This was a fun story that was engaging from the start. Charley is a 19-year-old maid at the Precipice, an eccentric hotel on the coast of Maine. The owner has recently passed away and his three daughters, the Bishop sisters, are coming for the funeral (i.e. inheritance), right when the hotel is preparing for a hurricane. Charley’s worried about the status of her job as she both works and lives at the hotel. She needs to save every dollar that she can to pay her grandmother’s care home costs. If she loses her job, she’ll lose her home and her Nana will lose hers, as well. Charley is ready to do anything it takes to please the sisters in the hope that they will keep her employed. But she has no idea how dysfunctional these sisters are and how far they will go to protect their own.

Because of course, this isn’t your typical happy family gathering. The sisters bring their spouses and children, none of whom seem to get along well at all. There are constant references to dark secrets and lies that must be revealed. Even the lawyer who’s come to read the will isn’t the impartial professional that she appears to be. Pretty much no one is what they seem and that’s what makes it so enjoyable! And then the murders begin…

I loved this book – it’s the second that I have read by this author, and I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. You definitely root for Charley, but I did have an issue with her habit of stealing from guests. Sure, they may not notice and she’s desperate to have a roof over her and her Nana’s heads, but that doesn’t make it ok. You want to sympathize with her but it’s hard with her criminal behavior. I flew through the story; it was the definition of a page-turner with characters who’d fit right in with your own quirky family. And the resolution was quite satisfactory for everyone – my favorite kind!

Remote hotel in Maine, hurricane coming and strange family members arriving - yes please. Charley's story in the beginning had me concerned that this was another 'the maid knows every secret' type of book, but once the sisters arrived, the chaos began. There were some parts that I didn't like - Charley and Quinn, Charley and her secret guest, but overall a lot of creep settings and unlike able characters were good!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day due to be released July 16, 2024.
Charley Kelley had a rough life until hotel owner George Bishop gave her a break working as a maid in his hotel – the Precipice – on the coast of Maine.
With George’s passing his three daughters – Vicki (overbearing with her annoying husband, Todd), Iris (the black sheep of the family), and Faith (a former model who brings her partner, Hope) – have come to claim what is theirs at the reading of the will. As one of the sisters says, “This family puts the fun in dysfunctional.” Unfortunately, there is a hurricane looming, dangerous secrets are hidden by the sisters, and murder may be on the horizon. Not to mention the girl on the run that Charley is secretly hiding.
Will everyone who checked in be checking out? Will Charley’s “stowaway” be discovered?
I couldn’t wait to delve into this book – the reading of a will never turns out to be acceptable to everyone – I had a feeling this One Big Happy Family wouldn’t last long!
There were many twists, turns, and secrets to be told between the Bishop sisters and the guests at the Precipice Hotel – you won’t want to miss this one!
#netgalley #JamieDay #st.martinspress #onebighappfamily

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. Not a happy family and not a happy place, but what a fun read!

This is a murder mystery that will keep you on your toes with one big happy family. Maybe “happy” isn’t quite accurate.

A major hurricane is headed for the coast of Maine and it’s hard to predict where "Larry" will hit. Like all other places in town, workers at the Precipice Hotel are preparing with the necessary food and supplies. The property is beautiful with big cliffs off the coast. The hotel is packed with antiques.

This three-story building has lots of windows which need to be covered with sheets of plywood. A job like this would take some maneuvering with strong men. The desk manager, Rodrigo, is doing his best with the help of Charley, the only full-time maid. Fortunately, just about all of the guests are gone.

It isn’t just the worrisome hurricane in their path. The former owner, George Bishop, was found dead a few days ago and his three daughters are planning to stay at the hotel for a memorial service. Afterwards, his attorney, Brenda Black, will read the will. She tells the sisters that not everyone will be happy. She is right.

The three Bishop daughters -- Vicki, owner of jewelry and gift stores, Iris with a history of taking drugs, and Faith who worked as a model – are expecting to have a share of the $6 million property along with the treasures and art on the walls. Black starts to read their father’s will and testament slowly and Vicki told her to just get to parts they want to hear. That’s when the fun begins.

It's fast paced with some unexpected twists. Most of the characters are vindictive and this is not the happy place to be during a wild storm. With the exception of a few holes in the plot, it’s an entertaining whodunit and it’s cheating to look at the epilogue first. This was gripping, suspenseful and imaginative with layers. I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 16, 2024.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC!
I was excited to jump into this book as I read Jamie Day’s book The Block Party a couple months ago and enjoyed that one. With that said, I liked this one even more!
I loved that the main character was relatable in that she wasn’t perfect and had flaws and I enjoyed the setting of being trapped due to a storm.
I did feel the story got a little predictable at times, however, even though I felt like I knew what was going to happen, I wasn’t always correct, and that is always great!
Definitely a solid read and great writing by Jamie Day!

