FIVE BIG STARS! Loved this book so much about family and forgiveness. All of the characters were distinct and well-formed, and all relatable and lovable in their own ways. Well-balanced and heartwarming book.

5/5

Have read and enjoyed others by this author. I thought this one was a light, easy read. Good characters and an enjoyable plot.

The four Endicott siblings have issues - with their lives and with each other. Over the course of a long weekend in a small town they come together for the first time in years to uncover secrets, rehash old injuries, and learn to accept who they are now. As the oldest of four siblings, I found the dynamics pretty accurate and enjoyed watching the Endicott’s through the years in the chapters from the past as well as their present journeys, together and apart.

Story of a dysfunctional family whose mother used to take them on driving trips around the country, trying to get to every state. Now years later, the siblings have gone their own way, but are summoned to North Dakota to spend the weekend together.

I love Jennifer E Smith’s writing and I always have. This was no exception, and I would continue reading her books in a heartbeat.

I think my issue is largely that this book is not what I was expecting it to be in tone from the cover and description and the pacing just felt off. I couldn’t get into the story or the characters the way I wanted to because of it.

The Endicott's are a bit of a dysfunctional family. Essentially left to fend for themselves by their parents, oldest sister Gemma ends up parenting, except when Mom Frankie magically reappears for roadtrips with the kids. The siblings grow up close since they really only have one another to depend on, but a big fight draws them apart and its been three years since they've really spoken or seen each other. Out of the blue, Jude sends a text to each sibling asking them to meet her in North Dakota. What starts out as an awkward reunion of the siblings ends up revealing truths about their past and starts to bring them together once again.
I went in to this book with low expectations, I think because of the title. I don't love the title and I think it could be better. But I actually really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read. The narration is back and forth between current day and the past and rotates amongst the four siblings, but it flows very well. The characters were interesting and the storyline itself was well written. I'd definitely recommend to a friend!

Let me clear: I went into this book optimistic, and I left completely joyful and teary-eyed. This book had all of the hope of siblings reunited, mending fences and forging bonds. It's not often that even I, an HSP, cries while reading, but yes, I cried while reading the story of sisters Jude and Gemma and their brothers Roddy and Connor, reuniting in the wake of their mother's death.

What was hard-hitting for me was the fact that siblings can often go in completely different paths, much like in my own family, where I've unfortunately lost two siblings. This made me want to run out and tell all of my friends, "SQUEEZE YOUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS JUST A LITTLE TIGHTER." It's easy to forget how much those formative years are imprinted upon us, much like with the Endicott siblings, once inseparable, now they'd all gone their separate ways until this moment where a text message changed everything.

I love a multi-POV story. I love fully-round, dynamic characters, and I love when an author doesn't shy away from dealing with difficult issues, and often problematic mother/child relationships. And this one delivered all of that.

Gosh, I loved this and I want to say so much more, but I don't want to spoil it. I can't wait for it to be out in the world and in the hands of readers. Just a lovely book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eArc!

There is no better combination than Jennifer Smith and this sibling drama. Four siblings were as close as you could get after a dysfunctional upbringing. As adults, they stop speaking to each other until one sibling draws them back together. Mostly told in the present tense with flashback to their upbringing, this is a great read.

LOVE an ironic title. This novel was a twist on the good old "family secret" trope.

This author writes great descriptions. I fell in love in the early pages with the way she wrote some of the relationships. I actually was more engrossed with the nuances of the siblings' individual romantic relationships than their family drama. Maybe because I guessed the main secret early on?

Despite knowing what was gonna happen, the how was still interesting enough to stick around for.

Oh man, did I cry. Fun for the Whole Family made me run the gamut of emotions and as I closed the chapter on this book (pun intended), my husband who is not a reader, rolled his eyes at my tears. Books like these are why I read. I get to know these characters for a finite amount of time and they become all little parts of me. I loved each of the four siblings and the side characters held just as much appeal and charm. The writing is smooth and this novel is an excellent character study that really resonated with me.

