This one was a story that will stick with you for a while. I loved the characters and how they were written as real people. Great all around story that keeps you wanting more.

This book tells the story of a political family--two generations of it and one extraordinary summer. It started out as what the reader would imagine American royalty would be, but then it spiraled out to show the undercurrants that swirl around that usually is not seen. Those undercurrants would have been seen had it not been for the matriarch of the family who, almost single handedly, "fixed" all the problems with her husband and son. This book did not hae the fairy tale ending, but at least it was satisfying and portended for better things for the characters.

I was so excited to read this book. but unfortunately, I just could not get into this story. I didn't care about any of the characters and the story just did not captivate me at all.

Spencer always spends time with his family at the lake house in the summer. He is going with his husband of nine years Ian. Spencer's father is a US senator. JJ bright is married and has twin sons Cameron and Lucas. Charlie bright is going out with Chelsea. The company they worked for got in trouble and they are jobless and homeless. I was hooked from the beginning. The pacing was good. Phillip was less known but interesting in his own way. There was a lot of political drama as expected and terrorism but it added to the story and characters. I liked the relationship drama

I'll admit - going in I was a bit put off reading a book about a political family. I get enough of that on my facebook feed. I realized quickly that the writing was well done. I did not like this family. I don't think I was meant to. I was sad for some of them. That life must be suffocating. I would have liked to have these characters fleshed out a bit

I always find it difficult when I'm actively rooting against 75% of the characters in a book. I'm good with one or two people that you love to hate, but when the vast majority are slimy or scheming, it can be a bit much to handle.

Combining an innate talent for writing family dramas with her background in politics, author Meg Little Reilly presents THE MISFORTUNES OF FAMILY, the thought-provoking and ambitious story of the Bright family, led by retired Senator John Bright, and the tumultuous summer when he decides to return to politics after a terrorist attack.

JJ, Spencer, Charlie and Philip are all Bright boys: all-American, handsome, but not too handsome, and wildly ambitious. Comfortable in any circle and just charming enough to move between social classes, industries and settings, they seem to have it all --- and yet they are falling adrift. THE MISFORTUNES OF FAMILY begins as they and their loved ones are heading to the family lake house for their annual reunion. Fueled by beer and G&Ts, maintained by matriarch Patty, and bolstered by their WASPy inability to touch upon delicate subjects, the summer promises to be equal parts fun, awkward and functionally dysfunctional.

Adding to the suspense is the fact that John has agreed to let a documentary filmmaker, Farah, record their summer antics as part of a series dedicated to exposing the home lives of career politicians. Everyone is on their best behavior, but even so, the summer promises to be a life-changing one for all of the Brights --- and their spouses, partners and children.

JJ, the eldest brother, is arriving at the lake house with his beloved wife, Mary-Beth, and their twin sons, Lucas and Cameron. Though JJ is outwardly successful, he has plateaued at work, and his home renovations are burning through his wallet much faster than anticipated. Next in line is Spencer, and his husband, Ian. Spencer’s sexuality does not seem to bother the family, but his inability to secure a publisher for his next book does. After him comes Charlie, the free spirit of the group, who has --- unbeknownst to his family --- just lost his job at an international development company. Though he’s soothing the blow with his attractive girlfriend, Chelsea, it seems that his life of jetting around the world might be coming to an end. And then there’s Philip. We’ll get to him in just a bit.

Alternating perspectives between the Bright boys’ partners, or “extras” as they affectionately call themselves, and Farah, Reilly explores what it’s like to be part of this family and how, despite having access to seemingly unlimited funds and resources, the boys are sorely lacking in self-awareness.

The reunion kicks off with the dramatic return of the youngest brother, Philip, who makes a shocking announcement that only serves to increase the distance between him and his family: he is foregoing his planned future of a wife, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence to join the seminary --- a seemingly honorable choice, but one that is too exotic and final for his family’s taste. With their reunion set off-kilter, it is up to the extras to help keep the Bright boys together.

