Member Reviews

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my #gifted copy.

This definitely was a nail-biter locked room thriller that I really enjoyed. I loved the setting of this novel. This will definitely be THE summer thriller to read!

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This was a mixed bag for me, sometimes I liked it and other times it felt unrealistic, overdramatic and a bit too long. I liked the characters though and that kept me reading 3.5

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Review: I’ve been waiting to read a Jamie Day novel for a while, and wow, I’m so glad I did! This was such a great story from the plot, to the characters, to the ultimate twist at the end.

It’s a locked room mystery, which I really enjoy, set in a family own hotel. When the owner dies, his three daughters return to read the will and get their part of the estate. While they are heading there, the chambermaid (Charley) has to get the hotel really not only for the guests but the looming storm.

The story was told in first person from Charley’s account. I absolutely loved her character giving a fresh perspective amongst all the chaos. Multiple people die, lots of backstabbing, secrets revealed, and plot twists make this story great. While I kind of guessed where the story was going, I didn’t know how it would play out. It was a little slow in the beginning, but really picked up speed. I still really enjoyed it and highly recommend this book! A really fun mystery that I loved reading.

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I can’t say I overall enjoyed One Big Happy Family. I found it a bit far fetched and too much drama that just made me want to roll my eyes. I liked the setting and the approaching hurricane added some suspense. This was one messed up family! The ending felt drawn out and I felt like I wanted it to end quicker than it did as I lost interest in how slowly it was wrapping up.

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I loved the setting of this book - a group of people stuck at a hotel, in the middle of a hurricane, no cell service - and a killer in the midst.

Things got a little weird and unbelievable towards the end, but I can definitely say that it kept me guessing all the way through.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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This was one combination of story line that had a punch from the very start. The sisters gather for the reading of the father’s will. He was the owner of the Precipice Hotel in a small town in Maine. Charley was the cleaner of the hotel for years, truly hating the job but having to keep it to pay for her grandmother in a care home and to keep her home also. No job would mean they are both homeless.
This is all happening as a hurricane is heading their way. I have to say that as I was reading this book the pages could not turn fast enough for me!
The author has done a great job of hooking the readers and keeping them engrossed in the story. This is one book you will want to get and be ready for all the twists and turns along with secrets, lies and personalities that are each different from the others.
As I was reading, I could hear the music that would be playing in the background if this book were a movie!
Thank you NetGalley, Jamie Day and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of the book One Big Happy Family. This is my personal review.

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This is such a nice, mentally relaxing, fast paced psychological thriller as a change of pace from the more gruesome horrors I've been reading lately. The story moves along quickly and I was immediately engaged in the plot. I enjoyed the plot as I chose this as a change of pace, but it might not be your typical thriller, mostly with a little less suspense and more family drama. That being said, I do recommend this book as a light and fun read, and I will definitely be picking up another of the author's books.

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I really enjoyed this book and I can’t say I’m surprised since I enjoyed this authors first novel as well. The short chapters were awesome and the setting was fun too!

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I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin's Publishing Company. This storyline had so many twist and turns and will leave you guessing until the very end! There is drama, mystery, suspense and maybe some romance. Charley is a survivor. She has been a dealt a hard hand in life. With her mom dying young and having to take care of her Nana. In life who can you trust. Can you trust the ones closest to you or are they the ones you need to keep a close eye on. Then the Bishop family/sisters have an interesting family dynamics. Do they protect one another or each other worst enemies? Or is it maybe both? This story is for a mature reader and can be read anywhere.

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I had mixed feedings on One Big Happy family. There are times I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of who dunnit but overall the story just fell flat for me and I figured out the main twist pretty early. The flashbacks didn’t quite fit for me.

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This was a creepy and thrilling tale with an....intense family. It had me hooked from the first page and gripped me through to the last page. I will absolutely be checking out other books by this author.

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Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of One Big Happy Family!

