I felt similarly about this book as I did with The Wedding People. On one hand, it was a heart-warming read about imperfect siblings and the bond they share. But there were so many problematic actions and behaviors that I wanted to better understand...a mother who abandons her family, a checked-out father, Conner pursuing a love interest instead of spending quality time with the kids he never sees. Maybe we'll get the mother's story some day.

Read this if you like:
•family dramas
•road trips
•have a goal of wanting to visit all 50 states!

This book is about 4 siblings and their complicated relationship. I love a good family drama book. This is told in alternating timelines of the past and now. They all meet up in North Dakota last minute after a frantic text from one sibling. As more of the story unfolds, we understand what happened in the past and what caused the falling out between the siblings. I loved that the chapters alternated the POV between the siblings so we got to know all of them and see them develop. There are some sensitive topics discussed so check TWs. Thank you Ballentine for the eARC

I became a fan of Jennifer E. Smith through her young adult novels, but I was really delighted by her debut adult novel, The Unsinkable Greta James. So obviously when I had the chance to read Fun for the Whole Family, I snagged it.

The characters at the heart of this novel are the Endicott siblings—Jude, Gemma, Connor, and Roddy—who, when the novel begins, haven’t spoken to each other in three years. On Jude’s out-of-the-blue request, they’ve traveled to North Dakota to spend the weekend together. There they must grapple with incidents from their past, work through their complicated relationship with their deceased mother, reveal secrets, and begin to trust one another again.

Was this a little predictable? Yes. I figured out one of the sibling’s secrets far before the big reveal. But that didn’t stop me from holding back tears as I finished this in a coffee shop yesterday. I really enjoyed reading this. I loved getting to know each sibling. I thought that the way the story was structured—alternating between the past and the present—worked especially well. Most of all, I loved the way that Smith tenderly wrote about these siblings, showing us that family, no matter how broken, is worth fighting for.

But for reals, have some tissues nearby.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Fun for the Whole Family is available for purchase on April 10.

Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude are four siblings who grew up with an absent mother and an always-working dad. Though close as children, none of them have seen each other in years after a big falling out at their father’s funeral. One day Jude texts her siblings, asking them to meet her that weekend in North Dakota, without explaining why. Through their weekend together, they unwind what caused the estrangement and why Jude wanted to see them.

Gemma and her husband are trying to have a baby, though Gemma isn’t sure she actually wants to be a mom after basically raising her siblings. Roddy just got offered a contract to play soccer in Orlando, but hasn’t told his fiancé that it will make him miss their wedding. Connor is a divorced father, barely seeing his kids, and struggling to write his next novel after the huge success of his last. Jude is a famous actress, carrying a lot of secrets.

I enjoy a good airing of grievances and they ALL had their grievances. I always think it’s fascinating how siblings can grow up in the same home and have such different experiences and memories from each other. I have lived through the experience of family fights and estrangement and this book nails how easy it is to just slip into the inertia of not speaking to each other when you're already so physically distant. I really enjoyed seeing all of their perspectives and their character growth.

All of Jude’s reveals are bit obvious, but that’s fine because it’s not like a mystery/thriller anyway. I think the Roddy/Jude relationship could have been a bit better developed because I still don't understand why they lost touch. Even in their past, it was always Roddy being protective of Jude and visting her, but not showing much of Jude's feelings towards Roddy or being there for him, even though they're twins and were supposedly very close.

Altogether, I thought this was well-written - I enjoyed the characters, the narrative structure, and the plot, and it definitely made me cry.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderfully emotional family saga. As the youngest of seven kids my siblings are a big part of my life, so I love a good sibling story. This certainly fit the bill. The author did an excellent job in developing the characters of each of the four siblings. I truly cared about each of them and found myself rooting for each of them. I loved the two young characters, as well as the partners of the siblings. The book explored the sometimes-complicated dynamics among the characters, touching on so many aspects including love, forgiveness, hope, redemption parenthood, compromise and so much more.

The book was beautifully written from multiple points of view. Each of the sibling's lives was shaped by their mother who abandoned them but came back every summer to take them on a trip. I loved the short Intermittent chapters which took place in a different state during these trips, reflecting on their past.

The epilogue was the perfect ending - beautiful and bittersweet, but not cheesy.

