This story made me laugh out loud. Julie and her boyfriend have plans for a nice quiet holiday with just the two of them, but how quickly those plans change. Julie's exhusband recently passed away and their adult children want one more family holiday at their family cabin. Now this is not the cabin in the woods you might think of. This is a huge cabin with all the comforts and more of home. The only problem is that Julie's kids don't know she is dating someone and he's a lot younger than her. What once was a holiday for 2 becomes a holiday for her daughter, son and his wife, son's mother in law and uncle in law, Julie's boyfriend's ex wife and their two young children. It was so humorous how everyone gets invited. And I know you are thinking how will all this work. Or does it work. You will really enjoy this story and it might make you feel better about your own family holiday.

I have always loved any holiday story where lots of people with conflicting goals and values stay in a house together over Christmas. This is that kind of book. Julia's adult children insist upon spending Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father. As Christmas gets closer, the guest lists gets longer and longer, and the potential for drama, and for resolving long-standing issues, grows too. There is a ton of melodrama in this one, and it reads like a soap opera, but all's well that ends well, and it's really fun being along for the ride. This book captures all the stresses and joys of a family holiday in an entertaining way that makes it the perfect companion for your holiday road trip this year!

3.5⭐️

This is my first book by Susan Mallery and I did enjoy it. This is follows the Christmas holiday of a family and found family at a cabin in the mountains.

We have the mom, Julie, who is the master of Christmas for her family. She has been keeping a secret in the form a younger boyfriend. Through a series of events, the boyfriend, Heath, his young kids and his ex-wife join Julie and her family for the Christmas holiday. I really liked Julie and her trying to keep control of this family. I really liked her relationship with Heath and how he was there for her and to calm her when she got skittish about their relationship.

We also have Dana, Julie's daughter, who is nursing a broken heart. Her ex boyfriend keeps stringing her along and it would be easy if Dana didn't still love him. Oh and the ex-boyfriend also works with her mother, and there is tension between mom and the ex at work. The boyfriend ends up at the cabin with the family. Dana's story was the one I liked the least. she seemed a little whiney about her relationship status, especially when he showed up at the cabin.

Then we have Julie's son Nick and his wife, Blaire. Nick is keeping a secret from his mother, he doesn't want to take over the family business but has been avoiding telling his mother about it. Blaire has also invited her mother, who she has a very strained relationship. I really liked Nick and Blaire's relationship he was definitely a great support for her and I also liked Blaire's IBS representation in this book. There were years of hurt between Blaire and her mom and I liked how that was presented in this book.

This book felt like it could have been a true family story. You had the fun and the stress of the holidays with a big family and friends, you had the drama of having all of those people under one roof for several days and how arguments happen and people get a little angry with each other. I really enjoyed how the ending tied everything up and you do get happy endings for each storyline. If you like stories filled with family drama that happen with the backdrop of Christmas I think you will like this book.

I really liked One Big Happy Family. I especially enjoyed reading the multiple points of view. This was my first book by Susan Mallory but it won't be the last.

This is a beautiful and graceful story with just the right amount of stress and melodrama for a human family Christmas.

Synopsis:

Julie owns a towing company, has two adult children and is keeping her boyfriend, Heath, a secret from those children. Heath is 12 years younger than Julie.

Her son Nick, is keeping another secret. He does not want to take over the family business. He has other plans for his life. He wants to have a 9 to 5 life with his wife, Brianna.

Dana, her daughter, is unhappy. Axel, the love of her life keeps coming back, saying “I love you” and then dumping her again.

Then her kids want to have a family Christmas at their luxurious cabin in the mountains. They want to celebrate their late father’s life and his love for them. Julie agrees, against her better judgment. What will people think of her new boyfriend?

Heath’s two young children must come, Brianna’s mother (who hates everyone) must come and the hits just keep on comin’. People end up at the cabin who are completely unexpected.

I enjoyed this book. It was chaotic in the best possible way. Julie is a proud, independent woman who feels like she has to run the show. Dana, her daughter, is the exact opposite-- a pushover who is learning to stand up for herself. Nick, her son, is a great man who is grappling with choosing the life that is expected of him versus the life he truly wants. Blair, Nick’s wife, is dealing with her mother and their fraught relationship. Heath is trying to take care of Julie, who is just a *little* bit too proud to let him. By the end of this book, the reader feels like a part of this big, happy family.

