There is so much family drama in One Big Happy Family. The dynamics of the Bishop sisters definitely leaves something to be desired, (in a good way,) as they surely keep the story moving along and interesting. Charley is sweet, yet determined to survive. I became her cheerleader as she tried to figure out who was out to kill at The Precipice Hotel. If you are up for some quirky and maybe slightly deranged characters and family dynamics, this read is for you.

Jamie Day has crafted a masterful page-turner in One Big Happy Family! From the very first chapter, I was invested in the lives of the characters and the secrets that simmered just beneath the surface. It had Hotel Nantucket vibes, but with the dark twists you would expect from Lisa Scottoline or Liv Constantine. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end, and the conclusion left me thoroughly satisfied.

Maybe I am just easily entertained but this book was giving me major Agatha Christie vibes while simultaneously giving me Clue vibes.

This book follows Charley a maid at a Hotel as the three daughters of the hotel owner return for the reading of a will. With a Hurricane looming overhead, secrets are exposed and bodies are piling up. This is a perfect book for those who love the Who Dun It storyline with some twists only Jamie Day can pull off.

Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this month.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, focusing on the Bowers family during a reunion. The story delves into the complexities of love, secrets, and unresolved conflicts, offering a poignant portrayal of imperfect familial bonds. Day’s writing is engaging, with well-developed characters whose struggles feel relatable and real. While the plot may seem predictable, the strength lies in the emotional depth and character growth. Ultimately, the book highlights the messy, yet beautiful, nature of family and the power of reconciliation, making it a touching read for fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories. But it was a little too predictable for me.

This is the story of a complicated family stuck in an old hotel during a storm. It reads like a murder mystery party. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

When I discover a new author, I prefer to begin with their earliest works. However, I chose One Big Happy Family as my first read, leaving me with her debut novel, The Block Party. I’m also eagerly anticipating The Lake Escape, set to release this summer.

One Big Happy Family by Day is a captivating and fast-paced suspense novel. The story follows Charley, a young woman grappling with significant personal struggles. She barely has a place to call home and is responsible for caring for her aging grandmother, who also suffers from dementia. Tragically, Charley lost her parents at a young age, and her grandmother holds a profound place in her heart.

Charley works at The Precipice, a family hotel, and fears losing her job when her boss passes away. Despite her challenging circumstances, she works tirelessly, but her desperation leads her to resort to stealing from some of the hotel’s guests. Despite her dishonest actions, it’s easy to empathize with Charley and root for her in this unfolding drama.

However, the plot thickens as the former hotel owner’s three daughters arrive, each vying for their share of their father’s inheritance. Their visit is far from brief, as a hurricane is imminent, and everyone must seek safety.

Unfortunately, safety becomes a distant dream for several unfortunate souls in this novel. As bodies start dropping, the story takes a shocking turn, altering its course completely. Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns that line the pages of this thrilling tale.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a heartwarming, deeply emotional novel that explores the complexities of modern family dynamics, the challenges of blended families, and the sometimes messy, yet beautiful, nature of love and togetherness. With a light yet impactful narrative, this book offers both a thoughtful examination of personal relationships and a delightful escape into the lives of relatable, multi-dimensional characters.

The story revolves around the lives of a family trying to navigate the challenges of blending two separate lives into one cohesive unit. At the center of the narrative is Liv, a woman who's doing her best to manage the demands of motherhood, marriage, and career. When she marries Luke, a man with children from a previous relationship, Liv finds herself struggling to build meaningful connections with her new stepchildren while also facing the pressures of her own life. As they all try to find their way as a newly formed family, tensions rise, and Liv and Luke are forced to confront not just their relationship but their understanding of what it means to be a family.

Jamie Day does an excellent job of depicting the difficulties that come with blending families—how it’s never a smooth transition, how step-relationships can be fraught with miscommunication and emotional baggage, and how love isn’t always a clear-cut process. The characters are complex, their emotions are real, and readers will find themselves empathizing with Liv as she struggles to navigate the shifting dynamics.

