Don't let the title and cute, colorful cover of this one mislead you. Was this story fun? No not at all. But it was still wonderful and very much worth the read. In this book we follow four estranged siblings as they reunite several years after the death of their father. The story is told through alternating perspectives and as the book continues you see that we are traveling with the siblings and their mother as they try to visit all 50 states.

While the perspective and timeline shift throughout the book, it's still relatively easy to follow as we begin to learn more about how the close the siblings once were, what happened to them that drove them apart, and how they are going to reconcile on their weekend together in the present. I was expecting a lighthearted family story, but this heart-wrenching book was so much more than that and left me weepy in the hair salon as I finished the story. I would highly recommend!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fun for the Whole Family tore me up, even though I suspected it was coming. I was sad to say goodbye to these 4 siblings, their journeys through time and the states, their families, and their life failures and successes. I feel like one of the sibling’s books, which he describes as “personal, but not true”, is exactly how this story feels while reading it. The characters feel so personal, even if they aren’t true.
This character driven novel was beautifully written and I enjoyed every minute of it. Bittersweet to the end, speaking my book love language.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Each of the four Endicott siblings has a story, some baggage, and maybe some secrets. I was immediately drawn in with the multiple timelines. The books skips between the siblings present day reunion trip, and past years. Slowly, slowly things start to fall into place so the reader can see what happened in the past and from varying points of view. Jude definitely seems the most mysterious, a real example of how those who “have it all”, don’t really. Connor seemed the most lonely and I hoped for him to make more connections: with his siblings, his kids, a random Uber driver.
Everyone has secrets. And in allowing them to spill out one can only hope for the best, some understanding,
and some grace. The siblings let things grow and closed off from one another. The book and its different timelines carried so many feelings of sadness and regret and I was eager to see how and when things would come back together.

A lot of family trauma and trigger warnings for parental abandonment, illness, and fertility issues. But a great in-depth look at a family. And yes, I cried at the end. I have not done that in a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

This book about family dynamics, relationships, past histories, and following your dreams. Wonderfully written with rich characters - highly recommend this book!

Fun for the Whole Family is Jennifer E. Smith’s latest book and once again she tackles difficult family relationships. Don’t let the title or cover fool you into thinking this is going to be humorous. This time, the story involves four adult siblings, still trying to make sense of their unpredictable mother, who left them to find herself and would return once a year to take them on a road trip. The siblings have gone on to lead lives that seem remarkable on the surface. But they have also fallen out when one writes a novel based on their childhood. Three years later, the youngest forces a meet up to get things resolved.
Smith has crafted four well developed main characters and I was invested in each one’s life. It worked well to have the chapters keep alternating between the four. The book managed to keep my attention and there wasn’t any drag or downtime. Keep some tissues handy for the end but there are also plenty of moments that brought a smile to my face.
This was a difficult book for me to read. The mother was strangely reminiscent of my husband’s first wife, who also left her four daughters when they were young. I’ve seen first hand the emotional scars from their mother walking out and ours were lucky to have a father invested in them. The book has a lot to say about family, secrets, forgiveness and working together.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book.The sister plans a trip for them all to get together since they haven’t seen each other in three years. The place is a cabin in North Dakota and they get snowed in with no power. They all think they will hate it but much is revealed in their time together. It’s a sweet story that could be a Hallmark movie. I would highly recommend.

Jennifer E. Smith is one of my must-read authors and she NEVER disappoints. Fun for the Whole Family is a unique, original story that had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next, until the very end. Such a relatable story about family dynamics and where you fit in. Highly recommend to readers of adult realistic fiction.

I do love a dysfunctional family drama. This one was fun and interesting with intriguing conflict that left me both curious for more and also eager for the coming resolution. The characters were well developed and brought life to the story. It's never fun when a character driven story has...flat characters - not a concern here! I recommend!

This was really well done and well written. I did think the big, epic, conflict wasn't really that big or epic, but it was fine.

Such a great family story! Drama and conflict but love and reconciliation too. The issues over the many years are revealed, replayed and recast as truths are shared with the family members. Lots of sadness and loss balanced with happiness and growth. I enjoyed reading this book by Jennifer E. Smith.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is the first book I’ve ready by Jennifer E. Smith and I didn’t have any expectations going in, other than that the story sounded interesting. Fun for the Whole Family is the story of the four Endicott siblings - Gemma, the oldest who took over parental duties in the face of absent and inattentive parents, Connor an award-winning author, and twins Roddy, a professional soccer player and Jude, a famous actress. The four of them were once inseparable, but age, experience and secrets have torn them apart. As the siblings come back together for a weekend together, relationships are tested, secrets are revealed, and the Endicotts must decide what their relationships will be moving forward.

I enjoyed spending time with the Extraordinary Endicotts. The Endicott siblings are all at crossroads of their respective lives and careers and as they figure out what their futures will look like, they pick at and support one another as only siblings can. This book is about family and relationships - what tears us apart and what we are willing to do and forgive to move forward.

