3.5 stars. Contrary to the title, this book is not fun for the whole family. Or, at least, it’s not fun all of the time. Those Endicotts have been THROUGH SOME THINGS.

This was a really enjoyable character study, with estranged siblings who all reunite for a weekend in the middle of nowhere North Dakota in some desperate attempt to reunite before everything changes. The siblings themselves were all interesting, and it was very cool to experience the whole thing through their eyes. It’s a universal feeling to have someone that, no matter how long time had passed, you can pick up where you left off no matter what.

I do think that some of the plot could be tidied up, especially towards the end. There was so much of a focus on the characters and their growth (which was great), but then we basically get a fade to black and a “One Year Later”. Which was frustrating because we had enjoyed so much time with them that we wanted to some follow through.

Overall I had a great time with the Endicotts on their trip and definitely never want to be snowbound in North Dakota.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer E. Smith, and Ballentine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This will also be shared via podcast (Ms. Smith was interviewed) and on instagram when the podcast airs. I will email the links to Ms. Smith before the podcast airs.


Reconnecting With Estranged Siblings and FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith

Cover of the book FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY used to describe Reconnecting With Estranged Siblings.
The Endicott siblings, Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude, were once inseparable. Childhood wasn’t easy—their mother left to chase her acting dreams, and their father stayed behind, but working long hours. The children were largely to their own devices, and Gemma, the oldest stepped into the role of a parent far too soon.

And somehow, she pulled it off. Her siblings flourished: Jude became a celebrated actress, Roddy a professional soccer star, and Connor an award-winning author. They consistently leaned on each other—until one argument shattered the bond they thought was unbreakable.

What started as a disagreement spiraled into years of silence. Then, Jude took a risk—extendin an olive branch in the form of an invitation to spend a weekend together in a North Dakota town.

Sibling estrangement occurs when siblings intentionally cut off contact for an extended period. Often, it’s a painful ripple effect following parent-child estrangement, and it tends to become more common as people grow older and life becomes more complex.

The emotional toll of sibling estrangement can be profound. Those who experience it face an increased risk of depression, anxiety, disordered eating, low self-esteem, substance use, and sleep disturbances. The pain is especially deep when the estranged siblings were once close—even enmeshed—making the loss feel like a fracture in one’s identity.

But just as relationships can unravel, they can also be mended—with time, intention, and care. Here are tools for reconnecting with estranged siblings.

Decide If Reconciliation Is Right for You: Not all relationships are meant to be repaired. If the dynamic was harmful, abusive, or persistently boundary-violating, estrangement is a valid decision. If the relationship was supportive, and you miss your sibling, reconciliation makes sense.

Move at Your Own Pace: Timing matters. Give yourself space to reflect on what caused the estrangement, what has changed since, and how reconnecting might affect your current emotional landscape. Don’t rush the process; wait until you’re ready.

Prepare for Big Emotions: Reconnecting will likely stir up old wounds. That’s normal. Have healthy coping strategies in place. Emotional regulation is key to staying grounded as you navigate this delicate process.

Set Boundaries: Reconciliation doesn’t mean picking up exactly where you left off. Trust takes time to rebuild, and healthy boundaries are essential—especially if enmeshment or blurred roles contributed to the original fallout. Take small steps, communicate openly, and honor your emotional limits.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

Love Jennifer E. Smith? Me too. Check out my post on All-or-Nothing Thinking and THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES by Jennifer E. Smith.

The Endicott siblings – Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude – were bound together by a tumultuous childhood, a mostly absent father and a charismatic, flaky, selfish mother who left to pursue her ultimately unrealized dreams of stardom. Each summer, their mother would return to whisk them off on road trips, each time crossing more states off the bucket list. As adults, the siblings have been estranged for a few years, but when Jude asks the other three to meet her in North Dakota, they all drop everything to go.

I loved this book! Don’t let the bright, cheery cover fool you – this emotional story had my heart in its grip the entire time. We meet the siblings as adults one by one, and they feel so real that I connected with each of them immediately. The character development is superb; each character is messy, flawed, but ultimately a good, special human who loves their people fiercely. Even though this book is absolutely character driven, the plot flows along nicely, alternating between perspectives and timelines, and I flew through the audiobook in two days. Tackling themes of family, loss, and healing, the author treats heavy topics with care, tenderness, and a touch of humor. You will definitely want to have your Kleenex nearby for this one!

Highly recommended for fans of Tracey Lange, Ann Napolitano, and Steven Rowley. Big thanks to Ballantine Books for the ARC and finished copy!

