4.5 stars

This is such an enjoyable book to kick off the upcoming holiday season. Most readers will be able to relate to at least one character, as well as the holiday season filled with drama, family chaos, love, and forgiveness. Mallery combines all of these to make a delightful story that will be fun to read at any time of the year. After all, who couldn't use a little bit of Christmas magic? There is a great character development in the relatable and flawed cast which quickly feel like friends you've known for years. Kids, exes, in-laws, and a dog all set the stage for a crazy, but memorable, family Christmas. If you are looking for a quick, heartwarming holiday read, be sure to add this one to your list.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is a wonderful story set at Christmas by one of my favorite go-to authors, Susan Mallery. We explore family dynamics, relationships, holiday traditions, loss and seeing the holiday through the eyes of others

This is Julie and Heath's story and there is a definite age gap that Julie can't let go of. The story is set in Seattle and the mountains where the cabin is located. But it's not a cabin by any stretch of the imagination! I loved all the descriptions throughout of the cabin, the mountains, the activities, the decorations and even the food. So many stories are being told and entwined together especially those involving both of their families.

There is a good flow to the story with some laugh-out loud moments. There is anger, angst, injuries, breakups and makeups along with tears, hurt feelings, disbelief, romance, loving and love. There are a lot of people planning to spend time with each other and some are barely known to the others - but it works. I loved how big Julie's heart was even if others couldn't fathom being as kind and caring to others as she is. She's definitely the glue that seems to hold everyone together. A satisfying read with happily ever afters and reconciliations on several fronts.

Susan Mallery never fails to disappoint with her books - One Big Happy Family with it's Christmas setting - who doesn't love that - gives you lots to enjoy. What starts out as a potential getaway for a fairly new couple trying to get away morphs into almost a free-for-all of characters - adult children and their relationships, in-laws, ex-wife, kids, watching a relationship grow between the two main characters - Julie and Heath makes for a satisfying read. There is a lot of introduction of characters in the beginning which is needed to set the stage for the rest of the book. It's like any messy family - which I could relate to - good times, poignant moments, some tough conversations, sentimental times remembering those lost and the impact on our lives and fun - cookie baking, and a dog and a Christmas tree that wasn't going to be ... some great unexpected moments that leave you with a warm feeling.

Thank you to the author and Canary Street Press for the book. These opinions are my own.

Susan Mallery writes absolutely lovely and heartwarming family dramas. In this book, Julie is ready to have a Christmas with just her boyfriend after her adult children decide to go elsewhere for the year. But with just a week to spare, plans change, and suddenly everyone will be joining Julie and the boyfriend they didn't know about at the family cabin. The guest list was ever expanding and all inclusive as more and more people with any sort of tie to anyone already there showed up.

I found this so messy and complicated and so real. It was set in the most amazing winter wonderland cabin. It included people of all generations with all sorts of issues. And there was even a phenomenal dog. Everyone came with secrets in the midst of a cabin with amazing acoustics that made private conversations essentially nonexistent.

And it its heart, this is a story of love and generosity. It filled me with such joy. It's certainly a great read for the upcoming holiday season, and I also think you could enjoy this any time of the year.

CW: grief, hospital visits

4.5 stars rounded up

One Big Happy Family
by Susan Mallery
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Susan Mallery, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop, returns with the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn't love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don't come home for Christmas. Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Julie Murphy!
This book came out at a good time for me. I needed some distraction from political and severe weather and it was nice to have a great book like this to escape in.
Mallery’s signature warmth and humor shine through in every page, making it a joyful read. The well-developed characters and heartwarming relationships will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page! Super cute holiday read.... quick, funny and all the quirky family relationships! I loved this book!

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
A Novel
Susan Mallery, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop, returns with the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn't love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don't come home for Christmas. Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Julie Murphy!

Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating.

But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months.

As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, she’ll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.
This is Julie Parker and Heath's story.
This is a good Christmas story.
I recommend reading.
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Susan Mallery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Family members keeping secrets from each other is nothing new, but in One Big Happy Family, the resulting chaos makes for a cute Christmas read. Julie Parker is in her early 50s but secretly dating a younger man. Her son Nick has decided he does not want to take over the family business but hasn’t been able to break the news to his mom. And those are just in the first few chapters!

When holiday plans change, Julie finds a way to include everyone, and I do mean everyone! That was the most difficult part of this book– keeping the many different characters straight in my head. Once I was able to do that, I enjoyed this sweet story by Susan Mallery. Though the family was dealing with grief and change, it was told in a lighthearted way. It’s got a few mentions of sex but would be rated PG if it were a movie. In fact, if you love Christmas movies about families, One Big Happy Family is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you’re ready for some great Christmas vibes and family drama, look no further than One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery. Normally, this time of year, I’m all about cozy mysteries, witchy romances, and everything fall-themed. However, I love Susan Mallery’s books, and I needed a break from my usual reads, so I figured it was the perfect time to get into the Christmas spirit🎄plus I’m all about the family drama.

Julie is a badass mom and business owner who’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas at her family’s cabin—aka mansion in the woods—with her younger boyfriend, Heath. Her kids all have their own plans, and his ex-wife has the kids for the holiday. But as we know, life doesn’t always go as planned. The cabin ends up packed with more people, secrets, and drama than anyone could’ve imagined.

