A cheesy, holiday family story about coming together for the holidays as a mixed family. Some of the conversations made me cringe a bit because they were so awkward and half these characters desperately need some major therapy 🤣 BUT if you ignore that this is a silly and light holiday read I enjoyed reading over the holidays this year.

One Big Happy Family was a whirlwind of a multi-POV holiday read! Julie's quiet holiday with her new boyfriend, Heath, becomes family chaos with both of their kids, exes, family dysfunction, and a dog. But there is no resentment (mostly) and it's a sweet read overall. I enjoyed it but could have done without some of the thoughts/ruminating related to weight/lamenting eating choices. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

"Please don’t come home for Christmas…"
One Big Happy Family was an easy and cute read for the holiday season. This is about a quiet Christmas that ends up being a crazy one with so many situations happening. The author was new to me and I look forward to reading more books by her. It was written well with decent characters and had me turning pages until the very end. Overall, this was a great read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who likes Christmas or Romance books. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this read and to HTP Books/ The Hive for this holiday read in exchange of my honest review of One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery.

So much family drama!!! I liked the idea of them all back in the cabin together and all the shenanigans but some of it was too much for me! Still a fun one for Christmas !

I want to start my review by thanking Netgalley, Canary Street Press, and Susan Mallery for a Digital ARC of One Big Happy Family in return for an honest review. Everything I write here is completely my own thoughts and opinions. I will say I was extremely excited to get one of her books because I have read a few by this author in the past and truly enjoyed them. I really enjoyed this story. I do want to point out that right from the beginning, this is not just a Christmas Story. There are so many serious, heavy-hitting topics here, but in my opinion, I think that the author has done a great job of writing about them.

If you are looking for a Christmas Story where you follow multiple characters of different ages who are all fleshed out, in my opinion, very well, then this is the story for you. If you want a Christmas Story about a mother who is dating a younger man while keeping it a secret from her adult children, then give this one a go. If you are looking for a story about family in all of its glorious messiness, then I think you will like this book. If you like a new romance, second chance romances, following your dreams, making discoveries about yourself, and forgiveness, then I really think you will like this story. If you want all the coziness of the Christmas Season with snow and spending time with family and friends, then I believe you will enjoy this story.

Again, I want to thank Canary Street Press, Netgalley, and Susan Mallery for this Digital ARC in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this story, and I can see myself revisiting it next year. This book, in my opinion, had it all. I do want to mention that you may want to check trigger warnings because, as I said above, there are some heavy-hitting topics, but I found them to be handled with care. I hope you decide to give this book a go and enjoy it as much as I did.

Such a fun book. So many tropes! It was a quick read for me but that did not take away from how much I enjoyed it. Highly recommend!

Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family is one special book. I’ve been reading Mallery for years, enjoyed many of her books, but even among the many Mallery keepers lining my shelves, this book is an all-time favorite. It’s so addictively enjoyable I read it in one day and am already looking forward to my next re-read. I won’t be a bit surprised if it ends up being one of my special annual, in-front-of-the-tree-with-hot-cocoa-and-a-cozy-blanket Christmas reads. It’s just that good.

Mallery brings an ever expanding cast of characters to this story but it never feels cluttered or confusing. Chaotic? Well, that’s a different story but it’s the kind of holiday chaos I gobble up faster than hot-from-the-oven holiday shortbread. The characters are all developed with care and a thoroughness that brings them to life on the page. They are layered, complex, intriguing, and authentic. Even those who are eminently unlikable at first have layers that slowly reveal unexpected depths. Secrets are revealed, life decisions are made, a romance rekindles, another deepens, broken family relationships take the first steps toward healing, children bring a magical anticipation, and friends and family, old and new, biological and chosen, illustrate clearly that Christmas is the perfect time to open our hearts to the hope, joy, love, fun, and unexpected guests of the season.

Don’t miss Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

Christmas, family drama, age gap romance- who could ask for more? One Big Happy Family was so different than the typical holiday/Christmas book I usually read. . I loved this storyline & the characters are so lovable. Epically the dog. Lot of humor in this - literally left me lol-ing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canary Street Press and the author for a digital ARC of this book. Susan Mallery has written another heartfelt and relatable book for the holiday season. Julie Parker is looking forward to a romantic holiday getaway with her much younger (and secret) boyfriend sans adult children. However, as plans are wont to do, everything changes when her son and daughter want to spend Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their recently deceased father (and Julie’s ex husband). Naturally, Julie agrees and the guest list grows to include her boyfriend’s children, the difficult and estranged mother of her son’s bride and the noncommittal on off boyfriend of her daughter. Throw in a broken wrist and the Christmas holidays are definitely not what Julie had envisioned! This is a well written book with multidimensional and likable characters who grow and evolve throughout the story. Long time readers of Susan Mallery will definitely enjoy this new addition to her lineup. Those just discovering the author are in for a treat. Readers who enjoy books by Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Sherryl Woods and RaeAnne Thayne will find a similar feel in Susan Mallory’s writing. Highly recommend for a quiet break during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!

