3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the author's prior book, The Block Party, and was excited to read One Big Happy Family. The main character is Charley Kelley, a young woman who works as a housekeeper at an isolated hotel in Maine. When the owner dies, his three daughters come into town for the reading of the will and to possibly make changes in the running of the hotel. Charley fears for her job, especially since she's doing things that the owners would definitely not approve of. Things get worse when a hurricane heads their way and a killer strikes, making it just as dangerous inside the hotel as out.

This book has some entertaining moments, but it suffers from uneven pacing. It's slow to start while you get to know each of the main characters. However, any building momentum is lost when Part 1 of the book ends and Part 2 flashes back to when the Bishop sisters were younger, with chapters dedicated to each sister. This part of the book serves its purpose, but moves slowly. Part 3 then takes a while to gear back up again, but when it does, the tension and drama kept my interest. There are many unlikable characters and even Charley takes a while to get used to. It's hard to know who to trust, but I was able to correctly categorize most of the heroes and villains before the satisfying ending.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day July 16, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel!
Charley the maid and Rodrigo the front desk manager work at The Precipice Hotel located near the rocky coastline of Maine. The hotel is owned by George Bishop who has a sordid past. Now that he has passed away, his daughters Vicki, Iris and Faith come to the hotel for the reading of the will. Before they arrive; however, Bree, a young woman running from her abusive boyfriend, seeks refuge at the hotel and asks Charley for help. But Charley must keep Bree hidden from the sisters and the rest of the group once they arrive. Besides the sisters, Todd, Vicki’s husband will be there; Oliver and Quinn, Faith’s and Vicki’s sons respectively; and the lawyer.
Unfortunately, it’s not just George Bishop with a sordid past. Almost everyone who has arrived at The Precipice has a shady past and when bodies start to drop and long forgotten secrets are no longer buried, things begin to get a lot more interesting at the hotel. Oh… and one other thing...there’s a hurricane barreling their way too!!! What secrets threaten to be revealed? Can the past truly be forgotten? What a wild ride Jamie Day has written for us!!! Really enjoyed reading this novel and trying to figure out who dun it! AVAILABLE July 16, 2024

I’ve been devouring thrillers & mysteries lately, and One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day delivered a locked room murder mystery at the Precipice family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine during a hurricane. You’ll want to curl up with this suspenseful tale.

The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel situated along the rocky coast of Maine. When the owner dies, his three daughters and their family arrive for the reading of the will and funeral as a hurricane bears down on the area. Iris, Vicki, and Faith; the Bishop sisters have secrets, hold grudges and each want their share.

Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old live-in chambermaid Charley Kelley has her own struggles. She is worried about keeping her job with a change of ownership. She needs the meager paycheck and housing to provide for her grandmother, who is in assisted living. With the hotel almost empty, Charley agrees to come to the aid of a stranger, offering Bree shelter while she hides from an abusive boyfriend. If discovered, the sisters could fire her.

As the storm looms ever closer, the tension at the Precipice builds. When the will is read, death follows. Was it an accident or murder? Cut off from the police and without internet things unravel. The author slowly revealed secrets, shed light on the sister’s childhood and pitted characters against each other as they battled against the rising storm and each other.

One Big Happy Family was an enjoyable summer thriller, with plenty of twists as only a dysfunctional family can deliver. I loved the build up. The story dragged in spots, but towards the end picked up in speed before delivering an epilogue that felt all too neat.

I liked Charley, was cautious of Bree and didn’t trust any of the Bishop sisters or the hotel desk manager. LOL. I solved this one a little quickly, but overall found it entertaining. It’s a fun mystery for a rainy day at the beach.

Sadly I didn’t love it, and I did really like The Block Party by the same author. I didn’t really feel connected with the main character. There were a lot of characters so I found myself struggling to keep them straight. Also it’s a locked room style thriller, which has never been my favorite. No fault to the book/author.

I preferred The Block Party, but have also seen reviews of people who loved this one. It’s all subjective! Give it a shot if it sounds interesting to you!

One Big Happy Family was high on my TBR after really enjoying Day’s previous domestic thriller, The Block Party. However, I feel like this one fell short for me. I couldn’t get invested in the characters, the storyline didn’t feel super cohesive. I was disappointed that I didn’t love this one as much as I wanted. It didn’t keep my interest and was very predictable. I will still try another of Day’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I am very glad that I decided to request this audiobook. I had initially requested this book several months ago and thought it was slightly boring, and didn't give it a good review on NetGalley but here on July 11th 2024, I am happy to report that I was glad I gave this book a second chance as it was a really good thriller. I'm sure it helps that Saskia Maarvelad is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, but from the first few chapters, I was hooked. This is not the first time when I've read an arc and not enjoyed it but then enjoyed the audiobook. Anyhow I highly recommend this book, and if like me you find the print book boring, I encourage you to try the audiobook, I'm sure you won't regret it! This book is a great locked room thriller and I finished the audiobook in under 24 hours!! I am definitely a fan of Jamie Day's now!
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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. I found that the story seemed to drag on and I couldn't find myself connecting with any of the characters -- they seemed immature to me. I was upset because I enjoy Jamie Day's debut novel.