Julie Parker is looking forward to a quiet 2 week Christmas holiday with her new beau, Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating. Her son will be on his honeymoon and her daughter wants a quiet time to purge her apartment and her heart of Axle, the man who dumped her for the third time. The best laid plans don't always work out. With this being the first Christmas since their dad passed away, they change their minds and want to spend Christmas at the cabin. Nick, his wife Blair, Dana, Julie and Heath would be okay, but add in Blair's uncle, her estranged mother, the manager of the towing company Julie owns, Heath's 2 children and then his ex-wife when she gets dumped, Axle, after he has an accident and needs somewhere to be, and you have more than enough people to entertain and spend Christmas with.

I really enjoyed this winter romp in the mountains. With lots of snow, food, drink and secrets, there is a lot happening in this book. I don't want to spoil this story so will not say much more about the plot, but about my feelings. I really liked Julie. She was supermom! She was so caring and put everyone else's feelings before her own. This worked for her, until she couldn't do it anymore. As the secrets come out in this story, there are some angry feelings, accidents and forgiveness. There is a lot of reconciliation between various characters, forgiveness and love. I enjoyed the fun things they did over the holidays and the many traditions they had. The characters were likable and relatable and Heath's kids gave the story more of that family feel. They were cute and added humor as well. I enjoyed this story with romance, family, forgiveness, secrets, reconciliation, following your own path, self-esteem and more. One Big Happy Family is a great holiday book that I recommend.

Julie is a business owner with a new (younger) boyfriend. Her children are grown but she still isn’t comfortable enough to introduce them. Her children’s father passed away in January and they agreed to forego their usual big Christmas at their cabin. Everyone makes their own plans, but as the holidays get closer, her children change their minds and decide they would like a big family Christmas as a tribute to their father. As they undo their plans, things get more complicated as circumstances require additions to their guest list. Each new guest comes with issues or problems and logic says they shouldn’t get along. Surprisingly, with this number of characters, I found them all well developed. This was a delightful holiday story.

This was reviewed on the sites on 10/2 but I neglected to post it here. Also reviewed on B&N & Kobo under IrishEyes430

In Susan Mallery's "One Big Happy Family" that is what you get. A big, happy family. Sure there are secrets, and there is a past familial trauma, but none of it was so dramatic to make this novel super enjoyable. It's very bland, flat, and predictable. I enjoyed Julie being a strong matriarch of the family, however, and that she has a younger beau who is supportive and generous and sticks up for Julie when it's needed, especially with her children. But it's all done in such a low key, un-dramatic way. This is the perfect novel for readers who like happy, clean reads, but will fall flat even for those of us who enjoy a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

A sweet family drama book with a Hallmark Christmas movie feel.

Julie Parker owns the family towing business and loves her adult children Nick and Dana but is happy to hear when they want to skip over Christmas. Nick and his new wife Blair, are going to celebrate their recent nuptials by going to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Dana is trying to get over her recent boyfriend who dumped her for the third time. Instead Julie will spend the Christmas with her new younger love interest Heath. But then Dana and Nick change their minds and asks to spend the holiday at the family cabin as this is the first Christmas without their father and they want everyone to be together to remember him. The guest list grows and grows a fun unpredictable holiday begins as Julie and her “family” build memories together.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy.

This story ended up so much more than I thought it would. The main storytellers (POVs) are the women, mostly Julie. She’s the matriarch of the family and always keeps everything together and everyone on task. So much so that she doesn’t know how to ask for help or tell her loved ones she doesn’t have time for what they want. To be quite frank, they have come to take her independent and giving nature for granted, although she doesn’t see that.

There is so much going on in this story, but the author does a wonderful job of never letting it get confusing. There are so many elements to this Christmas getaway, from a new (younger) boyfriend, an unwelcome mom, an ex-wife, and so much more. Along the way Julie learns to let go and allow others to help her. She also learns what it means to have a true partner.

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. It made me miss the big family Christmas Eve celebrations my family used to have. I’m definitely in the holiday spirit (even though it’s October) after this book.

Fans of Susan Mallery will appreciate her trademark style, blending humor with heartfelt moments, and creating a festive atmosphere perfect for the holiday season​.This novel is ideal for readers who enjoy contemporary family stories filled with both laughter and a few poignant tears.

I was a bit unsure about this one going in. Family saga style romances can really be hit or miss. Thankfully this one was done really well. Although there were a lot of characters to keep track of, it wasn't overwhelming and it wasn't hard to keep track of the various storylines.