Then, when a terrorist attack threatens their safety, John throws himself into high gear, revealing that, while the family may seem perfect, there is little substance behind their warmth and sense of closeness. Every move is carefully plotted, business deals are referred to as “kills,” and, despite each of the boys having families of their own, there is an intense focus on maintaining the core family, rather than growing from it.

When John announces that he’s planning a return to politics, the family is thrust into the spotlight, and though it is the extras who are most uncomfortable with it, it is the Bright boys who suffer the most. The return of Philip only adds to the boys’ confusion, even as he begins to form careful and compassionate bonds with the extras, including Farah. With tensions at an all-time high and the cameras rolling, long-held family secrets begin slipping through the cracks, exposing hidden rifts, uncomfortable betrayals and surprising alliances.

It would be an understatement to describe the Brights as larger than life, yet Reilly makes a brilliant choice in depicting them not from their own perspectives but rather from the viewpoints of the extras. Though Mary-Beth, Ian and Chelsea have been appropriately welcomed into the family, there is a distinct distance between them and the Brights, and it is one that Reilly works her way into perfectly. Writing as Ian, she explains, “Most families…were bound by some combination of genetics, shared experiences, loyalty and the mutually destructive threat of their own secrets. The Brights had all those things, but they had something else as well: an unwavering belief that life was so much better as a Bright.” It is an appealing misconception, but it is a misconception nonetheless.

Only Philip seems unmarred by his family’s perfection, and yet it is his ability to see reality that prevents him from a close relationship with his family. Playing into this dissonance, Reilly is able to explore all the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the Bright family --- and that’s before she starts dropping secrets left and right.

It is not surprising that any supercharged WASP family --- particularly one engaged in the world of politics --- would have a few skeletons in their closet, and though Reilly does not fully shock with her reveals, it is the repercussions that carry the most weight. Tracking these ripples through the extras, she paints a fully fleshed portrait of the Bright family; in fact, her portrayal of them is so well-rounded and explored that you almost feel sorry for them, despite their privilege and wealth. As Farah explains, “These men weren’t victims. These men were the lucky winners in a rigged world…. And yet the shame on their faces was real. The Bright men weren’t archetypes in some abstract class war…. The Bright men were small, soft humans.”

I cannot say that THE MISFORTUNES OF FAMILY is entirely unpredictable, but I can tell you that the predictability does not matter. Reilly’s exploration of the shockwaves of guilt and horror are so thoroughly compelling that you will not care if the Brights are somewhat unlikable. At its heart, the book is about pride and vulnerability, and how easily “normal” is defined by whatever our families tell us it is --- even when it’s the furthest thing from it. Reilly is a careful and thoughtful writer, and the Bright family is not one you will soon forget.

"Normal is whatever our crazy family is"


Mr. Bright was a retired US senator. Every summer the family would spend 3 weeks at their family cottage. This year however, the family was asked if a documentarian could videotape the family during their time at the cottage, which of course they agreed to as the Brights were used to being the public eye. Mr. Bright was hoping that this documentary would shine a light on their family and put him back in the minds of the public. The Misfortunes of Family is a story of a political family with a strong patriarch. The Brights have 4 adult boys: all highly charismatic, intelligent with a strong sense of family. They could all do no wrong.

Farah was the documentarian that was assigned to spend with the Brights, following their every move and bearing witness to their conversations. Farah was a bit anxious about the whole thing, about blending into the background, not being noticed, all the while recording the Brights as they spend their summer at the lake.

Along the course of the weeks, many things slowly come light that threaten to overturn their family. The children slowly discover the truth about their family and you see the disillusionment that takes place. Farah bears witness to this uncovering and feels sorry for the family, to be watching and recording as their lives come unravel.

