Take Me With You

by Steven Rowley

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.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Magical Realism, Queer, Contemporary, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Steven 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.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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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[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mai H.]

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 5.19.25, 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.

[Book Riot Community]

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

[Jessica Lewis ☔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a remarkable book courtesy of netgalley as an ARC. i adored it. i will read anything steven writes and i was so excited to enjoy this early. i will still await my signed preordered copy and will read it again!

it starts with a question… if a bright light comes beckoning you… would you go?

an interesting thought. as norman and jesse are experiencing a rut in their relationship… something happens that shakes everything up and challenges their very core… it transforms them in more than they realize helping to bolster jesse in ways he wasn’t aware he needed as well as challenge norman’s way of approaching life.

a sweet story of coming around to see things differently through the lens of compassion. i loved this book!!

[Amy Voelker · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Krista H · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Take Me With You, we follow along as Jesse struggles with what to do after witnessing his husband, Norman’s, disappearance into a strange light. Jesse is unsure how he should explain Norman’s absence. Should he report Norman as missing? Does he wait for Norman to return or take the opportunity to make some changes? What should he tell Norman’s sister, Lally, who comes to visit with an unexpected request?

The story is split into thirds, with the first 2/3 of the book focusing on the initial ninety days after Norman’s disappearance from Jesse and then Lally’s perspective. The final third takes place one year after his disappearance. Because of this large gap, many of the decisions Jesse and Lally initially grapple with are made off the page. We see how the decisions play out, but miss the exploration and nuance that led the characters to those decisions. Overall, this made the story feel choppy and disconnected.

I appreciate Rowley’s ability to write humor in everyday situations and felt the exploration of that topic with Jesse’s students was interesting. I liked that Jesse’s self-discovery led to a found family and a newfound confidence in himself. Lally initially came off as a little bit desperate, but like Jesse, she developed strength of character as time progressed. I just wish we could have seen their progress unfold on the page.

This is a quick, quirky read. The cover is gorgeous, and the character-driven story is thought-provoking. Fans of Steven Rowley will be satisfied with this emotional read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Steven Rowley can take a genre I don’t usually read, and make it both comforting and enjoyable.

Couple Norman and Jesse met many years ago after colliding on the beach, and have been inseparable ever since. They left LA for the quieter Joshua Tree—Norman the primary breadwinner and architect, and Jesse a college teacher and occasional author.

When Norman—the older of the two by six years—is suddenly taken by a strange beam of light one eventful night (was it aliens?!), Jesse is left to cope on his own, not knowing if Norman will ever return.

TAKE ME WITH YOU is less about Norman’s disappearance, and more about how Jesse gets along without him. Jesse’s favorite saying was always, “Where you go, I go.” Without Norman to lead him, Jesse is a bit aimless at first.

Then Norman’s younger sister, Lally, enters the picture. Jesse has to maneuver around her questions of Norman’s absence, while trying to maintain the household alone. It was interesting getting Lally’s perspective on the disappearance.

The ending was as unexpected as you can imagine. While not another GUNCLE (one of my all-time favorite books), I enjoyed TAKE ME WITH YOU very much.

🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟

[Vito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Rowley, acclaimed author of the Guncle series and other fun and witty books like The Celebrants, is back with his most interesting book yet. It’s out of this world… or is it?

“Take Me with You” is as charming as the aforementioned books from Rowley, but it also does something new — we follow three characters across this nearly 400 page novel with time jumps sprinkled throughout. Our first pov, Jesse, is at a crossroads in his life, behind on his novel and in a marriage that may have reached its breaking point. His husband, Norman, is seemingly unhappy and downloads the apps™️, except one is more stargazing than bear-chase (if you catch my drift). One evening, something from the stars (maybe!) shines on a light on Norman and he’s gone. Jesse and his family and cast a of weirdos (but endearing) are left to pick up the pieces.

I’m unsure where the literal ends and the metaphoric begins here — are we to believe there’s a sci-fi element here or is someone gone “gone” theoretical speaking. I guess that’s where it’s up to the reader to build that story for themselves.