Very sweet cozy read for the holidays. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! I wish there had been an epilogue of some sort, but maybe there is more coming?

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is her latest holiday tale. You’ll want to pack your bags and head to the mountains with Julie Parker, her younger boyfriend, his kids, her adult children and their families. Did I mention his ex-wife? This delightful tale of love, holidays and family will leave you laughing, swooning and filled with holiday cheer.

I love stories about large families. Julie Parker is proud of her adult children and runs a towing company that she hopes her son will one day run. This year her son Alex and his new wife Blair are planning a winter holiday and she is looking forward to a low-key Christmas with her younger boyfriend Heath, whose own kids will spend time with his ex. Ha- as a mother of adult children, I know nothing ever goes according to plan.

When Julie’s son Nick and daughter Dana inform her they want to celebrate Christmas at the cabin to honor their father (who passed this past year) she dons her mama boots and prepares to create the perfect holiday week. I loved the family dynamic, and that she invited her boyfriend along. Her son is married, but her daughter has had an off again on again relationship with Axel; who happens to works at the towing company. Blair brings her estranged mother, whose gift is complaining. It’s gonna be a full house, and Julie plans with style. Ho-Ho-Ho!

Things get complicated when Heath’s ex asks him to take the kids for the holiday, so she can go on a vacation with her new boyfriend. Julie opens up the cabin to them and other unexpected guest. Family drama, relationship developments and the chaos that is “family gatherings” had me chuckling, swooning, laughing and experiencing the joy of Christmas with this lovable, somewhat disfunction family. We see character growth, reconciliations and romantic developments on several fronts.

If you are looking for a warm-hearted, multiple perspective story about family, holidays and relationships, this touching tale is for you.

A woman towing company owner has a lot on her plate entering the holiday season and is looking forward to a holiday getaway with her boyfriend while her adult kids are off doing their own thing and his kids are with the ex. But, holiday mischief abounds and her secret man and their combined extended family are about to make Christmas for two multiply exponentially. One Big Happy Family in the large family cabin produce mischief more than mistletoe. Susan Mallery’s latest holiday release kicked off the Season nicely.

The central figure of One Big Happy Family is Julie and by central figure, I mean the person everyone else revolves around. Julie is strong-minded, forthright, capable, and warmhearted especially to her children, but she is also hiding a desperate need to be in tight control and not give more than necessary when it comes to matters of the heart. No one sees this side as she hides it well behind a large, generous personality.

She owns and operates the family towing company and it is a successful business she hopes to pass down to her son. But, lately, she’s been itchy about doing it all alone and has been dating a wonderful guy, Heath, who just happens to be a decade younger. Julie isn’t ready to put her adult kids in the know she’s with a younger man, though he is a solid businessman himself, dependable, and has it all together. Just the two of them this holidays and she can’t wait.

Then, plans change when her son, Nick, and daughter, Dana rethink things when they are missing their recently deceased dad, Julie’s ex, and want to have a family holiday at the cabin in honor of him. Julie is generous and goes with it making the plans and getting it done for a dozen odd people come together to celebrate the holidays.

The narrative bounces among most of the adults who end up at the cabin from Nick’s estranged mother in law, Dana’s on again off again boyfriend breaking her heart, and Heath’s ex and kids. One Big Happy Family is not trying to do something original or complex, but simply showcases a family who are good and solid, but keep it real with the mishaps, miscues, and mistakes common to all during the holiday season in a woodsy setting and a not-so rustic six-bedroom cabin. There are funny moments and my favorite is the way the acoustics work so any conversations or arguments or otherwise are overheard by many others. Cracked me up when it happened.

The conflicts have their emotional impact, but doesn’t get overly dramatic which is how I like it. People messed up, but they figure it out and with the help- wanted or not- from family. The cozy holiday vibe was strong and I enjoyed the romances though they were not center stage. An all-around good pick for a holiday contemporary fiction sparkling with emotion and spirit.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. Unfortunately, the trigger warnings were too much for me and I was not able to finish it.

Thanks to @htpbooks for the gifted e-arc of this book!

Now that we’ve made it past Thanksgiving, I’m ready to dive back into reviewing holiday reads and up first is One Big Happy Family from Susan Mallery.

Julie Parker loves her kids but when they ask if it’s okay to skip a big Christmas gathering this year, Julie is okay with it, mainly because it gives her the opportunity to spend a cozy, romantic holiday with Heath, the much younger man she has been secretly dating.