The Misfortunes of Family shines a light into some of the sacrifices a mother, a woman, a wife can make for her family. Many questions were raised and many insights were discovered. Can the family come out of this intact? Do their values still hold true? I enjoyed reading this story, and asked myself that as a woman, as a mother, how far would I be willing to go to keep my family together?

It seems as though I’m in the minority on this one, but I just could not get into this book.

I found the beginning to be dry, and writing style did nothing to endear me to the characters, I didn’t like any of them to be honest, except for maybe Phillip, and even then my appeal to him was more mild curiosity. As I continued through the book, I found that I was not invested in their story, I didn’t care what happened to them.

The book took a lot of turns that we’re not obvious in the synopsis, but I’m unsure if that was a help or a hindrance to the main plot of the story, that is: family. I think a lot of that point got lost in the ‘noise’ of everything else that happened. And with so much happening, the reader gets shifted from here, to there, to here, to there in such a short timeframe (only 3 weeks) that it was difficult to really absorb the effect of each event, before we’ve moved on to the next one.

All in all, I think the bones of the story - a family with secrets and the search for identity outside of their surnames - was what initially gravitated me to this book, but the execution was not for me.

Many thanks to Meg Little Reilly, Harlequin MIRA, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have ready by Reilly, and I have to say I have enjoyed them both. This book pulled me in right from the start. The characters were interesting and very relatable. The story flowed well and kept me interested. There were a couple of parts where it was a bit predictable, but not enough to take away from enjoying the story. It really gave a good look at both sides of politics and the family involved. It is a 3.5 from me.

It's the story of a family with four very lovely sons.....who have to this point fed into the narcissism and vanity of their Senator father. The sons, along with families and significant others, convene at the lakehouse compound for their annual summer vacation. The unfolding drama is told by the "extras" i.e., the spouses and girlfriend, plus one, a documentary film maker who has been sent to gather footage - any footage - of the family and their dynamics. The hope is that something spectacular will be revealed, spectacular in the sense of bringing to light that the picture perfect political family is anything but perfect. Deep, dark secrets are revealed, and the true character of each member of the family becomes clear. The central theme of the story is the vanity of politicians and blends into the age old fact that mothers will do anything to protect their children.

Reilly's storytelling tends toward wordy prose, but in a good way. She expertly examines each character's motivations, from the eyes of those closest to them and how the slightly self-absorbed actions of the sons have affected their own lives and the lives of those they love. Each character is imperfect in his or her own way, yet the reader still wants to love each of them and wants the happy ending for each of them. (Spoiler: some get the happy ending, and some....not quite yet, but maybe!). Reilly also lightly examines the mistakes on the part of parents that shape the future of their children.

This is a family story that will grab you and not let go until the final pages. It is like meeting a family who seems perfect on the outside, but has a lot going on behind closed doors. Plan to spend some time with this book, even though it is not very long. There is an identifiable character for every reader.

Life in the political limelight is full of surprises, the Bright family is well aware of how it works. As John Bright Sr readies for retirement there is a documentary planned to show his transition and the life he has led. Told from the view of the “extras” you learn how family dynamics can lift you up and bring you down. Well written and full of emotion this book will keep you captivated through it all.

Thank you NetGalley, Meg Little Reilly and Harlequin Enterprises Limited for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Meg Little Reilly offers readers a glimpse into a family of wealth, privilege and politics. Dysfunction is certainly the norm, however the need for protecting image and projecting cohesiveness prevails. The story is related by the outliers; 3 spouses and a documentary filmmaker. Yes, added to the stress of a three week family gathering is the presence of the documentary crew. What are the family secrets? Will they be uncovered? Meg Little Reilly uses her talent for creating three dimensional, complex characters to draw the reader into the drama. I thoroughly enjoyed The Misfortunes of Family.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

"Nobody knows what they're going to want in the future. It's impossible to know, so you make choices based on the things you want now. You plan your life on the assumption that future you will be exactly like current you. But nobody is the person they start out as." Meg Little Reilly, The Misfortunes of Family

