This was a book filled with family drama but also what it means to be family. The bond the siblings had was so realistic and wholesome.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5 stars

This sibling-connection drama revolves around Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude who have been fragmented for several years. We are transported between the here and now and the family's childhood with narrations from each sibling's point of view.

Smith focuses on each individual's tempestuous relationship with their mostly absent mother who they only saw during summer cross-country adventures in her quest to travel all of the lower 48. As the youngest, Jude, instigates a peace-making reunion in North Dakota, the turmoil and secrets begin to be unpacked.

While the story had its moments and was well-written, I just felt like it wasn't anything new in its premise. To be honest, I didn't connect with or even particularly like any of the characters, so it was hard for me to have a depth of feeling for what they were going through both past and present. Yes, as children they were vulnerable and basically helpless as to how they were treated by both their mother and father, but as adults I found them a bit shallow and self-absorbed.

If you enjoy fiction centered around siblings, you will most likely enjoy this one.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine Books for providing the free early arc of Fun for the Whole Family for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Sometimes you need something other than a mystery or thriller to give you chills. This novel does all that, and even shed a tear or two along the way.

Four siblings, raised almost parentless, become estranged over one sibling’s violation of their privacy. So when a message comes from one of the four, to the other, asking them to join her in North Dakota for a weekend, of course they all agree. It is with trepidation that the family reunites, now with extended family members, to try to pick up the pieces and become one group again.
.
This book was amazing. I am an only child, so I cannot imagine what it’s like for a group of siblings, mostly raised by the oldest, to stop speaking to one another. To me, it would have to be mighty big to cause such a rift. Jennifer E. Smith unwinds this spool of thread inch by inch. Gives us current bits and old bits to marinate before unspooling more. It kept me so engaged and looking forward to the hopeful time where these four would no longer feel like strangers.

I did shed a tear or two several times throughout. Really good.



Reviews will also be posted to:
LibraryThing: BookwormishMe
The StoryGraph: BookwormishMe
Goodreads: BookwormishMe

Reviews will be posted after publication to:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

This a a wonderful, warming, family drama. The characters are fully realized. Readers will love them in spite of their flaws (which only make them more real). A heartwarming, sentimal without being soppy story.

Another wonderful family story featuring siblings dealing with the fall-out of their parent's deficiencies as well as their relationships with each other! Despite the 4 narrators and multiple time lines, I was impressed with how well it was all written and that I could easily follow along. This made it much easier to focus on each of the siblings and what had brought them to the place they were at when the main part of the story takes place. And despite all the conflict and ruination of best plans, it was easy to see how much everyone cared for each other and hope for the best outcome for everyone! A wonderfully heart lifting read!

What a book!!! The story of four siblings who, after three years of not talking to each other, come together and reconnect. The story jumps between the past, present and the four characters which could have led to much confusion but in this stories case it just made the story that much more special. I loved the characters and how flawed they each were and the level of forgiveness they had for each other. It was such a heartwarming book and did lead to some tears.

I loved this book and thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read it in exchange for my honest review.

Fun for the Whole Family is the emotional story of a family's history, told through the eyes of four estranged siblings over the course of a weekend reunion. Jennifer E. Smith tells the story of the "Extraordinary Endicotts" in lovely prose, exploring the relationships between siblings & parents, spouses & outsiders, and how one person can be seen so differently by various people in their lives.

While I loved the concept of this book and the story overall, I got more than halfway through before skipping ahead to the last few chapters. The plot moved a bit too slowly for my taste and I found myself getting a bit bored with the repetitive arguments & relational challenges between characters. I also found it challenging to relate to the characters and the problems in their relationships with each other.

I do feel this book is well-written in general & readers who enjoy family sagas & dramas, or slower-paced, emotional stories would really appreciate this book. I would recommend it to fans of Coco Mellors' Blue Sisters & Jennifer E. Smith's other novels.

Fun For The Whole Family by Jennifer E Smith
Narrator: Lauren Graham
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 4/8

Thank you so much to Random House and Ballantine Books for my gifted copy, and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This story follows the Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—who were super close growing up, thanks in part to their flaky, once-a-summer mom and totally absent dad. But now, as adults, they’ve drifted apart… until a surprise text from Jude pulls them all to North Dakota for a reunion weekend that no one quite knows how to handle.

I love stories with complicated family dynamics, and this book has that in spades! Each sibling is going through their own stuff, and I loved how real the sibling dynamics felt. The story goes back and forth between the present and flashbacks of their chaotic childhood summers. There’s bickering, teasing, lots of love, and some genuinely emotional moments. I was teary-eyed by the end (fair warning: have tissues handy.)
Lauren Graham did an amazing job with the narration, and really brought the story to life for me.

Overalll, if you love stories about complicated families and second chances, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

This was a book filled with family drama but also what it means to be family. The Endicott siblings are trying to do a family reunion but with each of them having their own issues and their own thoughts on their childhood, many things come to the surface that need to be worked out. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review... Wow! If you love a good familial book with all of the feels, you will love this one. Recommend!!

Siblings Jude, Roddy, Connor and Gemma have not seen each other for years. Their mother referred to them as the "Amazing Endicotts" and each lived up to the name, with the exception of Gemma. Jude is a famous actress with an impending Oscar award, Roddy a famous soccer player, and Connor has a best-selling novel. Still, Gemma has a fabulous "normal" life, living in Chicago as a marketing executive with a solid and loving husband. They grew up with a mother who was often scattered and absent from their lives, yet she always took them on a road trip during the summer to visit each of the 50 states. They checked states off the list, yet mother Frankie became more distant and eventually the trips stopped. After a scary incident, the siblings stopped speaking to her, with the exception of Jude. Years later, Jude has called the siblings to reunite in North Dakota. Is this just an attempt to check another state off the list, or is something more going on with Jude?

