A beautiful and moving story about siblings and their dynamics. This tugged at my heartstrings and was a fulfilling read. The adventures of these siblings is not one I will soon forget

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is a very character-driven story; the plot doesn’t matter too much here. I really enjoyed this book. I liked how their past family road-trips were included as pretty small chapters mixed into current day. It gives just a little extra perspective on all of the family dynamics and sibling relationships.

I would recommend.

4.5 stars

The last book I read by this author was The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love. It's a cutesy YA type book and I read it years ago. I had no idea she had jumped into adult books so I was excited to check this one out!

The cover looks light hearted but its not, as family drama, secrets, and old wounds are the main topic when the Extraordinary Endicotts have a sibling reunion after not seeing each other for 3 years. Told with chapter flashbacks to the past, mixed in with the present, we get a feel for what life is like for each of the Endicott siblings and what lead to their separation and ultimate reunion. At the core of everything is their deceased parents and how their parenting, or lack thereof, influenced the outcome of their lives.

I found this book fascinating. The pacing was perfect with just enough past to keep me intrigued with how the present is evolving. The sibling dynamics were well done and I think the author did a great job of capturing the feelings that come with being a child, wanting to be protected but also wanting to be seen. I really enjoyed it! Great domestic drama and I look forward to hopefully reading more adult themed books by this author!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this Arc! Unfortunately, I am not going to finish the book due to content that I personally do not feel comfortable / enjoy reading. However, I love the concept for the story and was intrigued to see where it went!

Publishing April 8th!

4.5 rounded up
This title is so lighthearted that I hadn't expected the depth I found in each of these characters.

With a free-spirited mother off chasing her dreams of stardom and their father mostly working out of town, the four Endicott siblings - Gemma, Connor, and twins Roddy and Jude - were left to raise themselves. In the carefree times their mother would return, they'd head out on grand adventures to explore new states together.

Now adults, each thoroughly remarkable in a different way, they're coming together in North Dakota at the request of Jude. Stories will be told and secrets revealed that will shift the way they've each remembered their childhood.

This was quite a bit like adults who, upon reflection with each other, come of age again, finding they can more deeply understand one another. This was a really beautiful sibling story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith is an engaging story about four siblings who were once close—a united front against mostly-absent parents—but who have let three years go by with barely any contact. Can a weekend in North Dakota in the dead of winter heal the rift? The siblings’ stories are riveting—poignant and raw—and secrets that are revealed can either bring them back together, or cause them to stay apart for good. I was completely invested in all of their lives, past, present and future in this beautiful novel of love, family, healing, and connection.

The. Four Endicott children spend one week each year with their estranged mother on a fun trip to different states. Gemma, the eldest, has virtually raised her siblings in the absence of her mother, and a father who is gone for work. Connor, the oldest brother, has become a famous author. His bestselling book is a thinly disguised story about their family, which has hurt them deeply. Roddy, is a professional soccer player, who is a poster boy for gay athletes. His twin, Jude, is a famous actress nominated for an academy award.
After a three year estrangement, Jude mysteriously summons them to North Dakota for a weekend reunion. As the siblings learn about long held secrets which have affected their lives, they also learn about the power of forgiveness, and familial ties that will bind them forever.

I love the way Smith crafts her stories. In this case, she has us moving back and forth in time to different family vacation moments/pivotal episodes that have a bearing on the in between modern day scenes. Four close-knit siblings all the way through childhood, now all adults, but have been separated for 3 years and not communicating with one another. Until ....one of the youngest summons them all to meet her for the weekend. In adulthood, three out of the four have become quite famous, which adds an interesting layer for the reader, and some complications for the family. The characters are well drawn, fully formed. They storyline is compelling. The shared childhood trauma is portrayed realistically, and the love for one another runs deep. (Would've been 5 stars, but one sibling storyline was just a tad too melodramatic for me.) Mostly upbeat, but sensitive readers check for trigger warnings.

