The Family Compound follows two sets of siblings who, after the unexpected death of one set's father, inherit the land that their families have lived on for as long as they can remember, and must decide whether to keep or sell it, in the face of their own personal dramas and conflicts.

I was drawn to this book because of its promise of family drama, a major queer storyline, and the Vermont setting (my home state!), and ended up with mixed feelings about it. I liked some aspects – the Vermont references were fun and charming (and I had a wonderfully easy time envisioning the setting), many of the individual scenes and interactions were fun, but the book didn't quite work for me on the whole. The frequent POV-switching between the three women in the family left me feeling like many of the characters didn't get fully developed, and many of the conflicts felt insufficiently engaging and inadequately resolved. I wanted to care about the characters and what was happening in their lives more than I actually did!

Though it didn't work for me, I would recommend this to folks looking for a quick-read messy sibling-and-cousin drama, later-in-life queer realization, and delightfully written children (Halsey's son Miles was an absolute standout). Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC!

hank you Amazon Publishing for my e-ARC in exchange for the honest review.

When Penny, Chris and Laurie’s father died The Compound was divided to the siblings and two cousins evenly. For the siblings, for them it was so hard to talk about their parents because of what happened. All they have was each other and they’re cousins.

they start voting if the compound will stay or sell, they start arguing about that. The compound leave to the five cousins but their dad/uncle never leave any money for them. So all they have was the house. Halsey, she was divorced and raising her child. Chad was an asshole for cheating with their babysitter.

This book has multiple POVs.

Review coming soon. Fell behind due to illness, amd working on all of the old ones now.

This one will not be forgotten. I adore Liz Parker’s story’s she is a genius at storytelling.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.


Pub Date was August 23, 2022
#TheFamikyCompound #LizParker #NetGalley

Fans of family sagas will find a lot to love about Liz Parker's The Family Compound, a compact novel about five cousins attempting to decide what to do with their 150-acre inheritance. The plot is secondary here to the characters — as each of them is forced to consider their lives and who they want to be going forward.

Thank you @otrpr and @amazonpublishing for partnering with me on this amazing giveaway!

A compassionate and insightful novel about family, broken dreams, and holding on to everything in life that matters.

When the Nolan family patriarch dies suddenly of a heart attack, the Nolan siblings and cousins quickly learn of their shared inheritance -- the sprawling 150-acre property in Stowe, VT they jokingly call the Family Compound. But with each at a different place in life, reaching a unanimous decision regarding the property seems unlikely. 

Penny struggles with anxiety and craves stability in an unstable world. Halsey is divorced, raising her child, and contending with an unexpected realization about herself. William can be counted on only to fall in love as capriciously as he falls out of it. And both Laurie and Chris are floundering after betrayals―hers professional, his personal. With little in common except childhood memories, the five face impossible choices. It’s going to take sacrifice, compromise, and a plan for moving forward they can all agree to. Until then, the fate of the Nolan family compound is as uncertain as their paths in life.

As five lives in flux converge and tensions run high, the cousins will have to rely on each other if they’re to have any hope of preserving the past. Liz Parker writes with clear affection for these five floundering adult children and all their blunders, heartbreaks and frailties. Witty, captivating, and emotionally astute, you will cheer for these members of THE FAMILY COMPOUND as they fall in love and find their true callings.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗱 by @wizpower released August 23, 2022.

I'm a sucker for a good family drama. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed this overall, it didn't blow me away or anything. It's on the shorter side though, so it was a quick read for me.

I definitely enjoyed Halsey's and Penny's storylines the most, while I found Laurie to be a pretty unlikeable character. While I'm all for women characters at the forefront, William and Chris just seemed like afterthoughts and I would have liked to see more character development for them and get to know all five cousins.

I liked the Vermont setting of the book and the descriptions of the landscape. It definitely made me want to visit one day

This book had a bit of a slow start but a strong finish. I became easily invested in the women who each have a POV. I wish the two men had been given one too since their stories were a little thin. There were a few flashback chapters that took me out of the story, and sometimes I had trouble following the timeline- especially with Andrew whose love felt a little too insta and intense- but I guess sometimes that does happen. I really enjoyed Halsey’s plot line though sometimes it was difficult to read. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but I thought Liz Parker did a good job showing their backstories, the challenges they face, and how they overcome them. On the whole, I thought this was a great look at family dynamics and I definitely wanted to know what would happen.

