When I first came across Fun for the Whole Family, I immediately knew I wanted to read it for two reasons.

Firstly, a couple years ago I read Smith's YA novel Windfall. I had gone into it expecting pretty standard fare for the genre, but it wound up being a total delight—by far one of the more engaging YA contemporaries I'd read. Now that I've moved onto reading adult novels, I was delighted to stumble upon a book by an author I already knew and loved.

Secondly, while they say not to judge a book by its cover, this book's dazzled me with its bright colors and lively cover art. What can I say? When it comes to book covers, I judge with the eyes of a toddler and/or a magpie. That is to say, I'm enticed by sparkly things and vivid colors.

So, suffice to say, my expectations for Fun for the Whole Family were high. Smith's novel not only met those lofty expectations, but soared above them.

As a kid, I spent many a summer in the car making the long (14 straight hours!!!) trek to visit my grandpa. Smith did a fabulous job capturing the magic of summer road trips, and I was sucked into the world of the Endicott siblings from the very first couple of pages. One of the struggles I often have with books that alternate perspectives or timelines is that one part of the story is more engaging than the other. Despite interspersing multiple POVs and timelines, I was equally invested in the struggles of each character and in the unfolding of both the past and current storylines.

On that note, Smith also did a beautiful job developing characters who were deeply real, flawed people who were still magnetic and likable personalities. Roddy, Jude, Gemma, and Connor all had their faults, and these were explored in-depth in each of their sections. But in spite of, and indeed, perhaps BECAUSE of this, I still wished I could tag along on an Endicott family road trip by the time the novel came to a close.

Overall, Fun for the Family was a touching reflection on family and forgiveness without being overly heavy-handed in its themes. It was also just an incredibly fun book, an invigorating romp through the United States as well as through the ups and downs of siblinghood. I'd recommend Fun for the Family for anyone who wants to laugh, cry, and restore their faith in humanity—so, basically any human being with a beating heart!

Fun for the Whole Family was a fabulous novel that highlights the power of family, secrets, and growth. This is a must read book.