Fun for the Whole Family is a family drama about the four Endicott siblings. Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude were inseparable until their father’s funeral when they had a falling out. Now, all four siblings are on completely different paths in their lives and careers and haven’t spoken or seen each other in 3 years. Out of the blue, they each get a mysterious message from Jude asking them to meet her in North Dakota. Of course they all agree but after arriving they all get snowed in together at a remote cabin and are forced to face family secrets that have been covered up for years.

This emotional story is so realistic and heartfelt. It is all about family, secrets, forgiveness and unconditional love. It will make you laugh and cry. This book is written in multiple POV and timelines and absolutely exceeded my expectations. It sucked me in within the first few chapters and I was completely invested in all of the characters. If you enjoyed books like, Blue Sisters, Hello Beautiful and Like Mother, Like Mother, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read an ARC of Fun for the Whole Family in exchange for my honest review.

(3.5 Stars)

For fans of Blue Sisters or Evelyn Hugo, this is a character driven, bingeable read focusing on family, forgiveness, and what it means to be extraordinary.

And please check ❗️TWs❗️prior to reading this book. It is not as light hearted as you expect.

I found this to be good.

For the first 25%, I was obsessed. Although I didn’t really connect with the main characters (however top tier side characters: Annie and Winston I’m looking at you), I really appreciated reading about them. They’re flawed but earnest.

I think the middle lost me a bit. It felt like some of these people were a bit too old to be carrying on this way and/or keeping long lost secrets. But also ✨trauma✨ so I get it. Some scenes felt a bit dragged out while others were a bit rushed. However, I can appreciate the nuance of the parents (human but also problematic) as well as the forgiveness the siblings were able to give to them and each other.

The ending…whew. Truly bittersweet and emotional. Even though I was so frustrated with these characters for a good portion of the book (Roddy’s miscommunication, Gemma’s older sibling complex, Jude’s vagueness, Connor’s inflated sense of self), I really and truly felt for them in those last few scenes.

This review is kind of a mixed bag and so is the book. If you like character driven, slow burns, I’d recommend it! But can understand some of the triggers and pacing won’t be for everyone so take care ❤️

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced reader’s exchange of my honest review.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Fun For The Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith. I liked how the book started and getting to know each of the siblings’ stories. I loved the insight into Gemma, and Connor and Roddy both had great stories. Jude’s story wasn't very compelling, especially since she was probably supposed to be the main character. The stories were fine individually, but for some reason they didn’t blend as cohesively as I hoped. The chapters in the past leading up to the reasons the family was estranged were okay but not as good as the chapters in the present. Maybe because after the cause is revealed, the reasons don’t seem like enough to cause a three-year rift. The past chapters after that reveal were superfluous and didn’t add anything to the story. Still, I enjoyed this book! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

The Endicott family consists of a dad and mom who are divorced, and four kids; two boys and two girls. When the Endicott kids were growing up, their footloose and fancy-free mother, would pick them up each summer and take them on a road trip. They loved it and they hated it. It was usually the only time they saw her. The oldest, Gemma, did her best to be their pseudo mom the rest of the year.

Once they were grown, they started their lives the best they could. Feelings of confusion and resentment built up here and there, and they stopped seeing each other or talking as often as they would have all truly liked.

The younger sister, Jude, brought them all together after a three year hiatus. She asked them to meet her in North Dakota for a family get together. It may have seemed random to them but once they got there, they began to see how badly they needed to be together.

I loved the dynamic between the siblings. Although they had things to work through, the love was there. It always was. For those who have less siblings or none at all, this story will make you wish you had more! The secrets, the banter, the love, and need we see for their understanding of each other, will have you wanting more of the story well after it ends.

Great story by Jennifer E. Smith. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing- Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book.

Family secrets make good stories.

There were four siblings: Jude was a talented actress, Connor wrote a best-selling novel, Robby was an all-star soccer player and Gemme called herself “ordinary” with a marketing job. It seemed like an impossible task but when Jude sent out a text, they all managed to clear their schedules to meet for a weekend gathering.

When they were younger, they had a US map at home with pins for all the places that they had visited annually with their mother. I had to pause thinking of all the states I’ve been to as well.

After both their parents died, there was a rift amongst the siblings causing a complete separation with one another. Yet, when Jude asked if they could meet a few years later, there was no resistance with this quick trip to a small town in North Dakota in the middle of winter. They were curious – and I was too -- to figure out what was going on. And like many family members, they arrived with luggage and emotional baggage.

The story moved quickly. It was easy to catch on to each person’s way of living. However, you couldn’t take it too seriously with complex drama packed into the story with all the characters. It was like watching a movie with a plot that would excite the reader with made-up scenes that were fairly easy to predict. At the end, everything came together. It would be a fun beach read.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.