This may be the author’s most “divisive” work yet, both puzzling and exciting. I’m just glad to have gone on the adventure with this cast, even if the GPS acted up and sent me in the wrong direction once or twice. But, life is sometimes like that! Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse and his husband, Norman, have been together a long time, and like many middle-aged couples, they are finding some aspects of their life together a little disappointing. But it's a shock to Jesse when he wakes up in their Joshua Tree home in the middle of night to bright lights outside and then to see Norman step into that light and disappear. Was it a dream? An alien abduction? Or did Norman simply leave him? Whatever happened, Jesse realizes that Norman is gone and he has to get his life back on track. Meanwhile, Norman's younger sister, Lally, has realized that she's not getting any younger and wants to be a mother, but to do that, she needs the embryos created from her eggs and Jesse's sperm back when Jesse and Norman thought they wanted to be parents, but she needs to find Norman to get him to sign off on releasing the embryos to her. Throw in a private investigator and a conspiracy theorist living next door in an Airstream camper and it seems like one of Steven Rowley's typically outrageous and hilarious books. But that's not what this book is. Yes, it is funny, but it's more touching and thoughtful than laugh-out-loud. This new novel speaks to those moments in life when you're on autopilot, or so you think, and suddenly everything changes, forcing you to correct your course and perhaps even question if it's a course you want to stay on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This book will be published May 19, 2026.

[Barb Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced readers' copy.

Steven Rowley does it again. Take Me With You is a heartfelt and imaginative story that blends a touch of fantasy with the messy, beautiful realities of long-term love. Rowley’s trademark humor sparkles throughout—witty and perfectly timed—even as he explores a relationship beginning to drift. Beneath the clever premise lies a touching reminder that absence can bring appreciation, rekindle tenderness, and make the heart grow not just fonder—but more aware. This book is tender, funny, and full of heart!

Favorite quote:
""Can you guess the common denominator for all the world's problems?"
"Human beings."
"And you know, gay, straight, young, old, left, right, at the heart we're not all that different. We all have the same root problems."
--Steven Rowley

Release Date: May 19, 2026

[Happylove618 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, like every Steven Rowley book I’ve read thus far, is like curling up on a cold night in your favorite cozy chair with a warm blanket and candles flickering. Oh, and a box of tissues. I never understand how he is so good at making me laugh out loud and shed a tear within pages of each other.

“ I was tired of our tax system, our health care system, of everything being the dumbest way to do anything. Here’s your insurance card, don’t forget that eyeballs and teeth are add-ons!”

This is the story of Norman and Jesse and the journey of their marriage. It’s about a woman figuring out what she wants out of life. So many times I felt seen. Like, wow, there are people out there who understand.

It’s quirky at times, wholly relatable throughout, hilarious, and just everything I hoped it would be.

Bravo, Mr. Rowley. I can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced copy.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌅 Steven Rowley has a rare talent for sneaking emotional gut punches inside stories that initially look quirky and light, and Take Me With You may be his quietest, and most reflective, book yet. I went into this expecting something playful and strange, but I came out of it thinking deeply about aging, love, compromise, and what happens when life stalls while time keeps moving.

The story follows Jesse and Norman, a married couple who have been together for decades. They’ve built a life that looks enviable from the outside: creative careers, a striking home in the desert, years of shared memories. Jesse, a once-acclaimed writer now teaching college, has long positioned himself as the follower in the relationship. He’s happy; he tells himself to go wherever Norman leads. That arrangement works… until the night Norman steps outside their home and disappears into a mysterious light, leaving Jesse completely on his own for the first time in thirty years.

What unfolds is less a mystery about where Norman went and more an examination of what remains when a partnership is suddenly stripped away. Jesse is forced to sit with old wounds, unresolved fears, and the realization that he may have given up more of himself than he ever meant to. Alongside him is Lally, Norman’s sister, who is carrying her own grief and fears about loss, about desire, about whether it’s ever too late to want something different out of life.

Rowley writes midlife with enormous compassion. This book hums with quiet humor, tender observations, and moments of aching honesty about how easy it is to sleepwalk into a life that no longer quite fits. The pop culture references, chapter structure, and dialogue give the story lift, but the emotional core is what lingered with me. Lines about love, abandonment, and choice land softly at first and then keep echoing long after you close the book.

“I go where you go,” Jesse says early on, and reading this book is watching him slowly learn that love doesn’t have to mean losing yourself.

Ultimately, Take Me With You isn’t a story about aliens or answers, it’s about reckoning. About grief that doesn’t announce itself loudly. About relationships that change shape over time. And about realizing, even in your forties or fifties, that it’s not too late to ask for more or to choose yourself again.

This is Rowley at his most introspective, and while it may not have the broad comedic arcs of The Guncle, it carries a deep, steady emotional weight that made this one unforgettable for me.

