after loss, though she struggles to gain the acceptance of Greg’s children.
Themes
Reconstructing Identity and Self-Perception Through Familial Responsibility
In The Guncle Abroad, one of the primary themes explored is the intricate process of reconstructing identity through familial responsibilities. These responsibilities are juxtaposed against the protagonist’s individual journey toward self-realization.
Patrick O’Hara’s return to his “guncle duties” after a significant gap is not merely about stepping back into his role as the fun uncle. It’s about rediscovering himself within the relational dynamics of his family.
Five years after the events of the first book, Patrick is forced to revisit his role as an emotional caregiver for Maisie and Grant, now teenagers grappling with a new phase of grief, love, and personal growth. Patrick’s guidance of his niece and nephew’s emotional development directly mirrors his own struggles with love, identity, and purpose.
His internal conflict, exacerbated by his breakup with Emory and the looming milestone of turning fifty, symbolizes how caregiving roles can force individuals to confront their own unresolved emotional burdens. Patrick’s journey becomes one of balancing the identities of a carefree uncle and a man grappling with age, loss, and the possibility of reclaiming personal happiness.
His realization that one cannot fully help others process emotions without being honest about one’s own emotional wounds serves as a powerful metaphor. It underscores the interconnectedness of self-perception and familial roles.
Navigating Emotional Contradictions: Grief, Love, and Renewal
The duality of emotions in The Guncle Abroad—particularly grief intertwined with love—creates a poignant thematic exploration of how one navigates emotional contradictions in the face of personal and familial change. Patrick faces the delicate task of teaching Maisie and Grant to embrace the complexity of love after loss, all while trying to reconcile his own complicated feelings about love.
Patrick’s unresolved grief over the death of his best friend, Sara, and his former partner, Joe, casts a shadow over his attempt to guide the kids through the wedding of their father, Greg, to an Italian woman, Livia. Love, in this context, is not a single-faceted, joyful emotion but rather a tangled knot of nostalgia, resistance, fear, and hope.
This is further complicated by the children’s mission to sabotage the wedding, highlighting how unresolved grief often presents itself as resistance to change. Maisie, in particular, exhibits emotional inconsistency, torn between her love for the new family dynamic and her loyalty to her late mother.
Patrick’s journey parallels that of the children—he, too, resists the idea of moving on emotionally. Whether through rekindling a romantic relationship or accepting the next phase of his life, the novel highlights the complexity of navigating grief and love simultaneously.
The thematic tension between grief and love underscores the broader exploration of emotional renewal. Moving forward, the novel suggests, is not about forgetting the past but about learning to live with its presence in new contexts.
The Societal Expectations of Aging, Romantic Viability, and the Quest for Self-Validation
One of the novel’s more intricate themes lies in its examination of aging and its impact on self-perception. This is particularly evident in Patrick’s struggle with romantic relationships and societal expectations.
Patrick, at fifty, is sharply aware of the societal pressures and personal insecurities that come with aging, especially in a youth-centric world that prizes novelty and appearance over experience. His breakup with Emory reflects his internalized fears about aging and romantic viability.
Patrick’s fear of not being desirable, both romantically and professionally, mirrors a broader societal fear of obsolescence that individuals in middle age often grapple with. His reluctance to date someone much younger or older than himself speaks to a societal critique of how ageism warps one’s perception of romantic worth.
However, this fear of being “too old” extends beyond romantic domains. Patrick’s career as an actor, which he relaunches, symbolizes this struggle, as does his journey with Maisie and Grant.
Ultimately, Patrick’s narrative challenges the idea that aging diminishes a person’s worth. Instead, it suggests that aging can be a catalyst for self-reflection and rediscovery.
Familial Relationships as a Microcosm of Broader Social Dynamics: Power, Control, and Vulnerability
In The Guncle Abroad, familial relationships serve as a microcosm for the broader social dynamics of power, control, and vulnerability. Patrick’s role as a caretaker to his niece and nephew is not just about providing guidance and support but also reveals underlying power structures within the family.
The novel portrays Patrick as both empowered and vulnerable. On one hand, he is trusted with the emotional well-being of the children, a responsibility that grants him a certain level of authority. On the other hand, this role also exposes his vulnerabilities—his own emotional wounds and uncertainties.
Greg’s wedding acts as a catalyst for examining how family members jockey for emotional control and influence. Maisie’s emotional manipulation of Patrick, using his insecurities about Palmina, underscores how family dynamics often mirror broader societal power struggles.
The inclusion of Palmina, the “soon-to-be-launt,” adds another dimension to these power plays. Her effortless charm stands in direct contrast to Patrick’s self-consciousness, showing how power within families is often exerted through emotional, rather than overt, means.
This theme resonates with the novel’s exploration of vulnerability—both Patrick’s and the children’s. It demonstrates that familial relationships, though complex, offer profound opportunities for growth and healing.
Cultural Displacement and the Search for Belonging in a Transnational Context
The Guncle Abroad takes Patrick, Maisie, and Grant on a European tour, using this geographical displacement as a metaphor for the characters’ internal journeys toward self-discovery and belonging. The setting of Europe—steeped in cultural history—creates a rich backdrop for the characters to confront their personal dislocations.
For Patrick, this trip is more than just a physical journey. It represents an emotional pilgrimage where he must reconcile his past, present, and future identities.
As an American navigating European culture, Patrick’s role as an outsider mirrors his broader sense of displacement within his own life. Similarly, Maisie and Grant’s resistance to their father’s remarriage can be seen as a reaction to their own feelings of dislocation.
The novel explores how transnational settings serve to heighten the characters’ awareness of their own search for belonging. Ultimately, belonging is shown to be less about geography or familial roots and more about forging emotional connections wherever one might be.