Honestly this title is a gigantic breath of fresh air. For someone who comes from a small family, it is truly so comforting to read books like this, where the pages are filled with characters who show their love for each other in all types of ways. There are so many different types of love out there aside from romantic love, and this one really does display that notion- and does it beautifully. The relationships are multifaceted and sweeping, engaging and absolutely "fun" as the title suggests. What a delightful take on life in itself- wholeheartedly recommend this one. Thanks so much to the publisher and author for the chance to read this eARC.

I went into this unsure if it was story I would connect with, and ended with teary eyes. I love messy family dynamics and sibling relationships, and this book delivers on both. It's super easy to read and is wholesome without being cheesy. However, it still has lots of depth and I enjoyed how each of the characters interacted. The complicated dynamics of family were captured extremely well and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a beautiful novel about family, loss, and finding happiness. A book about siblings will never fail to make me feel emotional and moved, and this was no different. I loved the way that Jennifer E. Smith characterized each of the siblings. Everything felt so realistic. and it was truly one of my favorite fiction reads of last year. I look forward to reading more from Jennifer E. Smith.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking book all in one. A story of siblings that twists and turns and tells a story that will keep you reading.

The four Endicott siblings were once inseparable. Their mother was a free spirit who deserted her family for most of the year, and then returned for a few summer weeks when she would take the kids on incredible road trips. The goal was to eventually visit every state.

After an unfortunate incident, their father puts a halt to these adventures. Decades later the siblings have drifted apart. Connor’s latest novel won a national award. Roddy is at the end of his very successful career in soccer. Jude has just been nominated for an Oscar. And Gemma, who basically raised the others, is a businesswoman in Chicago.

Some three years after they were last together, and with any number of simmering conflicts, Jude gets them to agree to come to a small town in North Dakota. This time together becomes a journey of revelation and forgiveness. As one might expect, the title is a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published April 15, 2025.

This is my second book by this author. The Unsinkable Greta James was also about family.

This was an easy book to get into. We meet the Endicott family and the four siblings when they are asked to meet one weekend in North Dakota after not speaking for years. Jude, the actress, has 3 secrets to share. I found the characters interesting and how they slowly worked through their family dysfunction believable.

Based on the title, cover and first line of the description, "a joy-filled novel", I happily began reading this book. That feeling of happiness didn't last long. This is one of the most depressing books I think I've ever read.

Not only was the story sad and not the fun filled family vacation I thought it would be but I really didn't care for any of the characters. Well, except for maybe Winston and Annie. But maybe it was just that they didn't irritate me as much as the others did?

A sad story (don't even get me started on the ending) plus characters I don't like equals a book I won't be recommending.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

I loved the first book that Jennifer E. Smith wrote for adults so I was very much looking forward to her sophomore effort, and Fun for the Whole Family definitely did not disappoint. Smith does a great job exploring family dynamics in her books for adults, and here it is four siblings that have grown apart as adults after their idyllic family road trips with their absentee mother come to an end. Three of the four siblings have gone to lead exceptional lives, while the oldest sister Gemma, has preferred a much more ordinary path after doing much of the raising of her three younger siblings. When Jude, the younger sister and A-list actress, asks them to join her in North Dakota in the middle of winter, it's not really a convenient time for Gemma, Connor or Roddy, but all three feel compelled to go after the siblings had stop speaking three years prior after their dad's death and an only slightly fictionalized recounting of their childhood by Connor. To have an Oscar nominated actress, a successful MLS player and a National Book Award winning author all be siblings is definitely more on the fantastical side, but it doesn't really feel like an overly important part of the story. Gemma is in her last round of IVF with her husband Mateo. After raising her siblings, she still doesn't know if she wants a child even though she knows Mateo would be an amazing father. Connor's marriage has dissolved and he's living away from his two kids trying to overcome a massive case of writer's block. Roddy deeply loves his fiancé Winston, but is creating problems in his relationship because he's making career decisions without speaking to him. And Jude has the two biggest secrets of all - one from the past and one in the present that could change everything for the siblings. There are definitely some heavy moments in the book, but Smith keeps them from overwhelming the book, having lighthearted moments between the siblings, Connor's kids along for the ride, and a burgeoning romance between Connor and practical and wise local Annie. I loved this book, and definitely got caught up in the siblings and their relationships. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions here are my own.
4 estranged siblings are called to a small town in the Dakotas by one sister - and what happens next becomes sort of a locked room drama. They are snowed in and must confront the elephants in their history together.
This book should have been completely relatable to me, as one of 5 siblings. However I didn't really feel much from the characters. I wasn't drawn to any one them which was sad to me. The book was OK to me, but the back and fourth timelines for that many characters made the book slow in spots.
It will be a nice summer read and will probably be loved by many, but it wasnt the book for me.