This was a slower read for me rather than a fast-paced read that captured and held my interest throughout. Nonetheless, I did enjoy several elements. The storyline was straightforward and easy to follow and the characters were well-developed and believable. I also enjoyed the themes of family ties and friendship and the persisting question about the lengths one may go to in order to protect and provide for the ones they love.

Unfortunately, the larger plot points, which I believe were meant to be twists, were predictable for me. I had much of the plot figured out early on in the story. The many red herrings clued me in that those who were seemingly guilty of wrongdoing were not (at least not to the extent it seemed) and those who had little to no motive were.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. The story picked up in the last 20%, which I appreciated and enjoyed! I would read this author again.

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This one interested me because I was a fan of Jamie Day’s previous novel, The Block Party, and of course, I love a thriller.

One Big Happy Family is about a very dysfunctional family who is stuck together in their late father’s hotel. The Precipice Hotel is located on the coast of Maine and Charley Kelley calls it home. She is the young chambermaid who had to avoid advances from her creepy old boss, George Bishop. With her only family, her nana, living in a nursing home with failing health, Charley had to take this job that offered her a place to stay in a room the size of a closet.

Nothing prepared her for the day the 3 Bishop sisters and their families showed up for the reading of their father’s will, in the middle of a hurricane. Each sister carries their own secrets and lies and they each want a part of their father’s fortune.

Add in young Bree, who convinced Charley to let her ride out the storm hiding away in the hotel to get away from her abusive boyfriend- and what could go wrong?

This is a fast paced, closed room thriller told from multiple POV’s. It was engaging right from the start with so many good twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for an advanced e-copy of this book. It comes out on July 16th 2024- and I recommend you mark down this date for a fun summer thriller!

For more of Angie and Lauren's book reviews, please follow us on Insta: @BluejackBookGirls

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Family secrets, a dead body, and a hurricane that causes power outages and no cell service.

The Precipice Hotel — a family owned hotel on the coast of Maine. I loved the setting of this one! 🏨🌀⛈️

Charley is a young chambermaid at the hotel. When the owner passes away, his three daughters, the Bishop sisters, visit the hotel to claim their inheritance. But each sister has their own secrets that will come to light. As well as Charley who is hiding a woman on the run in the hotel!

I enjoyed reading this one, although I feel like there was a point where not a lot was going on and it seemed a little longer than necessary. But the eerie vibes of the storm, the setting, and the secrets kept me interested!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc!

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Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. Devoured in just a few hours. Will recommend!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc**

The Precipice is a family owned hotel on the coast of Maine. Charley is a young maid working hard to provide for her and her grandmother. Charley tells us the story of the three owners, the Bishop sisters, Vickie, Iris, and Faith. This story has a lot of twists and interesting family secrets. It's a quick read with a lovable FMC. The Bishop family is interesting and kept me wanting to read more. A nice cozy mystery.

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Enter the world of The Precipice, a legendary family-owned hotel nestled along the rugged Maine coast. In Jamie Day's gripping novel, "One Big Happy Family," readers are plunged into a whirlwind of secrets, suspense, and unexpected twists that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

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Happy to have read this book! It kept me hooked the entire time! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review! I definitely recommend this book!

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The surprises in this book kept me turning the pages. I would recommend this to friends.


I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Charley is a young maid who lives and works at the quirky Precipice hotel. She is desperately trying to pay her grandmother’s bills and somehow add meaning to her monotonous days. I really enjoyed her!

The setting is so much fun and draws you in - George, the recently deceased owner, was an avid collector of antiques, eclectic art, and unusual finds. George and his wife lived on site with their three daughters, Vicky, Faith, and Iris. When the siblings, their partners, and their children come to town during a fierce storm for their fathers passing, things hit the fan.

What might seem to have been an idyllic childhood, soon unravels in dark secrets. This is a story of murder, lies, and secrets. At some points, bizarre, at others predictable, I give it 4 stars for how much planning it must have taken and for the many layers of narrative.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader’s Copy! Look for this one of July 16, 2024!

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