One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a tense, twisty story set at The Precipice, a family-owned hotel perched on Maine’s rugged coast. The hotel is directly in the path of a hurricane when the Bishop sisters, Vicki, Iris, and Faith, gather to settle their father’s estate. As the storm closes in, family secrets are revealed and someone ends up dead.

The story is partly told from the perspective of Charley Kelley, the hotel’s 19-year-old chambermaid. Smart and observant, Charley’s juggling her own problems: caring for her grandmother and secretly helping a woman on the run. Her chapters show an outsider’s view and the class divide that complicates the story.

The setting is a significant part of the plot, with the people trapped together in the hotel battling the elements as much as each other. The book is fast-paced with plenty of twists.

One Big Happy Family blends family drama and suspense, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers set in moody, coastal locations.

I received this Advance Reader Copy of One Big Happy Family from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.

A wonderfully suspenseful summertime read from a favorite author! This one has a locked room mystery feel to it, as it takes place during a fierce hurricane. The characters are well developed, and there are plenty of plot twists to keep things interesting. Recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

This is a closed room mystery and family drama that just missed the mark for me. I loved Ms. Day's first book, The Block Party, but this one just felt ok.

The three Bishop sisters are at their family's hotel on the coast of Maine for the reading of their father's will, despite a hurricane heading right for them. This allows for no guests, which is good, since someone is found dead soon after the reading. The only people there are the sisters and their families, the desk manager, and the chamber maid, Charley.

Charley is 19 and has been working (and living) at The Precipice for a couple years. She pretty much gives her paycheck to the care of her grandmother. With the home raising the cost, it seems like a bit of luck when Bree appears at the hotel, looking for help. She is hiding from her abusive boyfriend and will pay Charley cash if she can stay. What else can Charley do? This will pay for her grandmother's care and she's doing something good for someone else.

The Bishops are one messed up family. There is so much drama - more drama than thrill or mystery - so if you like dysfunctional families, this is a good choice. Sadly, I found a lot of points too difficult to believe and had to suspend my disbelief many times.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a locked-room mystery that takes place on the rocky shore of Maine. Facing a hurricane, the Bishop sisters return to the hotel for the reading of their father's will. Charley Kelley is the live-in maid responsible for catering to their needs while also trying to ready the hotel for the coming storm.

I actually finished this book way back in October but I have been far behind on my reviews. First of all, the fine print on the cover is important otherwise the title and cover art almost makes it seem like a whimsical family story. I didn't notice it until I started writing this review so I don't know how obvious this is in person having never actually seen the physical book. I liked the Gothic setting and what I pictured in my head as a dark hotel. The family is certainly dysfunctional with lots of secrets and betrayal. Charley has some secrets of her own.

I gave this book 3 stars because I felt like the characters were flat. Some of the revelations felt forced and rushed toward the end of the book. My favorite character was actually the desk clerk and he had such a small role. Overall, I think this book had more potential but will appeal to fans of a locked-room mystery and family drama.

Thank you to the publisher #stmartinspress and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.

One Big Happy Family had a strong start—the setup was fun, the characters were intriguing, and I was really into the idea of all the drama that would unfold when the Bishop sisters came back together. Charley’s storyline had me hooked early on, and I appreciated the short chapters that made it easy to keep turning the pages.

But about halfway through, the story started to lose its momentum for me. I found myself losing interest as things dragged on. There was a lot of focus on backstories and character development—which I usually enjoy—but for a thriller, it started to feel like a bit too much. It felt like the story kept branching out instead of staying focused, which made it feel longer than it needed to be. I eventually figured out where it was going, and by then, it just didn’t have the same impact.

This was my first book by Jamie Day, so I didn’t have any expectations going in, but I know a lot of people loved her debut. I’d definitely still check out more from her in the future, because I can tell she knows how to build interesting characters and layered family dynamics. This one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC!

This book was fast and twisty. The characters are unlikeable which is totally good with me and all had their own secrets and schemes. There was lots of suspense especially with how moody and atmospheric this setting was described. This book kept me entertained and I would recommend to others for a twisty family suspense book.

The three Bishop sisters find themselves stranded at their family owned remote hotel for the reading of the will for their recently deceased father due to a storm. But, the storm outside isn't bigger than the storm brewing inside and when people start dying, Charley, the hotel's maid, realizes that she needs to uncover the secrets of the Bishop family before it's too late for her!!

One Big Happy Family is choked full various possibilities to keep the reader guessing but the holes in the plot take away from the storyline. Good idea for a book but poor execution.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jamie Day’s *One Big Happy Family* was such a fun, fast-paced read! Set in a stormy Maine hotel, it’s packed with family secrets, unexpected twists, and a great locked-room mystery vibe. I loved the character of Charley—the chambermaid with a complicated past—and how the story slowly unraveled through multiple perspectives. If you enjoy family drama mixed with suspense, this one definitely keeps you turning the pages!