Vibes= 5 Stars
Plot/Writing = 5 Stars

This book was a wonderful read that tugged at my heart strings and one that I connected with deeply in many areas. It seems that I have a particular gift for finding books that make me cry, and this one was no different.

'Fun for the Whole Family' is about a family - four siblings specifically - who have traveled to almost every state. Starting when they are young, their mom would appeared every summer to take them on a road trip, promptly disappearing again afterward, and then continuing throughout their amazing and ordinary lives. The story is told with flashbacks of past trips and the different perspectives of each sibling throughout the years.

The character I connected most deeply with was Gemma, the oldest sister of the four. By all accounts, she is the most ordinary of the 'Extraordinary Endicotts', a fact of which is looked down upon by her more "accomplished" siblings. However, I believe she is the happiest in her life. Growing up with an absent mother who swoops in for fun road trips and an emotionally absent father who is only there to provide a roof over his children's heads, Gemma is in every way a parentified oldest sibling. As a result, she feels as though she has already raised a family, so when it comes to the idea of having her own child, she is at a crossroads. She has a very loving and understanding husband in Mateo, and I appreciated their dynamic throughout her uncertainty. She wanted to resist the message from her youngest sister when she first received it, but in the end, both she and Mateo knew she could not turn away from her siblings when they need her. She may not have had Fiona Gallagher moment with her parents, showing them she should have been allowed to be a child as well, but the sentiment is explored in a satisfactory way throughout the story.

Connor is the second oldest sibling, with every ounce the middle child energy. I really enjoyed reading his chapters, and found myself laughing at a lot of the dialogue between him and the other characters. Of the siblings, he is the award-winning author. However, this award-winning novel is what sparked the three-year split among the siblings after their father's funeral. Now he is divorced with two young, very bright, and silly, young kids, Rosie and Hugh. Side note: I thoroughly enjoyed the kids in this book. There are a lot of stories where kids are written like the author has ever met a child, but I feel like this was not the case with this book. Back to Connor: now that he has written his famous novel, he has a major case of writer's block and is just going through the motions of life, missing his kids and a place to call home. There's nothing holding him back whenever he receives the text from Jude to go to North Dakota for the weekend, and maybe it's just what he needs to get a new spark.

Next there's Roddy, Jude's twin brother, the famous soccer player who is yearning to play one more season, reluctant to let go of the sport he truly loves and the thing that gave him the chance to shine in his family. However, his knee isn't what it used to be, and there may be some ulterior motives for the club to hire him. The biggest issue, though, is if he takes the gig, he will miss or have to postpone his wedding to his lovely fiancé, Winston. Winston is very understanding of Roddy's wants, but he also wants to be a part of the equation in consideration. I feel like Roddy may demonstrate the greatest avoidant attachment of the siblings. When he is worried Winston would say no, he doesn't ask him and just accepts the offer - then proceeds to walk away at any hint of argument with Winston or his family. However, it is kind of hard to run away when you're snowed in in North Dakota. With all that being said, it is obvious that these two really love each other, and I think it is evident throughout.

Last but certainly not least, we're introduced to: recently nominated for an Oscar, arguably the most extraordinary of the Endicotts, and quite possibly the object of the majority of their mother's affection - !*Jude*! She was definitely the most illusive of the siblings, and her motivations for the whole family meeting in North Dakota??? Unclear..... Of course, that is, until the secrets start unravelling. Maybe being a famous actress has allowed Miss Jude to camouflage for a little too long. Maybe both twins suffer the worst with avoidant attachment .... you never have to face the problems if you just keep them a secret, right??? In truth, we all love Jude. I tried putting myself in her shoes throughout the story. In all honesty, I am too much of a blabber mouth to keep things a secret, so I probably wouldn't have held in the dark truths she did for too long, but I can't necessarily say I blame her. It could have only been Jude that would have been able to get the group back together, and I am really glad that she did because it made for a great story that explored the complex dynamics of siblinghood.

I think the author did a fantastic job with the main conflicts of the story and the subsequent resolutions. I was a tad bit worried when I pieced together the final secret, wondering how it would unfold, but I can not vouch enough in saying it was perfectly handled by the author - and also called out the potential issue I was fearing. There are so many great lines in this story, I think I have a highlight on every page. This book is captivating from page one. I was immensely frustrated when I had to go back to real life and put the book down. I teared up in a couple of places throughout, but when I tell you I sobbed, I SOBBED at the conclusion of this story. This one will definitely stick with me.
Beautifully done.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this amazing piece of literary fiction's digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Do you judge books by the cover? Well I most certainly do….. let’s say when I got this book and even read the synopsis I thought…. Oh a fun and lighthearted story about siblings. What I got? Was an in depth look at how this family of kids bonded together through their own trauma all while holding back their hurting from their siblings, the ones they loved the most and held dear. Meanwhile these things do what they do and tear small seams in the happy moments and cause families to fight and drift apart. I really had to pause multiple times and I saw things in my own life that mirrored these experiences. When all was said and done and as I wiped my eyes at the end…. Not all stories end happily ever after but with a realistic view.

