The Celebrants

A Novel

By: Steven Rowley

Narrated by: Steven Rowley

New York Times Bestseller
A TODAY Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick

A Big Chill for our times, celebrating decades-long friendships and promises—especially to ourselves—by the bestselling and beloved author of The Guncle.

It’s been a minute—or five years—since Jordan Vargas last saw his college friends, and twenty-eight years since their graduation from Berkeley when their adult lives officially began. Now Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle find themselves at the brink of a new decade, with all the responsibilities of adulthood, yet no closer to having their lives figured out. Though not for a lack of trying. Over the years they’ve reunited in Big Sur to honor a decades-old pact to throw each other living “funerals,” celebrations to remind themselves that life is worth living—that their lives mean something, to one another if not to themselves.

But this reunion is different. They’re not gathered as they were to bolster Marielle as her marriage crumbled, to lift Naomi after her parents died, or to intervene when Craig pleaded guilty to art fraud. This time, Jordan is sitting on a secret that will upend their pact.

A deeply honest tribute to the growing pains of selfhood and the people who keep us going, coupled with Steven Rowley’s signature humor and heart, The Celebrants is a moving tale about the false invincibility of youth and the beautiful ways in which friendship helps us celebrate our lives, even amid the deepest challenges of living.

©2023 Steven Rowley (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Wonderful in every way!

My love for Mr. Rowley’s books keeps growing. His narration is superb. I laughed and ugly cried through the entire book.

Very Disappointed

I absolutely loved the Guncle but I found this story long and boring. I did not feel connected to any of the characters or their stories. I actually think I slept through parts but did not miss out on anything. I am very happy that so many other people like it!

3.5 Stars....Friends Forever, no Matter What

I loved this authors other book, The Gunkle, and was looking forward to this book. This was good, characters likable / relatable. A group of friends make a pact to celebrate each other via a living funeral so that they would always know they mattered. The friendships ebb and flow and ultimately endure.

Enjoyed

I really enjoyed this book. The story was something very different and I enjoyed the characters and how it was written.

Leave nothing unsaid

Such a good story about the importance of friendship, love, and appreciation. Easy read and enjoyable listen!

Loved this book so much!

I loved this book so much. Each of the 5 characters was special in their own way. I wanted to be friends with all of them. Steven Rowley is a master of humor and tenderness intertwined.

Another Rowley Winner

Rowley has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved The Guncle and was equally affected by The Celebrants. Rowley’s narration was equally as wonderful.

I turned 55 yesterday

I turned 55 on June 1, 2023. I spent most of the day listening to this beautiful book. it is now June 2nd and I'm just having a good cry while writing this review.
What a wonderful gift. The story is masterfully written with humor and humanity woven in equally. Each character feels like someone you know, someone you are, and someone you want to be.
This is a book I want to share. I will carry its message with me always. The only other book I can say that about is THE COLOR PURPLE.
The additional bright spot of THE CELEBRANTS is the performance. Having the author read his words is an experience I won't soon forget. I'm not sure anyone else could have done it justice.

Wishing I could be friends with the celebrants!

What a lovely book!! I love it when a gifted author reads his own work; it’s the icing on the cake because you know you’re getting the intended nuances along with the narrative. Plenty of interesting hijinks enlighten and enliven the poignant story line. I’m taking the book’s message to heart, and I’m guessing others will, too; highly recommend.

I can’t stand these people

I almost never give up on books, but from the get-goi wasn’t into this one. The characters had no warmth between them. Their friendships felt empty - they didn’t even seem to like each other. Everything felt corny and contrived, like the book was made of drywall instead of wood. What finally made me put it down, after two hours of listening, was one of many tiny errors that distracted me from the story too easily. The last straw was when a character misquoted “where the wild things are.” That just pushed me over the edge. I almost felt disrespected as a reader, that he cared so little. Obviously I’m in the minority here, the guy obviously has lots of fans. But he’s not for me.