Thank you, Putnam Books and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC in return for my honest review. This book will be published in May of 2026. Look forward to it hitting your favorite bookseller soon.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫(4.5/5 Stars)
#TakeMewithYou #NetGalley #bookrecomendation

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[Kelsey | Pages Between Policy · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC of Take Me With You! This review represents my honest perspective.✨

In Take Me With You, Jesse and Norman seem like one of those couples who has it all. A gorgeous custom home in Joshua Tree, two rewarding careers, and three decades of loving each other after meeting in a chance encounter as young men that would make even the Grinch’s heart flutter. But despite this, Jesse watches with his own eyes as Norman, his husband, steps into a bright light in their backyard one night and simply… disappears. Jesse, now alone for the first time in recent memory, has to figure out what happened to his husband, why Norman didn’t fight harder to stay, and how he can try to get his husband (and life as he knew it) back.

As a massive fan of Rowley’s The Guncle and The Celebrants, I was over the moon to be gifted this book to read in advance of its publication and I was hoping for the same type of moving, heartwarming story that Rowley excels in crafting. Unfortunately, I really struggled to feel connected to this novel. Rowley has a formula that has served him well in the past and is an undeniably talented writer, but this book feels more like a first draft than a finished novel. There are the makings of a powerful, emotional story here, but it goes unfulfilled in disappointing ways.

Many of the most critical moments in this book aren’t explored in any sort of depth, holding the reader at arm’s length from the type of emotion I think would be necessary to successfully accomplish what Rowley is going for. It’s difficult to pick up the tension, anguish, or urgency that most humans would feel if their spouse of 30+ years immediately disappeared. I struggled with the time jumps that made it even more challenging to feel fully invested in the story, and the ending was deeply unsatisfying. There was a nice build and tension where it felt like the many threads would be brought together in an explosive finale, but it unfortunately felt like Rowley lost the plot and the last few chapters very much fell flat for me.

I don’t think this book was a complete loss, to be clear. Rowley thoughtfully crafted well-developed characters and I especially liked the POV chapters from Lally. Similar to Norman and Jesse, Lally is at a real crossroads in her life and has felt increasingly unmoored in recent years. Suddenly searching for both her brother and for meaning in her hectic life as a flight attendant, Lally’s story develops in an interesting way with clear motivations and her path serves to drive the novel forward in a more meaningful way.

I think there’s an audience for this book, I just don’t think it was me. I was excited for this interesting blend between literary fiction and romance with a sci-fi/magical element, but it just didn’t ever full develop in the ways I was hoping. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the favorites of some book clubs, where readers will want to discuss how they would have reacted had they ended up in Jesse, or Lally’s, shoes. I will continue to read Rowley’s books in hopes that one comes along that has the same magic that I felt when I first read The Celebrants.

[Brendi Zapata | bookishbrendiboo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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???

[Katie Katieneedsabiggerbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse is a college professor and married to Norman, the man he legit crashed into. The two recently moved to Joshua Tree, but one night the brightest of lights arrive in the backyard, and Norman disappears. He just…left. How could he leave Jesse behind? Where did he go? What is happening? Jesse tries to go on as normal, even with his husband missing, but when Lally, Normans sister shows up with a strange but urgent request, Jesse has to come up with something. As everything begins to close in, Jesse must confront what could have happened.

Obviously the second I got this baby in my hands I needed to start reading it! Unfortunately that meant bringing it on my work trip, where I read a bit on the plane there, and didn’t read a single word of anything the rest of the week. Add in coming home sick, and this poor book has very little of my attention. I read part one, and was very intrigued as to where it was going, and then I didn’t read anything for almost 2 weeks. Once I finally felt better though, it was time for me and my love to pick up right where we left off. As per usual, this book was chefs kiss! It is very different from the Guncle, and from any of Rowley’s other books, but the humor, the heart, and the gorgeous writing is there in full force. Poor Steven got a boatload of texts as I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish the second half. Little bit of magic, little bit of crazy situations, but always, always, always a whole lot of heart. This is exactly what I expect to feel when I finish a Steven Rowley book, and this one did not disappoint! What do I do now that I have finished it though?

Thank you to @putnambooks and @mrstevenrowley for my gifted copy of this book!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

I adored The Guncle and this book has some of the same character driven connection and humor. I love a bit of sci fi and enjoy magical realism so the premise of this book didn't bother me. Just go with it and don't get too hung up on "the light" if you aren't usually a fan of otherworldly things. 😉

Jesse and Norman have been married 30 years and they are in a bit of a rut. They love each other but don't seem to appreciate each other or have any passion anymore. The recent move to Joshua Tree was supposed to give them something new and fresh and help them feel something again. It's not that they don't love each other, they've just forgotten how lucky they are for what they have.