Perhaps I will give this book a second chance later on at some point, but for me right now it is a "no". That doesn't mean someone else won't enjoy it.


Thank you!

I was so hooked on this story! I loved it even more than her debut last year, The Block Party. I felt the characters were memorable and well fleshed out. The creepy atmosphere lent perfectly for building tension and suspense. I felt satisfied at figuring a few things out and shocked at the things I didn’t see coming. I thought the pacing was well-balanced and kept me engaged and invested. Also, there’s just something about this cover that I was immediately drawn to and it totally fits the vibe of the story. It’s a perfect summer thriller read. I listened to the audio and I thought it was very well done. The narrator captured the voice of the characters and the tone of the story very well. Definitely recommend!


You’ll love this one if you like books with:
💰 Rich people behaving badly
🤐 Twists and secrets
🏚️ Locked-room setting
🎭Toxic, juicy family drama

The Precipice, a hotel in Maine, is about to get hit by hurricane and all the guests have canceled. All the guests, except for the Bishop sisters Iris, Vicki and Faith. Their father recently passed and he owned the hotel and hurricane or not, they want that will read. The sisters all have secrets of their own. Add to that the hotel maid, Charley, she’s young and has grown up with only her grandmother to care for her. Now that her grandmother needs to be in a home, Charley will do what it takes to pay for her care.
There’s murder and suspense and a crazy family. It should have been a thrill ride but unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. The beginning was slow. The secrets as they were revealed weren’t all that engaging. The main character Charley seemed pretty naive to me. I’m never a fan of characters forming super strong feelings for people in a very short time period and Charley definitely does that.
It has nice short chapters and it’s well written. Just oddly felt like a cozy to me..probably because of Charley.
Worth a shot if you enjoyed the authors last book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Always love a good mystery! The premise is interesting and there have been similar plots. I found the hurricane an interesting twist and it added to the 'thrill' of the story for me. It also could have had something to do with the fact that there was a hurricane rolling toward the US while reading! If you are a mystery fan, then this should be on your list. I will definitely be recommending and this title is showing up on many popular reading lists. thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Not many of the characters in Jamie Day's One Big Happy Family are likeable. You have the family of the Precipice hotel in Maine come together to plan the fate of the family legacy after their father's death, and you have the young chambermaid that survived the deceased owner's advances. With a hurricane barreling down on them, they become trapped, and then there is murder.

What sets up as a great mystery or perhaps psychological thriller, lands a little flat. There is no one really the reader can cheer for, and it is a little too predictable. I do like Day's writing style. The short chapters made it easy to read and find stopping points. This wasn't a novel I couldn't put down, but it was a palatable read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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One Big Happy Family
Author: Jamie Day
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
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One Big Happy Family does not accurately describe the participants in this novel. Set on the coast of Maine in a very eclectically decorated B&B, we get the story primarily through the lead protagonist, the hotel maid, Charley. Most of the novel sets the scene for Hurricane Larry, heading toward the Precipice Inn not long after the death of the old, lecherous, and handsy owner, George Bishop. He had a roving eye to go with those roving hands. Yikes. But his three surviving daughters are coming to the Inn after multiple years of absence for the reading of the Last Will, and that is when things really go sideways. We have a storm, sisters who hate each other, criminals, a maid who steals money from guests’ wallets, a creepy yet funky inn, a young mysterious girl hiding out in the Inn from her abusive boyfriend, and a raggedy cast of backup characters. There is no one to like in this story except the grandma with dementia. And as we all know, nothing good happens when you have a cliffside hotel, hateful characters, no real guests, and a raging storm….someone is going to die. It’s a given. The book’s ending wraps up the many loose ends, and I got to the conclusion. Phew. #OneBigHappyFamily #JamieDay @netgalley @stmartinspress #hurricane #fightingSisters #wretchedDeadFather #murders #mystery #thriller #deadpeople #whodunit #unintentionalCliffDiving
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #bookreviewer

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Rating: 3 stars
Pub date: 7/16

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced ecopy, and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

I loved this author’s debut novel, Block Party, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of this book.

