Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. It’s the story of a rich family behaving badly after the death of their father, meeting up at the hotel he owned in Maine. And there is murder and a storm involved to make it more interesting. The story is told from the viewpoint of Charley who is 19 and works at the inn, and really needs the job. The family obviously does not get along, and there is a lot of drama, along with the murder. I didn’t love this one, don’t do well with unlikeable characters. #onebighappyfamily #jamieday #netgalley #bookstagram #mainehotel #familystory #murdermystery #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram

✨ Publication date: July 16, 2024✨

One Big Happy Family is a mystery/thriller by Jamie Day. This is my first book by this author and won’t be my last!

This book introduces many characters that are interconnected, you need to pay attention and make the connections to keep up but it’s not overly difficult to track.

The Precipice hotel is owned by the Bishop family on the Maine coast. Charley is the hotel maid preparing to greet the Bishop sisters who are meeting at the hotel after their father’s death. The Bishop family has a long and tumultuous relationship with the small town they live in and there aren’t many positive things to say about the sisters.

The sisters begin to arrive with their families but they are on the brink of a hurricane and the Bishop families, Charley, the family lawyer and one other guest of the hotel are stuck together to ride out the storm.

When the last will and testament are read and family secrets come to light, not everyone was treated fairly in the will. As the storm rages on, tempers flare and bodies start to pile up. No one is taking accountability and everyone has a reason to be the killer.

The story is mostly told from Charley’s point of view. We do get a few chapters from the lens of the Bishop sisters. There are parts that drag on a bit and likely could have been wrapped up a bit quicker but ultimately I enjoyed the writing and the story! This was a 3.75 (rounded to 4) star read.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #jamieday #onebighappyfamily

Did Not Finish at 23%

This book was not for me. I had a very difficult time connecting with any of the characters and did not find any of the characters very likable. The plot also moved a little too slowly for me.

I might try to finish this book at a later date.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I loved in particular how the author weaved the storyline together. The writing style was enjoyable and the plot held my interest. Looking forward to the next release.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is the sophomore book from this author. The book is set in Maine where the owner of a hotel on the coast of Maine has died. From the viewpoint of one of the staff, we watch the sisters and their families return home for the reading of the will amid a hurricane. Please start dying and those staying at the hotel are forced to reveal secrets to stay alive.

I really enjoyed the debut book from this author but this one did not work as well for me. I found the pacing to be very slow and I knew about half of the twists before they were revealed in the story. This was not much of a suspense or thriller as marketed. I also found the romance aspect to be a strange inclusion in the story. It didn't really fit.

2.5 rounded up. So this just wasn’t good for me.

Didn’t really like any of the characters. The Bishop sisters were all awful. Quinn was decent but he wasn’t a major player in the story. The ending was over the top and felt like after much dragging on and on we were in a rush to be at the end.

Really enjoyed The block party by this author and was super excited to get this ARC but didn’t really enjoy.

Thanks to the author and netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the authors book The Book Party and was excited to get a copy of One Big Happy Family.

The book starts off strong with Charley, the maid at a quirky hotel in Maine taking money from guests while cleaning their rooms to help pay for her grandmas nursing home care. With a hurricane brewing this quickly becomes a locked door mystery when the daughters of the hotel owner come for the reading of his will.

This book was a slow burn. There is a lot of back story into the sisters lives which I found interesting. The twists and turns are pretty predictable.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC for an honest review.

This “closed room” mystery takes place in coastal Maine at an old hotel during a hurricane. The former owner has died and his daughters have come during the storm for a reading of the will. Charley, the young female maid, is the main character. Characters start dying off, one by one. Who’s the murderer?

I spent the whole book wondering about one specific character, only to be surprised when the twist involved them. LOL!

I thought this was a well-written atmospheric domestic thriller/suspense. The characters were unlikeable, the drama was legit, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Read if you like locked-room storm plots with a very large side of family inheritance drama!

It was a like, not a love for me! I found myself skimming quite a bit because I wasn't connecting with the characters or feeling the tension in the story. I LOVE a reading of a will, so I was excited for this but overall it was just okay. I will read this author again though, because I liked their first novel!

Woooooo. That was a whirlwind. And not just because a hurricane hit. So many twist and turns I was never expecting. I was expecting him to leave it all to Charley.

This is ok as far as thrillers go. Engaging enough to continue reading but I felt like it was quite slow in developing the plot. Suspense overall was good once it got going. Those who love secrets and family drama would probably enjoy this.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a gripping, suspense-filled novel that masterfully combines family drama with thrilling twists. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the legendary family-owned hotel, The Precipice, located on the rocky coast of Maine, this book delves into the complex relationships and secrets of the Bishop sisters—three women who return to the hotel after their father’s recent passing, each with their own agenda.