When Jesse wakes up to shaking and a huge bright light, he realizes Norman isn't beside him in bed. He wanders outside and to his horror, sees Norman walking toward the light. Jesse screams and holds onto his feet as he is carried away from him, but then Norman is gone.

Abandoned and unsure what has happened, Jesse continues living life while searching for answers. He starts teaching again, redecorates the house how he always wanted it, and tries to understand what happened.

This book looks at marriage and growing older in a humorous way. I love Rowley's wit and he captured these two characters perfectly.

Perfect for fans of character driven novels or books about the human experience and relationships. Who do we become after years together and is there anything left for us to do? What are we holding back on, and is it us, or the people in our lives, that keep us from doing what we want?

This was kind of a slow start for me but then about a third of the way through I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC to enjoy.

[Christine The Uncorked Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Advanced Reader Copy | Take Me With You by Steven Rowley Review 📚

☑️ Expected Release: May 19, 2026
☑️ Uncorked Reading Challenge Themes: Love, In The Sky, Family, Celestial
☑️ LGBTQ+ contemporary fiction with magical realism about rediscovery (self) and overcoming grief and abandonment; discussions of codependency

✨ Plot ✨

With a small age gap and 30 years of marriage behind them, college professor Jesse watches as his husband Norman follows a beam of light into the sky, leaving him behind. Jesse must navigate this new reality, questioning how much of himself he has lost in his codependent marriage. He begins reclaiming those pieces. Would he want to marry again?

Told in multiple parts and perspectives, we watch as characters rediscover themselves, find meaning, and overcome abandonment and grief.

✨ My Thoughts ✨

With Rowley’s signature writing - that evokes both belly laughs and misty eyes - I most enjoyed watching Jess’s perspective juxtaposed against Lally’s – that backyard hole…

Parts of this novel struck chords deep within me, and this story is unlike Rowley's other books that I champion, including The Guncle and The Celebrants. For all that will remain with me, though, from one of my favorite authors, half of the book was a snoozer.

I appreciated the political awareness and commentary, along with the authentic storyline and strong writing. However, I also found myself skimming, wanting much of it to be over. It pains me to write that. I think others will love this one, still, and much more than I did. I cannot wait until our Uncorked Readers share their opinions.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Putnam Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Chanelle]

This novel feels markedly different from Steven Rowley’s previous work, but that shift works in its favor. Rowley’s strength has always been in the way he brings his characters to life, and that remains true here.

The story follows three central characters: Jesse, an author and college professor; Norman, an architect; and Lally, a flight attendant and Norman’s sister. Jesse and Norman have been together for thirty years and have recently renovated a home in Joshua Tree. Their relationship began with an irresistibly sweet meet-cute, and from that moment Jesse devoted himself fully to their shared life—promising, “I go where you go.”

Over the years, that devotion has shaped everything. Jesse followed Norman to the desert and into the home Norman rebuilt, gradually slipping into the passenger seat not only in their marriage but in his own ambitions as a writer. What once felt romantic begins to look more complicated.

This is a quick, quirky, character-driven novel with a surprisingly thoughtful core. Jesse and Norman are a midlife couple whose early passion has faded into routine, where small frustrations often overshadow intimacy. Then, in a surreal turn, Norman disappears into a bright light in the sky, leaving Jesse to confront both the mystery and the life they built together.

While the alien abduction initially reads like it could symbolize death, the novel ultimately explores something deeper: identity within long-term partnership. How much of ourselves do we surrender in love? And if we lose parts of who we are along the way, can we ever reclaim them?

Fans of Rowley will appreciate this emotional and unconventional meditation on marriage, autonomy, and midlife reckoning.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Beth Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

I have read almost all of Rowley’s books, and they’ve usually been a hit for me despite them being different from one another. This one, TAKE ME WITH YOU, is a departure. I’m likely just not the audience for this one, as I struggled with the sci-fi elements and the choppier perspective.