The central themes of the book—love, acceptance, and the need for understanding—are explored with warmth and honesty. Liv’s journey is relatable for anyone who has been part of a blended family, or anyone who has had to figure out how to make a nontraditional family arrangement work. The author doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments, but she also captures the joyful moments of connection and unity that can arise even in the most unexpected family situations.

The pacing of One Big Happy Family is steady, with a nice balance of family drama, heartwarming moments, and lighter comedic scenes. The book is filled with tender moments, as well as moments of personal growth, where the characters are forced to re-evaluate their priorities and how they view family. The secondary characters, from the stepchildren to extended family members, are equally well-developed and add layers of depth to the story, making it feel more like a realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of family life.

Although the premise of the book could have ventured into melodrama, Day keeps it grounded in reality with relatable characters and emotional honesty. The romance element is sweet and gentle, showing that true love is about more than just passion—it's about compromise, patience, and emotional support.

The book is a great choice for readers who enjoy stories about family, relationships, and finding happiness amidst the chaos of life. It’s an uplifting, often humorous, and ultimately touching exploration of what it means to be part of a "big happy family."

**Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Jamie Day and it is definitely a popcorn book for me. The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. When the owner, a lecherous man, dies, the Bishop sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith have come home to listen to the reading of the will and sort out what to do with the hotel. The problem is there is also a hurricane bearing down on the area, so is it safe? Each sister has secrets, but also wants what they think is their due. They arrive with their partners and offspring. When they arrive they meet nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley: smart, resilient, older than her years, and in desperate straits. Charley also has secrets. To support her grandma, who is living in care with dementia, she steals from their guests, and she is hiding a young woman on the run from her abusive husband. With the hurricane approaching, a dysfunctional family, a lawyer and a hidden guest, what could possibly go wrong?

One Big Happy Family is a thriller/suspense story that starts off believably, but then goes over the top. I definitely had to suspend belief while reading this one. I loved Charley. She is one of the kindest characters doing whatever she can to support her grandmother and to help others. The 2 boys, Oliver and Quinn are interesting. Quinn and Charley become friends but as secrets are revealed, his life is totally upended. Oliver is an odd duck. He speaks only in rhyme and seems a bit dark. He also learns secrets about himself. I didn't like the sisters at all. They were all very selfish and self-centered. They were demanding and not very nice to each other, or the staff. This book is full of melodrama, secrets, lies, some humor and suspense. The ending was heartbreaking and didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story, but it does bring closure to Charley's issues. Did I enjoy this story? Yes. Was it one I will remember a few weeks from now? Probably not. If you enjoy reading a book that just takes you for a ride, and has you wondering what could possibly happen next, then I recommend you pick this one up.

“𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆.”

Rating: 2.75/5 ⭐️⭐️✨

Pub date: 7/16/24

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Closed door murder mystery with clue like vibes.
I enjoyed the first half of this book, until it sputtered out.
For those who don’t read a lot of mystery books this one will be worth reading. For those who read a lot of this genre this was lackluster and predictable. It was an ok read, worth finishing but nothing that makes it stand out from others.


#onebighappyfamily

I'm a big fan of locked room mysteries, but this one slightly missed the mark. It felt longer than it really was, and could have done with some parts taken out. I also felt like the book had too much going on, but after liking the Block Party I would be willing to give the author another shot.

Wow, what a ride! I really enjoyed reading this one, especially toward the end when I couldn’t put it down until I finished. I did guess who pretty quickly, but the why came as a surprise.

Charley is a maid at a hotel, a job she uses to cover the cost of her grandmother’s care home. When the owner unexpectedly dies, his 3 daughters come into town to settle his will. There’s a bad hurricane happening so they all end up getting stuck together at the hotel, along with two partners, two sons, one attorney, and one woman Charley has agreed to hide in the hotel to escape an abusive relationship.

When one of the sisters’ husband suddenly dies, murder is quickly suspected. Secrets and lies start getting exposed, another murder occurs, and it’s a fight to make it through the hurricane alive.

I really enjoyed reading this one, and appreciate NetGalley letting me read it early!

