Julie is a single mom of 2 grown children and owns a tow truck business when she finds an unexpected love interest. Julie is looking forward to a break from the traditional Christmas spent with her new boyfriend instead of the large family gathering at the cabin that she plans and organizes every year. A quiet simple Christmas without all the decorating and endless meal prepping and cooking. At the last minute her grown children decide they must have the Christmas at the cabin like they have always done because this will be their first Christmas without their Dad. Julie and Eldon continued their cabin Christmas with the kids long after their divorce. Julie agrees to the cabin Christmas for her kids but can she pull it off on such short notice? What could possibly go wrong?
Susan Mallery takes us back to all the crazy Christmases we remember as a kid. She does an excellent job of capturing all the elements for the perfect Christmas with a twist. You will love reading about the adventures of Julie and her family during the Christmas season and it just may make you appreciate you own crazy family! Warm up a mug of cocoa and dive in.

Hallmarkie "Messy Family Comes Together" Type. This is a Susan Mallery book, and it is Christmas book from Susan Mallery - so you know you're going to get a lot of drama, but in a very Hallmarkie manner where the drama never gets *too* intense and everything wraps up with a nice dose of Christmas magic by the end. Considering the popularity of both Mallery and Hallmark Christmas movies, this isn't exactly a losing strategy... if a bit "been there, done that".

Where Mallery manages to spin things with this particular one are, well, the particulars - and there are a lot of things here that aren't exactly typical. Irritable Bowel Syndrome shown in all of its complexities in a book? Happens some, not exactly overly common in my experience. Female tow truck company owner? I actually am related to one - a cousin - but she's literally the only one I had ever heard of before reading this book. Age gap romance where the *woman* is the older *and* is on the back side of "middle age" to boot? Done, somewhat, but rarely in this particular combination/ age range. On and on it goes.

Oh, and for anyone who says that this gets way too far out there with just how "together" everything gets... if you've read a few of my other reviews over the years, you know about my own family history - same side as the cousin above, actually. You see, both sets of my grandparents were divorced long before I was ever alive. But my mom's parents in particular? My grandmother remarried, also before I could ever remember anything. My step grandfather was my "second grandfather" (the other died 5 weeks after my birth). And yet there was more than one instance of my grandmother and step-grandfather living on my grandfather's land over the years, including at least one stint in his house with him. So my sense of "weird family relationships" may be a bit skewed, having seen this type of thing - along with several of the exact scenarios Mallery includes in this book - in my own (extended) family over the years.

Ultimately a solid book of its type, and one for anyone looking for a good Christmas family drama to check out.

Very much recommended.

Susan Mallery did such an amazing job on this one. It definitely had me laughing out loud! And how I wish all families could be like this one.
Absolutely fell in love with Julie an older woman dating a younger man and trying to hide it from her children. She just wants to go to the cabin and have a quiet Christmas with just him. But her children have decided that they want to come to the cabin also in remembrance of their father. Thank goodness it’s a large cabin because not only do her children come with their significant others. But her boyfriend, his children, and believe it or not his ex-wife. Her son’s mother-in-law joins them. Her daughter’s on again off again boyfriend who just so happens to work for Julie also joins them. And there’s even a dog. It is definitely a full house, but it sounds so fun. Just some of the antics that they go through finding the Christmas tree and the kibitzing back-and-forth as to which one’s the best. To all the meals being planned, a trip to the hospital after a fall. The good news of an unplanned pregnancy. Wow!! Just so fun.

It was just absolutely amazing! I wish I could give it more than five stars!

Susan Mallery just knows how to write the sweetest story! I so cherished every page. Add this to your TBR lists. It was such a fun holiday book. I loved it!

🎄 Book Review 🎄

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
🎄
This was a very cute, very sweet Christmas novel about family dynamics, difficult relationships, and the importance of communication, forgiveness, and acceptance. I liked it, but I wasn’t the right audience for this book. The main female protagonist is in her fifties, and I can’t relate to that. My mom, however, would love this book. Additionally, I prefer more romance in my books, and that wasn’t the focal point of this book. It was all about family. Again, it was good, just not my cup of tea.
🎄
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️Christmas
▫️family drama
▫️sweet romances
▫️heartwarming, feel good story
▫️multiple POV
🎄
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, The Hive, NetGalley, and Susan Mallery for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This reads as a Hallmark-type movie where there are several layers of friends and family that come together during the holiday season, with plenty of drama interspersed between. Because we are following so many characters and their storylines, nothing is too deep or in depth, which makes it a quite easy and surface level read. There is holiday fun woven throughout, but there's also a dramatic amount that goes wrong. I found all of the characters to be a bit insufferable and so perhaps thats what ended up drawing it down for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Susan Mallery does it again. Everyone will be able to relate to something in this book. At every holiday gathering, there is always some type of drama. There is plenty going on in this book. Moms and daughters, sons and moms, moms and their boyfriends and on and on. You will laugh out loud and cry. Every one who has ever been at a family holiday gathering will love it.

