4.5 stars. What an incredible novel. You’ll need to keep tissues near as this is an emotional, heart touching tale that follows the Endicott siblings through the years. As their individual lives change they grow apart, and as the saying goes time heals all wounds.. and indeed they do find their way back to those who know them best. This was such a great character-driven story about family dynamics, forgiveness and I loved the fun trip down memory lane with its nostalgia references. Pub. 4/8/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A well done family drama! I loved the story line, 4 adult siblings who haven't seen one another in years, who meet up in North Dakota, where secrets are revealed. I loved the sibling interactions - they felt real and flawed. I loved the different perspectives and timelines - sometimes with family dramas I find that this takes away from the actual drama. Too many pov can ruin the book for me, but this one was done so well. I found all stories to be interesting and that they were all woven together seamlessly. I enjoyed the family dynamics, both past a present, and how it impacted each sibling differently. I thought this was a really well done family drama.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Group Ballantine for the eARC.

I read this book in a single day, because I could not put it down. I love a family "drama", but this book really was something special. I found myself loving and struggling with all of the siblings, but there was something about Gemma as the oldest sibling myself that I ached for. This book was so many things and had me crying at the end. The longer I have sat with it the more I know it was an easy 5/5 for me.

I absolutely loved this book. The bond the siblings had was so realistic and wholesome. This book was heartwarming and showed how we never truly stop loving our family even if we fight, that the bond can remain strong even after time apart.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith is a captivating tale that explores the many facets of love, including familial, romantic, lost, and found. This intricately woven family drama keep me engaged from start to finish, making it a true page-turner.

One by one, Jude asks her siblings to meet her in North Dakota for a weekend. They haven’t seen each other in three years, since everything fell apart at their father’s funeral.

And so the Endicott siblings make the pilgrimage from their far flung corners to meet up in the stark snowscape that is winter in the Dakotas.

Joining Jude, an Oscar nominated actress at the top of her game, are her two brothers and sister. First up, Jude’s twin and professional soccer player, Roddy, whose career is waning - and so is his personal life. Best selling novelist, Connor, whose recent divorce and writer’s block have left him feeling lost. And Gemma, the oldest sibling responsible for raising them all once upon a time, who is now struggling with the idea of raising a child of her own.

Jude has called them together because she has three secrets to share. Three secrets that will change everything this family knows about themselves.

I was immediately hooked by this chaotic family, engaged by each unique character, and intrigued by their stories.

Told in alternating past and present vignettes, with significant influence of their now deceased mother, the character development was top notch. The family dynamics, the way these siblings are bonded through trauma is so believably written and engaging that I devoured the book in two days.

I loved the premise from the past - mom takes her kids on adventures each summer to visit one of the 50 states - and how that simple and fun idea hides dysfunction and sadness behind it.

The ending is no surprise but will leave you sobbing. Incredibly well written, absolutely fascinating, and wonderful storytelling put this near the top for anyone who loves sprawling tales of messy families looking for redemption, forgiveness, and love.

The Endicott siblings are both incredibly unique and compellingly similar as they go throughout their lives. Each of them were able to worm into my heart during their shared weekend in North Dakota to the point I was crying before the epilogue started. As I get older and my relationships with my siblings change as we become adults, I cherish our time growing up, Like with the Endicotts it was never perfect but the fact we can still come together later on is incredibly special.

This was a captivating book about four siblings who haven’t spoken in three years. Jude, one of the siblings, decides it’s time to mend the rift and invites the others to meet in North Dakota—one of the few states they never visited with their mother during childhood. Every summer, their mother would appear and take them on road trips, each year exploring different states. That tradition—and their relationship with her—ended abruptly after a mysterious incident.

Now, Jude has been hiding a secret from her siblings, and she’s finally ready to reveal the truth.

Aside from their high-profile careers—a professional soccer player, an actress, and a bestselling author—this story could belong to any family. If you enjoy heartfelt stories about complex family dynamics, this book is definitely worth a read.

What a beautiful book about family and how our past experiences shape us. At the beginning of the book we meet 3 of the Endicott siblings who all randomly get a message from their 4th sibling asking them to all meet in North Dakota that weekend. The siblings haven’t really spoken or seen each other in 3 years since a family blow out blew their family apart. Yet, when the 4th sibling texts they all decide, how can they not go? As kids they had a workaholic father who barely paid attention to them, and a mother who left them only to show up once every summer to take them on a family road trip on a quest to explore all 50 states. Gemma ended up being the the de facto mother to them all, and is living in Chicago working a boring corporate job struggling with a big possible change in her life. Roddy is a retired, or maybe not, football star struggling with his career and his relationship. Connor is an author struggling with his divorce, and the fact he can’t seem to write another book as good as his last one. And Jude is a famous actress up for an Oscar, facing some huge life changes. As the siblings come together they struggle to reconnect with each other and reclaim the bond they once had, as new secrets are revealed, ones that could tear them apart forever. A fascinating family drama exploring how our upbringing shapes the decisions we make and the relationships we have as adults. A beautiful book. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

I really like reading books about complicated families and this certainly fit the bill. The Endicott siblings were fascinating. I like how three of the siblings were outstanding and Gemma seemed to not fit in. I like how the book went back and forth between the past & present. This was a great book but the ending was not what I thought it would be.

