Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I found the main character to be juvenile and annoying, and so much of this novel was absolutely unbelievable. Generally I really enjoy locked room murder mysteries, but this one didn't work for me. 2.5/5, Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

Wow- this author has blown my mind again with another 5 star read. She is another author that I will be putting on my must read list without reading the plot to the book.

Jamie Day’s One Big Happy Family is a twist-filled thriller set against the atmospheric backdrop of a storm-battered Maine coastline. Following the success of The Block Party, Day delivers another suspenseful tale that keeps readers guessing until the final page.

The Bishop sisters—each grappling with secrets as dangerous as the hurricane bearing down on them—arrive at The Precipice, their family’s storied hotel, to settle their inheritance. But with tensions high and a murder on the horizon, their weekend reunion becomes a deadly game of survival. Adding to the intrigue is Charley Kelley, the savvy yet desperate chambermaid whose hidden agendas intertwine with the Bishops’ unraveling drama.

The hotel setting is richly described, lending an air of claustrophobic tension perfect for this kind of locked-room-esque mystery. The storm intensifies the stakes, mirroring the turbulent relationships among the characters. Charley’s storyline adds a refreshing perspective, and her resourcefulness makes her a standout character.

Day’s knack for pacing and twists shines here. Just when you think you’ve pieced the puzzle together, another shocking revelation pulls the rug out from under you. The narrative alternates perspectives effectively, allowing readers to uncover secrets at a tantalizing pace.

While the suspense and twists are gripping, the large cast of characters sometimes results in uneven development. Certain motivations and backstories feel underexplored, which slightly dilutes the emotional impact of key moments. The resolution ties up loose ends quickly, leaving some elements feeling rushed or too convenient.

One Big Happy Family is an engaging summer thriller, perfect for fans of twisty, family-centric mysteries with a coastal setting. Though not without its imperfections, the novel’s clever twists and moody atmosphere make it a compulsive read. I rated this 4 stars for its entertainment value and the clever intertwining of family drama and suspense. It's an ideal pick for beach bags and book club discussions alike!

This was a fun closed room thriller that kept me wanting to know what’s going to be the next twist. This book reminded me of knives out, with its fun fast paced who done it energy. The family we follow had plenty of secrets and it just kept me entertained throughout. With that said it is a little forgettable but still a fun ride while reading it. This is my first book from this author and hope to pick up another from them soon. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

One Big Happy Family certainly has a lot of big things going on! Told from four different perspectives, this is a slow burn, locked room thriller. I loved Jamie Dayś Block Party, so my expectations for this were higher than my enjoyment of this. Not to say I didn´t like it. There were certainly lots of laughs, and I the mystery with the atmospheric setting was beautifully written. Read this if you´re stuck inside on a stormy day and in the mood for drama!

Incredibly written story about how sisters fight for what they think they are owed after their father dies. It shows there is more to the story once the sisters arrive on the property. Each sister is fighting their own demons and struggles to figure out the value of family.

What a way to write a book! Loved this one from the cute cover to the immediate plot twists to the story that kept me interested. This was my first Jamie Day and I would definitely read a second one of hers. I think my Goodreads friends would also like this one so I might suggest for Bookclub based on the topic involved. Looking forward to more!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!! I could not put it down. It's so atmospheric that you feel like you are right there. As an only child, I love reading books with a focus on sibling dynamics.

This book was good and I did not predict the ending at all (I love that). The author kept me guessing “whodunit” and the reveal blew my mind. That being said I’m an avid reader and usually finish most books within a few days and this dragged on for me. It took me almost q10 days to complete. I never got to that point where I was hooked and counting down till the end.

Who doesn't love a locked door thriller, especially when it involves a hurricane?
The detailed Maine theme really stood out to me with this read.
However, Charley was really the only character I felt like I could connect with.
Everyone felt frustrating and the story seemed to drag a little in the middle. It felt more dramatic than thrilling, which isn't what I was looking for.
The ending fell a little flat and didn't give me the shock factor I was hoping for.
Overall, a good read for someone looking for big time family drama.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
One Big Happy Family releases July 16, 2024

The owner of the Precipice Hotel has recently died, and his family is gathering together to lay him to rest and take part in the reading of his will, even in the midst of a hurricane.

This was more of a family drama than a suspenseful thriller, and ended up being way too drawn-out for my liking.

The threads of romance with the housekeeper pining after Quinn felt really out of place and was completely unnecessary for the story. I found that the inclusions of the gay side character from a family of illegal immigrants added nothing of value to the narrative except showing that the author knew how to be extremely stereotypical in writing characters of colour.

