Wow!! I just finished this book and loved it. Julie is a strong character in this story a very independent woman, who runs the family towing business. Her two children are Nick and Dana. Having lost their father in January, they at the last minute decided they wanted to do the family Christmas at the cabin. Besides their families, they have Blairs mother and uncle, Julie's boyfriend Heath and his two children and a little latter, his ex-wife, Huxley, who works for Julie and he bring's Axel, who got shot reposing a car, he works for Julie also. He is Dana's off and on boyfriend. You can see with this group there is a lot of drama but also a lot off fun. There is also a lot of secrets that come out. Everything is going pretty well until Nick decides to tell Julie he does not want to take over the family business. She is shocked and falls down the stairs. To tell you everything would be a spoiler so it is my suggestion I would recommend you read this book. A GREAT READ.

This has all the trademark things you expect from Mallery: characters you can root for, humor, real-life challenges and a feeling of a big, warm hug. Mallery’s portrayal of the two-way street of expectations between parent and child adds depth and the mix of current loves, exes, kids, and injuries keeps things interesting. I enjoyed a more mature female lead and picking a Christmas tree will elicit a giggle from now on. Expect many requests for this leave-you-smiling story. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Julie is the perfect host. She willing to accommodate for all sorts of situations even when her children are about to meet her new boyfriend, his ex-wife shows up and Christmas hasn't even started yet. Romance, drama, and a whole lot of family bring this novel home for the holidays. This new novel by Susan Mallery will not disappoint.

This was a fun easy read. Loved the whole family and how much they loved each other. Nice break! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this novel.

This was a very cute Christmas read. I enjoyed reading Julie’s story and reading about the holidays when family gets together. The holidays are a great time for family drama and this was no exception.

I think that one disaster after another sometimes was a bit much for overall I got that cozy Christmas feeling from reading this book and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good, cozy holiday read.

4/5 stars

I couldn't wait to read how Julie would find Christmas happiness in the mess that was in 'One Big Happy Family'. There were so many differing characters, yet each (whether likeable or unlikeable) played an important part in this fun, holiday story by Susan Mallery. Some perhaps find this unbelievable, but I was reminded of my first holiday with my husband's family, and we still laugh about the cornucopia of characters attending that day. There is a strong, happy message of love in this book, and I learned a lot. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a cute Christmastime read. So many family dynamics under one roof. It was a sweet predictable read for me, but I kept wanting more. This book was set up for one disaster after another. If you're looking for a holiday wild ride, this is worth checking out.

If you enjoy watching the Countdown to Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel One Big Happy Family is for you. There is a lot of family (real and found) drama and trauma (mental and physical), but true to the genre everything has a way of working out.

OBHF features a lot of characters they’re not all lovable nor do they get equal amounts of “screen time,” so to speak. I think OBHF would’ve been better served by having fewer characters, several of them got lost in the shuffle whilst others motivations/behaviors, while clarified, weren’t developed enough, for me. Hence the need for fewer characters.

One Big Happy Family has a lot going on, maybe a little too much. However, that being said I enjoyed the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC of One Big Happy Family.

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley.
Mallery is a master of creating complex family drama and keeping a lighter touch. Readers meet Julie and her two adult children as well as her daughter-in-law and her mother and uncle as they prepare for and head to the family cabin for Christmas. In addition, Julie's younger boyfriend will be coming to meet everyone. Then, after a few more twists his kids and ex-wife join the fun. If that isn't enough, a last minute trauma adds her daughter's ex to the mix.
Mallery balances all of these complex relationships with humor and love as the group spends the holiday together. Readers will identify with the very real emotions shared and hidden during communal living. By the end, everything has been resolved as expected in a romance. I appreciate the layers revealed as the story unfolds and the strong female characters throughout.

Julie Parker's adult kids, Nick and Dana, have their own plans for the holidays and she is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas at home in Seattle with Heath, the much younger man that she's secretly dating. But when the kids announce that they want to spend Christmas together at the family cabin in memory of their father (Julie's ex-husband) who died earlier in the year, Julie doesn't hesitate to change plans even though she's nervous about her kids meeting Heath. As Julie arrives at the cabin to prepare for a 10 day holiday, the guest list continues to expand as she can't bear to say no to anyone faced with the prospect of spending Christmas alone.

Susan Mallery is an excellent storyteller and she has delivered a fun holiday read with One Big Happy Family! There's family drama, secrets and surprises, romance and even an adorable dog all in the festive setting of a snowy "cabin" in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. A humourous and heartfelt story of compassion, forgiveness and understanding in the context of a big, messy, "the more the merrier" Christmas with a family that I would love to spend more time with. A great choice for holiday season reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

One Big Happy Family is the kind of book that feels like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket on a chilly winter night. It’s a story filled with humour, love, and just enough chaos to keep you laughing, all while tugging at your heartstrings in the most unexpected ways.

The novel introduces us to Julie Parker, a middle-aged, divorced woman who owns a towing business—a family legacy. Julie is strong, independent, and always in control, or at least she tries to be. But when her adult children, Nick and Dana, ask to spend Christmas at the family cabin to honour their late father, her carefully laid plans for a quiet holiday go out the window. And that’s just the beginning.