Jesse and Norman met during a Rollerblading and bike collision thirty years prior. They’ve been together ever since. Now going through relationship doldrums in their renovated Joshua Tree home, one night Jesse sees Norman “go into the light” / get beamed up by an unidentified object. He’s gone into thin air. But Jesse doesn’t report him missing. Instead, he digs a hole in the backyard under the advice of his weird neighbor. Norman’s sister Lally comes by looking for Norman, and Jesse makes an excuse. There’s a subplot about fertilized eggs. A small part of the book is from Norman’s sister Lally’s perspective. (I liked that part the most.)

I *think* this novel is about finding your own identity while being in a couple. Maybe? It seemed a very odd way to get there. There is some found family, but I wrinkled my forehead in confusion so much that I’m not sure I appreciated that found family element.

The third word in this Goodreads description is “hilarious.” Again, it could be me, but I didn’t find this book hilarious. THE GUNCLE? Yes. Not this one though.

I’m likely a stick in the mud that would better appreciate a more straightforward, realistic story without an alien abduction to get to the theme.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.

It publishes May 19, 2026.

[Megan Welbourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take Me With You is the newest book by Steven Rowley due out in May 2026. Fans will be familiar with his witty gay main lead and a host of characters full of fabulous one liners. He includes those pop culture references that the 40+ crowd will remember. Always nice when a book seems to be written for you. What sets this apart from previous books is the sci fi angle this one takes.
Norman and Jesse are a married couple who have recently moved to Joshua Tree. They have been together for decades, Norman an architect and Jesse a comedic writer and professor. They have an adorable “how they met story,” and bicker like, well, an old married couple. One night, a strange light from above appears out in the desert, and Norman vanishes before Jesse’s eyes. Once it seems Norman is gone for good, Jesse starts building his life on his own. He learns a lot about himself and what he wants in life. I won’t spoil the rest of the story but I will tell you this. While I enjoyed this while I was reading it (there are some really great characters), I was constantly debating with myself on whether this was truly sci fi, a really next level metaphor of life or a near death experience. And at the end, I was unable to answer that question. So for that reason, I cannot say this was a favorite of mine, but I will still pick up future books by Rowley to meet more of his fun characters. I absolutely adored his chapter titles, referencing U2 songs to tie into the Joshua Tree setting. That was a little bit extra and I give that a thumbs up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Putnum for my ARC.

[Guillermo Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, forgive the random photos—getting decent shots of an e‑galley is impossible—but I had to share my thoughts on @mrstevenrowley’s latest, TAKE ME WITH YOU.

Rowley has been an auto‑buy/read author for me (and many of you), and this forthcoming book is exactly what I needed to kick‑start my 2026 reading goals.

After decades together, Norman and Jesse move to Joshua Tree for some quiet, desert living. One night, Jesse wakes to find Norman walking toward a strange light in their backyard; when Jesse follows, he can’t pull Norman away before the light takes his husband and vanishes.

Jesse spirals, searching for Norman while realizing he’s also lost big pieces of himself—where do you end and the version of you in your relationships begin? Why do we shove the things we love to the back burner for everyday life, and what happens when that leaves us feeling incomplete?

Jesse is also wrestling with abandonment and grief over the father he never met, while Norman’s sister navigates her own grief, infertility, and the pressure of being a woman “of a certain age” who hasn’t married or had kids.

Ultimately, every character has to face who they are in order to become who they want to be, no matter their age—and that landed as a powerful message for me.

The trademark Rowley humor, pop‑culture references, and wit are still here, but this one feels a bit heavier in tone than his earlier books. Still, whether you’re a longtime fan or brand‑new to his work, expect to be moved and to really connect with the characters you’ll be trekking through the desert with.

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. This title is scheduled for release on May 19, 2026.

One ordinary night, Jesse watches his husband Norman step into a mysterious light and disappear—ending, in an instant and with no explanation, their thirty years of marriage. What follows is a tender, often bittersweet exploration of grief, memory, and identity, as the narrative moves fluidly between Jesse’s life with Norman and the quiet, disorienting space left behind without him. The story balances moments of genuine humor with an undercurrent of sadness.

As a reader who absolutely loved Steven Rowley’s The Celebrants—a five-star read for me—I came into this novel with high expectations. While this book certainly delivers Rowley’s signature wit and occasional outrageousness, it didn’t quite linger with me in the same way. I found myself enjoying individual moments more than fully connecting with the ensemble of quirky characters, and I struggled at times to become deeply invested in their arcs.

That said, I did appreciate the novel’s ultimate message and its thoughtful meditation on love. In the end, I think I was hoping for a bit more narrative depth and forward momentum than the story ultimately offered. Still, fans of Rowley’s voice and readers drawn to reflective, character-driven stories about love and grief may find much to admire here.

