Although I found myself unsure of my overall feelings towards this book, I can't deny that it kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The narrative had an undeniable pull that kept me turning the pages, eager to uncover what would happen next. While some aspects may have left me questioning, the author's ability to maintain my interest throughout the story is commendable. If you're seeking a read that will keep you engaged, even if it leaves you with mixed emotions, this book might be worth giving a try.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. This is an outstanding story about a hotel in Maine where a nasty father who owns it has recently died and his three adult daughters come to hear the reading of his will. Vicky, Faith and Iris each come to Maine with secrets and hidden agendas . The storyteller is a 19 year old chambermaid who works at the hotel. Charley, the maid, is hiding a friend in the hotel to protect her from an abusive boyfriend. There are several murders and twists and turns that make the plot very interesting. This is my first book by Jamie Day and I look forward to reading more .

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and author Jamie Day for the advance ecopy of this book.

Charley is a nineteen-year-old working as a maid at a quirky hotel in a small town in Maine. She is overworked and underpaid, but has to keep her crappy job to pay for her Nana's care. Her lecherous boss, George, has died. His three daughters and their families have come to the hotel for the reading of George's will. And hurricane Larry is about to hit. As the story unfolds, we learn about the three sisters and their strained relationships. When the hurricane hits, someone is murdered. The sisters are forced to admit their secrets and indiscretions. Everything and everyone is intricately interwoven. Who is our murderer, and who will die next?

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up late into the night reading it. I would highly recommend it! 4 out of 5 🌟

4.5 STARS

What a fun setting! 🏩🌩️

I had a blast reading this one (after not really feeling The Block Party). I'm glad I gave the author another chance!

We have another tale with a maid. The hotel she works at is The Precipice, family owned, and full of vintage keepsakes, considered eclectic, and unusual. It is near a cliff with a steep drop. The owner is George Bishop. His collecting and antiquing habit well known in Maine, as well as his obsession with conspiracy theories.

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. Oh my! Someone will NOT be happy.

Get reading for a heaping dose of chaos, family toxicity at a new level, shocking secrets, a sordid history with long grudges. I felt some strong Christie vibes in the storytelling (which I loved)! Took off half star for a few quibbles, but I devoured this and enjoyed the journey!

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press! I really enjoyed Day's book "The Block Party" and was excited to read this book. This one absolutely did not disappoint! The characters in this book were interesting and well thought out, the plot was fast-paced and twisty, and the scenery was so fun! I love Maine and thought this was the perfect backdrop for this book.

so the first book i read by this author was Block party and I loved every second this book did not let me down it was really good i got attached to the characters and felt like I was there just like in Block party. I do love a hotel / motel thriller and this one was good it didn't knock me out the park but it was good id def recommend it . I did enjoy the sisters dynamic.

One Big Happy Family was a great book. The characters were well developed and interesting. There were several twists that were not completely surprising, but weaved in to add more dynamic to the plot. It flowed well between past and present timelines, which can sometimes be tricky in books, but was nicely layered here. The pace was decent, more of a slower build but not enough for me to be frustrated. Overall an interesting read!

I loved this author’s book “The Block Party,” so I was excited to read this newest one. It didn’t disappoint! Lots of action, fast-paced, and very unpredictable plot twists. It had everything I look for in a psychological thriller. I can’t wait to recommend closer to pub day. Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

There are lots of twists and turns in this book. It is fast paced and has a variety of characters. The scene is set in old hotel in Maine. The descriptions of setting, view and rooms are well done. I could picture them in my mind. All in all I enjoyed this book even if a bit far-fetched in areas.

The Bishop sisters - Faith, Hope, and Iris - are called back to their family's mansion hotel upon the mysterious death of their father. Long held secrets are revealed as Hurricane Larry moves in, forcing the sisters and their family and guests to ride out the storm...literally and figuratively. Lots of twists and turns keep the reader guessing. Well worth the read!

Wowww this one kept me on my toes the whole way through! I love a good thriller/mystery and this one delivers!

3.5* I was super excited for this book because I read the Block Party last year and loved it!! This book is a stormy hotel whodunit and I felt like I could really visualize this hotel based on the writing. This one is a bit slower with a lot of moving parts and I ultimately preferred the Block Party over this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for a copy of this ebook!


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6179376326

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy of this novel.
The book started off strong with a large, old hotel and a maid who is the narrator. It sort of crumbled for me with the introduction of many characters, I felt the author tried to do too much with each character and none of them had any likable qualities….including the narrator. I find it hard to read a story where you aren’t able to really root for anyone. It was an easy read, but I found myself eager for it to be over.