One Big Happy Family. At Christmas. A cabin full of adults, related and unrelated. A couple of kids and a dog. Sounds perfect right?
Well, it actually is. But first its very much packed with surprises, secrets, unexpected storylines, and love. Through all the chaos- love.
The cabin was my favorite part of the book. Julie is an incredible hostess with a flair for entertaining. She has created a true holiday wonderland. It all begins to crumble a bit as secrets and hurt feelings are brought to light.
I found the dialogues to be often repetitive and I ended up skimming at times. That being said, the storyline moved quickly and the book is overall a fast reading page-turner.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin publishing for the ARC of One Big Happy Family.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

Excellent. A not-family evolves into a big family over Christmas. When secrets start to unravel and feelings are hurt, it takes love and understanding to mend riffs. Some unexpected friendships are formed and couples find happiness when surprises come their way. I was invested in all the characters and was satisfied with the big happy ending.

Julie Parker owns a towing business and has a much younger boyfriend that she hasn’t told anybody, including her two kids, about. She just wants to spend Christmas with Heath without all of the usual madness of going to the cabin. No baking, decorations, etc. Her son is going on a late honeymoon and her daughter is planning on spending the holidays purging all reminders of the guy who keeps dumping her. All is going as planned until her kids decide that they need to spend Christmas at the cabin to honor their late father. Now she has to tell her kids about the man she’s been keeping a secret for months and the guest list keeps growing. It now includes her daughter in law’s mother and her boyfriend’s children. One big happy family. A great story about family and the need to let go of secrets and bad memories from the past.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - opinions are my own.

Is there anything more holiday season themed than drama, chaos, family situations, love, forgiveness, and a little bit of magic? Susan Mallory wraps all of these things into one delightful story about love and forgiveness and the power of family and friends. While it's set during the holiday season, this book can be read anytime of the year. Perhaps it's the perfect Christmas in July read or anytime you want a little Christmas magic. The characters are delightful and show lots of growth throughout the book. After reading this book you will come away feeling that Christmas spirit no matter the time of year

I found myself laughing out loud over and over again as I was reading ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery. I couldn't help it. Some of the conversations were just so funny and they made me feel like I was right there in the "cabin" with all of these wonderful characters. If you are looking for a funny holiday tale, you must read ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY. As each secret comes out, there are tears and then laughter. Oh, I can't forget to let you know that someone gets shot and someone breaks their arm. What a holiday to remember right?


Open up a copy of ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY and you will find yourself surrounded by a mix of people. Kids as well as plenty of adults, an ex-wife, new love and one crabby mother, you will experience a wild and crazy Christmas! ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is filled with crazy drama, love, happiness, tears and second chances. Julie Parker and her much younger boyfriend, Heath, are planning a nice white holiday with just the two of them. But we all know how plans go. Soon they find themselves celebrating with their families in the Parker cabin, which really sounds like a mini mansion.



In ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, all of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I would love to hang out with this family. I’m sure they could teach me a thing or two and I know they would keep my laughing all day long! I love how Susan Mallery does that to me each and every time. She has me longing to find friends just like her characters. There is so much heart in Susan’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. Susan Mallery is the queen of writing heartfelt stories about women and family drama. If you are looking for a quick, funny, feel good story, you can’t go wrong with ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY!

Fun read centered around family and holidays. Family tensions run high and the matriarch just keeps adding fuel but what saves them all is of course a love for each other.

I enjoyed all of the characters but wish there was some more of the MFC and MMC - more than her insecurities being forefront of all interactions. This book was a cuddle up on the couch and enjoy book - which I did.
Would recommend and will certainly buy my mother a copy :)

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it.

It takes you through all the different family members and their struggles as they come together for a Christmas vacation in the family cabins.

It’s a feel good, funny, holiday read.

