I’m so conflicted about this book. It had good bones, there was some potential but…in the end, I’m stuck at around 2 stars, and that’s being generous. It started out fine, but as time went on, it rolled downhill at an increasing speed until I simply didn’t care anymore.

Every character was annoying. None of them really had much personality and what they did have was almost cartoonish. This came across as a remedial retelling of Clue or And Then There Were None, but with phrases like “until she went all ninja on me” and “I puffed up my chest going all gangsta.” What in the actual editing heck? One of those lines was supposedly spoken by a 50-something white woman from generational wealth, so perhaps our author didn’t put enough thought into the nuances of the many, many characters. And there was simply SO much standing around talking and arguing, very little tension or drama, and by the time it was getting somewhere, I was reading as fast as I could in order to be done. I truly did not care who did what and why.

It takes a lot of bravery to write a book and put your work out there for people to critique, and I appreciate the time and effort it takes to do so. This one just wasn’t for me, and I don’t think I’d come back to this author.

Plot was fairly interesting but the writing just wasn't there for me. The dialogue felt unnatural and the narrative was often overly descriptive or cheesy. One character, "Attorney Black", was inconsistently referred to as Black, Attorney Black, and her full name. It felt unnatural to call her Attorney Black and she's mentioned so many times that it really bothered me. Overall I think this has potential if the writing was cleaned up.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day, published by St. Martin's Press
I really enjoyed reading this novel, the plot and the characters were great! I loved the main character Charley and her determination, and her love for her grandmother. The characters were well described and entered the novel in a timely manner, so the reader can remember who is who. I liked how the author went back in time part way through the novel to give us some background on the characters.
Charley works as a maid at the Precipice Hotel, the owner of the hotel has just died, his family is coming for the reading or the will and Charley just hopes she can continue working in order to support her grandmother who lives at the seniors home nearby
This novel had so many twists I almost got lost, but seriously was a great book. I've read books by Jamie Day before and totally recommend as a good read!

I’m a big fan of locked room mysteries and the evil incarnation family members theme seen in the Succession series. Thankfully, this book is an amazing combination of these two themes, piquing my interest and hooking me from the beginning. It pushed me hard to decide which Bishop sister is worse than the others! My vote is still for Vicki as the craziest and most unpredictable one! Of course, the maid Charley, who might be an angel when compared with Millie the maid and less eccentric than Molly the maid (my other favorite book characters), might be the kindest-hearted character in the book, mostly kept in the dark about the real evils lurking nearby.

The main plot revolves around the new heiresses of Precipice Hotel: a legendary family hotel located on the rocky coast of Maine, the three Bishop Sisters who gather at the family resort to hear the will of their late father George Bishop.

Enter Charley, the chambermaid of the hotel, only 19, living in a closet in the hotel turned into a rent-free room, trapped in her job to pay for her nana’s care house. It vacuums the entire funds she’s made and forces her into pickpocketing from wealthy guests. Now she’s more desperate after the care house made a raise for her grandmother’s accommodation. When a young girl named Bree needs help in exchange for cash that can give her financial relief, Charley accepts to hide her in one of the empty hotel rooms. The poor girl is hiding from her abusive boyfriend, and she has no position to say no to her, even though this secret may threaten her job.

Enter the Bishop sisters: Vicki - vicious, bad-tempered, the elder sister, founder of a jewelry store chain, married to charismatic Todd in her 50s, greedy, money-oriented, ruthless - a match made in heaven for her (or the women he’s cheating on her with). Iris - ex-convict, troubled, ex-drug addict, middle sister, in the new religious awakening. Finally, Faith - model, stylish, addicted to the spotlight and to being admired, married to eccentric Hope who is a vegetarian cook, spiritualist, Zen person.

Vicki’s gorgeous son Quinn, who also steals Charley’s heart at first sight, and young Oliver: the son of Faith & Hope, must be on the spectrum, likes to rhyme, acting like an oracle who knows the future are the other attendants of the hotel.

