The Jetsetters by new to me author Amanda Eyre Ward brings us the story of Charlotte Perkins, a seventy-year-old widow who wins a ten-day cruise starting in Athens and finishing in Barcelona. She brings her three adult children with her on the cruise. Now, I don’t know about you, but this family should be the poster child of dysfunctional families and perhaps a cruise isn’t the best idea. The children are all estranged. The oldest, Lee, tried her hand in Hollywood, only to find herself a washed-up actress who has just been dumped by her more famous than her boyfriend. Cord, the only son and middle child is a major mover and shaker in his New York City investment firm and has never settled down. The youngest, Regan, is married to her sister’s ex from high school and strives to be the perfect wife and mother, but all she wants is her freedom.

I was surprised these people even agreed to spend ten days in close proximity. They are all keeping secrets from one another and in such a small, confined space, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

I liked the pace of the story. With so much to unpack with so many characters, the author does a great job of keeping everyone straight. Each chapter of this book is broken up into the different points of view of the family with interesting tidbits associated with each port of call they arrive. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and found them to be interesting, but I didn’t really feel a connection with any one character over the other.

The story also has a dual timeline that revisits Charlotte’s youth and her cold mother as well as Charlotte’s husband. The reader is also given more insight into the lives of Lee, Cord and Regan. Their history with one another and the baggage all of these people carry. They probably should have gotten into therapy together instead of going on a cruise.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I am not sure if the cruise had the outcome that Charlotte hoped for. There were some major events that happened near the end of the story that I didn’t feel any closure with. The reader is left to draw many conclusions. Despite the outcome, I enjoyed the story and recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction and stories that are heavy on family drama and relationships.

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

I just could not get into this book at all. It was way too chick-lit, with characters that felt more annoying than relatable. Although I have liked most of Reese Witherspoon's book club picks in the past, this one seemed to lack real substance. I'll definitely think twice before picking up another one of them based solely off her endorsement.

This book was just ok for me. This is definitely not my typical kind of read, however it looked like it could be fun perhaps. I really struggled making attachments to the characters and it made it hard to really connect with the book. They are all one person inside, but are showing another person to the world. The cruise makes them deal with their dysfunctional family in the same space. This one was really just all over the place and the cruise atmosphere made it feel strained instead of adding anything to it. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This is a case of expectation not matching content. I think part of it is due to the cover, even the title, but I went in expected something lighter. I do think going in with the right expectations of more serious family drama would have improved my experience in reading in with the correct frame of mind.

I was expecting a story about a dysfunctional family trapped on a cruise ship with each other however, I didn’t expect it to be so sad and just downright depressing. Very well written.

Loved this book! The subject matter was perfect. The setting was so well written you felt like you were there. The characters could have been real people. Amazing book.

Ah, the plight of the dysfunctional family. Be warned, this book is not as fluffy and light as the cover would have you believe! With some dark places explored, this book follows a family as their mother brings them back together for a trip through Europe together. Naturally, things don't go as Charlotte Perkins, the 70-year-old protagonist and mother, hopes. As with any family stuck together within the confines of a cruise ship and an itinerary, Charlotte finds out the hard way that luring her children back into her orbit may not be as easy or as simple as she hopes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for advanced access to this title!

This was a Do Not Finish book for me. That has nothing to do with the writing of the book, but the description/subject not really matching the actual book.. The synopsis led me to believe the book would be fun and lighthearted-- An adventure with a dysfunctional family. What I found was a bit more serious in subject matter and darker than anticipated. A heavier read than what I expected. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to finish this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The concept of winning a trip, and using that trip as an excuse for some well-deserved family time becomes a great beach read. As I read this book I was more and more in love with this family. I rooted for them. And I couldn’t wait to hear what Charlotte wrote. Don’t pass this book up. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

This is such a great read. The relationships between Charlotte and her children had me rooting for this family. The author took a simple concept of a character winning a trip and turned it into a great beach read!

When Charlotte wins the “Become a Jetsetters” contest, she takes her adult children (Lee, Cord, and Regan) on a European cruise. All four of them have baggage - and I don’t mean carry on luggage. And to be honest, I didn’t like any of them. None of them. I hate-listened to this. I just kept thinking it would get better, and it didn’t. If I were you, I’d pass on this - I can think of five better vacation books off the top of my head and SO many other books about family dramas.

I love Ward’s novels, which are among my favorites. The Jetsetters tells the story of a dysfunctional family, scarred, through no fault of their own. A Mediterranean cruise vacation sets the stage for the Perkins’ struggle to reconnect, accept, and truly know one another. At once, heartbreaking, funny, and hopeful, this is a family you will fall in love with. Highly recommended.

I actually liked this book - but I feel that the synopsis is entirely misleading and not representative of the book itself. This is a deeply troubling book in terms of content - graphically depicted suicide, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, loss of pregnancy, domestic violence, etc. I felt as though this book did readers a disservice by not offering a content warning page before chapter 1 or any other form of warning.

All in all, I enjoyed the structure/premise of the book and once I started I finished it quite quickly. The characters felt a bit one dimensional at points, ie defined by their defects, but I love a flawed character so I didn’t mind this as much. Overall, it was good, not great and it was worth the $11 I paid for a hardcover copy.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this! This was such a fun, enjoyable book. I had a really great time escaping the real world while reading this.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Charlotte Perkins, a 72 year old widow, enters a contest to win a Mediterranean cruise. Not believing she will actually win, she is surprised to hear when she does. She convinces her three adult children, Lee, Cord, and Reagan to join her. The estranged family will be spending 10 days on a ship, and Charlotte is determined to have them bond. They are all also going through an emotional time, and are going to try their hardest not to reveal long held secrets, resentments, and regrets. What could go wrong?

I really loved the premise of the book, I was so curious what was going to happen, and if they would get off the ship getting along. This book is a lot heavier than the cheerful cover, and I am not sure I would describe it as a "beach read." The book did hold my attention, but I found the characters to not be likable, and the story was un-relatable to me. It was a good read, just go in knowing it's not a very cheerful read.

I tried and I tried and I tried again to read this book but for some reason I just could not get into this novel.
The writing is awkward, stilted and dramatic and the plot is dry?
Look, I love family drama and secrets. I know all about it. This...could have been so much better.
Familial strife when done well is GOOD, when it's not it's...disappointing.
This was disappointing.
Thanks much to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Great read! The author draws you in with detail that makes you want to read on. It did fall a bit flat in the middle.

Ah, family drama! I felt like this book had a lot of potential. I kept reading thinking that I was just sitting on the edge until it ultimately felt like the story didn’t actually go anywhere. I appreciated the author’s inclusion of tougher subjects, like suicide and alcoholism. Overall, it fell a little flat for me.

The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward was not what I expected. I expected a fun family novel with some dysfunction thrown in. The writing was clunky and hard to get into. The characters were not likable and were distracting from the story. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.