One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is her latest holiday tale. You’ll want to pack your bags and head to the mountains with Julie Parker, her younger boyfriend, his kids, her adult children and their families. Did I mention his ex-wife? This delightful tale of love, holidays and family will leave you laughing, swooning and filled with holiday cheer.

I love stories about large families. Julie Parker is proud of her adult children and runs a towing company that she hopes her son will one day run. This year her son Alex and his new wife Blair are planning a winter holiday and she is looking forward to a low-key Christmas with her younger boyfriend Heath, whose own kids will spend time with his ex. Ha- as a mother of adult children, I know nothing ever goes according to plan.

When Julie’s son Nick and daughter Dana inform her they want to celebrate Christmas at the cabin to honor their father (who passed this past year) she dons her mama boots and prepares to create the perfect holiday week. I loved the family dynamic, and that she invited her boyfriend along. Her son is married, but her daughter has had an off again on again relationship with Axel; who happens to works at the towing company. Blair brings her estranged mother, whose gift is complaining. It’s gonna be a full house, and Julie plans with style. Ho-Ho-Ho!

Things get complicated when Heath’s ex asks him to take the kids for the holiday, so she can go on a vacation with her new boyfriend. Julie opens up the cabin to them and other unexpected guest. Family drama, relationship developments and the chaos that is “family gatherings” had me chuckling, swooning, laughing and experiencing the joy of Christmas with this lovable, somewhat disfunction family. We see character growth, reconciliations and romantic developments on several fronts.

If you are looking for a warm-hearted, multiple perspective story about family, holidays and relationships, this touching tale is for you.

A woman towing company owner has a lot on her plate entering the holiday season and is looking forward to a holiday getaway with her boyfriend while her adult kids are off doing their own thing and his kids are with the ex. But, holiday mischief abounds and her secret man and their combined extended family are about to make Christmas for two multiply exponentially. One Big Happy Family in the large family cabin produce mischief more than mistletoe. Susan Mallery’s latest holiday release kicked off the Season nicely.

The central figure of One Big Happy Family is Julie and by central figure, I mean the person everyone else revolves around. Julie is strong-minded, forthright, capable, and warmhearted especially to her children, but she is also hiding a desperate need to be in tight control and not give more than necessary when it comes to matters of the heart. No one sees this side as she hides it well behind a large, generous personality.

She owns and operates the family towing company and it is a successful business she hopes to pass down to her son. But, lately, she’s been itchy about doing it all alone and has been dating a wonderful guy, Heath, who just happens to be a decade younger. Julie isn’t ready to put her adult kids in the know she’s with a younger man, though he is a solid businessman himself, dependable, and has it all together. Just the two of them this holidays and she can’t wait.

Then, plans change when her son, Nick, and daughter, Dana rethink things when they are missing their recently deceased dad, Julie’s ex, and want to have a family holiday at the cabin in honor of him. Julie is generous and goes with it making the plans and getting it done for a dozen odd people come together to celebrate the holidays.

The narrative bounces among most of the adults who end up at the cabin from Nick’s estranged mother in law, Dana’s on again off again boyfriend breaking her heart, and Heath’s ex and kids. One Big Happy Family is not trying to do something original or complex, but simply showcases a family who are good and solid, but keep it real with the mishaps, miscues, and mistakes common to all during the holiday season in a woodsy setting and a not-so rustic six-bedroom cabin. There are funny moments and my favorite is the way the acoustics work so any conversations or arguments or otherwise are overheard by many others. Cracked me up when it happened.

The conflicts have their emotional impact, but doesn’t get overly dramatic which is how I like it. People messed up, but they figure it out and with the help- wanted or not- from family. The cozy holiday vibe was strong and I enjoyed the romances though they were not center stage. An all-around good pick for a holiday contemporary fiction sparkling with emotion and spirit.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. Unfortunately, the trigger warnings were too much for me and I was not able to finish it.

Thanks to @htpbooks for the gifted e-arc of this book!

Now that we’ve made it past Thanksgiving, I’m ready to dive back into reviewing holiday reads and up first is One Big Happy Family from Susan Mallery.

Julie Parker loves her kids but when they ask if it’s okay to skip a big Christmas gathering this year, Julie is okay with it, mainly because it gives her the opportunity to spend a cozy, romantic holiday with Heath, the much younger man she has been secretly dating.

