Anna and her children have to face things after her husband’s sudden death. All is not as perfect as it seems from the outside. ARC from NetGalley.

I am a huge fan of Robyn Carr's having read every one of her books. The Family Affair did not disappoint. I highly recommend reading this amazing book.

Robyn Carr's A Family Affair is a book about Anna McNichol; everything is going as planned in her life until the unexpected happens, her husband dies. Throughout the book, Anna deals with secrets, the search for truth, and what the real meaning of family is.

I usually enjoy books by Robyn Carr but for me, this one didn't fit her normal sweet romance type. I thought it was too dark and I didn't really relate to any of the characters. I'm sure some people will enjoy this deviation from Carr's usually style. I finished it but I kept hoping it would get better. I'm looking forward to her next novel.

3.5
This is my nineteenth author, Robyn Carr novel. I have read many in the Virgin River series as well as Sullivan’s Crossing. My favorite standalones were "The Life She Wants" and "The Summer That Made Us"].

This story is about a family’s secrets.
Anna McNichol believes she has the perfect life; she is enjoying her career as a judge. Anna and Chad were partners in raising their three children Michael, Jessie and Bess in a nurturing loving family. The children are now adults and have moved on ~ all is good.

However, they now are in shock as dad Chad expectantly dies is a rafting accident.
The family is trying to deal with this. Anna is curious why Chad went on the trip as he has no rafting experience. Also who was the mysterious young pregnant woman at his memorial service?
Now the secrets come forth.

I thought I wasn’t in the mood for a family drama but this turned out better than I expected!
I did enjoy it and found some nice Awww moments!


Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publications for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 5, 2022

Anna has just lost her husband. Over the years they had faced many issues but now after his death Anna is finding out things she never knew about him. His children are also struggling to deal with his death and have issues of their own. This is a story about a family and learning to forgive and come together. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed this family saga story. It was interesting to see how each person was able to move past the sins of the father/husband. I would have liked it if they could have addressed his mistakes to him and he could have received some type of comuppance for his mistakes. I liked how the issues with each child was addressed and dealt with. The characters were all strong in their own way yet each had issues that they had to overcome. Lots of different subplots pulled you into this book to see how it would eventually end. Another great read from Robyn Carr.

This is a complicated story line with too many characters. This family has way too many issues and every person has too many problems. This book does not have the loving family relationships and wonderfully happy ends that I am used to in her books. Not my favorite book of hers

This book was not for me. I usually fall into a Robyn Carr book and am sad to leave when it’s done. I thought I’d relate to Anna due to her stage of life; however, I never connected with the characters and felt like I was observing an endless litany of complaints and issues. Carr’s trademark joy and positivity, despite a character’s problems, were not evident until the last quarter of the book.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title. While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I look forward to Carr’s future books. All opinions expressed are my own.

A complex story about a very complicated family that begins when the husband and father of this group suddenly dies in a river rafting accident. That he was not experienced and couldn't really swim makes it all even harder to understand and accept. The year following his death is chronicled here and in a most interesting manner. I really enjoyed this family and their development after his loss. Twists and turns for everyone make for a wonderful read.

Talk about a family plagued with problem after problem…..wow! I enjoyed the main story in this book, but there were so many offshoots and it started to drag. Overall, though, it was a good read.

This is my 9th book by Robyn Carr and I think it’s her best one yet! It opens up with Anna’s husband who recently died suddenly and they are at his funeral. He was a prominent Dr and was loved by many. They have 3 grown children, all living their own lives and they each had to come to grips with their dad’s passing. There were many challenges they faced and they discovered a few secrets he had. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

i really loved the story of Blanche in a family affair it was a beautiful story, as a person who has lost a parent reading it was very touching.

Family isn’t perfect, but it’s family, and it always shows up for you when you need it! Written as beautifully as this author can write, a book you will not want to miss!

I am a Robyn Carr fan

This book is not her norm

I am going to try to read again and will update my review

This book is about a family who loses there father and husband. They lose themselves along the way and work to find a new path forward. Self discovery is often hard and painful. This book is beautifully written. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A truly heartwarming book about a family that grieves over the loss of the father only to be faced with his secrets that resulted in a sister that was not known prior to his death. It is a story filled with heartache and grace. It is a triumph to see how each family member grows and grows closer in spite of their loss.

Could easily be entitled once a cheater but Robyn Carr decidedly took the higher ground with A FAMILY AFFAIR which is also a double entendre. I’ve never met a book by this intriguing romance writer that I didn’t love, and A FAMILY AFFAIR certainly lives up to my expectations. After her husband Chad cheats on her, admits it, swears to be forever true, Anna stays the course so to speak. After all there are two very young children to consider. So although she secretly wishes to kill this cheat, she instead becomes a lawyer. After that she candidly upstages Chad at every point in their lives, with one marked difference. When it came to cheating it appears Chad held the record.