After the hearing, the family members start arguing because one of them might have manipulated George to change his will. Iris and Faith are not happy with the outcome. Brenda Black, the ex-shady prosecutor, new lawyer also acting suspicious, might be involved in a scheming that the sisters wouldn’t like.

But things suddenly change when a murder occurs. All the sisters are bound with sins and dirty secrets related to the crime. A murderer is among them, leaving creepy messages about their doom. None of them can escape from the hotel as Hurricane Larry is out their door, blocking each escape way. As you can imagine, the electric circuit does not work well, just like cell phone reception. They cannot call for help, and they cannot take their eyes off each other. One of them is losing control, and he or she never intends to stop until the secrets come out, and the truth is revealed. Poor Charley has to find a way to survive, but how can she achieve this when the Bishop sisters are cooking up plans to shut her up?

Overall, this was a delicious, heart-throbbing whodunnit with Christiean vibes! I couldn’t resist it! I honestly recommend it! It’s even better than Block Party, which I also enjoyed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this addictive book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. This was my first read of Jamie Day. A family gathers to hear the reading for their father's will during a approaching hurricane. Everyone has secrets and someone must die. Great read.

The Precipice is a family-owned hotel on the coast of Maine. After the death of their father, sisters Iris, Vicki, and Faith have come to the hotel for the weekend to claim their share. Each share a deep secret from their childhood as well as deeper secrets that not everyone knows. Charley Kelley is the nineteen year old chambermaid who lives at the hotel in exchange for working there. The return of the sisters to the hotel can pose a dangerous threat to Charley. Charley also has her own secret as she is also using a guest room to harbor a woman who is on the run.

This book is full of secrets and family drama. The looming hurricane adds and additional layer to the locked room mystery. There were so many twists which were so satisfying. I was glued to the pages. I loved the setting and all of the characters with their secrets. Just when I thought all secrets were revealed, more came out. A highly enjoyable thriller!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of One Big Happy Family. This was a good thriller/mystery read. There were some enjoyable twists and turns in this novel. I don’t always love the secluded hotel/location trope but this one was done well. Sometimes the characters were a little overdone/over the top but overall it was a good page turner and kept me engaged.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4 for this review.

#netgalley #onebighappyfamily #stmartinspress #jamieday

"One Big Happy Family" was very hard for me to get into in the beginning, but once I did I couldn't put down! This is the first book I've read by this author, but I will be reading more!

I love the characters and the family dynamics. Also, the fact there were several twists and turns. Just when I guessed the ending, I would get it wrong!

I recommend this book to everyone that likes a twist and turn novel.

I received the complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

Trapped in a hotel on the coast of Maine during a major hurricane, each of the guests are hiding secrets and the only way to survive is to uncover the truth. What follows is an intense thriller with lots of twists and action!

This book was told from multiple points of view which helped keep me glued to the pages. The author did an excellent job keeping the reader on their toes. Lots of action, mystery, and even murder.

I felt the ending was rushed but it didn't completely detract from the story. If you like a stormy night thriller, this is a book for you!

This book was a bit slow paced except for the last quarter of the book. Some suspenseful moments, deception, a person bent on revenge with a few twists you won't see coming. A touch of romance. The Bishops are a screwed up family, with many secrets and have by intention or accidentally ruined peoples lives that they have encountered during the years. A philandering father has changed and shaped his daughters lives with some dire consequences which they find has left them guilt ridden. Trapped in their family hotel during a hurricane, will their secrets be revealed? Who will survive the night?

Received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.

I really enjoyed this book but it kept me up at night. Between wanting to finish and some creepy dreams, it mat not be the book for you. If that's what you like, the twists are amazing and who did it surprised me

One Big Happy Family didn’t work for me. It’s a book that mostly follows Charley, a maid at a hotel. I didn’t care about anyone (and all of them so insanely physically beautiful), and the twists were easy to guess. The family dynamics were disgusting to me, and the ending was extremely unsatisfying. I also don’t think everyone deserves a redemption arc in books like this.

The idea this author had is such a good one, but I wish it had been a novella. Nothing good happens until around 79 percent into the book. I was bored for so much of the time.