Review on GoodReads

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC I just finished.

Murder in a remote hotel on the coast of Maine that happens to be cut off by a hurricane? Yes, please!

This book not only starts with one of my favorite tropes, but is filled with twists and turns. It definitely kept me guessing and turning pages. Even the few things I thought I had figured out were only partially right.

If you enjoy a good thriller this is one to check out. It made me think of Riley Sager a bit.

Jamie Day’s previous book, The Block Party, just moved to the top of my TBR pile.

You know when you finish a five-star read and have to pick your next book? Yep, it’s usually so hard to choose, knowing you might not pick another winner. Well, Erica at Saint Martin’s Press has never let me down, so when she said she loved One Big Happy Family, I jumped on the opportunity to read an early copy.
The story begins with 19-year-old Charley. She works night and day to be able to afford her nana’s care. Her boss, George Bishop at The Precipice Hotel in Maine has recently died. His three daughters are coming any moment now for the reading of the will. But so is a hurricane that will cut everyone at the hotel off from the outside world. Let me just say that this is not a family you want to spend a harrowing or even a perfectly sunny weekend with.
Three sisters, one husband, one wife, two teenagers, one overworked and underpaid maid, a woman hiding from her boyfriend, and a lawyer bring all the secrets, lies, murder, and ‘what’ moments you could want in a book (especially one publishing in July, a perfect beach read).
The book is broken into four parts with Charley having the largest role. There was one character (only one!) who I was suspicious of from the beginning. I was right, but there were also a lot more people hiding a lot more secrets. Every character, even the secondary ones made me feel something, though most of my feelings landed on the ‘you’re a terrible person’ side. I don’t want to make it sound like everyone was cray cray since there were a few really good characters too. Not everyone was the spawn of a demon!
The epilogue tied everything up nicely. I actually enjoyed this a little bit more than The Block Party.

Fun thriller for fans of the genre! Slightly predictable but I still found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC. It was perfect timing with a cold, overcast weekend to read about this beautiful setting in Maine where the torrential rains played a major part in this thriller. This story sucked me in, and with the detailed writing, I could picture it playing on the big screen. It has all the elements: family discord, reading of the will, no cell phone service and several characters to keep you guessing who is killing who.

I DEVOURED this book!!It was twisty goodness that kept me guessing until the very end. The picturesque setting of Gull Hill & the Precipice had me transported instantaneously & the multiple storylines consumed me to no end. Bree & Charley are such interesting characters - but surprisingly relatable on multiple fronts.

Highly recommend for your summer reading!

Thank you to St. Martins Press & NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. This one was just middle of the road for me. It had a lot of characters and I found myself somewhat confused at times. The story itself was interesting, but a little predictable. I just reviewed One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. #NetGalley

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book in a 48 hour time period! I had no trouble doing it because IT WAS SO GOOD! I love the Maid, Charley, and her tenacity as she supported not only herself but her nana! The hotel she worked at was a visual treat and I could see the action as it unfolded as the family who owned it grapples with the death of their wicked father. There are lies piled on top of lies in this story and even though I didn’t like some of the characters I loved their quirky personalities and things they pulled off in this novel. Well done! This book comes out in July and I would definitely recommend it!

I found this book solidly middle of the road. It was well written. The author is very talented with her words and there were some passages that read poetically, which I enjoyed. The vivid descriptions of the characters and the physical spaces allowed me to visualize who was who and what was happening where. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the parts of the story told from Charley's perspective. I did not enjoy the lack of creativity in the story. The inconsistency in narrators was disconcerting and really took away from reveals later in the story. The "twists" were very predictable and the exposes felt like the end of a Scooby Doo episode where the villain monologues, explaining everything clearly and there's no need to come to your own realizations. I did not enjoy the end of the book, which felt a lot like an easy, cop-out wrap up to what otherwise attempted to be a complex story with reveals that tried to keep the reader engaged. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC from Netgalley!

Charley works as a chambermaid at the Precipice Hotel, which is located on a cliff in a remote area of Maine. The owner of the hotel has recently died and his three daughters are en route for the funeral services and reading of the will. Charley is hoping that she retains her position because she desperately needs it to take care of her ailing grandmother. Timing is not the best as a hurricane is expected to land and Charley has gotten mixed up with Bree, a woman running from an abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon everyone is under one roof and, after a murder occurs, they have to face secrets from the past to figure out who is exacting revenge. Very suspenseful and hard to put down!!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read/review this ARC!