I grabbed One Big Happy Family because that vibrant, colorful beach scene on the cover caught my eye and wow, did this book deliver! Set at The Precipice, a legendary family hotel on the Maine coast, the story begins when the owner dies and his three daughters return to stake their claim on the family legacy. Their dysfunctional, secret laden relationships make for a wild, sometimes hilarious ride.

But the real star? Charley, the maid. She’s kindhearted and tough, stealing from guests to care for her mother, who suffers from dementia. On top of that, she’s hiding Bree, her best friend and a stowaway running from an abusive past. Charley’s quiet strength and fierce loyalty give this story its beating heart.

As a hurricane barrels toward shore, tension inside the hotel mounts. Guests are trapped and shielded from the storm outside, but not from the darker danger lurking within. A killer is on the loose and not everyone will survive.

The pacing takes a little time to build, but once the climax hits, it’s pure Agatha Christie brilliance. The locked room mystery kept me guessing and glued to the page.

This book is jam packed with family drama, dark secrets, and wonderfully quirky characters that feel like they jumped straight out of an Alice Feeney novel with a splash of Kaira Rouda’s chaotic family energy. The setting is so vivid it almost becomes a character itself, adding to the atmosphere and tension.

Told in four parts and mostly from an omniscient viewpoint, the standout narrative is definitely Charley’s first person sections. She won me over instantly with her warmth and grit.

Yes, there were a few minor things that niggled me, but they didn’t dampen the overall experience of this fast paced, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining read. If you’re into family sagas with a side of suspense and a touch of dark humor, One Big Happy Family is absolutely worth your time!

I am going to DNF this book I enjoyed other books by this author enough to give this one a try, but there are political issues in this book that makes me not want to continue. Homosexual characters and illegal immigrants pointing blame at ICE workers. Seems more and more authors are adding progressive politics to their books.

I enjoyed the second part of the books! The first was slow going but then it started to pick up for me. I think other people would enjoy it more than Ai did and because of that I would still recommend this book.

This is an intriguing whodunnit told mainly from the perspective of the housekeeper of an old inn on the cliffs of Maine. When the three daughters of the owner stay at the inn after his death for the reading of his will, bodies start to drop. To make matters worse, the hurricane outside forces everyone to ride it out together.

I really enjoyed this. While I correctly guessed some of the twists and turns, I still had fun reading them, and there are always new things the reader learns about the well-developed characters. There were a few points that felt a bit like plot holes (i.e. if the weather was that bad, how did the rescue vehicles get through, and there really isn't an explanation of how the lawyer is killed). In general, it was a fun read full of tension and hidden pasts we get to discover in what is basically a locked-room mystery.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

This is the second book I’ve read by the author. I loved the first one but this one was just ok to me. There was a lot going on, possibly too many characters and the timing didn’t make sense in my head as I’m reading it (but it’s probably right just couldn’t fit it in the picture in my mind). It’s a good locked in mystery though, just not a top read for me. Looking forward to more from this author!

This was 1st for me by author. Very entertaining twisty. Like a modern day Agathe Christie!
Look forward to racing more from author.

This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I have to admit that I originally picked this book because of the cover, which is both beautiful and intriguing. It's a real page-turner with interesting characters and a twisty plot. I highly recommend it for a mystery book club.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy. All opinions are my own.

In One Big Happy Family, Jamie Day weaves a gripping tale set against the backdrop of the legendary, family-owned hotel, The Precipice, perched on Maine’s rocky coast. With their father’s recent passing, the Bishop sisters Iris, Vicki, and Faith converge at the hotel for a weekend that promises both reunion and danger.
Day’s writing keeps readers on the edge, with nonstop twists and turns. The atmospheric setting, complex family dynamics, and secrets lurking in the shadows make this a page turner. While the suspense builds steadily, the characters’ emotional depth adds layers to the story.
If you enjoy suspenseful family dramas with unexpected revelations, One Big Happy Family is a must-read. Day’s storytelling prowess shines, leaving readers eager for more.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you like a locked room mystery with unlikeable rich family members vying for an inheritance, then this might be for you. I feel like this was slow at the beginning and then in parts 3 and 4, things started happening, but it was over the top and not believable. It just dragged on too much for me. So many characters to keep track of, I felt like the story was all over the place.

I may be an outlier, so please read others reviews, but for me, this was a miss.

I'm rating this 3 Wine Glasses 🍷🍷🍷

This was a backlog ARC I was given the opportunity to read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

After the owner of The Precipice hotel dies, his daughters come home to Maine to claim their inheritance. Add in an approaching hurricane, LOTS of family secrets, and a chambermaid with secrets of her own and you have a riveting summer suspense! I was immediately engrossed in this crazy family! This story was full of twists and turns that snuck up on the reader. If I listed them all on paper it would feel like too much, but the author woven them all together seamlessly. This is a novel that is difficult to put down.