What’s your definition of “One Big Happy Family” for me it’s not not three sisters holding a horrible secret from their past but also things from each other. As the scene unfolds at the reading of their fathers will and people start dying will these women tell the truth or will they continue to cover up their past in hopes of outliving the storm crashing around them and the murderer threatening to kill them for their secrets?

Seems like a dark and stormy night is always a good time to divulge secrets and commit murder! During the middle of a hurricane is even better. I must say that the Bishop family is certainly one messed up bunch! But it makes for a hard to put down story so I guess I can't complain. Props to Charley for hanging on and doing the right thing during this exciting time of the Bishop sisters arriving to read their late father's will which has it's own secrets to reveal. I won't reveal anymore but I did stay up way past my bedtime because I was hooked. The guilty parties get what they deserve and there are some fun rhyming threats and I had fun, even when I guessed part of the mystery (though one death and confession was surprising and funny).

A fun story and I think the Precipice would be a cool hotel to stay at, just not during hurricane season, or a murder spree. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an advance copy of this story to read and review.

The Precipice Hotel is a quirky, secretive beacon overlooking the stormy coast of Maine. Owned by the Bishops, it is the perfect setting for a suspenseful murder mystery by Jamie Day. One Big Happy Family begins with the slow build-up to a full blown hurricane, and the arrival of the Bishop sisters after their father’s death. Each sister believes they have the claim on ownership of the hotel, and all will do anything to ensure they get what they are owed. In the middle of the family drama is the 19 year old maid, Charley. Broken, fierce, and resourceful, Charley desperately needs her job in order to keep her grandmother, the only family she has, in the nursing home that is taking care of her. Charley lives on a knife’s edge of poverty, and the arrival of the Bishop sisters does not bode well for her livelihood.

While the storm begins to build outside, the family tension begins. The only guests at the Precipice are Charley, Iris, Vicki, Faith and their families. And…one extra guest that is hiding away. When Vicki’s husband is found dead, the accusations and secrets start to fly. But who stands to gain the most? And will they all make it out before the murderer strikes again?

Day does a good job of creating enough twists and red herrings to keep you guessing. But, the characters don’t seem to fit together as a family. Of course the point is that the Bishop sisters have demons from their pasts that have torn the family apart, but there doesn’t feel like there is any cohesion. And the twists begin to seem far fetched and unbelievable. Ultimately, the reveal was a bit of a let down for me. You want to have some false leads and quirky characters to throw you off the scent of the killer, but a novel that does nothing BUT throw you off isn’t enjoyable either.

I liked One Big Happy Family but I wouldn’t say it was the most thrilling or shocking of mysteries. It is, however, the perfect summer beach read- thrilling enough and yet not too heavy. You’ll be interested enough to keep guessing, but you can still hit the waves or pool and pick right back up again a few hours later without missing a beat. Random rating 3/5. I recommend, just know that you are not going to be doing any deep sleuthing to solve the mystery. Thanks as always to @NetGalley for the eARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Was super excited to delve into anothet myster thriller novel since I just started getting into them, but sadly this one was way to long and way to predictable.

I kept reading because I thought there had to be a twist coming as I said to myself there was no way I solved it that early. Sadly thete was no twist and the book never got better.

Not for me. DO not recommend.

I was really excited for a good spooky storm-looming-and-everyone-trapped-in-a-creepy-old-hotel murder mystery but honestly I had a very hard time getting into this. I feel like the whole set-up with Charley and her backstory just took far too long, and I did not feel invested in Charley at all from the beginning. She just didn't give me much of a reason to care for her (I know, I know, she had a tragic upbringing, but still, she just didn't do it for me). I also struggled with times in which Charley's narration sounded far more intelligence than her age and education would normally betray. It felt too much like the writers voice rather than the narrators voice. And then it felt implausible when that girl she met fleetingly just showed up looking for a place to hide. I guess I was unwilling to suspend my disbelief. So I abandoned the book midway through.

I was intrigued because I loved the authors previous book, the block party. Great story line and kept me interested

Goodness! This book was just...DRAMA. And as long as the drama has zero to do with me, I am all for it.
Once I picked it up, I found it hard to put down. I enjoyed the flow of the storyline. It gives away enough to give you solid theories in this whodunit, trapped room type of book. I really was not counting on who murdered Todd. I picked up on one characters plot immediately though. I'm guessing, that's intentional but that you're tying to figure out how the character fits in. I did think we'd get thrown a surprise with said character and it was actually kind of nice to not have it happen. I like my predictions failing in these cases. . Just enough predictability to make you feel intelligent, but not enough that it takes away from the book.
A well done story that I enjoyed start to finish.