Note: I couldn’t quite figure this out before reading so let me say clearly here: there IS a queer storyline.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing. ARC exchanged for an honest review.

Short summary: five cousins are left 150 acres in Stowe, VT and must figure out whether to sell the land or keep it and how to do so.

3.5 star read for me

I'm always game for a great family drama (with bonus points when set in New England) and The Family Compound initially seemed to fit the bill. Five cousins from two families (siblings Chris, Laurie and Penny, and siblings William and Halsey) have always had the family compound in Stowe, Vermont in their lives. They're now all adults and the oldest family member has passed away, leaving them with a quandry about how to deal with the property moving forward, and in compliance with the strict terms of the property trust.
Their life circumstances are so different, ranging from a single mother who doesn't work outside the home to a private equities executive. They'll need to work through their many differences if they want to keep the property in the family. Ms. Parker does a nice job of capturing the grief of losing a parent and how relationships among family members can change in adulthood.
I liked the flashbacks to earlier times when the cousins were younger and families intact. Everyone seemed very functional at that point, but they all seem to have evolved to different stages of being dysfunctional (without helping the reader to understand how that happened). At different points, I wanted to yell "grow up" to each of the cousins!
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Family Compound in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book! My first line was going to be “like The Nest if the Nest was good”! Unfortunately I think this is false. This book dragged SO MUCH. It’s way more character-driven, but calling it ‘driven’ feels like a misnomer. I also think I read this at the Exact Wrong Time because the entire time I desperately wished I was reading ALL OF US VILLAINS, which is rough for me because the hold list at the library is 22 weeks long. Two stars! But maybe it was just not the right time for me to read this book.

As a fan of family dramas, I enjoyed this book for the most part. I thought the character development could have been stronger, but I did enjoy the alternating POVs. Overall, this was a slow burn and took me a bit longer to read than usual though the last quarter of the book picked up and enhanced my interest.

This was a great read - a funny beach read but with depth and great character development.

I really loved the family dynamics and the ending delivered. Definitely recommend!

Family dramas are usually my jam, but this one just didn’t do it for me. What a bummer because it had so much promise. The characters were lackluster and rather unlikable. The storyline bored me, and felt messy and disjointed. Overall, it was a mediocre reading experience.

The Family Compound is a story that I think anyone with a large family + land can relate to from the land to the drama. I liked the spin that the grandfather put on the terms once the elders passed on, it gave the story a little bit of a twist. I wanted a little more insight into Laurie, Chris, & William's stories and maybe it's just me, but I wanted more about Paul. I'm not sure what I wanted, whether it be drama or revenge, but I felt that storyline needed just a little more. This story gives insight into what happens once the parents are no longer alive and what it takes for a family to continue to remain close despite their differences. It was a quick fun read!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Five cousins face a difficult decision when the patriarch of their family dies. Both families live on a very large plot of land that they have always called 'The Compound' settles in Stowe, Vermont. While some are content to stay in Vermont and on the compound, others have found different paths in life and don't want to be tied to the land anymore. All five must agree on whether to stay or sell the land that is worth a hefty amount of money, and if any of the cousins wish to be bought out, they can only accept $100 for their portion.

The story is told from the perspectives of three of the cousins, each a little lost in their own lives, and none of them especially sympathetic to the others. Along with the painful decisions of whether to keep the compound or to sell, are the hurdles of how to financially pay for the upkeep of the property, and the sentimental attachment that they all have with it. New relationships are formed, secrets are shared, and there is even a little blackmail among them when agreement can't be reached about what to do.

