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Take Me with You
A poignant, hilarious, and wholly original love story, from the
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Celebrants
and winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
College professor Jesse del Ruth has been abandoned. Thirty years into their relationship, Jesse witnesses his husband Norman get out of bed late one night, walk into their Joshua Tree backyard, step into a strange beam of light and . . . disappear. How could Norman desert him after a lifetime together? Where did he go? And, most confoundingly . . . will he ever return? Jesse knew they were longing for something, both feeling stuck. But had Norman been so stuck that his only option was to leave Jesse behind?
As Jesse struggles to understand Norman’s disappearance, he tries to piece together his new reality. Is he expected to wait patiently for a partner who may never come back? Or is this an opportunity for reinvention? He is, after all, alone for the first time in his adult life. Should he return to the classroom? Put in a pool? Get a dog? Call his estranged mother? What does it mean to be alone when you’ve always been one half of a whole?
When Norman’s sister Lally lands on Jesse’s doorstep with an urgent request, Norman’s absence becomes even more profound. Add to Jesse’s grief and confusion a conspiracy-theorist neighbor, a strange man following him, and suspicions that he may have had a hand in Norman’s disappearance, and Jesse starts to crack under the pressure. With his husband missing and the world closing in, all eyes are on Jesse. Before he can understand how Norman could leave it all behind, Jesse must confront what it means to stay.
In Take Me With You, Steven Rowley brings his resonant wit and emotional insight to an epic love story–an exploration of the forces that draw two people into the same orbit and the gravity that threatens to pull them apart.
College professor Jesse del Ruth has been abandoned. Thirty years into their relationship, Jesse witnesses his husband Norman get out of bed late one night, walk into their Joshua Tree backyard, step into a strange beam of light and . . . disappear. How could Norman desert him after a lifetime together? Where did he go? And, most confoundingly . . . will he ever return? Jesse knew they were longing for something, both feeling stuck. But had Norman been so stuck that his only option was to leave Jesse behind?
As Jesse struggles to understand Norman’s disappearance, he tries to piece together his new reality. Is he expected to wait patiently for a partner who may never come back? Or is this an opportunity for reinvention? He is, after all, alone for the first time in his adult life. Should he return to the classroom? Put in a pool? Get a dog? Call his estranged mother? What does it mean to be alone when you’ve always been one half of a whole?
When Norman’s sister Lally lands on Jesse’s doorstep with an urgent request, Norman’s absence becomes even more profound. Add to Jesse’s grief and confusion a conspiracy-theorist neighbor, a strange man following him, and suspicions that he may have had a hand in Norman’s disappearance, and Jesse starts to crack under the pressure. With his husband missing and the world closing in, all eyes are on Jesse. Before he can understand how Norman could leave it all behind, Jesse must confront what it means to stay.
In Take Me With You, Steven Rowley brings his resonant wit and emotional insight to an epic love story–an exploration of the forces that draw two people into the same orbit and the gravity that threatens to pull them apart.
Audible Audio
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Steven Rowley
10 books5,808 followersSteven Rowley is the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR and Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2019, and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and semi-finalist for The Thurber Prize in American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Rowley lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband, the writer Byron Lane.
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May 31, 2026
Life can go so fast. And the older you get, the faster it feels. Before you know it, another year has passed. Take Me With You is about that feeling, that life slips away. About three people in their forties and fifties who think their lives are fulfilling, yet still carry this itch that something is stuck. Their feeling is so recognizable.
Jesse and Norman had an impossibly cute meet-cute. And from that moment, Jesse said, “I go where you go.” And he did. For thirty years he has been in the passenger seat, in Joshua Tree, the desert. In the house Norman built, or actually rebuilt. Stuck in his life as a writer.
Norman’s sister Lally is scared. Scared to love anyone fully again after their brother died. Her whole adult life she has been running from commitment. And now another brother is gone, and maybe she wants a kid, and…
And then Norman just disappears from the face of the earth. Literally. He steps into a beam of light and poof, he is gone.
This story is about living. About listening to your heart. About not losing yourself. About how relationships grow and change, how we grow and change. About finding our way back to ourselves and to each other, even when it feels impossible.
It is never too late to adjust. To say, “I would like to drive sometimes too.” To surrender to love. To change, even though you think you can’t anymore at a certain age. And as someone who got all those pop-culture references because well, yeah… age I loved the U2 titles for the different parts of the story. They fit so well!
Thank you, Putnam Books and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC!
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Jesse and Norman had an impossibly cute meet-cute. And from that moment, Jesse said, “I go where you go.” And he did. For thirty years he has been in the passenger seat, in Joshua Tree, the desert. In the house Norman built, or actually rebuilt. Stuck in his life as a writer.
Norman’s sister Lally is scared. Scared to love anyone fully again after their brother died. Her whole adult life she has been running from commitment. And now another brother is gone, and maybe she wants a kid, and…
And then Norman just disappears from the face of the earth. Literally. He steps into a beam of light and poof, he is gone.
This story is about living. About listening to your heart. About not losing yourself. About how relationships grow and change, how we grow and change. About finding our way back to ourselves and to each other, even when it feels impossible.
It is never too late to adjust. To say, “I would like to drive sometimes too.” To surrender to love. To change, even though you think you can’t anymore at a certain age. And as someone who got all those pop-culture references because well, yeah… age I loved the U2 titles for the different parts of the story. They fit so well!
Thank you, Putnam Books and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
March 19, 2026
If you’ve ever read any of Steven Rowley’s past books, with The Guncle being the most popular, you know he blends his signature wit, rapid fire pop culture references that readers under 40 may miss, and genuine heartbreak into unique storylines.
*Take Me With You*, releasing on 5.19.26, is no different in that regard. However, in terms of plot, it stands apart from anything he has written before. Jesse del Ruth, a community college professor and former award-winning author, has been with his husband Norman, an architect, for more than thirty years. One night, in their distinctive Joshua Tree home, a home that becomes a character in its own right, Jesse feels a tremor, sees a bright light, and watches Norman disappear into a mysterious beam. Was it aliens? Was it an unconventional way of ending a marriage? Jesse has no idea, but he sets out to discover what happened to his husband.
Along the way, we meet a variety of memorable characters, including Jesse’s students, affectionately referred to as Snickers and Mountain Dew, Randall the conspiracy theorist who urges Jesse to dig deep, quite literally, to uncover the truth, Norman’s flight attendant sister Lally, who carries her own secrets, and Jesse’s distant mother. Each character showcases Rowley’s talent for weaving humor into everyday conversations.
“I’m not a tuna,” Norman objected.
“Obviously,” Jesse said. “But we’re going to get you checked out to your albacore.”
“He was graying in his beard and carried a briefcase, looking not unlike one of the accountants they drag onstage at the Oscars.”
