One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallory is a fun and meaningful Christmas book. A family, blended in many ways, come together to celebrate and find ways to be a real family.

One Big Happy Family is a heartwarming, five-star read that I absolutely loved! Susan Mallery delivers an incredible mix of strong characters, a charming cabin-in-the-woods setting, and delightful family drama that kept me hooked from start to finish. The female protagonist’s unique job as an owner of a towing company adds an extra layer of interest, making her relatable and refreshing. I also adored multiple points of view (and multiple romances) and the cute dog who adds even more warmth and joy to the story. If you love family-centric plots with lots of emotion and a fun, cozy atmosphere, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend!

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a heartwarming tale that delves into the lives of several interconnected families, exploring the love, challenges, and triumphs that come with building strong relationships. The story focuses on how family members—whether by blood, marriage, or friendship—navigate their evolving roles and handle life's twists. Mallery weaves together themes of connection and resilience, with moments of both humor and tenderness.

At first, I found the pacing to be slow, and I had trouble fully immersing myself in the story. However, as the plot progressed, I found myself increasingly drawn to the characters and their evolving relationships. By the end, I couldn't put the book down, which speaks to Mallery's talent for delivering a satisfying and engaging read.

While the plot and overarching themes were charming, I did have a bit of difficulty keeping track of the various characters and their connections at times. That said, the novel still delivers a cute and touching story about the complexities and joys of family. For these reasons, I give One Big Happy Family 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was the best Christmas book I've read yet! I love a family drama mixed with a holiday story.

This would make a great movie! Julie, who has a hot, new, younger boyfriend is ready for a quiet Christmas, just the two of them.
These plans quickly change when her two adult children want to spend Christmas at the cabin in tribute to their father (her ex for several years although amicable) who passed the previous winter. He loved Christmas and the cabin and they felt the need to be there with him (in spirit).

Controlled chaos, secrets, drama, and injuires ensues at the cabin with exes, children, estranged moms, and truly terrible IBS makes an appearance.

Susan Mallery knows how to write heart wrenching drama and this is no exception.
The constantly changing point of view left me confused at times as I had some trouble following, but I did like the glimpse of where they were coming from. Overall, an enjoyable Christmas read.

If you're looking for dramatic book with a holiday theme then you've come to the right place!
This book touches on the dynamic of a dysfunctional family who learn to accept forgiveness & reconcile.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Susan Mallery knows how to write a very powerful and beautiful romance. I absolutely loved this amazing novel and I can see why she continues to be a popular women's fiction writer. If you are looking for a book this holiday season that will give you major Hallmark Channel vibes, I definitely recommend this book! I can't wait to read Susan Mallery's next novel!

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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If you are looking for a great holiday story that has a lot going on just like any family during the holidays then One Big Happy Family is the book for you. I enjoyed the book a lot, it was fast paced for sure and captures the hectic chaotic holiday spirit.

This book had a cast of characters, but each one brought something to the story. The family drama and the holiday traditions were so relatable. Overall this book was great and I enjoyed it!

Susan Mallery is my favorite go-to for relationships and family drama. She writes masterfully evoking all the feelings. This story is set at a family Christmas at the family "cabin" - not really a cabin in my book, but that's what they call it. This is the first Christmas without the father who passed away nearly a year ago. It starts as a vacation for Julie and her new boyfriend to get away, but the kids, Nick and Dana throw a wrench in their plans when they say they want to go to the cabin as a way of remembering their Dad. Julie owns a towing company and her son works there. It's a profitable business. Dana chose to pursue a career in accounting. The family is very close.

Overall a sweet Christmas family drama. The dialogue was a bit cringey at times. There were a couple storylines that I couldn't decide if I liked the resolution or not. Still a happy ending book but I feel just a little unsure of just how happy I am.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARc of this book for my honest review.