[Topo Chicas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed Steven Rowley’s books, and this one is no exception. While this is a bit of a departure from his previous books, it still retains the quippy banter, clever, self deprecating humor, and characters you instantly fall for that are core to Rowley’s writing.

After decades together, Jesse watches his husband, Norman, walk into a bright light in their backyard and just disappear. Jesse wanders aimlessly, not knowing what to do in the wake of his husband’s disappearance. Add to the mix his sister-in-law, Lally, who is similarly trying to figure out what’s going on while also making an unexpected request of Jesse. Jesse has to figure out who he is without Norman and what to do with himself while also making big life decisions with Lally.

The book’s premise captured me immediately. I couldn’t put this down; I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Jesse, Norman, and Lally. I was so deeply invested in each of the main characters and their development throughout. The further I read, the more I found myself rooting for each of the main characters to find their happiness and become the best version of themselves. No surprise, but the writing was also so well done: clever, charming, and witty. It was a heartwarming novel that’ll definitely have you in your feels long after you finish reading. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

[Sharon Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel.

I love Steven Rowley books. They have heart, humor, and honesty and make me laugh, think, and cry. This one was no different.

I don’t know what I expected when I opened the book, but I quickly felt like I was dropped into Jesse and Norman’s lives. When Norman was abducted after a rumbling bright light appeared, I had no idea where the book was going. But it was such a treat to follow Jesse as he grapples with his new reality of his situation (who would believe him if he told them the truth?). He uses his class on humor to reflect, and I loved seeing his relationships grow with his students.

After Norman returns to a newly-improved Jesse, the author took the time to show the complexities of getting what you want back. Jesse had grown during Norman’s absence and didn’t want to return to the way things were. He challenged Norman to the limits until he had a similar situation.

While this wasn’t as realistic of a story as some of Rowley’s other works, I enjoyed the rich descriptions he gave of the Joshua Tree area and the cast of characters. He uses humor and sarcasm to make his characters feel lovable while they are still flawed. I felt like I was alongside Jesse as he dealt with his situation.

Suspend your disbelief and hold on tight - this is a great ride, and I can’t wait to see what Rowley does next.

[Michael B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Steven Rowley’s books, and this one stands out as being, at least to me, the most unique.

Jesse and Norman have been together for thirty years, and things seem to have lost a bit of their spark. Jesse always seems to be the one to follow along with what Norman wants, and at times, he just wants things to go his way. One night, Jesse awakens to bright light in their back yard and Norman missing from their bed. As he goes to investigate, he discovers Norman staring at a pillar of light coming down from the sky, before stepping into the light and ascending into the air. The beam of light takes Norman, and Jesse finds himself left alone, with a missing husband.

This is a story of Jesse finding himself again mid-life, taking control as time slips by, and growing into the man he wants to be. There is a lot to unpack as this story goes along. As with Rowley’s other books, there is a lot of personal growth for the main character.

The host of supporting characters are fun and entertaining. They provide some drama, great advice, and a little chaos. I absolutely loved the relationship that Jesse has with the students in his college classes. It’s obvious that his students adore him.

In the end, this was a great story, which is what I have come to expect from Rowley’s works. If you have read and enjoyed his other works, you are going to enjoy this one as well. If you haven’t been introduced to him yet, this is a great book to draw you into his world.

Thanks to the author/publisher for this copy of the book.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Putnam Books for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Although I'm familiar with Rowley's work, this is the first novel of his that I've read, and I enjoyed it overall. I found the beginning of the book intriguing, and I appreciated the end, but I did not enjoy the journey to the book's conclusion. I never felt compelled to read this book, and I think it's because of how the story unfolds.

I love reading about two lovers and their relationship. I enjoyed the Joshua Tree setting, and I like Norman & Jesse's banter. However, in Take Me With You, I feel as if the reader isn't privy to how they reached the emotional distance in their relationship. We saw glimpses of these moments, but they felt like previews for a movie we didn't get the chance to see. I think if we saw more of those moments, the disappearance and ending would feel more impactful.

On the contrary, I really did enjoy the metaphor of alien abduction as absence in a relationship. Sometimes, people need time to work on themselves so they can reunite and strengthen their relationship.

Ultimately, readers who have experienced a long-term relationship will relate to this story. I found the ending especially heartwarming. I would forewarn readers that this is a small slice-of-life story without a significant amount of plot. Still enjoyable though, and I would read something else by this author!