I felt like it could have had a better title though. I don't think this really fit.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
After reading & loving Jennifer E. Smith's previous book, "The Unsinkable Greta James",
I was excited to read her newest book, "Fun For The Whole Family".
This was a heartfelt story that goes from the past to present within the family, bringing some events & secrets to light as 4 siblings, after years of separation, come together for a family trip to a small town in North Dakota. The story was interesting & the characters were unique & well-developed.
I would definitely read another book by this author.

oh my-

wow. one thing about me, i'm going to absolutely devour a family drama about estranged siblings and the chaos between them. this had mommy issues, daddy issues, sibling issues, relationship issues, just every type of family dynamic issue you can think of, this had. and the author gave the characters such unique voices. allowing them to have different career paths, different relationship status' brought opposing perspectives that were engaging to read from. i loved the glimpses of their past and how it affected each sibling in the present. how each of them had wildly different recollections of the same event from their past.

i related most to gemma as the eldest daughter. i think a lot of eldest siblings will empathize with her and see bits and pieces of themselves in her actions.

the ending B R O K E me. i sobbed through the last three chapters UGH. this was such a fantastic novel. i enjoyed the authors writing - this book was emotional, humorous, sentimental, and touched on very heavy topics but written with care. i definitely want to read more from this author!

Thank you so much to Random House for the gifted book!

After reading Jennifer E. Smith's previous release, The Unsinkable Greta James, I was so eager to read this! She has such a talent for writing extremely readable characters and capturing their emotions so well!

I was expecting this one to be fun and it definitely delivered in that department. I had also hoped for some deeper and heavier family moments and feel it delivered there as well!

The readers are given just enough information about an event that reshaped the 4 siblings lives many years ago to be interested without fully understanding what happened. I had very high expectations for how the past would be revealed and what the secrets would be. I do feel like it was a little less shocking than I had expected, but still found it to be explained well.

While I can't exactly put my finger on it, I feel like something was missing. Maybe it was more backstory or maybe it was a closer look into the characters now, but I just wanted a little bit more.

Overall, I think this will be a huge hit with many!

3.5 stars.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for the gifted ARC!

After adoring THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES, I knew I'd be back for more from Jennifer E. Smith. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY is (obviously) a family drama similar to Tracey Lange, Ethan Joella, and Allison Larkin-type books. The family dynamics are so realistic that I think this will be a relatable read for anyone, and who's not a sucker for some complicated family relationships in a book?! This is a heartfelt read that goes from the past to present within the family, bringing some events and secrets to light as the four Endicott siblings, after years of separation, come together for a "super fun family trip" to... a small town in North Dakota. I loved how the character of each siblings was so unique and well-developed - it really made me feel connected to each one of them.

I thought this would be a nice palate cleanser.. a light read with family road trips. And now I’m crying! 😭
But it’s a good cry. It was fun, but also emotional. I loved all the characters and uncovering the history of the siblings that led to them not speaking as much anymore.
I don’t want to give too much away because I didn’t know what to expect going in and I thought it was best that way, but I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great story with characters you can’t help but care about.

An emotional family drama with complex characters. I liked that the reader gets perspectives of each of the four siblings. The fairly short chapters would make this a good read of vacation. Most of the book is set during a snow storm.

Review of Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

Jennifer E. Smith expertly brings the Endicott family to life in this strong and well-done contemporary fiction novel. The four siblings, Gemma, Connor, and twins Roddy and Jude, share a childhood of dysfunction due to a troubled mother and an always working, too tired to be present father. The siblings learned to rely on each other (with the three younger ones largely turning to Gemma) to provide love and meet their emotional needs. Their background welded the four of them together yet also left each of them ill-prepared to handle conflict and relationships moving forward. In the present day, the siblings have been out of touch for three years, something they all once would have found unfathomable. Jude invites each of them to meet for a weekend in North Dakota.

Told from the viewpoints of each sibling, and alternating between the past and the present, the reader learns about each character, and the family as a whole, layer by layer. The pacing of the story, the complexity of the characters, and the deft way the author captures the myriad of emotions make this an engaging and satisfying read. I love this book!!

My thanks to Ballantine Books for allowing me to access a DRC of the novel via NetGalley. Publication is 4/15/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

At first glance I thought this is going to be light hearted, fun and perfect read for my cruise. Four siblings raised in an unconventional home with a carefree Mom who came in and out of their lives to take them on summer trips have become estranged in adulthood. Gemma is married and they are considering kids although she feels she has already been a Mom to her siblings as she was the responsible one. Jude has become an Oscar nominated actress. Roddy is a professional soccer player and engaged to his partner Winston that none of them have met. Connor is a teacher and also penned a fictional book that was so close to being about their family that it contributed to the estrangement. All four of them have kept up with each other but haven't reached out until they all get a text from Jude asking to meet her in North Dakota. They all go for a weekend of companionship to recreate their good childhood times but first they must come to grips with secrets and resolve past hurts and also forgive each other, themselves and their parents. The characters are relatable and endearing and this book totally wrecked me in all the best ways and I'm still thinking about the "whole family" wishing I had more siblings. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I read The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to diving into Fun for the Whole Family. It is even better. Gemma, Connor, Jude and Roddy are siblings who have been estranged for three years. Add in Connor’s kids, Rosie and Hugh as well as Roddy’s partner, Winston and Alice, the Uber driver and you have a group of really great characters. Jude sets up a weekend family trip to North Dakota. What ensues is riveting, heart wrenching and totally engrossing as they work through the issues that separated them. I’ve read some really good books in the last couple of months. This is one of the best.

