This was a creepy and thrilling tale with an....intense family. It had me hooked from the first page and gripped me through to the last page. I will absolutely be checking out other books by this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of One Big Happy Family!

This was a slower read for me rather than a fast-paced read that captured and held my interest throughout. Nonetheless, I did enjoy several elements. The storyline was straightforward and easy to follow and the characters were well-developed and believable. I also enjoyed the themes of family ties and friendship and the persisting question about the lengths one may go to in order to protect and provide for the ones they love.

Unfortunately, the larger plot points, which I believe were meant to be twists, were predictable for me. I had much of the plot figured out early on in the story. The many red herrings clued me in that those who were seemingly guilty of wrongdoing were not (at least not to the extent it seemed) and those who had little to no motive were.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. The story picked up in the last 20%, which I appreciated and enjoyed! I would read this author again.

This one interested me because I was a fan of Jamie Day’s previous novel, The Block Party, and of course, I love a thriller.

One Big Happy Family is about a very dysfunctional family who is stuck together in their late father’s hotel. The Precipice Hotel is located on the coast of Maine and Charley Kelley calls it home. She is the young chambermaid who had to avoid advances from her creepy old boss, George Bishop. With her only family, her nana, living in a nursing home with failing health, Charley had to take this job that offered her a place to stay in a room the size of a closet.

Nothing prepared her for the day the 3 Bishop sisters and their families showed up for the reading of their father’s will, in the middle of a hurricane. Each sister carries their own secrets and lies and they each want a part of their father’s fortune.

Add in young Bree, who convinced Charley to let her ride out the storm hiding away in the hotel to get away from her abusive boyfriend- and what could go wrong?

This is a fast paced, closed room thriller told from multiple POV’s. It was engaging right from the start with so many good twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for an advanced e-copy of this book. It comes out on July 16th 2024- and I recommend you mark down this date for a fun summer thriller!

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Family secrets, a dead body, and a hurricane that causes power outages and no cell service.

The Precipice Hotel — a family owned hotel on the coast of Maine. I loved the setting of this one! 🏨🌀⛈️

Charley is a young chambermaid at the hotel. When the owner passes away, his three daughters, the Bishop sisters, visit the hotel to claim their inheritance. But each sister has their own secrets that will come to light. As well as Charley who is hiding a woman on the run in the hotel!

I enjoyed reading this one, although I feel like there was a point where not a lot was going on and it seemed a little longer than necessary. But the eerie vibes of the storm, the setting, and the secrets kept me interested!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. Devoured in just a few hours. Will recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc**

The Precipice is a family owned hotel on the coast of Maine. Charley is a young maid working hard to provide for her and her grandmother. Charley tells us the story of the three owners, the Bishop sisters, Vickie, Iris, and Faith. This story has a lot of twists and interesting family secrets. It's a quick read with a lovable FMC. The Bishop family is interesting and kept me wanting to read more. A nice cozy mystery.

Enter the world of The Precipice, a legendary family-owned hotel nestled along the rugged Maine coast. In Jamie Day's gripping novel, "One Big Happy Family," readers are plunged into a whirlwind of secrets, suspense, and unexpected twists that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Happy to have read this book! It kept me hooked the entire time! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review! I definitely recommend this book!

The surprises in this book kept me turning the pages. I would recommend this to friends.


I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charley is a young maid who lives and works at the quirky Precipice hotel. She is desperately trying to pay her grandmother’s bills and somehow add meaning to her monotonous days. I really enjoyed her!

The setting is so much fun and draws you in - George, the recently deceased owner, was an avid collector of antiques, eclectic art, and unusual finds. George and his wife lived on site with their three daughters, Vicky, Faith, and Iris. When the siblings, their partners, and their children come to town during a fierce storm for their fathers passing, things hit the fan.

What might seem to have been an idyllic childhood, soon unravels in dark secrets. This is a story of murder, lies, and secrets. At some points, bizarre, at others predictable, I give it 4 stars for how much planning it must have taken and for the many layers of narrative.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader’s Copy! Look for this one of July 16, 2024!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a story of 3 sisters Vickie, Faith and Iris Bishop told through the eyes of Charley. who is a maid at the family owned hotel in Maine. There are a lot of secrets from the past that can tear the family apart, but as they say blook is thicker than water. You don't see what is coming next in the book but it does have an ending that I didn't see coming. Very enjoyable book to read.

