Wow the dramatics of this family. So many twists and interconnected parts. I didn’t guess most of the twists & I felt like the family drama had so many layers and interwoven pieces. Charley was a lovely character and her story itself was dramatic. And wooooo the Bishop sisters were a wild and dysfunctional bunch. I enjoyed both reading this one and listening!

Author Jamie Day is a good writer and I really like his writing style. The plot is well-constructed and he offers superb descriptions of people and places. This talent is definitely on display in his book One Big Happy Family.

The book starts out a bit slowly while the author lays a lot of groundwork and some backstory. The pace picks up but throughout the book it’s uneven and at times the story lags. So much so that I found myself losing interest. It could have been shorter and more believable.

Although the book is described as a thriller, One Big Happy Family seems to be more of a family drama with a bit of mystery and tension for good measure. As the story approaches the finale, there are several unexpected revelations. But, it seemed as though it was mostly to get the reader’s attention back on track and there was little time to digest this new information before there was even more revealed.

Overall, the book has a great premise and is well-written. But, it seems as though there is some extraneous and extended portions that could have been trimmed in order to produce a tighter, more enjoyable book. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day offers a light-hearted take on family dynamics, with its fair share of charm and humor. The story revolves around a family that, despite their quirks and differences, ultimately sticks together. The characters are relatable, and there are some genuinely heartwarming moments that explore love, forgiveness, and the complexities of familial relationships.

However, the pacing sometimes feels uneven, and the plot can be predictable. While the family interactions are fun to read about, I found the character development a bit shallow, leaving me wishing for more depth. It’s an enjoyable read, but not particularly groundbreaking. Overall, One Big Happy Family is a solid, feel-good story, though it doesn’t quite hit the emotional highs I was hoping for.

Just a big family all with their secrets and that one person threatening to spill it all. Because everyone has a secret-everyone. Oh and there's a major storm coming that no one believes actually will come. Overall it was okay, but I didn't get as engrossed into it as I would have liked.

I really enjoyed reading One Big Happy Family... this had me hooked from the first chapter. I especially liked the setting as I live on the coast of Maine. I am looking forward to recommending this to customers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day.

I tried to read this book and I couldn't connect with the characters, so I decided to try it as an audibook format and, after two tries, I had to stop and DNF it. It was so hard to connect with the MC at the beginning of the story, and I tried (three times) but I couldn't pass from the first chapter and not only I didn't connect but I was very confused.

Well written with good character development. A locked room thriller involving one venue/setting for the entire book. Kept me guessing throughout.

Charley works and lives at an eclectic, charming hotel. She doesn’t love the set up, but she does what she needs to in order to care for her Nana who lives in a nursing home. When the owner dies, Charley is faced with dealing with the daughters. Three sisters, all a little unhinged, descend upon the hotel. They all have their own agendas and not everything is on the up and up. Some people won’t leave the hotel alive.

This wasn’t bad…I just felt like have read it before. The same old troupe; trapped in a hotel during a hurricane, crazy people, a gun and money hunger. I’m not sorry I read it, but I just wasn’t blown away by creativity.

This book was just way. too. slow for me to enjoy. It picks up near the end, but I was over it by that point.

What a twisty, crazy thriller! I really enjoyed this locked room mystery and the creepy setting of this New England hotel on the coast in advance of an impending hurricane. This one had it all and left me guessing and second-guessing on who dun it. I highly recommend this one!

I normally love domestic thrillers but I didnt enjoy this one. It was extremely convoluted and not fleshed out enough. Although this is classified as a thriller, I didnt find it that thrilling. It read more as a family drama.

This family is anything but happy! At a remote hotel 3 sisters and their families are called to say goodbye to their father and the reading of his will. The story is told from the perspective of a maid at the hotel, which means we only know what she’s knows. As the bodies start piling up she just wants to get out alive.

I enjoyed this book but it has some predictable twists. I enjoyed the main character and found her very relatable.

There is so much family drama in One Big Happy Family. The dynamics of the Bishop sisters definitely leaves something to be desired, (in a good way,) as they surely keep the story moving along and interesting. Charley is sweet, yet determined to survive. I became her cheerleader as she tried to figure out who was out to kill at The Precipice Hotel. If you are up for some quirky and maybe slightly deranged characters and family dynamics, this read is for you.

Jamie Day has crafted a masterful page-turner in One Big Happy Family! From the very first chapter, I was invested in the lives of the characters and the secrets that simmered just beneath the surface. It had Hotel Nantucket vibes, but with the dark twists you would expect from Lisa Scottoline or Liv Constantine. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end, and the conclusion left me thoroughly satisfied.

Maybe I am just easily entertained but this book was giving me major Agatha Christie vibes while simultaneously giving me Clue vibes.

This book follows Charley a maid at a Hotel as the three daughters of the hotel owner return for the reading of a will. With a Hurricane looming overhead, secrets are exposed and bodies are piling up. This is a perfect book for those who love the Who Dun It storyline with some twists only Jamie Day can pull off.

Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this month.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, focusing on the Bowers family during a reunion. The story delves into the complexities of love, secrets, and unresolved conflicts, offering a poignant portrayal of imperfect familial bonds. Day’s writing is engaging, with well-developed characters whose struggles feel relatable and real. While the plot may seem predictable, the strength lies in the emotional depth and character growth. Ultimately, the book highlights the messy, yet beautiful, nature of family and the power of reconciliation, making it a touching read for fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories. But it was a little too predictable for me.