In this riveting tale set against the backdrop of a coastal Maine hotel on the brink of a hurricane, Jamie Day masterfully crafts a mysterious and moody atmosphere, steeped in impending doom. While the setting and suspenseful mood captivated me, some of the characters backstories fell a little short, with an introduction to a character that felt contrived, disrupting the natural flow of the narrative, even though they were incredibly important later. Despite these drawbacks, Day's storytelling prowess shines through, weaving unexpected twists that add depth to the flawed main character. This marks my second journey with the author, and once again, the unexpected plot turns and realistic flaws of the protagonist resonated with me. One Big Family, much like The Block Party, showcases Day's ability to grip readers with complex, compelling narratives. While not flawless, the novel offers a thrilling experience, making it a recommended read for those seeking suspense with a touch of realism. I binge read this book in under six hours because I was invested and needed to see how it would end!!

I love Jamie Day! The Block Party was one of my favorite reads last year and One Big Happy Family is my first 5 star of 2024. Jamie is SO good at setting the scene in these thrillers and they are always impossible to put down.
Charley has been cleaning the Precipice Hotel for years to make ends meet and pay for her nana’s monthly housing costs, but ends are never really meeting and she’s got a habit of stealing from guests.
When the owner of the hotel dies his daughters make their way to town for the will reading. Charley has no idea what her fate will be with her job if and when one of the sisters takes over. Tensions are high and they only get higher after the will reading. Now Charley is stuck in the hotel, due to the hurricane, with three sisters who aren’t her biggest fan and who knows if she can even survive the weekend, let alone worry about if she still has a job.
This was SO good. I’m such a sucker for a good twist and the twists in this book did not disappoint. The hurricane provided that sense of impending doom, the characters pull you in, and the secrets and family drama tie everything up with a nice, thrilling bow.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for providing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Quirky fast paced suspense. Thank you Net Galley. The perfect read for the cloudy and cold weather in Florida. The story has all the ingredients for a movie. A storm and hurricane threatening the Precipice Hotel on a remote cliff in Maine. The suspicious death of the father of the Bishop sisters, three frightening women hiding a multitude of secrets and sins. I must say that at times I laughed at how bizarre these sisters were. And the good characters were a little too naive. In this world today even the kind and naive characters should be suspicious sooner, even if their suspicions are misguided. I liked the descriptions of the characters, a good visual so I could identify with each of them. There is a lot going on and some very surprising twists and turns. Action that is well written ad gripping. Well worth reading. And an author worth following.:

Jamie Day is my new favorite author!!!! I loved her debut book and this new one as well! What a fun way to start the new year! A plot that is set over the course of a long weekend, during a hurricane in an old Inn - it is reminiscent of the movie Clue and so fresh and unique! The characters are all suspect as the weekend continues, and bodies pile up - but the surprise twist in the end is the best part!!! I am so grateful for the advance copy and can't wait for the next book from Jamie Day!

The Bishop family is certainly not a happy family. George Bishop, the now deceased father, was a pretty despicable person, as Charley, our protagonist, can attest. Charley is the live-in maid at the Precipice Hotel, an eclectic oceanside hotel in rural Maine. George Bishop, the owner, was somewhat eccentric and collected a wide variety of items which are displayed in the hotel. This assorted collection of antiques should be unsightly and overwhelming, but somehow the items work together, producing the charm that makes this hotel a popular tourist destination. With George dead and his three daughters showing up for the reading of the will, Charley is just hoping she still has a job, as she needs the money to take care of her grandmother. However, the arrival of the sisters and their families will bring a lot more chaos for Charley, and each other, especially as Hurricane Larry is bearing down on coastal Maine and will soon temporarily cut off the hotel from the outside world. Vicki, Iris, and Faith, the three sisters, do not get along, and things only get worse following the reading of George Bishop's will, as it contains numerous surprises that further antagonize the family members. When Vicki's husband dies in mysterious circumstances the first night at the hotel, the tension gets ratcheted up even higher. And his death brings about the discovery of Bree, a woman fleeing an abusive boyfriend, who Charley has somewhat reluctantly agreed to hide in the hotel temporarily.

It that was not crazy enough, Faith and her wife Hope have a son, Oliver, who speaks in rhymes, and who most of the family believes is behind cryptic messages indicating that the sisters have secrets that must be revealed or more people will die. And the sisters have quite a few secrets, some of which they have been hiding from each other and some of which they have been hiding together. The revelation of these secrets will cause further family breakdown and chaos. Some of the secrets are shared with the reader early on or are hinted at or are not particularly surprising given what we know of the characters. However, there are some pretty surprising secrets; the most explosive secret is one I never saw coming (nor did most of the characters in the story).

The story has plenty of action and intrigue, with an interesting and eclectic cast of characters, and it will keep readers on their toes. Make sure your phone has power and your flashlight has working batteries, as bad things happen in the dark.