I really enjoy Liz Parker's writing style, and enjoyed her newest book immensely. We get to see each of the women and their own viewpoints, so that we get each side of their stories. One cousin loses her job, another is dealing with mental illness, and the other is struggling with a new relationship that she doesn't think will garner approval from her family. This was a fascinating look at the family dynamic of adult children who haven't quite launched out from under the shadows of their parents, and of the bonds that bind their family together.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This is the engaging story of what happens when a group of five very different cousins inherit a longtime family vacation property. What to do? The answer, as it turns out, is very complicated, as each of the cousins has their own somewhat desperate situation and a solution that involves the property in some way. A great read that I look forward to recommending.

The Family Compound is essentially a book about the dynamics within a family when their patriarch dies. In this case, the adult children have not yet launched away from home or their parents. Recommended for fans of books about families and the dramas of each character. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm a sucker for family sagas, coming from a large extended family who all used to go on holiday together, so this book was right up my alley.
I like how each cousin was developed with his or her unique story and take on things. The conflicts and related dramas were realistic and true to life.
A very good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book

A book about three siblings that must cope after their father copes unexpectedly. I didn't enjoy it at all. I was barely able to finish it. None of the characters were likable. I just didn't feel anything for anyone of them. I wasn't able to be sympathetic to the siblings and all their miniscule problems.

I love a good family drama, and this one delivered! I am very close with my family, so I always find it interesting to read about family dynamics that are so different from my own. I thoroughly enjoyed Parker’s writing style and the delicate way she handled some sensitive subjects. Penny was my favorite of the cousins, and her story really resonated with me, especially the way she reacts to conflict. The two male cousins Chris and William could have been more fleshed out, but I loved that the story focused on the three women in the family. The setting in the Vermont mountains was so vivid! My husband recently hiked Mount Washington, so it was fun to know a little bit about the area from helping him plan. A fantastic book to pick up for fans of family dramas!

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝘅𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁-𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀.

When Laurie, Chris and Penny’s father dies, what happens with the Family Compound will be decided through the will. Siblings Halsey and William have their own ideas of what to do with the land, even if their cousins outnumber them. The will throws them all in a bind. Laurie always assumed with the majority, it was going to be her brother, sister and she who had the biggest decision making powers. Naturally, she and Chris are the only Nolans who have real “careers”, and the place isn’t cheap to upkeep. Maintenance is just the beginning of their business problems and the estate funds have dwindled. The rub? The will states they must all agree on any decision that is made, and without money time is of the essence.

Keeping the home means they all must equally contribute, but with unequal earnings, it seems unfair to pay the same amount. Especially if you aren’t working at all. Halsey has plans to stay there forever, it was her grandfather’s favorite place on earth. It radiates family memories, her family. She has never worked, but she knows how to manage things, if not her own failed marriage, but she is a great mother. She hates how her successful cousin Laurie condescends. Laurie is resentful of what she sees as laziness, she and Chris are not about to carry their sister Penny nor cousins Halsey and William, no matter how fond they are of their home. Why should they deal with the financial problems enabling the lifestyles the other three lead? Penny is a fragile mess, with her own complicated drama, always feeling like she is in the middle- forced into the role of tiebreaker. It’s too much pressure. William just wants to focus on his yogi plans, his Instagram followers but he doesn’t want to sell, he is on Halsey’s side. Halsey’s entire life is there, there is nowhere else in the entire world she plans on raising her son Miles. There is a split, but it’s not going to be easy as all their personal lives start unraveling, worse, they are all drifting further apart. Truth be told, none of them are close anymore.

Money and death do strange things to people, live long enough and most of us learn this, sadly it can get ugly. Each of the Nolans feel critical of each other and are hardest on themselves. They hide who they are, run off, deny the truth, and feud; all so they can avoid the critical eyes of their family. Can they truly be diplomatic when there is so much judgement? Laurie and Chris feel superior, with their luxurious lives but are the others less? Penny is an interesting character, lost. But are Chris and Laurie as perfect as they appear? Halsey can be just as self-righteous in her resentment of the power Laurie has. William, for some reason didn’t take up as much space in the novel for me. Can this family come together? Is it possible to make a decision that lets them all win? I thought the ending was good and the characters issues with each other seem realistic. The will is a clever set up, one that demands family communicate. A decent read for those who love family drama.

Publication Date: August 23, 2022 Available Today

Lake Union Publishing