4 siblings Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude were once inseparable due the trauma from growing up in their family. Years later they have lost touch after a family incident when one of the siblings reaches out to them out of the blue and requests a family get together for a weekend reunion. Each have their own secrets and are currently through something. This was a great family drama about family dynamics, trauma, and forgiveness.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

The endearing, enduring Endicott’s: Four siblings in their late 30’s and early 40’s, who virtually raised themselves under the oldest sister’s guidance, gather after a three year estrangement. Connor is an award-winning novelist, Roddy is a soccer star, and Jude, his twin sister, has just been nominated for an Oscar. Gemma, the eldest, happily married and working in a responsible but not spectacular job, is trying to decide whether she wants children, having spent so much of her early life parenting her younger siblings.

When Gemma was 12, Connor 10, and the twins seven-years-old, their mother, Frankie, left their Michigan home to pursue her dreams of an acting career. She re-appeared every summer for a month-long trip to different states, with the goal of covering all 50. Frankie never sees success as an actress, and after seven years of summer traveling, a car fire on a trip to Texas causes the children’s father to sever Frankie’s access to them. He, however, is also largely absent from their lives, working long hours and leaving them to look after themselves.

As adults, the four children continued to be very close with each other, despite living in different parts of the country, until their anger at Connor’s novel, based on their childhood, leads to bitterness and resentment. After three years of silence among them, the youngest, Jude arranges for them to come to a state none has yet visited, North Dakota, for a reconciliation.

This trip is filled with revelations of long-held secrets, as well as decisions about other important relationships in their lives.

The writing is smooth and clear, and the book’s structure is interesting, moving back and forth through time, occasionally with just snippets of what each one is feeling after an important moment. There is much sadness, some trauma and tragedy, but the story manages to be somehow comforting and uplifting, as these four loving people find their way past old hurts and new challenges.

This would be a good read for the summer beach or winter cabin.

For readers who:
✨️ relate to family drama
✨️ don't mind flashbacks in between every chapter
✨️ appreciate the message that pur past shapes us, but we can choose our future
✨️ love character-driven novels

The Endicott siblings grew close when their mother, Frankie left their family. Then, suddenly, Frankie began showing up once a year - in the summer - to whisk them off on a road trip, in an effort to visit all 50 states with them. On the last trip, something happens that's almost tragic, and that's the last any of the Endicott kids see their mom.
Years into the future, Jude - now a famous actress - requests all of her siblings join her in the middle of nowhere, North Dakota. There are secrets, drama, heartbreak, joy and love to found in their reunification.

I loved this novel. It's my first by this author, but it was lovely. The short chapters - and the little blurb flashbacks - kept the momentum going, and I just kept reading. I enjoyed all the siblings' stories, and watching their relationships with each other break and repair.

The Four Endicott siblings were, at one time, a very close unit. This closeness was necessary, their mother left them only to take the on road trips during the summer (trying to hit all 50 states), and their dad was a bit absent leaving oldest Gemma to parent them. However, for the last three years Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude have all become somewhat estranged. Out of the blue, they are all asked by Jude to join them in North Dakota for a weekend. Jude is now up for an Oscar and the most similar to their mom, Connor is a best selling author, and Roddy is a soccer star coming to the end of his career - the only non famous one is Gemma, the oldest who after raised them, isn't sure if she wants to be a parent herself. All the siblings are having a rocky time in their lives. The four Endicotts and some of their people (fiancés, kids etc.) travel for the weekend trip where long held secrets (and newer ones) are revealed and grudges are brought to the surface. Can their lives go back to normal after the weekend, will it make them all closer or even more estranged?

I loved the author's last book The Unsinkable Greta James and I liked this one a lot as well. As an only child, I do love reading about sibling dynamics and these were some really meaty ones! Each character's picture was painted so well and became multidimensional people throughout the book, all with their flaws and assets. No character was binary - each had depth, even the mom. The reader learns about the siblings through flashbacks and the present day POVs. This was a thoroughly enjoyable novel!

4.25 stars

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Please excuse me while I remain in a puddle on the ground for the immediate future.

Sibling relationships are complex, and this character-driven family drama (with comedic moments and likeable characters) highlights that complexity. Even though Jude's three secrets were easy to predict from the onset, the secrets weren't the point. And if all a narrative has going for it are the twists, then it's not a very good narrative (I stole that from someone).

Oh, and I hear the audio is narrated by Lauren Graham, and while I didn't listen as it wasn't available on Netgalley, I would have loved to see how she brought the story to life.

I have two copies of The Unsinkable Greta James that I haven't gotten around to reading yet but this makes me want to bump it up on my list.

This is a story of four estranged siblings from a family that puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional. It’s told from multiple points of view and in dual timelines—as children, traveling across the United States with their free-spirited, absent mother and as adults in present day. Each character was so well-defined, and the family dynamics and relational issues will resonate with anyone who grew up with siblings.

The only thing that felt far-fetched was the amount of talent in one group of siblings. A National Book Award winner, a famous actress, and a professional footballer?! There must be something in the water.