When her kids change their minds at the last minute and decide they should all spend Christmas together at the family’s cabin since it’s the first Christmas since their dad died, Julie feels like she can’t really say no. Julie’s holiday goes from cozy and romantic to crowded and chaotic, as the guest list continues to grow, and the amount of secrets and drama grows right along with it.

I really enjoyed reading about Julie and her family’s holiday together. There’s just something so relatable about a big, messy family holiday! There were some humorous moments along the way, as shouldn’t be too surprising with so many people converging on one small cabin, but then there’s also quite a bit of family drama and lots of heart-to-heart conversations as everyone’s secrets are brought to light. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Julie and Heath and watching how their relationship fared as all of the drama unfolded.

All in all, I found this to be a very heartwarming holiday story.

I felt this story line what somewhat predictable at times. I also felt that the relationship between Axel and Dana was unbelievable in regards to them getting engaged just like that. I felt like they still had a lot of issues to worth through before agreeing to spend the rest of their lives together. However, this was still a light, enjoyable, and easy Christmas read!

I have been a fan of Susan Mallery's romance novels for a while now. Ever since I read The Girls of Mischief Bay in 2015. I have a bunch of them on my Kindle and need to read more of them soon, as I still really like her writing style. She's very genuine and down-to-earth and sometimes her novels even make me cry. So when it came time to find some good holiday reads, I went to One Big Happy Family, which released this autumn.
This story is cozy in the best possible ways with a few swoonworthy men and a lot of drama. Plus, kids and a dog! I liked all three of the female narrators: Julie, Blair, and Dana. Every time Julie thinks she has the big holiday week under control, something else comes up and she has to readjust her plans. I can relate to Julie a lot in terms of not wanting to delegate anything. (Well, except for cooking.) I'm also a very welcoming person and like to make guests feel at home. I also would do anything to keep my kids from being sad or miserable.

Meanwhile, Blair is regretting asking her mom to join them all for the holiday and Dana is still pining over Axel but not wanting him to know it. Both situations contribute a lot to the drama in the story, along with Nick keeping a huge secret from Julie, which leads to something no one was expecting.

Can I just point out what a sweetheart Heath is? He was so good to Julie and had so much patience even with all the chaos. Definitely great book boyfriend material! Nick was great too and I loved him for Blair. It took longer to warm to Axel.

While the holiday spirit of the story was a lot of fun and I could smell the food and feel the heat from the fireplace, there were some things that I did have concerns about. In Blair's situation, the issue she had with her mother was constantly replayed throughout the novel. I get that her mother was in a bad place during most of Blair's life, but they kept harping on the same things over and over. (This also happened with Dana and Axel, but not as much.) Also, Blair had a chronic health issue that was mentioned a bunch of times. While I know it's something a lot of people deal with and can relate to her about, I also felt that there was too much information given that took away from her dignity. Finally, one big conflict came in right at the end of the story and was resolved quickly as a result. I'm glad it was resolved, but it should have come into the story a bit sooner to give it more gravitas.

Even with these concerns, I really liked this novel overall and have been recommending it to anyone who wants an entertaining holiday read. So wrap up in your coziest blanket with some hot cocoa in front of a fireplace to devour this sweet treat.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Julie: Julie Bowen
Blair: Sarah Fisher
Dana: Willa Fitzgerald
Gwen: Parker Posey
Nick: Luke Bracey
Heath: Wes Brown
Axel: Tom Bateman
Tiffany: Natalia Dyer
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TW: details of chronic illness, death of infant (mentioned), someone gets shot, but not killed (off page)

More of a 3.5 rating rounded up. Julie and new boyfriend Heath planned to spend Christmas alone at her family cottage. That is until her adult kids decide they want to have a family Christmas together to remember their father (Julie's ex) on the first Christmas without him. As the family gathering develops it grows to include her son's mother-in-law, her boyfriend's 2 kids, her brother in law, her daughter's ex boyfriend and even her boyfriend's ex wife.

This was a funny, cute family Christmas story with A LOT going on! Some of it is campy and hilarious, and part of it is bittersweet. Overall this was an enjoyable read but may have tried to do too much. Nothing really captured my attention, but it was a fun way to spend the time.

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a fantastic and wonderful Christmas read. I truly enjoyed the book.

I enjoyed this Christmastime family drama, set in a (very large) cabin outside of Seattle. There were a lot of typical family issues- partner dramas, mother-child dramas, whiny children, employment issues, and more - but what I really liked was everyone coming together for the holidays. While I love the idea of inviting everyone imaginable together (current partners, exes, estranged family members), I'm far too much of an introvert to actually enjoy it, so I love reading about it :)

This was a pretty quick and dramatic read. There's so much conflict crammed into one holiday, and it's kind of perfect for the book. Each character has their own quirks and hangups, as well as their own relationship dynamics with other characters, which makes for an entertaining holiday book.