The main storyline involves the matriarch of the family, Julie, the widowed mom of Nick and Dana and the owner of a towing company. For the first time in a very long time, the family is forgoing their normal Christmas spent at the family cabin to do their own things. Julie is planning to spend it with her new, younger boyfriend, single-dad, Heath, that her kids are unaware of.

Nick and his wife, Blair, are supposed to be going on their belated honeymoon but Nick starts to feel like he needs to celebrate at the cottage as part of his grieving process for his dad. He teams up with his sister to convince their mom, Julie, that they NEED to go to the cottage. Blair's mother, Gwen, has just moved to be near her and, despite their tumultuous relationship, is invited to tag along. Blair's uncle on her dad's side, Paul, is also coming.

Dana is nursing her broken heart. She's officially Off with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Axel, an employee of her mom's towing company and was planning to just spend Christmas day with her mom but otherwise trying to get over Axel. Much to her surprise, Axel ends up at the cabin after being injured on the job.

After a series of events Heath's kids, his ex-wife, Tiffany and their dog also score an invite. We can't forget Huxley, a long time employee at the towing company who has previously joined them at the cabin at Christmas. It's a FULL house!!

This was such a fun book. The way the family interacted with each other and supported each other, even through the secrets that are revealed and the abundance of changes headed their way. This cast of characters were so relatable and I found myself wishing I had my own crew of merry misfits to be trapped with in a cabin over the holidays.

I highly recommend picking this one up as one of your holiday reads for 2024!!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallory is a fun and meaningful Christmas book. A family, blended in many ways, come together to celebrate and find ways to be a real family.

One Big Happy Family is a heartwarming, five-star read that I absolutely loved! Susan Mallery delivers an incredible mix of strong characters, a charming cabin-in-the-woods setting, and delightful family drama that kept me hooked from start to finish. The female protagonist’s unique job as an owner of a towing company adds an extra layer of interest, making her relatable and refreshing. I also adored multiple points of view (and multiple romances) and the cute dog who adds even more warmth and joy to the story. If you love family-centric plots with lots of emotion and a fun, cozy atmosphere, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend!

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a heartwarming tale that delves into the lives of several interconnected families, exploring the love, challenges, and triumphs that come with building strong relationships. The story focuses on how family members—whether by blood, marriage, or friendship—navigate their evolving roles and handle life's twists. Mallery weaves together themes of connection and resilience, with moments of both humor and tenderness.

At first, I found the pacing to be slow, and I had trouble fully immersing myself in the story. However, as the plot progressed, I found myself increasingly drawn to the characters and their evolving relationships. By the end, I couldn't put the book down, which speaks to Mallery's talent for delivering a satisfying and engaging read.

While the plot and overarching themes were charming, I did have a bit of difficulty keeping track of the various characters and their connections at times. That said, the novel still delivers a cute and touching story about the complexities and joys of family. For these reasons, I give One Big Happy Family 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was the best Christmas book I've read yet! I love a family drama mixed with a holiday story.

This would make a great movie! Julie, who has a hot, new, younger boyfriend is ready for a quiet Christmas, just the two of them.
These plans quickly change when her two adult children want to spend Christmas at the cabin in tribute to their father (her ex for several years although amicable) who passed the previous winter. He loved Christmas and the cabin and they felt the need to be there with him (in spirit).

Controlled chaos, secrets, drama, and injuires ensues at the cabin with exes, children, estranged moms, and truly terrible IBS makes an appearance.

Susan Mallery knows how to write heart wrenching drama and this is no exception.
The constantly changing point of view left me confused at times as I had some trouble following, but I did like the glimpse of where they were coming from. Overall, an enjoyable Christmas read.

If you're looking for dramatic book with a holiday theme then you've come to the right place!
This book touches on the dynamic of a dysfunctional family who learn to accept forgiveness & reconcile.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Susan Mallery knows how to write a very powerful and beautiful romance. I absolutely loved this amazing novel and I can see why she continues to be a popular women's fiction writer. If you are looking for a book this holiday season that will give you major Hallmark Channel vibes, I definitely recommend this book! I can't wait to read Susan Mallery's next novel!

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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If you are looking for a great holiday story that has a lot going on just like any family during the holidays then One Big Happy Family is the book for you. I enjoyed the book a lot, it was fast paced for sure and captures the hectic chaotic holiday spirit.