What I love about Mallery’s writing, and particularly in One Big Happy Family, is how relatable and real the characters feel. Julie is not just a mother, she’s a leader with a huge heart, doing her best to manage her life and the people she loves. Her relationship with Heath, her much younger boyfriend, adds a layer of complexity and humour, especially as she braces herself for her kids’ reaction to their secret romance.

The holiday season brings a revolving door of unexpected guests—from Nick’s new wife, Blair, to Blair’s estranged mother, and Heath’s own children. The cramped cabin setting, where even whispers seem to echo, adds to the hilarious tension and makes for some laugh-out-loud moments. As the guest list grows, so does the chaos, and yet Mallery masterfully keeps the story believable and endearing.

What I found particularly touching were the tender moments when relationships were tested and forever changed. Each character brought something special to the table, contributing to the cozy, sometimes clumsy, but ultimately heartwarming atmosphere of the cabin. I especially enjoyed the holiday festivities, which gave me some fresh ideas on how to celebrate.

The ending of the book left me satisfied and smiling. Mallery reminds us that family, no matter how messy or complicated, can be a source of incredible joy. It’s a story that shows how love, forgiveness, and a little bit of holiday spirit can bring people together in ways they never expected.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of lighthearted, yet emotional, holiday reads, this book is definitely for you. For me, One Big Happy Family is one of Susan Mallery’s best, and it’s a story I’ll be revisiting when I need a reminder of the warmth and joy the holiday season can bring.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This has got to be one of the funniest books I have read in a while. There were portions of it where I was doubled over snort laughing at the antics of the characters. It is a Christmas family story with lots to explore. There is romance, family drama and friendship. The story is centered around Julie who is the matriarch of the family. Readers will absolutely adore her and love her big personality that makes her who she is. The author has done such an amazing job with characterization and plot. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend reading to anyone.

I am kind of sad about this book. From the start I just had a hard time connecting to the characters which is my top criteria for liking books. I really wanted to like the story more, but I just didn't.

Susan Mallery is my favorite go-to for relationships and family drama. She writes masterfully evoking all the feelings. This story is set at a family Christmas at the family "cabin" - not really a cabin in my book, but that's what they call it. This is the first Christmas without the father who passed away nearly a year ago. It starts as a vacation for Julie and her new boyfriend to get away, but the kids, Nick and Dana throw a wrench in their plans when they say they want to go to the cabin as a way of remembering their Dad. Julie owns a towing company and her son works there. It's a profitable business. Dana chose to pursue a career in accounting. The family is very close.

What is supposed to be just the family turns into a great many people staying in one house. Julie can't not invite people who would otherwise be alone during the holidays and some of the combinations are volatile and create a great deal of drama. In fact the entire holiday is full of drama and surprises. It make for a great read! This book will appeal to anyone who likes to read about relationships and families.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing - Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

This was definitely a great read. It gave me all the good cozy Christmas vibes. I personally think that it reminded me of a lot of Christmas movies like a Christmas vacation and Christmas with the Kranks. It was 4 stars for me!

Merry Christmas! Here’s your present from talented author Susan Mallery! Neatly wrapped with a shiny bow, One Big Happy Family is the story of holidays and families, of everything that goes wrong and of so much more that goes right. Julie and Heath, both divorced, have a new relationship complicated by the twelve year difference in age (he’s younger) and her reluctance to share this with her grown children and extended family. She and Heath are planning to spend a peaceful Christmas together but life and family get in the way. What is first planned as a quiet holiday spent at the family cabin (This is not the cabin you have in mind. Think larger. Keep going) becomes a wild combination of family members, relatives of those family members, children of those family members, a dog…you get the picture. Soon Julie is in the middlle of what all families are made of. There is love, there are arguments. Confessions, forgiveness. Discoveries and joy! Enjoy! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Halequin Trade Publishing and Susan Mallery for this ARC.

Everyone has dreams of the perfect holiday….and then life intervenes. One Big Happy Family should also include And All the Others because that’s how the holiday takes place. This essential holiday read is fraught with holiday cheer, chaos, and joy and Susan Mallery has done a fantastic job of pulling it all together. Don’t miss this wonderful novel to help out you in the mood for all things Christmas!!!!

What a wonderful holiday story Susan Mallery has penned! This somewhat dysfunctional pseudo family gathers and brings about a wonderful Christmas for all with some bumps and twists along the way. It is exactly what you are looking for in a holiday read. I cried, laughed out loud and most of all thoroughly enjoyed this book. The perfect holiday read!!!

I love Susan Mallery so much! This title, One Big Happy Family, fits in perfectly with what you would expect from her and her writing. I adored Julie and Heath and the big "happy" family. As a recently divorced woman, I felt very attuned to this book...even though Julie is a widow, not a divorcee. It was fun, heartwarming, and hopeful. A perfect Christmas, cozy romance!

This was everything I thought it would be: sweet, funny, engaging, quick to read, and lovely in its contemplation of family (found and born). It was silly and emotional and the characters were a delight. This isn't going to change your life (although there are a lot of surprisingly thoughtful familial discussions of difficult topics like aging, death, grief, toxic relationships, and being true to yourself) but it is a very fun way to distract yourself from it for a little while!