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.

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.