When her kids change their minds at the last minute and decide they should all spend Christmas together at the family’s cabin since it’s the first Christmas since their dad died, Julie feels like she can’t really say no. Julie’s holiday goes from cozy and romantic to crowded and chaotic, as the guest list continues to grow, and the amount of secrets and drama grows right along with it.

I really enjoyed reading about Julie and her family’s holiday together. There’s just something so relatable about a big, messy family holiday! There were some humorous moments along the way, as shouldn’t be too surprising with so many people converging on one small cabin, but then there’s also quite a bit of family drama and lots of heart-to-heart conversations as everyone’s secrets are brought to light. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Julie and Heath and watching how their relationship fared as all of the drama unfolded.

All in all, I found this to be a very heartwarming holiday story.

I felt this story line what somewhat predictable at times. I also felt that the relationship between Axel and Dana was unbelievable in regards to them getting engaged just like that. I felt like they still had a lot of issues to worth through before agreeing to spend the rest of their lives together. However, this was still a light, enjoyable, and easy Christmas read!

I have been a fan of Susan Mallery's romance novels for a while now. Ever since I read The Girls of Mischief Bay in 2015. I have a bunch of them on my Kindle and need to read more of them soon, as I still really like her writing style. She's very genuine and down-to-earth and sometimes her novels even make me cry. So when it came time to find some good holiday reads, I went to One Big Happy Family, which released this autumn.
This story is cozy in the best possible ways with a few swoonworthy men and a lot of drama. Plus, kids and a dog! I liked all three of the female narrators: Julie, Blair, and Dana. Every time Julie thinks she has the big holiday week under control, something else comes up and she has to readjust her plans. I can relate to Julie a lot in terms of not wanting to delegate anything. (Well, except for cooking.) I'm also a very welcoming person and like to make guests feel at home. I also would do anything to keep my kids from being sad or miserable.

Meanwhile, Blair is regretting asking her mom to join them all for the holiday and Dana is still pining over Axel but not wanting him to know it. Both situations contribute a lot to the drama in the story, along with Nick keeping a huge secret from Julie, which leads to something no one was expecting.

Can I just point out what a sweetheart Heath is? He was so good to Julie and had so much patience even with all the chaos. Definitely great book boyfriend material! Nick was great too and I loved him for Blair. It took longer to warm to Axel.

While the holiday spirit of the story was a lot of fun and I could smell the food and feel the heat from the fireplace, there were some things that I did have concerns about. In Blair's situation, the issue she had with her mother was constantly replayed throughout the novel. I get that her mother was in a bad place during most of Blair's life, but they kept harping on the same things over and over. (This also happened with Dana and Axel, but not as much.) Also, Blair had a chronic health issue that was mentioned a bunch of times. While I know it's something a lot of people deal with and can relate to her about, I also felt that there was too much information given that took away from her dignity. Finally, one big conflict came in right at the end of the story and was resolved quickly as a result. I'm glad it was resolved, but it should have come into the story a bit sooner to give it more gravitas.

Even with these concerns, I really liked this novel overall and have been recommending it to anyone who wants an entertaining holiday read. So wrap up in your coziest blanket with some hot cocoa in front of a fireplace to devour this sweet treat.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Julie: Julie Bowen
Blair: Sarah Fisher
Dana: Willa Fitzgerald
Gwen: Parker Posey
Nick: Luke Bracey
Heath: Wes Brown
Axel: Tom Bateman
Tiffany: Natalia Dyer
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TW: details of chronic illness, death of infant (mentioned), someone gets shot, but not killed (off page)

More of a 3.5 rating rounded up. Julie and new boyfriend Heath planned to spend Christmas alone at her family cottage. That is until her adult kids decide they want to have a family Christmas together to remember their father (Julie's ex) on the first Christmas without him. As the family gathering develops it grows to include her son's mother-in-law, her boyfriend's 2 kids, her brother in law, her daughter's ex boyfriend and even her boyfriend's ex wife.

This was a funny, cute family Christmas story with A LOT going on! Some of it is campy and hilarious, and part of it is bittersweet. Overall this was an enjoyable read but may have tried to do too much. Nothing really captured my attention, but it was a fun way to spend the time.

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a fantastic and wonderful Christmas read. I truly enjoyed the book.

I enjoyed this Christmastime family drama, set in a (very large) cabin outside of Seattle. There were a lot of typical family issues- partner dramas, mother-child dramas, whiny children, employment issues, and more - but what I really liked was everyone coming together for the holidays. While I love the idea of inviting everyone imaginable together (current partners, exes, estranged family members), I'm far too much of an introvert to actually enjoy it, so I love reading about it :)

This was a pretty quick and dramatic read. There's so much conflict crammed into one holiday, and it's kind of perfect for the book. Each character has their own quirks and hangups, as well as their own relationship dynamics with other characters, which makes for an entertaining holiday book.