*Take Me With You* is not simply a story about the possible alien abduction of a loved one. It is a thoughtful exploration of how relationships evolve with age. Is a long partnership still worth fighting for? How happy are we after decades together? Through Jesse and Norman’s past, Lally’s true connection to the couple, and the reckoning of parental relationships and long-held truths, Rowley digs into these questions with heart and nuance.
There are a few clear opinions expressed about the current political climate, which I felt was neither here nor there and it will be interesting to see how audiences interpret the abduction storyline.
“I saw on TV now it’s trendy for liberals to cut family members out of their lives for having a difference of opinion.”
By the end, I appreciated how Rowley reinforces the idea that love, no matter how long it takes to grow or how long it lasts, has a way of bringing us back to one another if we are truly meant to be.
*Take Me With You*, releasing on 5.19.26, is no different in that regard. However, in terms of plot, it stands apart from anything he has written before. Jesse del Ruth, a community college professor and former award-winning author, has been with his husband Norman, an architect, for more than thirty years. One night, in their distinctive Joshua Tree home, a home that becomes a character in its own right, Jesse feels a tremor, sees a bright light, and watches Norman disappear into a mysterious beam. Was it aliens? Was it an unconventional way of ending a marriage? Jesse has no idea, but he sets out to discover what happened to his husband.
Along the way, we meet a variety of memorable characters, including Jesse’s students, affectionately referred to as Snickers and Mountain Dew, Randall the conspiracy theorist who urges Jesse to dig deep, quite literally, to uncover the truth, Norman’s flight attendant sister Lally, who carries her own secrets, and Jesse’s distant mother. Each character showcases Rowley’s talent for weaving humor into everyday conversations.
“I’m not a tuna,” Norman objected.
“Obviously,” Jesse said. “But we’re going to get you checked out to your albacore.”
“He was graying in his beard and carried a briefcase, looking not unlike one of the accountants they drag onstage at the Oscars.”
*Take Me With You* is not simply a story about the possible alien abduction of a loved one. It is a thoughtful exploration of how relationships evolve with age. Is a long partnership still worth fighting for? How happy are we after decades together? Through Jesse and Norman’s past, Lally’s true connection to the couple, and the reckoning of parental relationships and long-held truths, Rowley digs into these questions with heart and nuance.
There are a few clear opinions expressed about the current political climate, which I felt was neither here nor there and it will be interesting to see how audiences interpret the abduction storyline.
“I saw on TV now it’s trendy for liberals to cut family members out of their lives for having a difference of opinion.”
By the end, I appreciated how Rowley reinforces the idea that love, no matter how long it takes to grow or how long it lasts, has a way of bringing us back to one another if we are truly meant to be.
June 4, 2026
3.5 stars. Not sure what I thought about this book to be honest.
Jesse del Ruth is an author and now a community college professor. He and his husband Norman have been together for over 30 years, and most recently haven't been seeing eye to eye on many things. One night, the two see a bright light, and Norman steps into the light and ascends--into a spacecraft?--and disappears. Jesse doesn't know what to do, and to make matters more complicated Norman's sister Lally shows up asking for something Jesse isn't sure he wants to give. As Jesse begins to rethink and reimagine his life, he has to confront why Norman chose to leave and what it means for Jesse to be on his own now.
While I liked this book and especially liked the humor, I didn't quite "get" the alien subtext. I did, however, resonate a lot with the aspects of grief and and Jesse's examination of his life with Norman and the choices they both made. I really liked the ending though, that elevated the book and made it so much more meaningful.
If you're feeling stuck in midlife and wrestling with getting older and what that means with relationships, you'll definitely identify with this story. It's told with a lot of humor and heart.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Jesse del Ruth is an author and now a community college professor. He and his husband Norman have been together for over 30 years, and most recently haven't been seeing eye to eye on many things. One night, the two see a bright light, and Norman steps into the light and ascends--into a spacecraft?--and disappears. Jesse doesn't know what to do, and to make matters more complicated Norman's sister Lally shows up asking for something Jesse isn't sure he wants to give. As Jesse begins to rethink and reimagine his life, he has to confront why Norman chose to leave and what it means for Jesse to be on his own now.
While I liked this book and especially liked the humor, I didn't quite "get" the alien subtext. I did, however, resonate a lot with the aspects of grief and and Jesse's examination of his life with Norman and the choices they both made. I really liked the ending though, that elevated the book and made it so much more meaningful.
If you're feeling stuck in midlife and wrestling with getting older and what that means with relationships, you'll definitely identify with this story. It's told with a lot of humor and heart.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 11, 2026
Steven Rowley and his husband, Byron Lane are both auto-read authors for me, so I was excited to receive this ARC.
This book is a lot different from other Steven Rowley books, but that isn’t a bad thing.
I think that it says something when an author leaves their comfort zone and incorporates other genres into their writing.
We have three main characters in the book:
Jesse, who is an author and college professor
Norman, an architect
Lally, a flight attendant and Norman’s sister
Jesse and Norman have been together for three decades and recently bought and remodeled a house in Joshua Tree.
Norman had been talking about an app (no, not one of the typical apps you’d probably think about in a gay novel) and the light associated with it.
Suddenly one night he walks into their backyard and disappears into this bright light from above.
First off, I love the cover of this book that shows a beautiful desert sunset.
I also loved that one of the main characters was a flight attendant.
Based on small details that I picked up on in Lally’s chapters, I could tell that Rowley definitely interviewed a real FA prior to writing the book.
While I don’t know that I’d put this into the mystery category, it definitely had a mysterious feel.
Where the heck is Norman, and will he ever return?!
Like all of his novels, this one had both funny and poignant moments.
I found all of the characters to be likable (I even warmed up to Gail towards the end).
There were some parts of this book where I briefly wondered where things were going, but it always got back on track, and most importantly, I was happy with the ending.
I haven’t read anything by Steven Rowley that I didn’t consider to be an enjoyable read.
This was definitely enjoyable, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as The Guncle and The Celebrants.
Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and especially Steven Rowley for providing me with an eARC to review!
This book is a lot different from other Steven Rowley books, but that isn’t a bad thing.
I think that it says something when an author leaves their comfort zone and incorporates other genres into their writing.
We have three main characters in the book:
Jesse, who is an author and college professor
Norman, an architect
Lally, a flight attendant and Norman’s sister
Jesse and Norman have been together for three decades and recently bought and remodeled a house in Joshua Tree.
Norman had been talking about an app (no, not one of the typical apps you’d probably think about in a gay novel) and the light associated with it.
Suddenly one night he walks into their backyard and disappears into this bright light from above.
First off, I love the cover of this book that shows a beautiful desert sunset.
I also loved that one of the main characters was a flight attendant.
Based on small details that I picked up on in Lally’s chapters, I could tell that Rowley definitely interviewed a real FA prior to writing the book.
While I don’t know that I’d put this into the mystery category, it definitely had a mysterious feel.
Where the heck is Norman, and will he ever return?!
Like all of his novels, this one had both funny and poignant moments.