This was such a cute Christmas book. Julie Parker thought this year she was going to have a low key Christmas with her new boyfriend until her adult children decided they wanted to spend Christmas with her up at the cabin like they always did growing up. Julie did not want to disappoint her children who lost their father (her ex husband) the previous year. So Julie went from having a low key Christmas to Christmas with her kids, her boyfriend, the boyfriends children, her daughter-in-law's mother and uncle, a coworker and a couple unexpected guests....One Big Happy Family.

I absolutely adore everything about this story. Characters, settings, and all of the ugly and beautiful interactions that come with a blended family of people (new boyfriend, his ex-wife, in-laws, you get the idea). The story blends into a whirlwind of challenges that are met with love and understanding, if not always joy.

Perfect imperfection from the first page to the ending. I hope there is a sequel. I need to know what happens to all of the characters after Christmas.

One Big Happy Family is a novel full of family and relationship drama, emotions, and a bit of holiday chaos & magic. We meet Julie, and her two adult children Nick and Dana. All have their own emotional trauma and issues that they are either working through (or ignoring) and we learn different things about each of them through chapters told in different perspectives. Overall, this is a sweet holiday novel perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I felt so lost reading this book that I ended up DNFing it. So many characters all at once that I couldn’t figure out who was who and their relationship to each other. Maybe I’ll give this book another try another day.

This novel was like watching a cozy holiday movie at Christmas time. What started out as a completely quiet and uneventful holiday season, intended for some needed couple time, turned into an all-out family affair at the cabin. This book was a nice exploration of family themes and how much they people that fit into those boxes can easily stretch beyond our immediate blood relations. It also talks bout how the strong ones in our family can forget that they can also depend on others to pick up the slack , and it's okay to not be totally okay. There was a lot of kindness and consideration throughout the interactions of the characters in this novel, even when hard conversations were occurring. If you're looking for a book to give you all the feels of a classic holiday movie, then I recommend giving this one a go.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted e-arc.

Title: One Big Happy Family
By: Susan Mallery
Pub. Date: October 1, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Women’s, Contemporary, Chick-Lit, Holiday

Summary/Review:
Julie Parker is fine having Christmas by herself, with her secret, younger boyfriend, Heath. That is until Julie’s children, Dana and Nick request Christmas at the cabin in memory of their dad who recently passed away. Feeling the need to appease and respect her children’s wishes, Julie agrees to Christmas together. As the drama of family ensues, so does the chaos of adding other relations to the Christmas family mix, and this holiday quickly becomes one for the memory books! The author creatively weaves the ebb and flow of chaotic family drama into the plotline, using very empathetic characters, and themes of forgiveness, love, loss, and hope.

Similar books to:
The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels

Thank you Susan Mallery, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#SusanMallery
#OneBigHappyFamily
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Hooray! A holiday novel I can get behind this year. I worried this was just going to be a powder keg of drama - several people with complicated dynamics in a cabin for a week leading to Christmas. But I loved the stories that developed and the sense of redemption through several of the family lines!

QUICK GLANCE-
My format- Ebook
Other formats- 📖Physical (331 pages)🎧Audio (9 hrs 9min)
Spice: 🌶️ (off-page, or closed-door, cracked door Chapter 2)
Language: mild🤐

MY THOUGHTS-
I have always been a fan of Susan Mallery and when I saw a new Christmas book coming out I knew I had to read it. If you are a family drama fan and looking for some Christmas cheer, look no further! The characters in this book and their relationships are so well described and laid out that it’s like I’m standing in the cabin with them watching the drama unfold. I enjoyed the chaos and how all the characters’ stories ended up. However, I wanted a little more from this book. Maybe a twist or two, more humor/banter, or more developed chemistry between the characters. It was an entertaining plot but I did find myself just trying to get to the end of it.

Complex Family Relationships
Christmas at the Cabin
Age Gap
Romance

Thank you to @netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from Susan Mallery. The characters are well developed and interesting. There are several love stories included in the story line as well as an overall theme of the importance of family and friends. I was sad when I finished the book as I had come to think of the characters as friends that I enjoyed reading about. I highly recommend this lovely book.