Jennifer E. Smith knows how to write a family drama filled with hope! Fun for the Whole Family follows the four Endicott siblings, older sister Gemma, Connor, and twins Jude and Roddy who have not seen each other in a few years and their only contact has been a few text messages here and there. All of them are at a crossroad in their lives when they receive a text from Jude, a movie star who just received her first Oscar nomination, asking them to meet in North Dakota for a weekend.

Upon seeing each other when they arrive in North Dakota, each sibling has some resentment towards the others and is keeping secrets. Gemma is waiting to find out if she is pregnant and whether she truly wants the test to be positive or negative. Connor, recently divorced, is trying to write his next novel, but can't capture the magic he once had when his last book was based on his family. Roddy not ready to retire from his soccer career, is taking an offer to play for a new team, but that means leaving Winston his fiancée behind. And Jude at the height of her career, has a number of secrets to share with her family that she fears will tear them even more apart.

I highly recommend the audiobook version which is nominated by Lauren Graham. She did an amazing job bringing each of the siblings to life. I could not stop listening as each chapter follows another sibling and in between are flashbacks to a place they lived or traveled in when they were younger that helped to shape who they became. As the siblings spend time together and share things going on in their lives and what is to come, you could sense how much they truly loved each other and missed having them in their lives. It was an emotional and beautiful story about family and that no matter what happens in the past, there is always a chance to rebuild relationships.

As. the youngest of four, I love books about siblings, more so if its all girls, or sets of four siblings.

After a family argument, the Endicott siblings have gone years without speaking. After a lifetime of family adventures with their mom every summer, they didn't think that would happen. Then one sibling proposes a last minute weekend to reunite them.

I can't imagine going that long without talking to my siblings. I feel like I should have seen the ending coming, but I didn't, and it wrecked me. This book. I can't. I think it's my favorite from JES.

I loved this book! It was such a fun read about siblings, a dual timeline, famous people, etc. I was in a reading slump and this book took me right out of it. I adore books about siblings and exploring that relationship and this did not disappoint. It was gripping and captivating and frustrating at times and i enjoyed it quite a lot.

Wow don’t let this book’s cover or title fool you. This is not a fun silly book about a family. This is a raw, heartbreaking story about the connection between siblings through trauma, grief and shared experiences. It is funny, warm, tender and beautiful. It tells the story of four siblings with such vivid detail and emotion, you feel like you are right there with them. It’s a rollercoaster that made me laugh and cry at all the right moments. A beautiful journey!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and PRH Audio for the arc/alc,

I thought this book was a very quick and fun read. I enjoyed the family drama in this story as well as the family dynamics. Jennifer E Smith knows how to keep a reader hooked on the story that is for sure. If I didn't have a busy life, I might've finished this book in one sitting!!

As for the audiobook, it is narrated by the fabulous and funny Lauren Graham (aka Lorelei Gilmore). While I enjoyed Lauren's narration, I would've kind of preferred this book to be a full-cast narration, on account of the fact there were so many characters. With only Lauren narrating all of the characters, it was slightly hard to keep them all straight, however, I am not saying that Lauren didn't do a fabulous job narrating this book, and if the narration was only meant to be single narration, she was the perfect narrator to pick for this book. Overall, I really enjoyed Lauren's narration and I thought it brought this story to life in a fun way!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and PRH Audio for the arc/alc,

In terms of plot, this was a relatively simple story. A set of four siblings, now estranged, have been drawn back together by a summons from one of their quartet. Jade has three secrets that she has realized have to be shared in order to draw them back together. Once together, more than just Jade's secrets are revealed, placing additional obstacles in their path to reconciliation.

Each character in this story was well written, distinct from the others and with individual motivations and desires. While I did have a solid sense of them as individuals, and as a group, I would have liked more exploration of the dynamics of their separate relationships within the group. The driving force in the novel is Jade and her secrets. I did figure out Jade's secrets very early in the novel, so there were no surprises for me, but the way the reveals and impacts played out was still touching.

Overall, I would recommend Fun for the Whole Family for readers who enjoy family dramas.