I loved everything about this book and was so invested in each of the characters by the end. The writing was snappy and even managed to bring humor into what was sometimes a heavier subject matter. Will definitely read more from this author!

This is a well written book about a family that dealt with a mother who popped into their lives once per year to take them on a road trips and a father who was too busy working. After a blow up three years ago, the four siblings have had little communication until their sister Jude texted them and asked them to meet her for a weekend. This is an emotional and quick read that I enjoyed.

Oh, look! Here I am, recommending another family drama. Surprise, surprise. Ha! (#sorrynotsorry) I just can’t get enough of these engrossing family stories.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith revolves around four siblings: Jude, Gemma, Connor, and Roddy. My gosh, what a dynamic and unique group this was! I can honestly say that I was a fan of them all. Right off the bat, we know that there’s some tension and hard feelings between the siblings, and the reason(s) why are a complete mystery. As the novel bounces around through the years and alternates perspectives, the reader receives snippets of the past and begins to piece the puzzle together. The author does a great job dropping some twists, turns, and surprises along the way.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Multiple POVs and timelines
- Family drama, dynamics, and secrets
- Road trips around the USA
- Lovable characters
- Forgiveness and healing
- Character-driven novels
- Complicated pasts
- Fun and witty dialogue
- Marriage and divorce issues
- Making fun of North Dakota

LOL at that last one! What I loved most about this novel is the fact that it takes place primarily in North Dakota—at least in the current timeline. I was rolling around on the floor laughing at the hilarious, yet gentle digs that my state got. But seriously, who vacations in North Dakota in the middle of winter? 😂

The wonderful Lauren Graham narrates the entire thing, and did a fabulous job with it. Even with the four siblings and the small handful of supporting characters, I still found it very easy to follow. I was engaged and entertained from start to finish.

The conclusion brought tears to my eyes. Oh gosh, who am I kidding? A tear or two (or ten) definitely ran down my cheeks, and you all know my rule, right? If a book makes me cry, it immediately gets five stars. Honestly, I had the “five star feels” way before the ending anyhow.

5/5 glowing stars for FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! It comes out on April 8th!

The thing all families have in common is that they are always complicated and often messy. The Endicott family is no different. The four siblings - Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude - shared an unconventional upbringing making them closer than most, but unresolved conflict has them marginally estranged for the past three years.

When Jude summons her sister and brothers to meet her in North Dakota, it’s with the intent to reveal secrets she’s been keeping. The reunion brings the Endicotts together again and provides a venue for addressing wounds old and new.

The title, FUN FOR THR WHOLE FAMILY, would have you believe this is a lighthearted tale and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jennifer E. Smith’s novel is chock full of angst and unresolved drama. It tugs at the heartstrings and lays bare the pain that can only be inflicted by those who know us best.

Each of the siblings has a part in telling the story both past and present and that’s a big component of the magic of this book. Each bears some responsibility for the rift between them and each has the power to close the chasm.

I was completely engrossed in the story and felt the longing of each character. Smith does a phenomenal job of giving a distinct voice to each sibling. It is fascinating to see their different interpretations of their shared experiences. While each of the reveals was somewhat predictable, the emotional impact was not diminished. This is a beautiful story of forgiveness, acceptance, and unconditional love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this family filled story. The writing was tender, introspective, and full of emotions. I loved how all 4 siblings had POVs. It really helped me connect to the characters and get the full picture of the feelings and family dynamics. This book was full of hard life lessons and bitter sweet moments but ultimately the resilience of family shines through. Also, shout out to the amazing cast of side characters that really added to the story and character developments. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a family drama that packs an emotional punch .

3.5 stars rounded up

Quick take: I enjoyed this one for the most part, but had difficulty connecting with it emotionally.

This one has been getting a lot of positive reviews, and I can understand why. It has fun and likable (but still nuanced) characters and an emotional storyline. The writing style is good and makes for an easy read. I was interested in the plot and the characters and never once struggled to get myself to pick this up and continue reading. Despite all of this, I somehow felt disconnected from the book, and I’m still trying to figure out how or why that is.

While I think the characters were developed well enough for the purpose of this story, I was left wanting more. For this reason, I think this could have benefited from being longer. The flashback chapters of the siblings as kids with their mom on their summer roadtrips were pretty short. I also wish we had more time with them during their “regular life” growing up as well, at home. It’s also mentioned frequently how absent their father was, and the author made him literally absent; I don’t think we had a single scene with him. He always felt like a passing thought, even though he was still a single parent raising these kids, regardless of how much he worked and was away.

As for the plot, I unfortunately found a good amount of it predictable. I think this may have played a role in my lack of emotional connection: I knew where it was going far too early on (in my opinion) and so I was braced for impact before I let myself get to know the characters and learn to care for them. Maybe I held myself at a bit of a distance because of this. So, maybe this is all a “me” problem!

