I think this might be my favorite Susan Mallery book. Julie is a widow and mother of grown children. She is not so sad when her children tell her they aren’t going to their family cabin for Christmas. Julie is looking forward to alone time with her much younger boyfriend, Heath. Well, it all comes crashing down when her son and his new wife change plans, her daughter changes her plans, Heath’s ex-wife changes plans and he will have his kids, and they all want to come to the cabin. Then, the ex-wife ends up coming to the cabin, too. Everyone has a secret they need to share and this holiday has disaster written all over it. There are definitely bumps in the road, but they make the best of it and have a great Christmas! I really enjoyed it!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. I am happy it has been released.

Susan Mallery doesn't just write romance. She writes stories about women and their relationships with each other. And there's still a healthy side of romance.

One Big Happy Family is another fun read from Susan Mallery with a Holiday twist. Julie Parker is the mama bear. She loves her children and her family. `This year, her kids have decided to forego the usual big family Christmas to do their own things. And Julie isn't upset about that. After years of being the hostess with the mostest, she's looking forward to a low-key holiday with her new much younger and not so public boyfriend.

But plans change. And Julie finds herself hosting not only her daughter, son, and daughter-in law at her mountain cabin. A host of other family and chosen family find their way to the cabin for a Christmas they won't soon forget.

As always, Susan tackles tough subjects like depression, toxic familial relationships, body image, and grief. She also does what she does best and writes supportive, healthy relationships between women. These relationships are what keep me coming back every time she has a new release.

One Happy Family is definitely one of those books you want to read cozied up in your favorite chair whether it be by the fire or on the beach.

Overall…this was cute. The problem is, I feel like there was so much that was just missing. I just kept waiting for this to happen and finally by the end I finished it and I kinda just said “that’s it?? Where’s the rest??”

This just left so much room for more. So much was missing

3.5 🌟 I really enjoyed this book. The characters feel so relatable and I became invested in their lives. Mallery does it all with humor and heartfelt moments. I also just love the small-town setting of Fool's Gold. It’s not groundbreaking, but it absolutely is a solid and satisfying story, especially if you are a fan of romance and family drama.

One Big Happy Family is a heartwarming and hilarious holiday story that explores love, secrets, and the unexpected joys of family. Julie Parker's plans for a quiet Christmas with her younger boyfriend Heath are upended when her children ask for a family gathering at their cabin. As her hidden relationship with Heath and the growing guest list stir up old emotions and new surprises, the story beautifully balances humor and heartfelt moments. The characters are relatable, and the chaotic holiday gathering offers a delightful mix of laughter and warmth. It’s a charming reminder that sometimes, the best things happen when we embrace the messiness of life and family.

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a heartwarming and entertaining contemporary romance that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and love. The story centers around three sisters, their relationships with each other, and their evolving romantic lives. As each woman faces her own personal challenges, they learn about the power of family, forgiveness, and second chances. With Mallery’s signature blend of humor, emotion, and relatable characters, this novel is an uplifting and feel-good read for fans of family dramas and sweet romance.

Author Susan Mallery gets holiday chaos. In One Big Happy Family, Mallery's most recent Christmas-focused release, towing company owner Julie Parker isn't upset when her grown children decide to skip Christmas for a year; it's the perfect opportunity for her to spend it with her new, younger, and very secret boyfriend, Heath. However, plans change when her daughter, Dana, and son, Nick (along with Nick's wife, Blair), suddenly have a change of heart and push for a big celebration at the family cabin. Of course, Blair can't leave her mother, Gwen, alone for the holidays, nor her Uncle Paul. And Heath's two young children need a place to stay since their mom is jetting off on vacation ... Actually, scratch that. She gets dumped, and Julie just can't stand to see anyone alone on Christmas. Oh, and there's a dog.

It's gonna be a full house. But Julie, the plucky and capable matriarch (she's maybe not ready for grandma just yet), swings into action with the assurance of someone who's handled countless family functions. It's refreshing to see a mature heroine who has her wits about her, and the bulk of the conflict rests on interactions with the other guests. Blair struggles understanding her mother, who in turn struggles with just about everyone. Nick withholds a massive secret from Julie, while Dana can't seem to get over an ex-boyfriend. All of this isn't to suggest Julie is a perfect person, and Mallery expertly teases out her own insecurities that primarily stem from dating someone younger than her.

It's a cacophony of storylines. With a lesser writer, the book might feel as overcrowded as the cabin becomes. Yet Mallery finds a way to squeeze all of their problems, heartbreaks, and happy endings into satisfying sections that gives each member of the household a time to shine without feeling overwhelming or under done.

Joyfully chaotic, it's a pretty nice way to spend a holiday.

Another solid read from Susan Mallery. Sweet story, relatable characters. A simple but enjoyable read. I always know I’ll enjoy a book when it’s written by Mallery.