I'm a sucker for a family saga, so I naturally liked Fun for the Whole Family. The story is told in multiple timelines and perspectives. In the present day, the four Endicott siblings are reuniting after not talking for years. In the past, we get details explaining how they went from extremely close to estranged.

Not easily done, I genuinely enjoyed all four of the Endicott siblings' perspectives. I particularly enjoyed reading about Gemma, who is the most ordinary of the "extraordinary Endicotts." I also thought the side characters (significant others, children) were great - everyone felt real.

As much as I love the cover, it may lead readers to assume this is a quirky, lighthearted book, which I didn't find to be the case. In fact, I became worried at some point in the book about the heavy foreshadowing to a sad thing. It felt so obvious and maybe a bit trite. However, even though I predicted what happened, I liked the way Smith had that storyline play out.

Ms. Smith never disappoints me with her insights into family dynamics and Fun for the Whole Family is no different. After a massive fight the Endicott siblings haven't really talked or seen each other in 3 years. Sure, there's the text chat but that's been dead for a bit. Their lives individually have gone on, but they are all a but lost without each other. When they all do come together, it's only to reveal secrets that have been held on to for decades and to try to resolve old hurts.

Overall, it's a great novel about family relationships and how each sibling can have a different opinion on how they grew up.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this novel.

This is a family saga of a group of extraordinary but estranged siblings who meet up for a snowy weekend in North Dakota to reveal some family secrets. They had a largely absentee father and a flighty mother who compelled them to both greatness and self-involvement. I wanted to like this more. The characters just did not go deep enough for me and the chapters in the different states seemed to be a shortcut for that. Also, the secrets (and therefore the ending) were really easy to guess, so I started skimming towards the end. I just did not emotionally connect to the book.

After reading and enjoying Smith’s debut, I was excited to be granted the opportunity to receive an eARC from NetGalley.

I loved this messy family and their long weekend together. You know stuff is about to go down after you learn that they haven’t spoken for three years, they had a falling out with their mother, and their father passed away. All four of them live uniquely different lives but carry the same trauma and you can see how it affects their lives in very similar ways. They run from their problems, they avoid or are afraid of starting a family.

While I loved the flashbacks, some didn’t really add much. I would have loved to see more of their individual relationships with their mother and how it transformed each summer. I think we were lacking that emotional connection from each sibling.

I also did enjoy how the siblings felt that Gemma was the lost boring of the four of them just because she was living an ordinary life. She gave up the most to raise her siblings and even though her dreams might have appeared smaller, she was still successful and most importantly was happy.

I loved yet hated how this ended but felt it was an appropriate conclusion. Everything felt wrapped up and I loved the development of each of the siblings.

My favorite YA author ever is back with another book for adult audiences, and it’s a fun, emotional ride from beginning to end! Meet the Endicott family: Gemma in marketing, Connor the award winning author, and the twins Roddy, the soccer player, and Jude, the Hollywood actress. They had an unconventional childhood with an absentminded dad and a mom who only showed up in the summer to take them on crazy yet memorable road trips. Growing up, they always had each other’s backs, but now it’s been years since they’ve talked. When Jude sends a text demanding a trip to North Dakota, each sibling is intrigued just enough to drop everything and head out. What follows is a tale of family, love, secrets, and resilience.

I’ve been obsessed with Jennifer E. Smith’s books since This Is What Happy Looks Like, and I especially love her books about travel. She has a way of bringing people together and apart on vacations and road trips, and Fun For the Whole Family, told between past and present day timelines, with each character popping up front and center, has a way of slowly revealing the story and reminding you that families can be messy. But that’s okay. These characters, famous as they may be, are relatable, going through familiar problems and struggling with everyday questions and concerns. This book does a great job drawing you in with wonderfully written characters and a story that has you wanting more. I highly recommend Jennifer E. Smith’s books, both her YA and adult books, to everyone who wants simple yet down to earth characters and stories!

I loved this family drama book! The dynamic between all the siblings felt so real. This book had a great storyline that kept me hooked and is the perfect read for those who love slower family dramas. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

What a great story! This made me feel so nostalgic and so good. Sad at times, but happy at other times. Just such a feel good story. I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book for sure! The characters were so relatable and just loved meeting them.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

Four adult siblings who have fond memories of road trips with their mom when they were younger reconnect in North Dakota on a weekend in winter. Despite the cover, title, and premise, this was a fairly heavy book. Each sibling is dealing with issues. Although each storyline was engaging, it felt a bit too much when put together. Overall it was interesting, just not what I was expecting.

I received this book fee of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There are four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, and twins Roddy, and Jude. When growing up their mostly absent mother would take them on epic road trips. Until the last one where there was a fire. Their father was mostly checked out as well.

Out of the blue Jude, who is now a famous actress, texts them all to meet her in a small North Dakota town. There is an epic snowstorm and the cabin they are in loses power. This group also includes Conner's two kids and Roddy's future husband and the woman who drove them there. They make the best of it but secrets come out that have been hidden for many years. The dynamics in this family are so relatable. Can this family heals their past wounds and move forward?

A moving family drama involving estranged adult siblings who haven't talked since a tragedy involving their mother's death. This was great on audio narrated by Lauren Graham and perfect for fans of her show, Parenthood. The author explores sibling relationships, infertility, career and marital stresses and more in this layered, nuanced and highly readable story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!