This is the story of a complicated family stuck in an old hotel during a storm. It reads like a murder mystery party. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

When I discover a new author, I prefer to begin with their earliest works. However, I chose One Big Happy Family as my first read, leaving me with her debut novel, The Block Party. I’m also eagerly anticipating The Lake Escape, set to release this summer.

One Big Happy Family by Day is a captivating and fast-paced suspense novel. The story follows Charley, a young woman grappling with significant personal struggles. She barely has a place to call home and is responsible for caring for her aging grandmother, who also suffers from dementia. Tragically, Charley lost her parents at a young age, and her grandmother holds a profound place in her heart.

Charley works at The Precipice, a family hotel, and fears losing her job when her boss passes away. Despite her challenging circumstances, she works tirelessly, but her desperation leads her to resort to stealing from some of the hotel’s guests. Despite her dishonest actions, it’s easy to empathize with Charley and root for her in this unfolding drama.

However, the plot thickens as the former hotel owner’s three daughters arrive, each vying for their share of their father’s inheritance. Their visit is far from brief, as a hurricane is imminent, and everyone must seek safety.

Unfortunately, safety becomes a distant dream for several unfortunate souls in this novel. As bodies start dropping, the story takes a shocking turn, altering its course completely. Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns that line the pages of this thrilling tale.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a heartwarming, deeply emotional novel that explores the complexities of modern family dynamics, the challenges of blended families, and the sometimes messy, yet beautiful, nature of love and togetherness. With a light yet impactful narrative, this book offers both a thoughtful examination of personal relationships and a delightful escape into the lives of relatable, multi-dimensional characters.

The story revolves around the lives of a family trying to navigate the challenges of blending two separate lives into one cohesive unit. At the center of the narrative is Liv, a woman who's doing her best to manage the demands of motherhood, marriage, and career. When she marries Luke, a man with children from a previous relationship, Liv finds herself struggling to build meaningful connections with her new stepchildren while also facing the pressures of her own life. As they all try to find their way as a newly formed family, tensions rise, and Liv and Luke are forced to confront not just their relationship but their understanding of what it means to be a family.

Jamie Day does an excellent job of depicting the difficulties that come with blending families—how it’s never a smooth transition, how step-relationships can be fraught with miscommunication and emotional baggage, and how love isn’t always a clear-cut process. The characters are complex, their emotions are real, and readers will find themselves empathizing with Liv as she struggles to navigate the shifting dynamics.

The central themes of the book—love, acceptance, and the need for understanding—are explored with warmth and honesty. Liv’s journey is relatable for anyone who has been part of a blended family, or anyone who has had to figure out how to make a nontraditional family arrangement work. The author doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments, but she also captures the joyful moments of connection and unity that can arise even in the most unexpected family situations.

The pacing of One Big Happy Family is steady, with a nice balance of family drama, heartwarming moments, and lighter comedic scenes. The book is filled with tender moments, as well as moments of personal growth, where the characters are forced to re-evaluate their priorities and how they view family. The secondary characters, from the stepchildren to extended family members, are equally well-developed and add layers of depth to the story, making it feel more like a realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of family life.

Although the premise of the book could have ventured into melodrama, Day keeps it grounded in reality with relatable characters and emotional honesty. The romance element is sweet and gentle, showing that true love is about more than just passion—it's about compromise, patience, and emotional support.

The book is a great choice for readers who enjoy stories about family, relationships, and finding happiness amidst the chaos of life. It’s an uplifting, often humorous, and ultimately touching exploration of what it means to be part of a "big happy family."

**Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Jamie Day and it is definitely a popcorn book for me. The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. When the owner, a lecherous man, dies, the Bishop sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith have come home to listen to the reading of the will and sort out what to do with the hotel. The problem is there is also a hurricane bearing down on the area, so is it safe? Each sister has secrets, but also wants what they think is their due. They arrive with their partners and offspring. When they arrive they meet nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley: smart, resilient, older than her years, and in desperate straits. Charley also has secrets. To support her grandma, who is living in care with dementia, she steals from their guests, and she is hiding a young woman on the run from her abusive husband. With the hurricane approaching, a dysfunctional family, a lawyer and a hidden guest, what could possibly go wrong?

One Big Happy Family is a thriller/suspense story that starts off believably, but then goes over the top. I definitely had to suspend belief while reading this one. I loved Charley. She is one of the kindest characters doing whatever she can to support her grandmother and to help others. The 2 boys, Oliver and Quinn are interesting. Quinn and Charley become friends but as secrets are revealed, his life is totally upended. Oliver is an odd duck. He speaks only in rhyme and seems a bit dark. He also learns secrets about himself. I didn't like the sisters at all. They were all very selfish and self-centered. They were demanding and not very nice to each other, or the staff. This book is full of melodrama, secrets, lies, some humor and suspense. The ending was heartbreaking and didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story, but it does bring closure to Charley's issues. Did I enjoy this story? Yes. Was it one I will remember a few weeks from now? Probably not. If you enjoy reading a book that just takes you for a ride, and has you wondering what could possibly happen next, then I recommend you pick this one up.