Ever dreamed of a picture-perfect family Christmas? Well, One Big Happy Family is here to remind you that holiday gatherings can get real messy, real fast. Julie Parker was hoping for a quiet, cozy holiday with her younger secret boyfriend, Heath (get it, girl), but instead, she finds herself in the middle of a full-blown family reunion. Her adult children, Nick and Dana, want to recreate old traditions in honor of their late father, and suddenly, the holiday headcount skyrockets. Add in Heath’s kids, a long-lost mother, and enough family drama to power a holiday soap opera, and Julie’s peaceful getaway turns into pure festive chaos.

Now, don’t get me wrong—Susan Mallery knows how to write heartfelt, family-centered stories. But this one? It felt like trying to untangle a string of Christmas lights that just kept going. The pacing dragged, and with so many characters, it was hard to really connect with anyone. I wanted to be fully invested in all the emotions, but instead, I found myself checking how many pages were left more than once.

I’m giving One Big Happy Family 3 out of 5 stars—it’s got warmth, heart, and plenty of holiday spirit, but it just didn’t fully click for me. If you love big, messy family dramas and don’t mind a slower pace, this might be your holiday vibe. But if you’re looking for a festive read with a little more zip? Maybe grab a stronger cup of cocoa and set your expectations accordingly.

Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family is a heartwarming holiday story about love, family, and the surprises that come when we least expect them. Julie Parker, a mother who has spent the majority of her life raising her kids, is looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her secret (much younger) boyfriend, Heath. But as the holiday approaches, everything she’s planned goes awry, and she’s swept into a whirlwind of family dynamics and unexpected revelations.

The novel shines with its rich exploration of family relationships—especially the tension between Julie and her children, Nick and Dana. While Julie’s attempt to keep her relationship with Heath under wraps is one source of conflict, it’s the unexpected arrival of other family members, including Heath’s children and Blair’s estranged mother, that truly complicates matters. Julie’s struggle to balance her own happiness with her children’s expectations is both humorous and touching, capturing the complexities of life after divorce.

What sets One Big Happy Family apart is Mallery’s skill at blending humor and heart. While the chaos of a big, blended family makes for plenty of funny and sometimes awkward moments, the story also explores themes of healing, forgiveness, and opening our hearts to new possibilities. Julie’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns that the true meaning of family isn’t about perfection, but about love and acceptance.

With its charming characters, witty dialogue, and the perfect holiday setting, One Big Happy Family is an ideal read for anyone looking for a feel-good, festive story about second chances, family bonds, and the joy that comes with embracing life’s surprises.

It's possible I may have just been "over" Christmas by the time I read this book, but since it wasn't overly Christmassy anyway, I don't think it mattered much. When I do read Holiday books, I prefer them to be on the upbeat side and this one was definitely not. All the family members were extremely negative and unlikeable. I don't think I was truly interested in a single one of their storylines. The plot was repetitive and the dialogue was cringey at times. Just unfortunately not a good reading experience overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I enjoyed One Big Happy Family! It was an easy book to read with moments of humor, chaos and the usual family drama that comes with the holidays. There were some characters that I felt like I didn't get to know as well as I would have liked but overall, Gwen and Blair were the two I was most entertained by and that relationship did not disappoint! This was my first book to read by this author and it won't be my last!

This was my first Susan Mallery book, and it did not disappoint. Most Holiday books i read revolve mostly about romance (which we still saw) but it mostly revolved around family staying (plus extra) at the family cabin. With a little love and some drama, it was the perfect balance.

4 stars

“It’s never a good idea to keep secrets. People find out eventually, and if you don’t control the telling, there can be unintended consequences.”

I started this book September 30th of last year. That’s how long it took me to get to finishing this book.

I was really into the Christmas books at the time but this book, unfortunately, is all family drama and not enough Christmas cheer. There are too many insufferable characters and not enough Christmas cheer!

And my God if I heard a character say ONE MORE TIME “take your meds” “did you take your meds” “you need to take your meds” ughhhh. Take your meds. Don’t take them. Just shut up about it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Canary Strret Press, and the author for the complimentary ebook.

I am a fan of this authors work. I have a read a good bit of her backlist, and this one did not disappoint perfect read for the holiday season!

I read a lot of holiday books this year and this one was at the top of the list. Susan Mallery is an author that is an automatic read for me. The story of a mom who hopes her kids DON"T come home for xmas is a fun twist. I enjoy reading novels about strong women that are able to move on. Julie Parker's kids have all baied on Christmas plans and she is OK with it. But when her quiet little Christmas turns into a big crowd at the lake home - Julie is not the only one with secrets. There were a few parts that were a little slow for me and of course, some of the predictability that i depend on, but all and all a great winter read.

I don’t know if this just wasn’t meant for me or if it was genuinely boring. All of the family drama aspects were resolved far too easily or shouldn’t have been considered drama and issues to begin with. I loved the idea of a badass independent woman who owns a towing company but even Julie got to be a bit too much to stand after awhile. The most redeeming part of this book was Blair and Gwen’s relationship evolution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a sweet and cute read. Everyone has things going on in their personal lives but when you have family support and understanding its far more bearable.

This was a cute and fun book. I enjoyed all of the characters and their stories. It was great to see all of the issues resolved.