I will say I would try this author again. The writing wasn’t awful, though each character being so beautiful got old. I also couldn’t empathize with anyone. But I have hope that this author will write more books that I’ll enjoy one day.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.

Nice though fairly standard thriller. The vibes were nice overall though I would say this one wasn’t a huge stand out . Thanks for the arc

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your novel. I greatly enjoyed reading Charley’s story and the story of the sisters. It at times was hard to stay entrenched in the story and I found myself pulling out, but in the end I was surprised by the twists and think everything wrapped up nicely.

Received an ARC via NetGalley. Fun read! Suspense and action. Wish the book included a picture of the rowboat painting.

I had loved The Block Party, so I was happy to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of Jamie Day's newest book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This book is a fun, suspenseful read with the "common" scenario of murders taking place in an isolated hotel cut off from help because of a hurricane. It also has the reading of a will with unexpected results. There were lots of twists and turns and a cast of unusual, flawed characters. I missed the touches of humor that had been in The Block Party, but this was still a satisfying thriller. I'm sure mystery fans will enjoy this one.

Charley works as a maid at a hotel owned by George Bishop. Upon George’s death, his three daughters travel to the hotel for the will reading. Before the Bishops arrive, a stranger asks Charley to harbor her at the hotel. As the Bishops arrive, Charley must juggle hiding Bree and waiting on the Bishop sisters and their families. Charley gets uneasy vibes from all of the guests at the hotel and doesn’t know who she can trust. Read this book if you enjoy family drama, secrets, murder, lies, and deceit.
I enjoyed this book more than Day’s first novel.

I didn’t read Jamie Day’s first book, and probably wouldn’t have picked this one through Netgally if I had. It was a little immature and chaotic for my usually taste in suspense books.

Thanks to Netgally and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

To all my bookish friends…..

I have a PSA

If you have not already request, pre-ordered or heard of this book I am about to share with you, you need to drop what you are doing and RUN on over to request/ pre-order this book.

Holy Freaking Smoke 💨

One Big Happy Family

I know I asked you all to pick my next book and well majority didn’t win in this case 🤣 of course my little squirrel brain had other intentions . I saw the cover and said let’s just read the first chapter and see how it plays out .

Oh no no no …

This is not how it worked out . One chapter turned into 2, turned into 3, ended in finishing this entire book in one sitting (and it’s a big one!)

My mind is completely blown!!!! The narration was done with perfection. The details had me in awe and just the story itself had me completely consumed . I could not get enough!

Teaser :

Could this reunion be the death of them?

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.

With razor-sharp wit, heart, thrills, and twists, Jamie Day delivers a unique brand of SUMMERTIME SUSPENSE

I’d like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity the ARC of One Big Happy Family..
I love a “locked in” mystery, and will grab a book if I see this in the description. In this case, Charley, a maid at the Precipice Hotel, the Bishop sisters and their families, plus a stranded Bree looking for a place to hide are trapped at the hotel during a huge storm.

I really liked the character of Charley. The story is told from her perspective, and I felt the author did a great job of fleshing her out. I understood what she was feeling and why, the choices she made, and how she interacted with others.

The Bishop sisters arrive because their father recently passed and the reading of the will is happening. The characterization of the sisters and Vicki (the eldest sister) seemed very stereotypical and over the top. Vicki- super controlling; Faith- typical model; Iris- angry at everyone. Todd, Vicki’s husband, was stereotypical macho man. Hope- Faiths wife was over the top new age woman. However, I actually enjoyed most of their interactions and backstories. Some of it was repetitive, and Vicki had no subtlety so right off the bat I could care less about her!

Someone dies, and I figured out who it would be that died way before it happened. The author set it up so it was obvious- and everyone left had major reasons for wanting this person dead. Some reasons were left to be fleshed out in the rest of the story, though.

There is a lot going on in this story- but the author ties it all together. However, the ending! I was happy for one character, but felt the consequences for another character were ridiculous!

I did enjoy this and was engaged. I will probably read another by this author. If you are in the mood for a locked door mystery with over the top stereotypical characters- this might be for you. Sometimes reading that entertains and villains are written over the top is what I need on occasion!