As the Bishop sisters—Iris, Vicki, and Faith—gather for the weekend to stake their claim on the hotel, a hurricane is on the horizon, heightening the tension. Each sister has a motive, and the secrets they harbor could be dangerous not only for them but also for Charley Kelley, the hotel’s nineteen-year-old chambermaid, who is caught in a web of her own lies and struggles. Charley is smart, resourceful, and more than capable of holding her own, but her life is far from simple. As the storm brews, Charley’s precarious position grows more complicated as she juggles her own secrets while trying to keep the hotel’s disarray from spilling into chaos.

Day’s writing is sharp and full of wit, with a keen eye for the intricacies of family dynamics and the fragility of human nature. The plot unfolds with tension and suspense, keeping readers on edge as the hurricane looms and secrets come to light. The three Bishop sisters are complex and flawed characters, each vying for control of the family business, and their tangled relationships with one another create an atmosphere rife with unease. Meanwhile, Charley’s desperation and resourcefulness add a layer of unpredictability to the mix, making her an engaging and relatable character amidst the family’s dysfunction.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with Day weaving in moments of suspense and revelations in just the right amounts to keep readers hooked. The twists, particularly toward the novel’s conclusion, are unexpected, and the story’s resolution is satisfying yet chilling. The tension between family loyalty, betrayal, and survival makes for a riveting read that blends psychological suspense with emotional drama.

For readers who enjoy family mysteries, high-stakes suspense, and a touch of dark humor, One Big Happy Family is a fantastic choice. Jamie Day’s blend of heart and thrill will keep you guessing until the very end. This book is an engrossing tale of secrets, survival, and the high cost of getting what you want.

One Big Happy Family is a locked-room mystery meets a soap opera at a fancy hotel, and honestly, I was here for it. It’s full of toxic family drama and secrets, told over four parts with some well-done flashbacks.

Sure, some moments are a bit over the top (you’ll need to suspend disbelief), but that’s part of the fun. The mix of humour and flashbacks keeps things engaging, and the whole thing has a nighttime soap vibe—in the best way. The Bishop family tree is WILD and the dynamic between the sisters is messy and entertaining.

If you love messy family secrets and a dramatic hotel setting, this one’s worth checking out!

Thank you Goodreads for my giveaway win!

I enjoyed Jamie’s debut novel, The Block Party, so I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint.

I was intrigued from the beginning. There are lots of puzzle pieces to put together. Things are slowly revealed. While I was able to piece some things together, there were still plenty of surprising twists. I found myself unable to put this book down. It does get somewhat crazy as more secrets and surprises are revealed. I was trying to figure out how one of the characters fit into the story. I had several theories and one of those theories was correct. There were surprises up until the very end. The story wrapped up nicely and left me feeling satisfied.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a suspenseful novel. I think the author did a remarkable job establishing a solid motive for the main villain. It was a wild adventure reading this book. This book had everything— interesting characters, suspense, and a hurricane. I think readers of this genre will enjoy it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Funerals always make family a little crazy and the Bishop sisters are even more over the top. With the reading of the will at the family resort, an impending hurricane, and a body thrown into the mix ot becomes a locked in thriller. Each of the sisters have drama of their own and add in the maid, Charlie, with secrets of her own. The ending is just crazy drama! The gorgeous cover drew me in and the drama kept me there. Loved it!

Block Party was one of my favorite thrillers last year so I was a little bummed to read this one. I liked it though! Locked-room mysteries always go in a certain direction and this did not disappoint. Early on you know it is related to this awful family and most likely robbing someone else of a life. I felt so bad for our main character and was rooting for her the entire time. Luckily the ending played out well and was overall an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

3/5

The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. With the recent passing of their father, the Bishop sisters—Iris, Vicki, and Faith—have come for the weekend to claim it. But with a hurricane looming and each of the Bishop sisters harboring dangerous secrets, there's murder in the air—and not everyone who checks into the Precipice will be checking out.

Each sister wants what is rightfully hers, and in the mix is the Precipe's nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley: smart, resilient, older than her years, and in desperate straits.

The arrival of the Bishop sisters could spell disaster for Charley. Will they close the hotel? Fire her? Discover her habit of pilfering from guests? Or even worse, learn that she's using a guest room to hide a woman on the run.

I loved this story from start to finish. Such an amazing read.