“Fun for the Whole Family” really does live up to its name. This was such an enjoyable and honest read—there’s truly something any reader can relate to in this book, whether it’s personal relationship troubles or not wanting to disappoint a cherished family member. The novel did feel slow at times and less engaging than I would have preferred given the numerous characters and their interwoven stories, but this is certainly a book I would recommend, especially for those of us with complicated family relationships. I loved how the character’s arcs and concerns inevitably worked out and the all the layers of humanity that involves.

A breathtaking, joy-filled novel about the people we love, the secrets we keep, and the enduring power of family, from the bestselling author of The Unsinkable Greta James.

The four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—were once inseparable, a bond created by the absence of their dazzling, mercurial mother, who would return for a few weeks each summer to whisk them off on sprawling road trips around the country.

Decades later, the unthinkable has happened: the Endicotts haven’t spoken in years . . . until an out-of-the-blue text arrives from Jude, now a famous actress, summoning them to a small town in North Dakota. They’re each at a crossroads: Gemma, who put her own ambitions aside to raise the others, now isn’t sure if she wants to be a mother herself; Connor, a celebrated novelist, is floundering after his recent divorce and suffering from an epic case of writer’s block; and Roddy, at the tail end of a professional soccer career, is dangerously close to losing his future husband for the chance at one last season.

Jude is the only Endicott who seems to have it all together—but appearances can be deceiving. As the weekend unfolds, and the siblings wrestle with their shared past and uncertain futures, they’ll discover that Jude has been keeping three secrets . . . each of which could change everything.

A captivating journey and an ode to forgiveness that takes readers across all fifty states, Fun for the Whole Family brims with heart and resonates long after the final page.


This book and the family dynamics are so gooood!

Gemma - is married and is figuring out whether she wants to become a mother after she raised her three siblings her entire life. Not as "successful" as the rest.
Conner - is a famous and successful writer who is divorced and also brings his kids to North Dakota.
Roddy - is a famous soccer player who is poised for retirement, and brings his fiance' Winston to the trip.
Jude - a very famous actress who was just nominated for an Oscar and has a few secrets of her own to share during the weekend. Planned the trip to get the siblings together.

You may need a few tissues and this book is definitely never boring!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC! Book will be published April 2025!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Perhaps 3.5 stars? I know giving a 3 stars feels "middling," because it technically is, but I actually liked this one a lot. Once I got who was who under my belt with the siblings and those in their lives, I thought they all felt like real people for the most part. The past timeline chapters I hurried to get through because I felt like the present day ones in North Dakota were far more interesting, save for the chapter that had the siblings' big fight.

<spoiler>
The reason for the three stars are personal (aren't all reviews?). I hate the whole "babies and marriage is what makes people happy" sentiment so many books have and this one fell into that. Gemma was my least favorite sibling to follow anyway because her story just didn't click with me, but I was hoping her hesitation about being a mother would end with her realizing that she didn't want to be. Not because that's the "right" thing for everyone, but just because I so often see the opposite and I was hoping for that subversion, even though I realized it was unlikely. The epilogue, while sweet, just hammered home the babies + marriage = happiness, including for Roddy. I also thought that Connor's side romance wasn't necessary (or all that believable). </spoiler>

But that's focusing on the dislikes. Like I said, by the end of the book, I felt like I knew each of the Endicott siblings. I adore stories about siblings, typically sisters, so I was pleasantly surprised that Jude and Roddy were my favorites here. Jude had three secrets she wanted to tell everyone and I clocked her biggest and last reveal pretty much from the start. It didn't impact my enjoyment, since again the other two I hadn't anticipated.

The book was an easy read but well written and I would look at future books from the author.

Here’s a great book, a real family saga with a lot of gutting issues. The title seems somewhat tongue in cheek.
Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC which I most enjoyed.
This is a totally character driven book and I found the characters to be delightful
4 grownup siblings who had a difficult childhood - their mother left them returning for one road trip each summer. Their father was not coping well (emotionally unavailable) and the eldest Gemma more or less raised the brood.
The stories of each sibling Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude were so diverse and captivating. Over the years they had become estranged. Jude who is a famous actress arranges a getaway in North Dakota in some very challenging weather- what could go wrong?
The result is an unputdownable story that was charming and engaging. As we meet the characters in the present day there are also chapters that go back in their past to illuminate how things came to be as they are. There are many touching moments - both happy and sad - for the reader. Tissues will be needed.
Highly recommended for those readers who love a good family drama!