I found all of the characters to be likable (I even warmed up to Gail towards the end).
There were some parts of this book where I briefly wondered where things were going, but it always got back on track, and most importantly, I was happy with the ending.
I haven’t read anything by Steven Rowley that I didn’t consider to be an enjoyable read.
This was definitely enjoyable, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as The Guncle and The Celebrants.
Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and especially Steven Rowley for providing me with an eARC to review!
June 7, 2026
unfortunately this one didn’t hit for me :((( if it wasn’t for the good audio narration, i likely would have DNF… but i NEEDED to know what happened to Norman and why he disappeared lol.
this book felt different from his others and that’s not necessarily a bad thing but i personally liked THE GUNCLE / GUNCLE ABROAD and THE CELEBRANTS much more. they were funnier and a bit more “on track.” this book kept taking random turns and really lost me for most of the middle. and i wish i laughed more!!! i laughed so much with the others (esp THE GUNCLE series).
the last 1/4th grabbed me again, but i’m not entirely sure what to make of the ending reveal 🤔 that said, this could be good to discuss with others or a book club for that reason.
what i did enjoy about this story was the power of love and how it proved that no matter what, love can help bring you back to the people you cherish most. and love truly can conquer all and help lead to forgiveness.
this will be forgettable for me long term, but he’s still an autobuy author for me. i personally find his other work to be better than this one, but this one is my favorite cover 📖
this book felt different from his others and that’s not necessarily a bad thing but i personally liked THE GUNCLE / GUNCLE ABROAD and THE CELEBRANTS much more. they were funnier and a bit more “on track.” this book kept taking random turns and really lost me for most of the middle. and i wish i laughed more!!! i laughed so much with the others (esp THE GUNCLE series).
the last 1/4th grabbed me again, but i’m not entirely sure what to make of the ending reveal 🤔 that said, this could be good to discuss with others or a book club for that reason.
what i did enjoy about this story was the power of love and how it proved that no matter what, love can help bring you back to the people you cherish most. and love truly can conquer all and help lead to forgiveness.
this will be forgettable for me long term, but he’s still an autobuy author for me. i personally find his other work to be better than this one, but this one is my favorite cover 📖
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5
Take me with you is a very charming book, it is different from everything I've read from Steven Rowley while maintaining his writing that I simply adore.
This book is about a man that wakes up to his husband leaving him, not in the traditional sense but he just vanished in a beam of light. We see how that changed him, he needs to relearn how to live his life without his partner of 30 years, which is a very difficult thing to do when he was the center of it.
We also see Norman's(the disappearing man) sister, who is trying to find him and also maybe discovered she wants to be a mother and the time is running for her too.
Going in I was bewitched, this is such a cool concept and as it went on and I caught what the meaning actually was it became even better. This is a book about change and living your life to the fullest, choosing your own happiness because in the end that's all you have.
I absolutely loved it, it's definitely worth your time and I would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC.
Take me with you is a very charming book, it is different from everything I've read from Steven Rowley while maintaining his writing that I simply adore.
This book is about a man that wakes up to his husband leaving him, not in the traditional sense but he just vanished in a beam of light. We see how that changed him, he needs to relearn how to live his life without his partner of 30 years, which is a very difficult thing to do when he was the center of it.
We also see Norman's(the disappearing man) sister, who is trying to find him and also maybe discovered she wants to be a mother and the time is running for her too.
Going in I was bewitched, this is such a cool concept and as it went on and I caught what the meaning actually was it became even better. This is a book about change and living your life to the fullest, choosing your own happiness because in the end that's all you have.
I absolutely loved it, it's definitely worth your time and I would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC.
June 2, 2026
A heartfelt and unusual story that explores love, loss, and the uncertainty that follows when life changes without warning. When Jesse witnesses his husband Norman disappear under mysterious circumstances, he is left trying to navigate a future he never expected. The novel blends humor, grief, and self reflection, creating a thoughtful character driven narrative. While I appreciated the themes and emotional intentions behind the story, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some of the larger emotional developments seemed to happen off the page, making it harder to fully connect with every part of the journey.
The characters were the strongest aspect of the book for me. Jesse, Norman, and Norman's sister Lally all brought warmth and personality to the story, and I especially enjoyed watching Jesse and Lally grow throughout the novel. Rowley’s signature wit shines through in many of the interactions, and there are plenty of touching moments mixed with the humor. The Joshua Tree setting added charm, while the mysterious element surrounding Norman's disappearance gave the story a unique atmosphere. However, I would have liked more time spent developing certain relationships and showing the characters' growth rather than hearing about it after the fact.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't my favorite book by Steven Rowley. His writing remains engaging, thoughtful, and often funny, yet this story didn't leave the same lasting impact on me as some of his previous novels. I admired the messages about love, resilience, and finding yourself after loss, even if I never fully connected with every narrative choice. Readers who enjoy reflective, character focused stories with a touch of the unexpected will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The characters were the strongest aspect of the book for me. Jesse, Norman, and Norman's sister Lally all brought warmth and personality to the story, and I especially enjoyed watching Jesse and Lally grow throughout the novel. Rowley’s signature wit shines through in many of the interactions, and there are plenty of touching moments mixed with the humor. The Joshua Tree setting added charm, while the mysterious element surrounding Norman's disappearance gave the story a unique atmosphere. However, I would have liked more time spent developing certain relationships and showing the characters' growth rather than hearing about it after the fact.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't my favorite book by Steven Rowley. His writing remains engaging, thoughtful, and often funny, yet this story didn't leave the same lasting impact on me as some of his previous novels. I admired the messages about love, resilience, and finding yourself after loss, even if I never fully connected with every narrative choice. Readers who enjoy reflective, character focused stories with a touch of the unexpected will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 25, 2026
4 stars - love the Joshua Tree references, and what this book said about long-term relationships
January 20, 2026
I think I have read and loved all of Steven Rowley’s books and was really looking forward to this one. Super sad to say that I did not connect with this one. I finished it last night and 24 hours later I am still trying to figure it out.
Jesse and Norman are a midlife married couple. Their initial passions have long since simmered down and daily annoyances seem to take over their relationship. Then one night Norman disappears into a bright light in the sky and Jesse is left to pick up the pieces.
At first I wondered if the alien abduction was a metaphor for death (much like Lily’s octopus). But it later became apparent this was not the case. Then I wondered if this was all just about how relationships change and how we can’t afford to lose ourselves to a relationship.
In the year after Norman’s departure Jesse seems to figure out more of who he is (as opposed to being Norman’s husband) which leads to a few turning points in the months after.
The story line with the neighbor and the sister falling for the private investigator never seemed to be fully developed and honestly the whole thing required too much suspension of disbelief for me.
I am sure I am just not the intended audience for this book and will still read everything Mr. Rowley writes. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC.
Jesse and Norman are a midlife married couple. Their initial passions have long since simmered down and daily annoyances seem to take over their relationship. Then one night Norman disappears into a bright light in the sky and Jesse is left to pick up the pieces.