This book is character driven and I loved the interaction between the Endicott siblings and their extended family members, There was witty banter, real emotion and the dialogue sounded like other big families I know- loud, messy, noisy and ultimately, loving. I was invested in what would happen from the beginning and even though the characters’ secrets weren’t at all surprising, I still felt the impact of them as the siblings reacted to each new revelation. I laughed out loud, I cried pathetically sentimental tears; I was fully invested in the Endicotts.

This was a wonderful novel, full of heart and I look forward to finding more books by this author.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This book will be published on April 8, 2025.

It was okay, I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters. I could tell a lot of what was going to happen from the beginning few chapters

Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude haven't spoken or been close for a long time.

When Jude sends a text asking each one ​of her siblings to meet her in North Dakota, they all balk at the idea at first, but are curious what it's about.

Sooooo - they all head to Portree, North Dakota, to see what's happening.

It's a bit awkward for everyone, but at least they are together and perhaps can mend all the broken pieces.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY is written in two timelines in alternating chapters.

The past is about their absent mother who always returned at the end of summer and took them on trips across the United States to different states.

The present is getting to know each other again.

Will they mend what became broken?

Will they become close again?

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY is a light read, but also ​a heartbreaking​ read. 4/5

​Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am in love with this book! I gave up all respect for sleep and responsibilities while reading it. It was also my first 5-star book of the year! I will be recommending this book to everyone for a long time!

The Characters in this book could not have been a better representation of siblings. They are supportive yet petty, loving yet calling it like it is. Each one felt like a real person, not someone made up on a page.

I really liked this overall, but the point of conflict wasn't enough of a big deal to me to warrant the extreme reactions everyone had that tore apart an already close family. I kept waiting for more to unfold to justify it.

Overall a great easy read. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Jennifer's books, so I was super excited to get this arc. However, this wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe I just miss her sweet rom coms? This one didn't hook my interest like her other fun romance books. Unfortunately dnf'd before I could finish.

"Fun for the Whole Family", is essentially a love story. As we all know, there are different kinds of love: that of a parent for a child and vice versa, sibling love, and of course romantic love. This novel addresses all of them. And it does so, beautifully.

Four estranged siblings meet in North Dakota for a weekend. Despite having had parents who weren't there for them, the eldest sister took it upon herself to raise them, and they have all managed to do very well for themselves. They had always been extremely close, but something happened three years ago. And now their bond needs to be repaired. Secrets must be shared and forgiveness needs to happen. This story is heartwarming and lovely. It makes you laugh and cry and sometimes both at the same time. I loved it. And highly recommend it.

Great family story - four siblings now in their mid thirties and early forties get together for a weekend after not speaking for three years. All four siblings have a voice in story that takes us from present day and back over the years of their childhood. Funny, the book started on Feb 4, 2025 which happened to be the day I started reading it. So many tears at the end of this book. If you haven't read The Unsinkable Greta James, also by this author, it's also a great read. I'm glad this story gave a definitive ending because her last book, the ending was left to speculation.

4.5/5

I’ve loved Jennifer E. Smith’s books since she released her very first YA, but upon seeing Fun for the Whole Family’s cover and blurb, I wasn’t immediately eager for its release.

I was wrong.

Fun for the Whole Family is a heartfelt family drama that beautifully explores the complexities of sibling relationships, emotional scars, and the journey toward healing. Smith masterfully alternates between present-day and flashbacks to the siblings’ childhood road trips with their emotionally distant parents. These trips, intended as bonding experiences, serve as a backdrop to their fractured relationships. The alternating timelines add depth and nuance, showing how their pasts shape their present struggles.

Each sibling is well-developed and distinct. However, while the family dynamics are rich and emotionally compelling, the plot twists, particularly Jude’s secrets, felt somewhat predictable. Despite this, the book’s true strength lies in its exploration of family love and forgiveness, which made the emotional payoff all the more powerful. The ending is bittersweet but hopeful, offering a satisfying conclusion to the siblings’—and the story’s—journey.

I would like to thank Random House and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I had previously read the Unsinkable Greta James, and was interested to read the next book by the author. This is the story of the Endicott Family. Gemma, Connor, Jude and Roddy. Their mother left when they were young, but returned every summer to take them on vacation on road trips, then disappear again. Until one summer,, when a near tragedy occurred and she was gone from their lives. Now, years later, both their mother and father have passed away. The 4 siblings have been out of touch from each other, until Jude contacts them to take a rode trip to North Dakota. Jude is a actress who as been nominated for an Academy Award.She contacts the other 3, Gemma, who is trying to become a mother, Roddy, who is a soccer star and Connor, who has written a novel that daws heavily on their family history. Jude has 3 secrets she needs to share, if she can. This is a sprawling book, with various points of view and time lines. There are several other characters , and many intersecting storylines. It is interesting and complex. It is worth the time to sit down, sort out out and get to know the family. I must admit , I was not crazy about the ending, but it worked for the story line. The whole book is messy, sad, funny and outrageous, just like a family.