I wish One Big Happy Family had been told entirely from the pov’s of the Bishop family, instead of being observed by Charley.
Bree integrating herself as one of the hotel staff members, or even impersonating Charley would’ve been less obvious than the placement she was given by the author.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a domestic suspense novel set at a remote family-owned hotel on the coast of Maine. George Bishop has suddenly passed away and his family is called in for the reading of the will. All of the other guests that were supposed to arrive have cancelled their reservations in anticipation of Hurricane Larry. But George's three daughters are determined to make it work.

This story is told from the POV of the hotel's chambermaid, Charley, who has been living on the premises in a tiny room for free for the past couple of years. Charley is trying her hardest to earn enough money to hlep her grandmother who raised her. Things are tight and the rates at her nursing home keep going up, causing Charley to steal some from the guests in order to make ends meet. Charley soon meets Bree, who is looking for a place out of the way to hide from her abusive partner. So Charley takes that as an opportunity to make a little extra money on the side and hides her in the hotel during the storm.

As the sisters arrive, the fighting starts. They definitely are not "one big happy family" and we see lots of secrets revealed. Shortly after the reading of the will there's a death. As problems continue and the storm intensifies, the family realizes they're stuck at the hotel with a possible murderer.

This is another in a long line of locked-room style mysteries that take place in secluded locations during some kind of storm or another published recently and this one really does nothing to set itself apart. Part family drama (and yes, there's drama) and part mystery I'm sure you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I’m not going to lie the cover of this book made me intrigued and the storyline didn’t disappoint!
Great page turner with all its twists and turns that will keep you up way past your bed time.
Hope to read more from this author! 📕

I liked this one! It’s not my usual genre but once I got a few chapters in I could t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy

One Big Happy Family
Jamie Day
3.5⭐️

Pub Date: 7/16/2024

I wanted to love this one so much. It reminds me of The Maid by Nita Prose (which I adore) initially however, the writing style and how the MC narrates this is a little bothersome and a bit more repetitive than what I deem necessary. I get that this is family drama but there was too much bickering and there were even parts of the conversation that seemed pointless to the plot. Especially when Vicki and Todd arrived first. I guess it did add to making the reader understand the dynamics of the family but I thought it could have been cut down a bit. This book didn't really catch my attention up until maybe around halfway through when shiz hit the fan. It gave a thriller with some supernatural vibes. It was creepy because of the poems/rhymes and that actually was a huge plus that kept me reading. The bad blood and secrets between the sister and the whole family itself got crazier as I turned the pages. The characters are all unhinged! All of them. And I can't pick which character is the worst as I kept going. Vicki is just insufferable and I have a deep seated dislike for her from the start but I wouldn't say she's the worst. Overall, I still thought it was a good book to read. I still enjoyed parts of this but it just didn't hold my attention consistently. This may be for people who particularly or especially enjoy family drama and dynamics!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of One Big Happy Family in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy a locked room mystery but this story was a bit of a roller coaster. Lots of suspenseful moments but then the story would drag. And the cycle would repeat. Not my favorite locked room mystery.

Overall an ok story.

One Big Happy Family" by Jamie Day is my first read by this author, and it was an interesting experience. The story offers a unique take on family dynamics and the complexities that come with them. While I found some parts of the plot a bit slow, the characters were well-developed and relatable. The book had its moments of charm and insight, making it a worthwhile read. Despite some pacing issues, I enjoyed Jamie Day's writing style and will definitely read more from this author in the future. #netgalley #Onebighappyfamily

Another suspenseful page-turner by the talented Jamie Day! This book did not disappoint. If you are a fan of twisty whodunnit thrillers and/or enjoyed THE BLOCK PARTY by this author then I highly recommend picking this one up. It's full of juicy secrets, loads of domestic drama and will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy the locked room trope and I felt the ominous atmosphere and tension in this story. I enjoyed the beginning but I thought the sisters backstory was a bit slow and then unfortunately I started loosing interest. It did pick up at the end with a lot of drama. Overall, this was between ok and I liked it. I would still be willing to try another book by the author.

2.5 stars

Dark and twisty thriller set during a Hurricane on coastal Maine. A great read for upcoming winter nights. The hotel itself was the best written character in this novel. There were quite a few characters and subplots to keep track of, so maybe a little more complicated than it needed to be. The book wrapped up fairly neatly though. I enjoy Jamie Day's writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of this novel for my honest opinion.