At first I wondered if the alien abduction was a metaphor for death (much like Lily’s octopus). But it later became apparent this was not the case. Then I wondered if this was all just about how relationships change and how we can’t afford to lose ourselves to a relationship.
In the year after Norman’s departure Jesse seems to figure out more of who he is (as opposed to being Norman’s husband) which leads to a few turning points in the months after.
The story line with the neighbor and the sister falling for the private investigator never seemed to be fully developed and honestly the whole thing required too much suspension of disbelief for me.
I am sure I am just not the intended audience for this book and will still read everything Mr. Rowley writes. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC.
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
I reach for Steven Rowley's books when I need something that will mend my heart. His characters tend to stay on my mind after I've finished reading their stories. I'm excited to get to know the ones in Take Me With You. It follows Jesse, a college professor who seeks to not just investigate but understand his husband Norman's disappearance. As far as Jesse remembers, Norman stepped into a beam of light and was gone. Even if that really happened and it not a product of his stress-addled spiral, why did he leave Jesse behind? —Andy Minshew
I reach for Steven Rowley's books when I need something that will mend my heart. His characters tend to stay on my mind after I've finished reading their stories. I'm excited to get to know the ones in Take Me With You. It follows Jesse, a college professor who seeks to not just investigate but understand his husband Norman's disappearance. As far as Jesse remembers, Norman stepped into a beam of light and was gone. Even if that really happened and it not a product of his stress-addled spiral, why did he leave Jesse behind? —Andy Minshew
2026
November 14, 2025Pride TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons
May 20, 2026
Because he did not want to be a visitor in this strange and curious life. It no longer exhausted him like it once had. He wanted desperately what attracted him to the light in the first place. He wanted to be part of a larger world.
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Jesse del Ruth’s husband of 30 years, Norman, may be sucked up into a beam of light and disappear in the early pages of this book – but this isn’t a book about aliens. Instead, it’s a story about how we can both lose and find ourselves, and our partners, in our relationships, using a possible alien abduction as a metaphor…which certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “needing space.” It’s a strange way to frame the book, and probably only a writer as talented as Steven Rowley could even attempt to pull it off, especially considering no real answers or explanations are provided.
Something was missing for me with this story, even aside from the lack of resolution re: the aliens. I liked Take Me With You well enough when I was reading it, but I never had the urge to rush back to it when I wasn’t – which is why it took me more than a week to finish it. The characters didn’t grab me, the structure was choppy, and it didn’t feel as witty and warm as Rowley’s previous novels. The relationship insights felt obvious and superficial; although I certainly appreciated the book's themes, I didn’t come away moved or with the urge to think more deeply about my own relationships.
But still, there is an undeniable magic to Rowley’s writing, and that will always keep me coming back to his books. Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for the early reading opportunity.
May 20, 2026
Take Me with You is such a beautiful story about how sometimes spouses, siblings and family can get lost in all the minutia life throws at them and forget that once upon a time before life became difficult, it was the strength of leaning on those who we love which can somehow help solve any problems. But sometimes it just might take a problem out of this world to put life back into perspective.
Jesse is a college professor and Norman an architect. Married, they met and fell in love over thirty years ago. Norman is a bit older than Jesse. Married and living in Joshua Tree they seem to have gotten into a rut. Both are bored, snippy and a bit sarcastic towards each other. And Jesse is now beginning to feel Norman's age from all those years ago.
And then Norman leaves.
In the most peculiar way. One night Jesse wakes up to find Norman in the backyard staring up at a bright light. Jesse yells to Norman to not go. But Norman looks back at Jesse and goes into the light leaving Jesse alone.
Bewildered and knowing he can't tell anyone what he saw as they would put him in a hospital, he must now handle all the responsibility in their lives as he waits and hopes for Norman's return. In the meantime, Norman's sister Lally a flight attendant comes around not only looking for Norman, but also to ask them for a favor. As Jesse tries to hide the fact that Norman is clearly nowhere to be found, he begins to become angrier at Norman for going to...well he doesn't know.
Jesse begins to change while he waits for Norman's (hopeful) return. He becomes friends with their neighbor who lives in a camper, gets close to the students in his class and in his own way begins to search for answers as to where and why Norman left. Oh, and he begins to dig up his backyard.
As time goes by and chaos ensues Jesse misses Norman but realizes life must go on. And so, it does until the inevitable happens. What is it that happens? Well, you must read this extraordinary story, Take Me with You to discover how sometimes the secrets to happiness and love and forgiving may be closer than a light year away.
Thank you #NetGalley #GPPutnam'sSons #StevenRowley #TakeMewithYou for the advanced copy.
Jesse is a college professor and Norman an architect. Married, they met and fell in love over thirty years ago. Norman is a bit older than Jesse. Married and living in Joshua Tree they seem to have gotten into a rut. Both are bored, snippy and a bit sarcastic towards each other. And Jesse is now beginning to feel Norman's age from all those years ago.
And then Norman leaves.
In the most peculiar way. One night Jesse wakes up to find Norman in the backyard staring up at a bright light. Jesse yells to Norman to not go. But Norman looks back at Jesse and goes into the light leaving Jesse alone.
Bewildered and knowing he can't tell anyone what he saw as they would put him in a hospital, he must now handle all the responsibility in their lives as he waits and hopes for Norman's return. In the meantime, Norman's sister Lally a flight attendant comes around not only looking for Norman, but also to ask them for a favor. As Jesse tries to hide the fact that Norman is clearly nowhere to be found, he begins to become angrier at Norman for going to...well he doesn't know.
Jesse begins to change while he waits for Norman's (hopeful) return. He becomes friends with their neighbor who lives in a camper, gets close to the students in his class and in his own way begins to search for answers as to where and why Norman left. Oh, and he begins to dig up his backyard.
As time goes by and chaos ensues Jesse misses Norman but realizes life must go on. And so, it does until the inevitable happens. What is it that happens? Well, you must read this extraordinary story, Take Me with You to discover how sometimes the secrets to happiness and love and forgiving may be closer than a light year away.
Thank you #NetGalley #GPPutnam'sSons #StevenRowley #TakeMewithYou for the advanced copy.
May 31, 2026
Steven Rowley continues to write with what feels like his signature balance of wit, humour, sincerity and humility. The characters feel fully formed, like I just know what they would say next if I was at their dinner party.
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions - and especially being in an over-a-decade relationship myself, felt like I could relate even more. As much as there's this fictional part of the story where Jesse's husband, Norman is abducted, the actions, reactions, the reflections... those all feel very real and I get it. I just got it.
Absolutely adored the format and I'm so excited for other readers to discover this wonder of a book!
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions - and especially being in an over-a-decade relationship myself, felt like I could relate even more. As much as there's this fictional part of the story where Jesse's husband, Norman is abducted, the actions, reactions, the reflections... those all feel very real and I get it. I just got it.