The book takes place at The Precipice, a family-owned hotel on the rugged Maine coast. After the death of their father, the Bishop sisters—Vicki, Faith, and Iris—reunite to claim their inheritance amidst an impending hurricane. At the heart of the story is Charley Kelley, the hotel’s resourceful chambermaid, who is trying to make ends meet and care for her grandmother. The arrival of the Bishop sisters brings tension and danger, threatening Charley’s precarious situation.

The story is divided into four parts, and the short chapters keep it moving quickly. I loved Charley, and I think her motivations were understandable and relatable. The rest of the characters were difficult to like or empathize with, as they were all truly horrible. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming lots of family drama, and I enjoyed the audiobook version.

However, the story's pacing drags, and the ending feels predictable. This felt less like a psychological thriller and more like a family drama. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m in the minority here. I would recommend checking this one out if you like locked-door thrillers with lots of complicated family drama.

Rocky cliff-side hotel in Maine, 3 sisters with secrets, and a chambermaid who has secrets of her own. This is the start of the novel by Jamie Day. The sisters come back to the hotel after their father's death to claim the hotel and all hope that their deadly secrets stay hidden. Can the secrets kill someone or will they all get out alive?

Thank you Goodreads, St. Martin’s Publishers, NetGalley, and Jamie Day for this free book.
“One Big Happy Family” by Jamie Day ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Thriller/Family Drama. Location: Jonesport, Maine, USA. Time: September, present.

The Precipice is a Bishop-family-owned, legendary hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. The Bishop sisters arrive to claim it after their father dies. Vicki is greedy, with a profound need for order and control. She’s married to cheating, lying Todd. Faith is selfish, beautiful, trying to hold onto her youthful beauty. She’s married to Hope. Iris is vengeful, struggles with drugs and alcohol addiction. They all have secrets. Chambermaid Charley Kelley (19) is smart but naive, resilient, and worried. Will the sisters close the hotel? Fire her? Discover she's using a guest room to hide Bree, a woman on the run? Hurricane Larry is pounding the hotel, and the only road out is impassable. Murder is in the air.

Author Day has written a book that’s part thriller and part family drama. He tells most of the book from maid Charley’s point of view, with flashbacks to various characters’ backstories. Charley is a teen, so expect some not-so-rational decisions. Keeping that in mind, her narrative was my favorite. In my personal opinion, the end and the epilogue could be tightened up, but don’t let that keep you from reading the book. It’s a stranded-in-a-scary-hotel-in-a-storm mystery, it’s full of chaos and action, and it’s 4 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️

The Precipice Hotel in Maine has been owner George Bishop’s pride and joy. When he is found dead at the hotel, his three daughters are called to travel in for the reading of his will. With a dangerous hurricane barreling toward the hotel, the sisters, the executor of the will, and a few others will be stuck inside to ride out the storm. But when another death happens on the property, all signs point to them not all getting out alive.

This was a fun locked room mystery set in a hotel full of crazy family members. The first 30% was very slow moving, but after that point the rest flew by. I felt like I needed a murder board of my own to figure out how everything and everyone was connected! I definitely didn’t figure out the twists, and I found myself rooting for the young maid Charley throughout. If you like And Then There Were None-type books, you’ll love this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars. The family in this murdery mystery are horrible and the main character, Charlie, really got on my nerves for some reason.
The Precipice is a family-owned swank hotel in Maine and the owner has passed away. His daughters are coming to claim their inheritance, but first secrets must be spilled.
The story is told from a young chambermaid's POV. She gets roped into serving the family for the weekend, but gets more than she bargained for when a storm rolls through and traps them all together at the hotel. Meanwhile, Charlie is trying to hide a friend in the hotel, one who has secrets of her own. And when some of the guests end up dead, it's a race to figure out the secrets and lies before they all end up dead.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

An enjoyable thriller with a lot of characters to keep track of. I liked the twists and the ending was satisfying.

This is a fun read. A dysfunctional family gathers at a hotel on the coast of Maine for the reading of the will of George, the former owner of the hotel. There are a lot of hidden secrets and old family history that comes to life. Even the family lawyer has her own secrets. This is a book full of delightful characters and the story will reel you in. Charley, the 19 year old Maid, tries to hold onto her job as she seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding her. All this takes place as a huge hurricane comes ashore. It truly snags the reader’s attention and holds it until the very end

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Jamie Day's book from last summer "The Block Party". This book was hard for me to get into and the twists were hard to follow and not as exciting as her last book. I expected more suspense and twists.

I will happily give an honest review as soon as St Martins Press finally speaks up and takes accountability for the possible systemic issues within their marketing department. Thank you.