Anna became an expert at handling this meandering husband of hers. Did that mean she accepted his roving eyes, no of course not. But with children to support Anna quietly took on the role of nurturing wife. His ego needed tender care so Anna provided that in spades. But at what cost. Anna was demeaned by this husband in wolfs clothing. He minimized her success. And in the end when he died Anna still had to extol his virtues.

How do you build or maintain a family that is no longer supported by love. The children were loved and nurtured. The parents were partners, notice I didn’t say lovers. Love had somehow left the relationship. What remained was a determination to keep the family together. That became the new normal for Anna, Chad, Michael, Jessie and Bess. Outward appearance was that of a devoted loving family. Anna was resolved to stay with Chad whose role was that of partner in parenting and support. Anna knew she could never again trust this man. Too many lies and secrets. So imagine her chagrin when at his funeral she becomes aware of still one more secret. Another child, now a grown adult.

A FAMILY AFFAIR is a remarkable study of strength and resilience. Robyn Carr knows how to mold her characters into folks that jump off the page with their realistic dialog and situations. In A FAMILY AFFAIR it’s not a leap of faith to accept the possible reality of a situation like this family’s. How many marriages lose their luster after a time and end up in cooler version of devotion. Robyn Carr created a woman with strong survival skills with her Anna. That didn’t mean that Anna was a goody two shoes. Anna was determined to not step into her mother’s shoes. And when her marriage starts showing wear Anna knew it was necessary to secure her family. Both emotional and financially. But of course there is a price.

Now with her husband’s death Anna is going to have to shoulder more responsibility. Her children are still reeling from his death. As facts unfold about Chad and his secrets, Anna is going to have to decide what to disclose. No matter what she chooses Anna feels certain there will be blowback directed at her. Chad made his happiness her job. When does Anna get her chance.

Again I state A FAMILY AFFAIR is probably one of Robyn Carr’s best and that saying a lot. The dialog and situations are so very realistic and current. These may just be the some of the best characters this amazing author has created. Amid angst and emotional pain Robyn Carr reminds us to laugh. Laughter is the best medicine after all. And while her characters search for answers we share moments of glee and humor as well. Quite a judicious undertaking. That’s why Robyn Carr is in a class of her own.

Really enjoyed Robyn Carr's latest book. It delves into messy families and how families have to adopt and change when circumstances aren't what they think. It is highly entertaining and kept me wanting to turn page after page.

Thank you to net galley for the arc one exchange for an honest review.

San Francisco Bay Area - Present Day

Anna McNichol, raised by a single mother, is determined that her marriage, as imperfect as it is, will survive, and that all of the advantages she's made sure her three children have had will help them in life. To Anna keeping her marriage together, despite her husband, Chad's, admitted affair, is all important. But, just in case, Anna is also determined not to be left a single mother, so after Chad's indiscretion, she goes to law school, and has become a well-respected attorney in San Francisco. And now after being appointed to the bench, and with her husband's growing frustration with their marriage, Anna isn't sure she and Chad should remain together. All of that is moot now, however, after Chad dies in a river rafting accident. And just who was the pregnant young woman who attended his funeral? Just what secrets was Chad hiding from her?

Anna and Chad's eldest daughter, Jessie, is a high-strung, no-nonsense internal medicine doctor who adored her father, respects her mother, although the mother/daughter relationship has been an issue all of their lives. Jessie is angry that her mother "allowed" her father to go on the rafting trip despite not being a swimmer. There is also the problem of Jessie's inability to maintain a relationship with a man. She and her latest have just broken up. And when a surgeon at her hospital shows interest, Jessie's possessiveness again rears its ugly head. Why can't she keep a man happy?

Michael, the only son, is a teacher, sports coach, and, generally, a nice guy. He and his father were close, but he and Anna have a special relationship. Devastated by Chad's death, Michael is finding it difficult to move on. Plus, his fear of commitment is threatening his feelings for Jenn, a fellow teacher he's been involved with for a few months.

Bess, the youngest, has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. She is in law school, is an over-achiever, and mourns her father in her own way. Not one to show emotion, Bess returns to her studies. Anna knows that her daughter is hurting, but also knows that Bess is handling this situation her own way.

Finding her way as a widow, Anna struggles to come to terms with her feelings, or lack thereof, for Chad. He seemed to be pulling further away from her the last few years, and she blamed jealousy of her growing fame as a judge, and Chad's life-long narcissism. He had been a prominent clinical psychologist, adored by his children, and popular with their friends. But life was never perfect enough for him. What else could she have done?

Families are all different, and the McNichols are learning how to live their lives without Chad, each in their own way. But when his will is read, it becomes clear to all of them that they didn't know him as well as they thought they did. All Anna wants to do is hold her family together, but different personalities make for differing reactions.

Family dynamics, secrets, and love are what A FAMILY AFFAIR is all about. Readers will understand the emotions of losing a loved one, and what happens when someone hasn't been honest in a relationship. Robyn Carr is, once again, writing about real life.