Absolutely adored the format and I'm so excited for other readers to discover this wonder of a book!
May 2, 2026
Have you ever read finished a book and have no idea what the book is about? Yup, that’s me with this one.
College professor Jesse del Ruth has been abandoned. Thirty years into their relationship, Jesse witnesses his husband, Norman, get out of bed late one night, walk into their Joshua Tree backyard, step into a strange beam of light and . . . disappear. How could Norman desert him after a lifetime together? Where did he go? And, most confoundingly . . . will he ever return? Jesse knew they were both feeling stuck, longing for something they couldn’t quite name. But was their rut so deep that Norman’s only option was to leave Jesse behind?
I was definitely intrigued where this was going and had full faith in Rowley since I have loved his other books. However this book made me feel dumb. Idk how to explain it but I feel like this was too smart for me. I KNOW there was a deep message in there somewhere but I honestly don’t know what it is.
It really bothered me how calm everybody was when lights appeared and someone just disappeared???? Dude I’d be freaking the heck out and they’re just like “oh well he left, guess I should probablyyyy do some self reflection?” I didn’t love the POV of the sister and was really confused (well I was constantly confused) even more so with why it was even added.
Not only was this too smart it was incredibly boring. Thank goodness the audio was only 10 hours and I listen at 2x the speed because NOTHING happened.
My favourite part about this book? The cover
College professor Jesse del Ruth has been abandoned. Thirty years into their relationship, Jesse witnesses his husband, Norman, get out of bed late one night, walk into their Joshua Tree backyard, step into a strange beam of light and . . . disappear. How could Norman desert him after a lifetime together? Where did he go? And, most confoundingly . . . will he ever return? Jesse knew they were both feeling stuck, longing for something they couldn’t quite name. But was their rut so deep that Norman’s only option was to leave Jesse behind?
I was definitely intrigued where this was going and had full faith in Rowley since I have loved his other books. However this book made me feel dumb. Idk how to explain it but I feel like this was too smart for me. I KNOW there was a deep message in there somewhere but I honestly don’t know what it is.
It really bothered me how calm everybody was when lights appeared and someone just disappeared???? Dude I’d be freaking the heck out and they’re just like “oh well he left, guess I should probablyyyy do some self reflection?” I didn’t love the POV of the sister and was really confused (well I was constantly confused) even more so with why it was even added.
Not only was this too smart it was incredibly boring. Thank goodness the audio was only 10 hours and I listen at 2x the speed because NOTHING happened.
My favourite part about this book? The cover
November 28, 2025
A quietly humorous, self-deprecating contemporary story of a long term relationship, being abandoned, and finding your spirit. Part “Same As It Ever Was” [Claire Lombardo] and part “Then She Was Gone” [Lisa Jewell] and part “Emperor of Gladness” [Ocean Vuong]
Jesse and Norman have been together for decades; they’ve settled into their privileged life, and suffer from the general malaise of late capitalism. Jesse is a semi-celebrated writer, teaching at university, whose most celebrated work may be behind him. His husband Norman goes to the backyard to investigate a soft but encompassing light in the backyard one night, then disappears.
Jesse needs to grieve the loss, learn who he is without Norman by his side, and come to terms with feeling abandoned by his father before he was born and his emotionally distant mother. He is joined by his sister-in-law Lally, who is also grieving the disappearance of her brother, figuring out what middle age is going to look like for her, and figuring out how to get close to people who might leave.
This is beautiful writing, surprising in its simplicity, and with deep themes. The writing is clever, not laugh-out-loud funny, but specific to really develop the characters into being endearing. It all builds up to a heartwarming scene. With Steven Rowley, you always know he’ll make you think, laugh, and cry. This one fits the bill.
4.25/5 stars “I loved it”
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
Jesse and Norman have been together for decades; they’ve settled into their privileged life, and suffer from the general malaise of late capitalism. Jesse is a semi-celebrated writer, teaching at university, whose most celebrated work may be behind him. His husband Norman goes to the backyard to investigate a soft but encompassing light in the backyard one night, then disappears.
Jesse needs to grieve the loss, learn who he is without Norman by his side, and come to terms with feeling abandoned by his father before he was born and his emotionally distant mother. He is joined by his sister-in-law Lally, who is also grieving the disappearance of her brother, figuring out what middle age is going to look like for her, and figuring out how to get close to people who might leave.
This is beautiful writing, surprising in its simplicity, and with deep themes. The writing is clever, not laugh-out-loud funny, but specific to really develop the characters into being endearing. It all builds up to a heartwarming scene. With Steven Rowley, you always know he’ll make you think, laugh, and cry. This one fits the bill.
4.25/5 stars “I loved it”
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
June 20, 2026
This was a fun one! Steven Rowley, author of The Guncle, has another hit with Take Me with You, a story of supernatural occurrences, abandonment, and grief. I realize that doesn’t sound much like a fun read, but bear with me here. My thanks go to NetGalley and Putnam for the review copy; this book is for sale now.
Jesse del Ruth is a middle-aged college professor; he and his slightly older husband, Norman, have been together now for 30 years. But they’ve settled into a bit of a rut, bickering about stupid things. Nevertheless, Jesse is stunned when, one evening, Norman mutters “I’m out of here” and steps out into a bright light that’s shining from above their desert home; the light literally beams him up, leaving poor Jesse gaping, full of questions that Norman cannot answer. To make matters worse, he’s forced to lie to friends and family, because he really can’t just tell them that Norman left in a UFO.
This is a story that’s easy to read, making it perfect bedtime material. It proceeds in linear fashion without a great deal of jumping around, and it has just a few characters; we meet Norman’s younger sister, who really needs to talk to him, and we also meet the neighbor across the street, who would ordinarily be the strange one. But at least 85% of this odd little novel hinges on Jesse, and Rowley develops him quite nicely. We have a bit of a retrospective, looking back with Jesse at their past life together and the crises—really, just one crisis—that impacts their relationship. And we see Jesse pull himself together as “we” becomes “I”.
They say that every story has already been written, and after reading this one, I’d have to question that assertion. Yes, there are many stories of lovers separating, or of one partner leaving the other, but…not this way, guys. Rowley takes us through all of life’s emotional seasons, from love, to contentment, to disappointment, to grief and rage, to acceptance and adjusting to a single life. And there are several places where I laughed out loud!
I recommend this as a terrific little book to take on vacation, or just to curl up with over a long weekend at home.
Jesse del Ruth is a middle-aged college professor; he and his slightly older husband, Norman, have been together now for 30 years. But they’ve settled into a bit of a rut, bickering about stupid things. Nevertheless, Jesse is stunned when, one evening, Norman mutters “I’m out of here” and steps out into a bright light that’s shining from above their desert home; the light literally beams him up, leaving poor Jesse gaping, full of questions that Norman cannot answer. To make matters worse, he’s forced to lie to friends and family, because he really can’t just tell them that Norman left in a UFO.