From my unread Kindle shelf I began to read this book as I sat in the airport this week. I gravitate toward family drama, stories told by the water and unlikely relationships. This one gave me all three. It unfolded slowly and gently as the we learned the stories of each of the family members. How they interwove and where they are headed now. It was a story of love, mistakes, loyalty and family all surrounding a political patriarch. I grew to love the ancillary characters that provided so much of the color and warmth to the story. Isn't it funny how it's not the popular people who are the heartbeat of the room. It's the ones that stand out, stand for something other than fitting in. This story left me smiling, with a feeling of resolution. It also reminded me that marriage and family don't need to look glamorous. It's how they fill you up inside that counts.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of The Misfortunes of Family by Meg Little Reilly.

The aptly named Bright family is coming together for three long weeks in their summer home. They are a WASPish, well-to-do family who have had their hands in politics and the public eye most of their lives. While they often come together like this, they've never done it with a video document-er among them, someone that they hired to capture the nuanced and more intimate moments of their lives. What could possibly go wrong?

I really love to be the fly on the wall into any family, especially when the children are grown, family dynamics are fascinating. And while there was a lot about the Brights I enjoyed, they are also kind of terrible, just like most families are. This was personable, entertaining, kind of campy and fun. I very much enjoyed it.

The Misfortunes of Family starts out a bit slowly as the reporter and each family member is introduced. I wasn't sure I would get into it, but I continued reading and was pleasantly surprised by all the turns in events, the struggles and the worries of each family member and the secrets that were being kept. It was worth my time!

I received a free advanced reader's copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

As I began reading this story of a big political family, my immediate reaction was “Oh no, the glamorous lives of The Chosen, a la the Kennedys, the Bushes and the Romneys.” I was prepared to hate them all. By the end of the story my feeling were much more mixed, and I give the author credit for leading me to that conclusion.
We meet the family of retired senator John Bright who are gathering for a summer vacation at the Bright family compound. We also meet the spouses of the Bright sons and through their eyes we soon realize that everyone is an outsider to this tight knit family. Several incidents occur to disrupt the perfection of this image. A possible terrorist attack in Spain where the twin grandsons were headed to a soccer tournament sends the former senator back into fighting form. From there it is a quick jump for him to exploit the situation and announce his return to politics, this time with a run for the governship of Massachusetts. .
Meanwhile we are given complete access to the family secrets through the somewhat contrived device of a videographer in place working on a documentary on the former senator and his family. Although the camera is supposed to represent an objective look, it is not long before camera person Farah gets drawn into the family relationships and secrets. Her own motivations can not be ignored as she struggles to separate her personal and professional needs.
I would really like to discuss the ending of this book because that is where all the strands of family, integrity and morality come together, but to do so would inevitably include spoilers.. I will just end by saying author Reilly has written a nuanced story with compassion and intelligence. My own reading finds issue with the conclusion, but that is what makes the story interesting.

A Kennedy-esque family comes together for a reunion. The Brights are all very talented and the father, a senator, is wanting to run again. Kind of hard to keep it up.

4-5 stars! This is not my normal type of book, as anything that even remotely mentions politics I am far away from, but this one was actually intense, well written, and eye opening! I thought the author did an amazing job of creating this family, showing you their lives that are not even remotely shown to the public. I thought it was engrossing, original, and even quite suspenseful at times. I thought the another did an amazing job on character development and a well developed story which made the book a quick easy read, which I think most would enjoy if looking for something you can easily get swept up in. I recommend to those who enjoy seeing something of an inside story to a family in a powerful position and how it truly affects the members inside! Interesting for sure!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

A peek into the family life of those who are under the public scrutiny. The Brights look like a perfect family from the outside; with four strapping young boys who grow into successful men. But when the recently retired senator patriarch decides to throw his hat in the ring in a gubernatorial race, hidden family secrets are unveiled.