This is the second title from Jamie Day that I have read. I did prefer the Block Party. This book is set in Maine. I did enjoy the setting and felt that Day did a good job of putting me in the location. The story itself was not the most engaging, but I found the setting and characters interesting. The story was mildly suspenseful, but didn't necessarily hold my interest very well.

It was a bit thrilling but a bit boring at times. I found it hard to tell the difference in narrators as tghey didn't have distinguished voices for parts of the book. I would recommend but not at a high level.

I absolutely loved the IDEA of this book-seriously, a stormy hotel with family secrets? How cool is that? The premise had me hooked from the start. But here's the twist: while the concept was great, the execution felt a bit like a slow drizzle rather than a full-on hurricane. The big reveal came a bit too soon for my taste, even if it wasn't exactly what l'd predicted in the end. Also, the romance subplot felt a little like an afterthought or just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Some moments/ aspects felt a bit corny too, which took me out of the suspenseful vibe I was craving. But don't get me wrong, if you're into atmospheric settings and family drama with a mystery side, this might still be worth a read. It's got charm, but it's also got a few quirks.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is an engaging exploration of hidden truths and complex dynamics within a seemingly perfect family. The story masterfully builds suspense, keeping you on edge as secrets unravel and tensions rise. Each revelation adds another layer, pulling you deeper into the characters’ lives and the dilemmas they face.

The shifting perspectives enhanced the mystery, allowing the reader to piece together the truth alongside the characters. The emotional struggles and relationships felt raw and relatable, heightening the stakes as the plot moved toward its climax.

While the ending felt a bit abrupt, the journey was gripping and full of thought-provoking twists. This is a must-read for anyone who loves domestic dramas with an emotional punch and a strong element of mystery.

When their father passes away, the Bishop sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith, return to their family’s Maine coastal hotel, the Precipice. The sisters are there to claim what they feel is theirs from the hotel, but they arrive just ahead of a hurricane and aren’t prepared for what comes next. The sisters are in for a fight, but don’t know who they are up against or why. Will they survive the hurricane AND their greed?

Suspenseful with some good twists and turns!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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#onebighappyfamily #jamieday

I love a good locked room mystery and this one is so twisty and fun. The Maine setting adds its own haunting vibe and the house almost seems to have its own personality. I enjoyed the unreliability of the characters and the dual timelines. Oliver was fascinating and possibly my favorite character as I felt I understood him the best. The ending was surprising and I loved the redemption aspect. The audiobook is fantastic and the narration very well done. Loved it!

With the weight of taking care of her ailing grandmother on her shoulders, Charley accepts employment at The Precipice Hotel as a housekeeper. This affords Charley with the ability to make the payments to her grandmother’s assisted living center a little easier. Then the owner, George Bishop, passes away leaving the future of the hotel in limbo.

The death of the hotel owner brought the three Bishop sisters to town – Vicki, Iris and Faith. Three very distinct personalities who all have their own desires as to where the future of the hotel should be directed. With a hurricane brewing on the horizon, things are about to more interesting for the guests and employees of the hotel. Who will come out of the storm unscathed? Who will find more than they bargained for with a fight for the legacy of the Bishop family?

The premise of One Big Happy Family was very interesting. The backstories to each character added to the layers of the mysteries surrounding the hotel. However – I did figure things out early on. As a thriller, I found the book interesting but LONG and drawn out. The novel could have been shortened and still had the same effect. Although there were times where I could easily predict what was coming, I still found myself engrossed in the book.

The combination of family dynamics, murder, and the looming hurricane kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Day's writing is so immersive and gripping, and I found myself completely invested in the fates of all the characters.

One Big Happy Family lands somewhere between "take it or leave it" and "worth the read." Jamie Day crafts an engaging premise with moments of genuine emotion and relatable family dynamics. The characters have their strengths, but some felt underdeveloped, and the pacing was uneven, making it hard to stay fully invested. That said, there’s enough heart and intrigue here to make it enjoyable for the right reader, even if it doesn't quite hit the mark as a must-read. A good pick if you’re in the mood for a lighter, family-focused drama but not something that demands your full attention.