This is a story that’s easy to read, making it perfect bedtime material. It proceeds in linear fashion without a great deal of jumping around, and it has just a few characters; we meet Norman’s younger sister, who really needs to talk to him, and we also meet the neighbor across the street, who would ordinarily be the strange one. But at least 85% of this odd little novel hinges on Jesse, and Rowley develops him quite nicely. We have a bit of a retrospective, looking back with Jesse at their past life together and the crises—really, just one crisis—that impacts their relationship. And we see Jesse pull himself together as “we” becomes “I”.
They say that every story has already been written, and after reading this one, I’d have to question that assertion. Yes, there are many stories of lovers separating, or of one partner leaving the other, but…not this way, guys. Rowley takes us through all of life’s emotional seasons, from love, to contentment, to disappointment, to grief and rage, to acceptance and adjusting to a single life. And there are several places where I laughed out loud!
I recommend this as a terrific little book to take on vacation, or just to curl up with over a long weekend at home.
April 7, 2026
Having recently laughed my way through both Guncle books and sobbed through Lily and the Octopus, I was thrilled to snag an advanced copy of Steven Rowley’s latest. It does not disappoint. Thank you so much to Putnam for this ARC!
The premise is fascinating and hits you with a heavy hypothetical: What would you do if your spouse disappeared tomorrow? What would your life look like after? Rowley explores this with his signature blend of snarky, fast-paced prose and deeply descriptive storytelling. I found myself laughing out loud on one page and getting misty-eyed the next. While the Rowley voice I love is still front and center, the cast of characters in this version of Palm Springs feels fresh, unique, and entirely new.
If you want a story that has as much heart as it does comedy, I cannot recommend this enough!
The premise is fascinating and hits you with a heavy hypothetical: What would you do if your spouse disappeared tomorrow? What would your life look like after? Rowley explores this with his signature blend of snarky, fast-paced prose and deeply descriptive storytelling. I found myself laughing out loud on one page and getting misty-eyed the next. While the Rowley voice I love is still front and center, the cast of characters in this version of Palm Springs feels fresh, unique, and entirely new.
If you want a story that has as much heart as it does comedy, I cannot recommend this enough!
June 11, 2026
Take Me With You follows Jesse, a college professor, whose husband of 30 years vanishes into a beam of light, forcing him to rediscover who he is without his partner.
This story is about love and identity. It’s about finding out who you are with or without your partner.
This story is about love and identity. It’s about finding out who you are with or without your partner.
May 22, 2026
“‘Can you guess the common denominator for all the world’s problems?’
‘Is it people?’
‘Human beings.’”
Oh this pains me to write but I easily could have dnf’d this book at any point throughout.
Every time a pick up a book by this author I am searching for the magic that was The Guncle. I couldn’t even tell you precisely what it was that was such a turnoff. I just did not care. At all. Not about the story, the characters, or where Norman went.
Norman disappearing into a beam of light did not have the magical element that I think the author was going for. It just seemed disjointed and that some profound messages were floating under the surface but just weren’t making it to the light. At least for me.
Thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC via Netgalley.
‘Is it people?’
‘Human beings.’”
Oh this pains me to write but I easily could have dnf’d this book at any point throughout.
Every time a pick up a book by this author I am searching for the magic that was The Guncle. I couldn’t even tell you precisely what it was that was such a turnoff. I just did not care. At all. Not about the story, the characters, or where Norman went.
Norman disappearing into a beam of light did not have the magical element that I think the author was going for. It just seemed disjointed and that some profound messages were floating under the surface but just weren’t making it to the light. At least for me.
Thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC via Netgalley.
May 27, 2026
3.5
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately of all the ways we are alien to each other, even the people we think we know best.”
Take Me with You tells the story of Jesse and Norman, a couple who has been together for 30+ years and is feeling that oft-felt slow distancing that can happen after years and years together. Then one night Norman walks toward a mysterious light and disappears, leaving Jesse to deal with the aftermath. The light and what caused it are unimportant here; what is important is how the ones left behind cope with the grief, the confusion, the feelings of betrayal, and how to move forward.
This was an interesting premise that touches on so many real-feeling life events - so many people have to pick up the pieces after a partner leaves or disappears or passes away, and we get this from the perspective of Jesse and from Norman’s sister.
I really enjoyed the fact that Jesse was teaching a comedic writing course in the midst of this tragic feeling time; it reminded me of the movie Elizabethtown when the grieving widow takes improv comedy classes to try and make herself laugh again: sometimes you can find something to smile about even in the worst situations.
I do wish we’d been privy to a bit more of the internal anguish both of the left behind characters were feeling, and I’m still not sure if I liked the way it ended. Rowley often makes me cry with his writing, but I felt like the reader was kept kind of at arm’s length in this book. But I do love that this story was about finding oneself again. About living, about connection, about allowing oneself to grow and change even when it’s uncomfortable.
Thanks so much to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately of all the ways we are alien to each other, even the people we think we know best.”
Take Me with You tells the story of Jesse and Norman, a couple who has been together for 30+ years and is feeling that oft-felt slow distancing that can happen after years and years together. Then one night Norman walks toward a mysterious light and disappears, leaving Jesse to deal with the aftermath. The light and what caused it are unimportant here; what is important is how the ones left behind cope with the grief, the confusion, the feelings of betrayal, and how to move forward.
This was an interesting premise that touches on so many real-feeling life events - so many people have to pick up the pieces after a partner leaves or disappears or passes away, and we get this from the perspective of Jesse and from Norman’s sister.
I really enjoyed the fact that Jesse was teaching a comedic writing course in the midst of this tragic feeling time; it reminded me of the movie Elizabethtown when the grieving widow takes improv comedy classes to try and make herself laugh again: sometimes you can find something to smile about even in the worst situations.
I do wish we’d been privy to a bit more of the internal anguish both of the left behind characters were feeling, and I’m still not sure if I liked the way it ended. Rowley often makes me cry with his writing, but I felt like the reader was kept kind of at arm’s length in this book. But I do love that this story was about finding oneself again. About living, about connection, about allowing oneself to grow and change even when it’s uncomfortable.
Thanks so much to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
May 15, 2026
Take Me With You by Steven Rowley is a quiet exploration of midlife, long term relationships, grief, and identity.
Jesse, a middle aged married man, is left to process his grief and discover his own identity after the strange disappearance of Norman, his husband of 30 years. Norman’s sister, Lally, also shows up during this time, looking for her brother, as well as her own sense of self. Over the course of the story the two men have to figure out how to grow individually and together, and to repeatedly choose each other.