This was a slow start but once I got into it I loved it! Great characters and an interesting story. Jamie Day tells a great story with in-depth description.

WOW. This was a fun one. Jamie Day has a talent for untangling intersecting stories and letting the puzzle pieces fall together. One Big Happy Family was a doozy. We're instantly transported to the eclectic hotel aptly named The Precipice, located on the rocky Maine coastline. Our main character, Charley, is the resident maid who struggles to make ends meet and supports her Nana in assisted living. After the death of the hotel's lecherous owner, George, his three daughters, and their families descend upon the hotel for the will reading and to figure out their plans for the property. Unfortunately, the weekend of their arrival also brings a rare hurricane, which promises to make this story into a locked-room mystery that keeps readers on their toes. This book keeps you on the very edge of your seat, as you never know what secret will be revealed or who will die next!

One Big Happy Family is a closed room mystery coupled with lots of family drama between some pretty despicable characters. This novel was well written, engaging, and enjoyable. Although I was able to predict the biggest twist pretty early on, the character development, backstories, subplots, and the humor certainly made up for it. Was it a bit outlandish at times? Yes, but that’s the fun in fiction and the suspension of disbelief!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jamie Day for this free ARC digital copy.

Based on the cover of this book, I was expecting a soapy, drama-filled mystery with explorations of family dynamics and how the past can come back to haunt you.

The truth is, it WAS all of that, but the vibe was definitely more Knives Out meets Agatha Christie - and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a whodunnit through and through, with the cast of characters trapped in an old, large resort during a hurricane. And people keep being murdered, with the killer leaving creepy poems for everyone else to find.

There were twists - some easily guessed and some not - and it kept me entertained and coming back for more whenever I could find time to read. I recommend this if you're looking for something to suck you in and keep you immersed in a wild, quirky mystery until the last page.

A twisty turny read that is fast paced and exciting. While I could see the plot twist a mile away it didn’t detract from the read. The main character was likeable and relatable . The story was unique and well written. The atmosphere was well done and made this read fully immersive. Heart stopping moments galore!
A great read

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

This is a locked room mystery located in an isolated hotel in Maine. Day's writing is clever and intriguing! I was thrilled to get my hands on the advanced copy of this book, considering I LOVED the author’s debut “The Block Party”. This one was quite different and didn't hold up the same way for me but it was an excellent read just the same!

Charley Kelley is a young maid working at the Precipice Hotel. The perverted owner suddenly dies and his 3 daughters come back to see what they inherit. Family dysfunction and discord abounds. Many secrets and lies are revealed.
Not all will make it out alive.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. One Big Happy Family was an enjoyable read with a lot of twists and turns. It was a bit slow at points and somewhat predictable, but overall a good book!

One big happy family by Jaime Day due to be published July 16th 2024 was a book I couldn’t put down till finished it. It was as good as Jaime Days other book I read called the Block Party.
Charley is the maid and she has her hands full as the wind wails outside the hotel. A hurricane is looming and a homicidal maniac is on the loose! It was like the weather was forecasting what would ultimately take place inside (the eye of the storm)!
Walls shaking, as bone-rattling gusts hit and the Bishop sisters arrive for the reading of George's will.

The family isn’t going to be happy to find out what the will entails and someone’s going to wind up dead. Who did it?

Thank you Netgalley and Jaime Day and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC

The Precipice is a remote hotel on the coastline with unmatched views. Papa ruled with an iron thumb and they grew up working at the hotel with various chores. He was determined that his offspring not be spoiled.

Sadly, Papa has passed and the family congregates at the hotel for a reading of the will. Faith is recently out of prison and Brea, Vicki, and Iris are all thinking of how their lives will change when they sell the relic!

The family is fighting and trying to liquidate the property and Vicki will hear none of it. The hotel is on the track of a hurricane that slams into the Maine coastline. People start dying or disappearing. Are the deaths accidents or is someone trying to eliminate the potential heirs?

This read made me very happy that I was not raised with this family. No love is lost between these siblings. The storm worsens and the property is boarded up to protect from blowing debris. Who will remain after the storm to take over the property? If the property is still there. 4.5 stars – CE Williams