I adore a family drama, and Fun for the Whole Family was a superb one! Alternating between past and present, the Endicotts’ childhood memories with their aloof mother have followed them into adulthood. I loved how each character’s personal struggles were highlighted, yet they always went back to their siblings to find strength and support. Each character was so well-described that I felt like I was on the North Dakota trip with the family. Connor’s children offered some lightheartedness to the group and it was sweet how they were in awe of their aunts and uncle. There were many tough topics covered in this book; cancer, infertility, marital/relationship struggles, and more. The story flowed well and was very emotional with just the right amount of humor thrown in. This was an impactful read that was beautifully written, and I highly recommend it!

Dammit!!! This book hit me right in the feels—exactly what I expected, but I wasn’t ready for the emotional rollercoaster. At its heart, this story is about four siblings and their mom embarking on a cross-country road trip to visit every state in the U.S. What starts as a cool, adventurous journey turns into something much deeper as life happens along the way. The narrative alternates between their past road trip memories and the present day, weaving a poignant tale of love, loss, and family bonds.

Now grown with their own kids and accomplishments, these siblings—Gemma, Roddy, Conner, and Jude—have drifted apart. They miss each other but rarely find time to reconnect. That changes when Jude sends out a message asking them to meet her in North Dakota after three long years apart. Despite their busy lives, they drop everything to be there for her, sensing something important is about to unfold.

What follows is an unforgettable reunion filled with laughter, tears, and revelations. Old wounds are addressed, secrets come to light, and everyone finds closure in their own way. This trip brings both joy and heartbreak, but it’s a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to show up for family. The effort matters—the love matters—and this book beautifully captures that truth.

I adored these siblings and their journey. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Family is messy, complicated, and imperfect—but it’s also worth everything.

The book opens as the Endicott siblings (Gemma, Connor, Jude, and Roddy) are trying to make a family reunion in North Dakota work, especially when they haven't seen each other in three years. Each of them is dealing with life defining issues - that none of the others know about. The central plot line deals with the why of three years and the why of North Dakota. The book explores the time before, when they were together as a family, but were they? Their father travelled and their mother - well there is a story to be unraveled as the story goes along. Fun for the Whole Family is really four different stories that merge into one. And the merging is neither convenient nor calm. Any reader will have a hard time putting this one down.

4.5 stars. What an incredible novel. You’ll need to keep tissues near as this is an emotional, heart touching tale that follows the Endicott siblings through the years. As their individual lives change they grow apart, and as the saying goes time heals all wounds.. and indeed they do find their way back to those who know them best. This was such a great character-driven story about family dynamics, forgiveness and I loved the fun trip down memory lane with its nostalgia references. Pub. 4/8/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A well done family drama! I loved the story line, 4 adult siblings who haven't seen one another in years, who meet up in North Dakota, where secrets are revealed. I loved the sibling interactions - they felt real and flawed. I loved the different perspectives and timelines - sometimes with family dramas I find that this takes away from the actual drama. Too many pov can ruin the book for me, but this one was done so well. I found all stories to be interesting and that they were all woven together seamlessly. I enjoyed the family dynamics, both past a present, and how it impacted each sibling differently. I thought this was a really well done family drama.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Group Ballantine for the eARC.

I read this book in a single day, because I could not put it down. I love a family "drama", but this book really was something special. I found myself loving and struggling with all of the siblings, but there was something about Gemma as the oldest sibling myself that I ached for. This book was so many things and had me crying at the end. The longer I have sat with it the more I know it was an easy 5/5 for me.

I absolutely loved this book. The bond the siblings had was so realistic and wholesome. This book was heartwarming and showed how we never truly stop loving our family even if we fight, that the bond can remain strong even after time apart.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith is a captivating tale that explores the many facets of love, including familial, romantic, lost, and found. This intricately woven family drama keep me engaged from start to finish, making it a true page-turner.

One by one, Jude asks her siblings to meet her in North Dakota for a weekend. They haven’t seen each other in three years, since everything fell apart at their father’s funeral.

And so the Endicott siblings make the pilgrimage from their far flung corners to meet up in the stark snowscape that is winter in the Dakotas.

Joining Jude, an Oscar nominated actress at the top of her game, are her two brothers and sister. First up, Jude’s twin and professional soccer player, Roddy, whose career is waning - and so is his personal life. Best selling novelist, Connor, whose recent divorce and writer’s block have left him feeling lost. And Gemma, the oldest sibling responsible for raising them all once upon a time, who is now struggling with the idea of raising a child of her own.

Jude has called them together because she has three secrets to share. Three secrets that will change everything this family knows about themselves.

I was immediately hooked by this chaotic family, engaged by each unique character, and intrigued by their stories.

Told in alternating past and present vignettes, with significant influence of their now deceased mother, the character development was top notch. The family dynamics, the way these siblings are bonded through trauma is so believably written and engaging that I devoured the book in two days.

I loved the premise from the past - mom takes her kids on adventures each summer to visit one of the 50 states - and how that simple and fun idea hides dysfunction and sadness behind it.

The ending is no surprise but will leave you sobbing. Incredibly well written, absolutely fascinating, and wonderful storytelling put this near the top for anyone who loves sprawling tales of messy families looking for redemption, forgiveness, and love.

The Endicott siblings are both incredibly unique and compellingly similar as they go throughout their lives. Each of them were able to worm into my heart during their shared weekend in North Dakota to the point I was crying before the epilogue started. As I get older and my relationships with my siblings change as we become adults, I cherish our time growing up, Like with the Endicotts it was never perfect but the fact we can still come together later on is incredibly special.