When matriarch Charlotte rather abruptly wins a family cruise in the Jetsetters contest, she hopes to bring her adult children together and recreate something that didn't exist when they were young or even now. The family is quite dysfunctional. The father who is now deceased definitely seems to have passed his problems onto his kids in various forms. The cover and premise really belie an underlying depressing story that moves too quickly between the characters and doesn't address anything. It looks like it would be a spring beach read, but isn't..

I found this book entertaining but very light. It was short on character development and I often felt like the characters were just stereotypes, rather than fully fleshed out. Of all the characters, Charlotte was the most distinctive and I loved the scenes where she remembered interactions with her friend Minnie. That's the story I wish I had been able to read.

I really liked the premise of this book. A dysfunctional family on a Mediterranean cruise all trying to face their personal struggles brought on by adulthood. This Jetsetters was a little lackluster for me though. I enjoyed the idea of the rotating perspectives between mother and children, but found that the chapters moved so quickly the reader couldn't connect much with any of the characters. I felt like the ending was very rushed in attempt to tie a ribbon on everyone's plot lines as well. Overall, the story lacked the character depth I hoped for, with an underwhelming ending.

What I liked: I loved the writing. Caught my interest from the beginning The plot was different and interesting. The characters were all quirky and fun. I wanted to jump in the book and be friends with them and help them through their troubles.

What I didn't like: ugh..It made me cry!!! I yelled at the characters for some of the stupid mistakes they were making.
Such a sad but fun read!!

Giving the book 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley,the Author and publisher for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was honestly just a middle of the road type of book. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it - it was just... fine. The main reason I was drawn to it was because Reese picked it for her book club a couple of months ago - and to be honest, I find it to be one of her most underwhelming picks.

First, I was SO excited to get to read this book! The cover, the celebrity endorsement, the description, all led to me believe it would be the perfect beach read. "Fun and sexy" yes please!

Well, there's no "fun" and the only "sexy" is desperate women needing male attention. Instead, it's a story about that focuses on depression, alcoholism, and the inability for a family to communicate. There is no resolution, they don't learn to communicate better, other than very basic truths.

A disappointment all around.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC for an honest opinion.

This was a new to me author and one of Reese’s picks so I thought I’d give it a chance. I didn’t hate the book, but it was definitely not what I was expecting. From the blurb I knew we were dealing with a dysfunctional family, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and at times I thought some of their issues were trivial. I would have liked Charlotte to be more compassionate and deal with the issues instead of just brushing them off

It’s not my favorite story but i enjoyed a good deal of it, I wasn’t sure until the end how the family dynamic would play but I am glad I stuck around to see where it went. The characters felt like real people with fears, vanities and insecurities and though I couldn’t personally relate to their experiences, I’m sure other readers will.

When I first heard about “Jetsetters”, I was super excited! I could not wait to dig in. I admit, I went into this expecting some fun, witty book. Alas, that is not what this story is. Instead we have family secrets and drama at every turn. With this being said, I thought the book was ok. I did like how various topics were discussed and I admit, it was entertaining. Overall, I think I liked it lol. It was entertaining enough but again, not what I was expecting.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

You will find bits of yourself in each of the characters and possibly much of yourself in one. It makes the family issues of all of us pale in comparison.

The Perkins family is dysfunctional and non-communicative. Charlotte seems to think it is a good idea to take her children with her on a Mediterranean cruise she won. None of her children want to go with her.

Charlotte Perkins is a clueless widow who hides from anything negative. This annually widens the gap between all of her family. After her husbands death, her demand for perfection in her children and herself becomes an obsession. The concern for society’s approval affects the children in different ways. Those differences become an excuse for non-associations with the others.

Amanda Eyre Ward has created the ultimate wacky family. There’s not a normal one in the bunch. Thrown together, they trigger each other’s irrational side. Each resists change and closely guards the defense mechanisms they have become comfortable with. It’s not easy to maintain appearances while avoiding each other for weeks on a cruise ship.

This book is fun and frustrating at the same time. I wanted to slap every character at one time or another. While this did not endear me to them, isn’t part of writing a book to get a reaction from the reader? At some point, I stopped not caring and began hoping they would put their negativity aside and see their family for what it was.

The change in this book did not just occur in the protagonist. It occurred in my opinion of them, as well.


I received an ARC from Random House – Ballantine as a grant of my wish to receive it through NetGalley. I thank them for the opportunity to read this novel. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of The Jetsetters. When 70 year old Charlotte feels lost after the death of her best friend she enters the jet setter's essay contest. Coming to terms with her mortality she wants to travel and feel young again all while bringing her children together one more time. What ensues is a a cruise with her children that nothing ever goes quite right. As we know in real life families are messy and never one dimensional. This is a good book. I never really liked any of the characters to feel very invested. I think I felt sorry for Charlotte the entire time due to the fact that I felt her kids never really "saw" her. 4 very solid stars for this one!

THE JETSETTERS, at first glance, seems like a "done" concept - a family vacation, longstanding familial issues, secrets, and strife. But Ward takes this classic concept and makes it seem new with each character taking turns narrating a chapter. The result is a book that depicts what a family is - people born into a unit, choosing to be together - or not - based on their upbringing and all that comes with it. I loved the characterization and the Mediterranean details which took me away from my current COVID quarantine plight. A great read for a beach, or for at home.

Not quite what I expected but still good. Be forewarned this is not a lighthearted beach read rather about strained relationships and tackling heavier topics. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

The Jetsetters offered a travel escape during these times of social isolation. I love Europe and I loved revisiting some of my favorite places through the eyes of the characters. I liked the characters but wonder if there could have been a bit more character development as I left myself wanting for more details. An easy breezy beach read for the summer.

I was excited to read this book based on the summary, but I was a little disappointed when I actually read it. The family in the book has some deep-seated issues to overcome that won't be solved on a cruise and wrapped in a bow. I was disappointed in the shallowness of the characters as well.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte Perkins is a widow with three children she's not especially close with. When Charlotte wins an all-expenses paid vacation, she calls her children to join her. She hopes that the 10-day vacation will bring them back to together. The vacation doesn't go exactly as planned.

Based on the title and cover, I was expecting a light summer read. That's not what this is. The Jetsetters touches on heavy topics like alcoholism and suicide. None of the characters are particularly likeable. I didn't find myself connecting with any of them.

You could not pay me to be in this situation with these people, but I’d happily read the story about them! For fans of The Floating Feldmans, this is a fun story about second chances and family drama.



I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I was so excited to read this as it is on Reese Witherspoons book list. Unfortunately I was not a fan.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Three and a half stars, rounded up to four, for The Jetsetters By Amanda Eyre Ward. The title and cover do this book a disservice. It’s not really a frothy summer beach read - it’s a family drama, filled with secrets and emotions that none of the characters want to share.

As far as family dramas go, this is a good one - a quick, accessible read. The characters aren’t super deep - each one has their “thing,” which you know will be disclosed by the end of the novel. But the European setting, some quipped dialogue, and short chapters make this one more engaging than normal. A good book to read in between some thrillers and literary fiction.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and author Amanda Eyre Ward for providing me with an ARC of this novel (and granting my wish!)

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably seen this book everywhere; and for good reason! Amanda writes with an assured voice, and brings in a wonderful take on contemporary issues. Everybody has a dysfunctional/estranged family, so reading a book centered around one brings immense comfort and a new perspective. I do want to provide a trigger warning for: suicide, miscarriage, and alcoholism. These topics were approached with complete respect and dignity. This is a perfect beach read with summer right around the corner.

Thank you again to those mentioned above for the chance to read and review this ARC!