I love a family drama and the story of the Endicott siblings did not disappoint. After three years apart, sisters Gemma and Jude and brothers Roddy and Connor reunite on a spur-of-the-moment trip to North Dakota, where old hurts are rehashed and family secrets revealed. The siblings are finally able to reconnect and move forward instead of reliving the past. All of the characters were fully developed and had their own backstories and challenges to face in the present. This book was more emotional than I thought it would be, but I really connected with it, and cried through the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House/Ballentine Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Family secrets, sibling comradery, and roadtrips through the U.S. is the perfect concoction for this moving novel.

Fall in love with Gemma, Connor, Jude, and Ronny with me! Each character is such a delightful entity. Their shared history makes for some heavier subject matter, but is explored in such a tender way. Abandonment and a traumatic fire set the stage for some great character development. The Exceptional Endicotts face the reality of their trauma and grief through reconnection. I loved interwoven timeline. The pacing is really special here. Even the additional characters are so great!

Grab tissues and be ready to feel all the things!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

one thing about me is i’m going to read any and all books about sibling relationships and dynamics. fun for the whole family definitely did not disappoint.

though each sibling is extraordinary in their own way, the strain and love between our four main characters was ordinary in a way that was so real and so raw.

highly recommend picking this up if you are a human being (especially one with siblings).

thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this story, it was engaging and thoughtful. It was a little hard to follow at times with all of the different POV and alternating timelines. Overall an enjoyable read.

What a gem of a book. I loved it. The four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude once inseparable haven't spoken for three years. I loved each character so much, and was rooting for them the entire time. It's warm, funny, and bittersweet. Two big thumbs up.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books & Netgalley.

I love family sagas like this. At times, I was a little annoyed with the millenialism but for the most part it was great. It was quickly paced without being a thriller.

What I thought would turn out to be a happy-go-lucky book about a large family turned into something much deeper; a story of love, truth, and heartbreak. There are 4 Endicott siblings who turned out to be completely different.
Gemma- trying to find her place as a mother,
Connor- a novelist and recently divorced dad of 2.
Roddy- a semi-retired soccer star.
Jude- a Hollywood starlet.

The once close family drifted apart until years later Jude brings them back together again. The whole family has been summoned to North Dakota. Why? Only Jude knows.

As the family reconnects and secrets unravel, you'll be taken on the journey of a lifetime. Fun for the Whole Family kept me guessing, and is a book I will not forget.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read, "Fun for the Whole Family", by Jennifer E. Smith. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. This is a book that kept a lump in my throat and broke my heart at the end. This reading experience will stay with me forever.

This was an excellent book! I do love a slightly dysfunctional, comedic book about four siblings who haven't seen or talked to each other in three. years, and sporadically before that. They all gather in a cabin in random North Dakota for a weekend of mishaps, healing, and new beginnings. I did love all the siblings and their families / friends as side characters, especially the hilarious niece and nephew. The ending made me tear up, which I think is always a good sign that I liked something a lot. Highly recommend!

Jennifer Smith has achieved a fast, fun, and moving family drama that I could see being a big title this summer. A famous Hollywood star named Jude invites her estranged siblings for a weekend trip to North Dakota. There, they reconnect and unearth some family ghosts. Told in alternating timelines, it explores how sibling relationships can fizzle away but ultimately find their way back. It's not particularly deep or earth-shattering, but will certainly scratch an itch for a reader who wants something quick and entertaining.

Jennifer Smith’s latest novel took me by surprise and I loved it. The plot kept building with each chapter. I found it hard to put it down. This is a story about family. About interpersonal relationships between siblings who persevered through their challenging childhood.

This novel will make you re-evaluate what’s important in life. The cast of characters were very well developed and nuanced. I found this to be endearing, heartbreaking and exactly what I needed to read at the moment.

I’m excited to read her previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Jennifer E. Smith’s "Fun for the Whole Family" is a heartfelt novel about four estranged siblings reconnecting after years apart. Each of them is at a turning point in life, dealing with personal struggles that make their reunion both complicated and necessary. Their childhood was shaped by their mother’s unpredictable nature, and as adults, they are still untangling what that meant for them.

The story moves between past and present, showing how their shared experiences shaped them in different ways. Smith captures the complexities of sibling relationships with warmth and honesty, making the tensions and love between them feel real. The novel explores themes of forgiveness, identity, and the way family history lingers in unexpected ways. It is a moving, character-driven story that reminds us how family, no matter how fractured, always remains a part of who we are.