After reading several of Mr. Rowley’s previous novels, I knew to expect a story that is at turns hilarious and cuts right to the heart. In this book he delivers a sharp and touching look at what it truly means to navigate a committed relationship over the years. The characters are refreshingly flawed, but watching them work through their own messy lives to reach a happy ending is so satisfying. And the shoutouts to local Palm Springs hot spots was an added bonus for me. Overall this is a unique read that will resonate most with mature audiences navigating the ups and downs of midlife and lasting relationships 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam Sons for a gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jesse, a middle aged married man, is left to process his grief and discover his own identity after the strange disappearance of Norman, his husband of 30 years. Norman’s sister, Lally, also shows up during this time, looking for her brother, as well as her own sense of self. Over the course of the story the two men have to figure out how to grow individually and together, and to repeatedly choose each other.
After reading several of Mr. Rowley’s previous novels, I knew to expect a story that is at turns hilarious and cuts right to the heart. In this book he delivers a sharp and touching look at what it truly means to navigate a committed relationship over the years. The characters are refreshingly flawed, but watching them work through their own messy lives to reach a happy ending is so satisfying. And the shoutouts to local Palm Springs hot spots was an added bonus for me. Overall this is a unique read that will resonate most with mature audiences navigating the ups and downs of midlife and lasting relationships 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam Sons for a gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2026
Loved listening to this book by Steven Rowley. It had his charm, some emotional underlying vibes of life and just put a smile on my face.
May 25, 2026
Took me a tiny bit to get into this book, but I love this author so knew he’d deliver. It’s the dry humor and sarcasm while still being touching that gets me every time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Love said forever, and then—without warning—walked naked into a beam of light and left me emotionally unemployed. Steven Rowley’s Take Me with You grabbed me by the soul and said, “Hey… let’s unpack your entire belief system about love, identity, and what it means to stay.” Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the gifted ARC—because this one? It’s not just a read, it’s an experience.
At its core, this isn’t about aliens, even though yes, there is a full-on glowing-sky, Joshua Tree, what-in-the-actual-hell moment. This is about Jesse and Norman—thirty years into a relationship that has settled into something comfortable, predictable… maybe even a little too quiet. Jesse has built his life around Norman, orbiting him, following him, loving him in that steady, familiar way that long-term couples do. Until one night, Norman quite literally disappears, and Jesse is left standing in the desert with nothing but questions and a life he suddenly doesn’t recognize.
What unfolds is less a mystery and more a slow, aching unraveling. Jesse isn’t just grieving a missing husband—he’s confronting the terrifying realization that he doesn’t know who he is without him. And honestly? That hit hard. Watching him stumble through loneliness, awkward reinvention, and reluctant self-reflection felt painfully honest. He’s messy. He’s sometimes selfish. He’s also deeply human. And then there’s Lally—Norman’s sister—who storms in with her own urgency, her own fears about time slipping away, motherhood, and whether it’s ever too late to rewrite your life. She adds this beautiful, chaotic layer to the story that makes everything feel bigger, heavier, more real.
Rowley does what he always does best—he balances humor and heartbreak like a pro. One minute I was laughing at Jesse’s dry, slightly unhinged commentary, and the next I was sitting there like… oh. OH. This is about all of us, isn’t it? About the quiet ways we lose ourselves in relationships. About the routines we mistake for happiness. About how easy it is to wake up one day and realize you’ve been living on autopilot.
“I was tired of everything being the dumbest way to do anything.”
That line? It’s funny, yes—but it also carries this undercurrent of exhaustion that perfectly captures the emotional tone of the book. It’s that feeling of being stuck, of knowing something needs to change but not knowing how—or if—you’re brave enough to do it.
The desert setting is practically a character itself—wide, still, a little eerie—mirroring Jesse’s internal landscape. And the side characters? Quirky, endearing, slightly chaotic in the best way. A conspiracy-obsessed neighbor, a suspicious outsider, students who reflect Jesse’s own unraveling… it all builds this world that feels both grounded and just a little off-kilter, like reality tilted a few degrees to the left.
This book is for readers who love character-driven stories that dig deep. If you’re into emotional, slightly weird, quietly profound narratives that explore long-term love, identity, and second chances—this is absolutely your vibe. It’s not fast-paced, and it’s not meant to be. It lingers. It asks questions it doesn’t fully answer. And honestly, that’s kind of the point.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
By the end, I wasn’t thinking about aliens or answers—I was thinking about choice. About whether love means staying no matter what, or whether sometimes the bravest thing you can do is step out of the life you’ve built and figure out who you are without it.
So let me ask you this… if your person disappeared tomorrow—no explanation, no closure—would you wait for them to come back, or would you finally learn how to choose yourself?
#TakeMeWithYou #StevenRowley #BookReview #NetGalleyReads #LGBTQReads #GeneralFiction #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #CozyReads #EmotionalReads #CharacterDriven #MidlifeReads #BookLovers #ARCReview #ReadMoreBooks
At its core, this isn’t about aliens, even though yes, there is a full-on glowing-sky, Joshua Tree, what-in-the-actual-hell moment. This is about Jesse and Norman—thirty years into a relationship that has settled into something comfortable, predictable… maybe even a little too quiet. Jesse has built his life around Norman, orbiting him, following him, loving him in that steady, familiar way that long-term couples do. Until one night, Norman quite literally disappears, and Jesse is left standing in the desert with nothing but questions and a life he suddenly doesn’t recognize.
What unfolds is less a mystery and more a slow, aching unraveling. Jesse isn’t just grieving a missing husband—he’s confronting the terrifying realization that he doesn’t know who he is without him. And honestly? That hit hard. Watching him stumble through loneliness, awkward reinvention, and reluctant self-reflection felt painfully honest. He’s messy. He’s sometimes selfish. He’s also deeply human. And then there’s Lally—Norman’s sister—who storms in with her own urgency, her own fears about time slipping away, motherhood, and whether it’s ever too late to rewrite your life. She adds this beautiful, chaotic layer to the story that makes everything feel bigger, heavier, more real.
Rowley does what he always does best—he balances humor and heartbreak like a pro. One minute I was laughing at Jesse’s dry, slightly unhinged commentary, and the next I was sitting there like… oh. OH. This is about all of us, isn’t it? About the quiet ways we lose ourselves in relationships. About the routines we mistake for happiness. About how easy it is to wake up one day and realize you’ve been living on autopilot.
“I was tired of everything being the dumbest way to do anything.”
That line? It’s funny, yes—but it also carries this undercurrent of exhaustion that perfectly captures the emotional tone of the book. It’s that feeling of being stuck, of knowing something needs to change but not knowing how—or if—you’re brave enough to do it.
The desert setting is practically a character itself—wide, still, a little eerie—mirroring Jesse’s internal landscape. And the side characters? Quirky, endearing, slightly chaotic in the best way. A conspiracy-obsessed neighbor, a suspicious outsider, students who reflect Jesse’s own unraveling… it all builds this world that feels both grounded and just a little off-kilter, like reality tilted a few degrees to the left.