I will say, the final “one year later” chapter was where I finally felt some big emotions–but by then it was too little, too late for me.

Overall, for a story that’s clearly supposed to tug at your heartstrings, this just didn’t do it for me. I still think a lot of readers will enjoy (and maybe even love) this so I’m still recommending it if the plot summary piques your interest.

Somehow I completely overlooked that this was coming out this week, which is crazy because I love Jennifer E. Smith and was super excited for this book. So when I saw the post that was released yesterday, I figured I’d start right away and review it soon - but then I flew though it in one night because Smith is great and this book is great. Here are my immediate thoughts:

I love how Smith captures complicated family dynamics. Sure, they have a lot of issues (and I mean, A LOT), but there is also a lot of love here, which radiates off the page. I loved all the different POVs because all were richly developed and unique. The story as a whole was heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heartfelt, and I just really enjoyed getting to see a sliver of these characters’ lives. While being sad at times, this was just such a feel good story. In short, I loved it!

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and Netgalley for this ARC. Fun for the Whole Family is out now!

4.5/5

Since I enjoyed The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith, I was excited to check out her new book FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY is a wonderful story that explores the childhood and adult lives of four siblings. As children in a dysfunctional family, they became close out of necessity. As adults, they followed different paths, and they’ve lost their connection with each other. The one sibling who wants to them to reconnect also has secrets that could cause further damage. But isn’t this family worth fighting for?

The story flips back and forth from childhood summer road trips with their flaky mother to adults snowed-in for a weekend together in North Dakota. We see the complex bond of these four kids and experience characterization that makes each personality come alive. The family includes an Oscar nominated actress, an aging soccer star, a best-selling author, and the sister who played mom to the kids growing up and now leads an average life. The story is a combination of family fun, drama, secrets, dreams, forgiveness, and second chances. After growing apart, they go through struggles and pain to find their way back to the bond of family. Being stuck together during a snowstorm may be just what they need.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

A wonderful family story with well developed characters. I enjoyed all of the different storylines and the secrets that unfolded. I laughed and I cried. It had all of the feels. Very well written. 4.5 stars

Jude is keeping quite a lot of secrets. She has not been in touch with her family for a very long time. But now it is time to come clean…about the past and the present.

Every character in this story is flawed and captured my heart. Each one has their own story and their own issues with their childhood. I found all the characters just so real! I mean…this could have been my dysfunctional family😜. Their interactions had me smirking and grinning! But they also had my heart breaking as well!

And y’all…Jude has them all traveling to North Dakota. And they all drop what they are doing and meet her there, even if they have not talked to her in years! Don’t let this dysfunctional family fool you! It is all there! You need to read this to find out!

I have read one other book by this author, The Unsinkable Greta James. And I loved it. So, add that one to your list as well!

This story is 4.5 stars rounded up.

Need a family novel you will not soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Part travel adventure, part sibling drama, this novel follows the four grown Endicott siblings as they reconnect after years of estrangement. The story starts off when three of them receive an unexpected text from their sister Jude, asking them to meet her in North Dakota. Surprisingly, they all manage to rearrange their lives and make the trip, even though they’re scattered across the country. Once incredibly close, they have since drifted apart. What unfolds is a tender and emotionally layered story about buried secrets, reconciliation, and the bonds of family.

The narrative is mostly linear, but we’re also given glimpses of their childhood summers on the road—memorable, chaotic road trips with their mostly absent mother, whose mission was to visit all 50 states with her kids in tow. These chapters offer insight into their shared past and the closeness they once had, until one summer changed everything.

We get to know each sibling well: Gemma, the eldest, who took on a motherly role; Connor, a successful writer and newly divorced father of two; Roddy, a former soccer star hoping for one last season on the field; and Jude, an Oscar-nominated actress with secrets of her own. Her invitation isn’t just about a reunion—it’s her way of bringing them together to finally confront the past. And what better place than a remote cabin in North Dakota, in the middle of a snowstorm, with no electricity?

This is a character-driven novel through and through, and I found myself adoring each of them. They all have distinct personalities, and we get to spend time in each of their heads, both in the present and in their memories. They each had their own personal challenges which were presented in a way that makes you care. Just a small quibble: these are characters in their forties, but sometimes their behavior felt much younger—though their impressive careers suggest otherwise. But I guess it’s the messiness that makes their story feel more genuine.

The novel touches on some big themes—abandonment, infertility, same-sex relationships, and more (some too spoiler-y to mention!). The travel segments are especially delightful, each sibling sharing their memories. Theres a lot of heart in this story of sibling connections and second chances. And the denouement is very satisfying— one of the best I’ve read in a very long time.