This is the true essence of Christmas in a book! Full of holiday decorations, cookies, food, kindness, and family. It is a book that warms your heart and makes you want to be part of Julie's family celebration. When Julie's quiet Christmas with her new boyfriend is hijacked by her grown kids and their desire to have a family Christmas at their cabin Julie embraces it. She ends up with a houseful of family and extended family including her daughter-in-laws estranged mother and her boyfriends ex wife and she finds a way to make it work. It is easy until an accident leaves her having to cede control and face her own fears. The characters have flaws and are messy but they love each other and are willing to listen, to learn, and to find the courage to face scary things. I loved this and want more of Julie and her family! I highly recommend this for readers that like sweet holiday stories full of family and love.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I was not a huge fan of the characters and their family drama. I was just not interested.

I hope others love it.

This was the perfect weekend read to really prepare me for family gatherings of the holiday season. The writing was so vivid and humorous that I felt as it I was part of the story and the characters were so real I felt like I was part of the family. If you like stories with the perfect blend of romance, family drama, and the curious interaction of family relations all coming together, than this is a book you don't want to miss. Susan Mallory is a new to me author, but I am happy that she has back catalogue so that I can read more by her soon.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the copy of this book that I read. All opinions here are my own.

🎄 T R A D I T I O N A L T U E S D A Y review 🎄featuring “One Big Happy Family” by Susan Mallery!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

The Parker family was (almost) ready to skip Christmas this year and have everyone do their own thing. Nick (the son) is going off on his belated honeymoon, Dana (the daughter) is stewing over a break up and Julie (the mother) is excited to stay in and snuggle her new boyfriend.

But all the plans change when Nick and Dana decide that all they really want is a big happy family Christmas at the cabin to celebrate in memory the passing of their father earlier that year.

Christmas chaos ensues as the guest list gets bigger and bigger! There is so much to do and so many people to please as the countdown to Christmas gets closer! But what better time to bring people together than at Christmas … all enclosed in one cabin!

This book was adorable, cozy, witty and reminded me of all the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation shannagins while having a house full of relatives! I look forward to reading a holiday book from Susan Mallery every year and this one did not disappoint!

Thank you kindly to @susanmallery @canarystreetpress @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my #gifted digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book is out now!

This book was wonderful. I love the Christmas spirit. I loved the characters, the storyline. This was the first book I've read by this author and I'll definitely be reading more of her books.

I loved this book! Love a holiday story and this one delivered! I enjoy the real life depiction but still has that feel good vibe. I felt like I was sitting at their dinner table with them.

Reading Susan Mallery's holiday stories are the best. Family drama, but in the good kind of way. The kind of way where you're glad for family- birth and chosen!

Five Reasons to Read One Big Happy Family:

1. Unique Exploration of Family Dynamics: One Big Happy Family takes a fresh approach to the complexities of family relationships. It primarily focuses on the interactions between Julie Parker, her adult children, and extended family members. I just loved how Mallery portrayed the challenges and joys inherent in familial bonds.

2. Perfect Blend of Humor and Heartfelt Moments: I also enjoyed One Big Happy Family for its balance of humor and emotional depth. The novel created feelings, from laughter to tears, making the story entertaining and touching.

3. Holiday Setting: Set during the Christmas season, the novel captures the festive spirit and chaos that often accompanies family gatherings during the holidays. The seasonal backdrop adds warmth and charm to the narrative and makes me feel cozy and comfortable.

4. Character Development: Mallery's portrayal of multi-dimensional characters, each with flaws and growth arcs, delighted me. The authenticity of the characters' experiences and transformations enhances the story's relatability.

5. Themes of Love and Forgiveness: The themes of love, forgiveness, and second chances are central to the narrative. The story emphasizes the importance of letting go of past hurts and opening one's heart to new possibilities, which provides the needed Christmas Spirit—infusing it into the story in memorable ways.

When her kids want to skip family Christmas, this mother is happy to comply. She is secretly seeing a man and wants to be with him for the holiday. However, the kids change their mind, and the mother is suddenly surrounded in the family cabin.

This was a cute, cozy holiday read and everything I expect from a Susan Mallery book! Good characters and an easy story to lose yourself in. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.