This book is for readers who love character-driven stories that dig deep. If you’re into emotional, slightly weird, quietly profound narratives that explore long-term love, identity, and second chances—this is absolutely your vibe. It’s not fast-paced, and it’s not meant to be. It lingers. It asks questions it doesn’t fully answer. And honestly, that’s kind of the point.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
By the end, I wasn’t thinking about aliens or answers—I was thinking about choice. About whether love means staying no matter what, or whether sometimes the bravest thing you can do is step out of the life you’ve built and figure out who you are without it.
So let me ask you this… if your person disappeared tomorrow—no explanation, no closure—would you wait for them to come back, or would you finally learn how to choose yourself?
#TakeMeWithYou #StevenRowley #BookReview #NetGalleyReads #LGBTQReads #GeneralFiction #LiteraryFiction #Bookstagram #CozyReads #EmotionalReads #CharacterDriven #MidlifeReads #BookLovers #ARCReview #ReadMoreBooks
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Excited to check off my first read book of 2026! ✔️
SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS:
Jesse and his husband Norman have been together for 30 years when one night, Jesse witnesses Norman walk into their Joshua Tree backyard and mysteriously disappear into a bright beam of light. As Jesse struggles to process what happened that night, where Norman went, and when/if he'll return, he also has to decide what to tell Norman's sister Lally when she visits unexpectedly with a pressing request.
I'll preface my review by saying I LOVED The Guncle (one of my favorite books ever) and moderately enjoyed The Guncle Abroad and The Celebrants, so I was psyched to be approved for this ARC and had high hopes for it. Though Rowley delivered with his signature humor and wit, the story felt very choppy. The first 2/3 focused on the time Norman was missing and the last 1/3 took place a year after he disappeared. I feel like we lost a lot of Jesse's character development and relationship growth between him and Lally in that time skip which made me feel disconnected from their characters and subsequently less interested in where their futures were headed. Joshua Tree was a great setting for this unique "otherworldly"/UFO-type plot and the story was thought-provoking in terms of aging, self-discovery, and finding your happiness, but the pacing felt slow and the execution of Jesse's and Norman's love story made me feel like the ending wasn't really earned at all. I did enjoy the side characters though.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC, releasing May 19th!
Review: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: literary fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, (unofficially) cozy sci-fi mystery (aliens??)
Trigger warnings: general relationship problems (not abusive), death of a sibling, missing persons reported, complicated family dynamics, use of IVF
🚨 SPOILERS BELOW 🚨
I understand that space can sometimes be exactly what a couple needs to work through their issues, but I feel like Norman not remembering anything about his time away kind of sends the wrong message and defeats the purpose? I wish he was able to remember what happened by the end of the book and reflect on that experience with Jesse instead of just showing up again saying "omg I'm back from the gym and I feel great and I love you so much" with no accountability or healthy communication (on the page) that results in them solving their issues???
SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS:
Jesse and his husband Norman have been together for 30 years when one night, Jesse witnesses Norman walk into their Joshua Tree backyard and mysteriously disappear into a bright beam of light. As Jesse struggles to process what happened that night, where Norman went, and when/if he'll return, he also has to decide what to tell Norman's sister Lally when she visits unexpectedly with a pressing request.
I'll preface my review by saying I LOVED The Guncle (one of my favorite books ever) and moderately enjoyed The Guncle Abroad and The Celebrants, so I was psyched to be approved for this ARC and had high hopes for it. Though Rowley delivered with his signature humor and wit, the story felt very choppy. The first 2/3 focused on the time Norman was missing and the last 1/3 took place a year after he disappeared. I feel like we lost a lot of Jesse's character development and relationship growth between him and Lally in that time skip which made me feel disconnected from their characters and subsequently less interested in where their futures were headed. Joshua Tree was a great setting for this unique "otherworldly"/UFO-type plot and the story was thought-provoking in terms of aging, self-discovery, and finding your happiness, but the pacing felt slow and the execution of Jesse's and Norman's love story made me feel like the ending wasn't really earned at all. I did enjoy the side characters though.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC, releasing May 19th!
Review: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: literary fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, (unofficially) cozy sci-fi mystery (aliens??)
Trigger warnings: general relationship problems (not abusive), death of a sibling, missing persons reported, complicated family dynamics, use of IVF
🚨 SPOILERS BELOW 🚨
I understand that space can sometimes be exactly what a couple needs to work through their issues, but I feel like Norman not remembering anything about his time away kind of sends the wrong message and defeats the purpose? I wish he was able to remember what happened by the end of the book and reflect on that experience with Jesse instead of just showing up again saying "omg I'm back from the gym and I feel great and I love you so much" with no accountability or healthy communication (on the page) that results in them solving their issues???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
I'm such a fan of Steven Rowley! Guaranteed to make you laugh and tug on your heartstrings, and this one is no exception, AND has the highest stakes of his books yet so it almost feels like a thriller at times. Perfect first read of the summer.
June 7, 2026
I’ve enjoyed this one just as much as the author’s debut novel, Guncle.
Over 30 years married, it is easy for a couple to stay together simply out of habit. You will learn that truly loving someone means continually choosing them every single day.
Over 30 years married, it is easy for a couple to stay together simply out of habit. You will learn that truly loving someone means continually choosing them every single day.
June 9, 2026
Good book, just not amazing. I had it on hold at the library & when my turn arrived, I couldn’t remember what had originally drawn me to it? However, it was the beginning of Pride month, so I took it as a sign that I should still read it. The story deals with love, loss & rediscovery…and an alien abduction or two. The biggest question I had throughout the book, was WHY didn’t Jesse notify the authorities?? Anyway, this was a good change of pace for me, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, either.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been a huge fan of Steven Rowley since I read The Guncle in 2022, so when I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of Take Me with You, I jumped at the opportunity. This book did not disappoint! The navigation of a long-lasting relationship can be extremely difficult as years and years go by. One person can start to feel like the passenger to the other's driver, and both can feel like they are not appreciated by the other. Communication begins to fail over the years, and harsh comments are thrown around as jokes but hit their targets harder than intended. That's the main focus of Take Me with You; however, Rowley takes it to a whole new level. Norman is abducted by aliens, and Jesse is given the opportunity to figure out who he is. He has lived as a passenger for 30 years in his relationship, but now, he gets to be the driver. The book spans an entire year as Jesse comes to terms with his new life and new found freedom.
Of course there is a lot more to the story, but I don't want spoil anything. I will say that this book really made me think about my own relationships and look at them in a new light because I want to make sure that the lines of communication are always open, so both parties feel loved and valued, which is what is really at the core of Rowley's novel. This book is something special! I think the only negative thing I have to say about it is that the beginning is a little slow, but keep with it because it is definitely worth the full experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Of course there is a lot more to the story, but I don't want spoil anything. I will say that this book really made me think about my own relationships and look at them in a new light because I want to make sure that the lines of communication are always open, so both parties feel loved and valued, which is what is really at the core of Rowley's novel. This book is something special! I think the only negative thing I have to say about it is that the beginning is a little slow, but keep with it because it is definitely worth the full experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
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