A love story about siblings - but not in a weird way! This is not the first sibling drama I’ve read this year, but it is definitely the best. This author really nails the idea that nobody can ever truly know and understand your life experience the way your siblings do. Great characters, really great settings, and enough plot to keep things moving along. Be ready to laugh/cry a whole lot!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC!

This is a well written and thought provoking family drama filled with love, hurt, tears, adventure and a number of secrets. I enjoyed the way the chapters swapped between the past and present, the past explaining so much of the present. The author takes you from of a tightknit family that has unraveled and knits it back together with understanding and forgiveness.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my review.

Beautifully written family drama. I so enjoyed the dialogue, the descriptions and the sibling dynamic.The secrets weren’t too hard to decipher but it didn’t detract from how the weekend unfolded. Each sibling has their own demons and dysfunctions given to them from their childhood. When Jude the younger sister reaches out to her three siblings and suggests a weekend in North Dakota, they all agree. Even though they haven’t spoken in three years. Jude has secrets she needs to disclose and in a snowy cabin, the siblings reunion starts to unfold.
Definitely worth a read and I look forward to reading Jennifer Smith’s other novels.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

The perfect family drama — 4 estranged siblings (3 of whom are famous: an actress, soccer player, and novelist) meet for a weekend trip in North Dakota. With short flashbacks to their youth interspersed between the current-day chapters, we see how their past shaped their future and the secrets that they still hold close. While I predicted one of the secrets early on, that didn’t diminish the story for me at all. Each sibling is compulsively lovable, and it takes a special writer to make a North Dakota setting seem so wonderful. This is such an unsuspecting book and I feel fortunate to have read it early — I hope this takes the book world by storm next year!

I LOVED this book! I typically don’t love books with alternating timelines but the pacing of the story was perfect.

Family drama is one of my most favorite things to read about and this book really scratched that itch. Our four siblings were so captivating and I was absolutely hooked by them and their stories.

This is the story of 4 siblings who experienced a childhood of road trips, crossing states off of their list, and soaking up their bond once their mother left their day-to-day lives. The siblings have come back together in North Dakota after years of not being in contact. Each has had success in their own careers and families, and the time together appears to be the perfect time to share some secrets that haven't yet been shared.

Fun for the Whole Family is a story about four siblings who grew up in a not so stable home. Because of the oldest sister, they were nurtured and cared for. As adults they have all started separate lives and unfortunately something happens that caused an estrangement.
After years of minimal communication an unexpected summons to meet occurs from one sister. This sister, who is famous and successful, somehow manages to kick starts a family reunion. Once they are all together nothing goes as planned. A major family secret is revealed and the adult children are now dealing with another possible family crisis, just as they had begun to reconcile.
Coming from a large family myself, I was drawn to the story and it made me recall the very many wonderful childhood memories that I possess and it also made me grateful for all of my six siblings. This was a nostalgic and delightful story.

I was desperately needing a palate cleanser and thought this would be a light, fluffy feel good book but it was anything but.

Fun for the Whole Family is told through the perspectives of siblings: Jude, Gemma, Roddy and Connor as they reunite after not speaking for years. We get flash backs of their roadtrips throughout their childhood spliced between chapters.

I loved the road trip chapters as we got little glimpses into their lives with their wild artist mother. I loved Gemma and Jude but Roddy and Connor seemed like bland characters. I just ended up not feeling connected to the story half way through. And the ending was just upsetting to me. I enjoyed the writing though so I will be reading something else from Jennifer E. Smith.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Fun for the Whole Family was a book that really had me turning the pages getting attached to this family. There was so much in this story that had me rethinking about siblings and how they connect as they get older. Everything about the characters felt real. I want to share this book with everyone because I think we can all find parts of it that feel like we have all lived it. Family means everything and this family was written to put things out there and make the reader appreciate their siblings
Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer E. Smith and Random House Publishing Group for the copy of Fun for the Whole Family.
This is my personal review.