Susan Mallory does it again. Here's a delightful holiday story that shows the importance of family and the true meaning of the season showing kindness and benevolence. Lots of characters, so make a chart, but a great assortment of them who blend well together in a winter cabin what was supposed to be a calm Christmas that became chaotic and funny. There is even a dog. It's a feel-good story of hope, romance, and second chances. Many thanks to #netgalley #onebighappyfamily #susanmallery for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What started out with the thought of a quiet Christmas with her boyfriend, businesswoman, Julie, has to do a complete about face and make new plans when her two grown children suddenly want to go to the family cabin (well, more like a giant house) in memory of their father. Plans are extended when each sector of the group has additional guests from a dog, mother-in-law, uncle, employees, and young children. Could this be a total disaster? What will keep this from being a total chaotic holiday? Sit back and prepare to be totally entertained by author Susan Mallery. Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street and the author for an advance reader copy; the review is my honest opinion.

Just released today, October 1, 2024 Susan Mallery’s newest novel revolves around Christmas and what it means to this family of Julie Parker’s. You will love meeting her and by the time you finish this novel you will feel like you personally know all the characters. That is a talent that author Mallery is known for and excels at, character development. The dialogue is delightful and may remind you of your own family, with snarky comments when applicable, and touching scenes of kindness when least expected.

Julie is the owner of a towing company, inherited from her father. She is a strong-willed successful woman who fiercely loves her grown children. Julie is a 50+ woman in a relationship with a 40+ younger man that she has been keeping quiet about as the age difference bothers her a great deal. She has grown children and hasn’t told them about this relationship. She has been looking forward to spending this Christmas quietly with Heath, the man in her life, as their children will be away. Suddenly plans change and Julie’s adult children want to continue their tradition of spending the holiday at their cabin, their first Christmas without their father who recently passed away, for nostalgic reasons. She can’t say no to that, which means that Julie will have to coordinate everything, from packing, decorating, menus and cooking. So much for a quiet romantic Christmas with her guy.

Things escalate to a chaotic level as more characters, including a dog are added to the mix. Mallery’s characters are always relatable and visualizing the scenes comes easily. I absolutely loved this and spent most of my early morning hours with it so I could get this review in on publication day. If you are a fan of Christmas stories and domestic fiction from a woman’s point of view this is a no-brainer — order or pick up a copy of this today at your favorite retailer. You won’t be sorry. 👍🏼🎄

#NetGalley
#susanmallery
#canarystreetpress/harlequin

This was a Christmas read with a mom that is expecting to spend the holidays without her adult kids. She is especially excited because she will get to spend Christmas with her new-ish, younger man. That's until her adult children end up wanting to spend the holiday together and this is where they meet their mom's new boyfriend.

I typically read romance and this is more of a family story, so it's not really my cup of tea. I appreciated the drama, but it was slow at times and parts of the story could have been excluded. Despite my review, I can see how other people would enjoy this holiday read. I liked it, but didn't love it.

Rating: 3 stars, I liked it.

Susan Mallery always writes entertaining stories and although primarily a romance writer, in the last several books, they have been more women’s fiction that straight up romance. And this is one of her best. I will say, that for the first 20% of the book, I had a hard time figuring out who all the characters were, who they were related to, and who were together as couples. Once I figured all that out, the story was much easier to me to get into. This book has it all, Christmas, family drama, chaos and Love! There is a younger man older woman element, a daughter in law who has severe IBS, ex wives,and more. And they all end up together for the holiday. There is family drama but Ms Mallory’s stories are so well written that the reader knows that no matter what happens in the story, it will all end well! Loved it!

The latest book by Mallery is a romp through a snow-covered field of happiness and fun. I loved this story so much that I didn’t want it to ever end. The characters are realistic and dynamic. I especially liked and identified with the character of Julie, a woman who wants to spend time with her new younger boyfriend at Christmas, but without her adult children finding out. Her plans don’t work as she wanted because Dana and Nick, her children, are sentimental about this being the first Christmas without their dad, so they want to spend Christmas at the family cabin. A few minor changes in Julie’s plans become a big deal when Nick’s mother-n-law decides to come along, as well as Julie’s employee Huxley, Uncle Paul and her boyfriend and his children. What was supposed to be an intimate Christmas with just Heath and Julie becomes a family and friends reunion of sorts, and of the most hilarious kind. I felt a whole gamut of emotions as I read this great, multi-layered story. I was empathetic towards Gwen, Nick’s MIL, because she has difficulty relating to her estranged daughter Blair and Christmas just doesn’t seem the right time to set things right. I felt sad for Dana who has tried over and over again to establish a relationship with Axel, but he keeps breaking up with her and destroying her emotionally. I was thrilled with Julie and Heath’s relationship because he is the perfect boyfriend, attentive, loving and swoonworthy, too. I cried, I laughed out loud, and even gasped at some of the antics of the characters. This is a perfect read for the holidays because no matter how many people you invite to your house, I don’t think it’s possible to have as much fun as Susan Mallery’s big, happy family!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”