I saw so much of myself in Julie that it was hard not to root for her. She cares deeply about everyone else and making them happy. It’s so evident in her detailed plans to ensure everyone has the most amazing Christmas ever. And while Julie might seem like the perfect mom and girlfriend, we also get to see her unravel and expose all her flaws as the story unfolds.

Thank you to the author Susan Mallery, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

One Big Happy Family was such a heartwarming, laugh out loud holiday book.

This was such a delightful read over a few Fall days. I loved the dynamic of the family and all those they choose to embrace during the Christmas season even if it left things feeling a bit on the awkward side.

I am most definitely down to read more about all the fantastic characters included in One Big Happy Family.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.**

A quite holiday with her new boyfriend gets derailed when her adult children want to spend the holiday with her. Of course Julie changes her mind for her children and plans this perfect holiday get together to include more that she can actually handle but through tears, happiness and laughter it becomes one big happy family.

I loved this book from the first page. Julie is such a independent and organized woman. I see a lot of me in her. Not asking for help but grateful in the end when family and friends can step in. I loved everything about Christmas in this story, so many traditions. I highly recommend this story.

Family drama, festive fun, and a little sweet romance made this a cozy escape read.

I loved Julie’s character. She is strong, brutally honest, a great mom and she’s dating a younger man. In fact, she’s looking forward to spending the Christmas holidays with her new man.

But her adult children have a different plan. This is the first Christmas after the loss of their father, so they want to spend it as a family up at the family cabin.

Having a big heart, Julie agrees and even invites extended family and a few friends (including her new man’s ex-wife and kids). As all are gathered in close proximity, emotions boil up and secrets slip; things get a bit chaotic. But love is in the air during this wonderful time of year.

I love family drama, but this wasn’t overly heavy - the writing had a certain snap and humor that made things fun. It involved a family business, relationships taking the next steps and healing and forgiveness. I found this truly entertaining!

Thank you @HTPbooks for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

One Big Happy Family is a very classic Susan Mallery novel that somehow gives you the warm and fuzzies while navigating (very real feeling) family drama. The main storyline follows Julie, who for years has put on a long, elaborate family Christmas, looking forward to finally having a quiet Christmas with just her and her new (and younger!) boyfriend, Heath. Those plans go out the window when her grown children come to her and ask to have a big family Christmas after the death of Julie’s ex-husband. Julie’s quiet Christmas quickly snowballs to include an estranged mother, an uncle, two exes, and Heath’s children. As she does with everything, Julie jumps right in to make sure the holiday is wonderful for everyone, but things get messy when Julie has trouble with leaning on anyone else for help – especially with Heath.

This was a very sweet Christmas novel, as you can always expect from Susan Mallery. I did start off a little confused with the multiple plotlines and characters, but after a while settled into it. Heath is such a calm, steady presence for Julie throughout the book, forcing her to slow down and take care of her own needs, and I really loved that. She’s so well intentioned, and giving, and afraid of the vulnerability that comes with relying on other people, which many people, but especially matriarchs, can relate to. I think all of the couples had such great connections to each other and balanced each other out. Family is hard, and this book really took that head on, dealing with issues from the past, the present, and the future all at once. So few families now adays are just the nuclear “Dad, Mom, and 2.5 kids” and include step-family and extended family and messy relationships. It was great to see that represented in a novel where, in the end, you knew how much love everyone had for each other. A great, cozy Christmas read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an eARC to review. All opinions are my own.

AHH, 50 something Julie Parker is looking forward to a non-event Holiday - no decorating, food or family, just alone time with her boyfriend. Alas, not to be. Suddenly, she has to step up as usual. She will be entertaining 10 at the family cabin which, fortunately, is massive. They expect all the bells and whistles. And the guest list keeps growing. Some secrets will come out, some mishaps will occur but a merry time will be had by all.
In my own personal just holiday book scoring I would give this 5 stars.

A heartwarming story about the chaos of family and Christmas. Julie was looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her newish boyfriend Heath. Her kids derail that when they ask for their typical Christmas at their cabin because it's the first Christmas after their dad died, Julie's ex. As the list of guests grow, drama and strife abound.

Absolutely loved this story and would have loved an epilogue or an update on all of our characters after surviving this Christmas season!

Thanks to the author for a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In “One Big Happy Family”, Susan Mallery delivers a fun and heartwarming holiday story packed with family chaos! Julie plans to have a quiet Christmas with her secret boyfriend Heath, but things take a wild turn when her adult kids, in-laws, and more show up at the cabin. I couldn't stop laughing at all the drama and antics! Despite the craziness, Julie and Heath's relationship was seriously swoon-worthy. Heath is the perfect book boyfriend—attentive, loving, and caring. Along with the main romance, there are other subplots like forgiveness and healing from heartbreak that add depth to the story. If you love stories filled with family drama, love, and personal growth, you’ll want to pick up “One Big Happy Family” this holiday season!

Thank you @susanmallery, @harlequinbooks, @canarystreetpress and @netgalley for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

What do you get when you throw a large group of individuals together in one cabin for Christmas; all with varying personalities and most who are meeting for the first time? One Big Happy Family

When low-key holiday plans change for mother-of-two Julie and her younger boyfriend, Heath, the pair must scramble to set up a holiday wonderland for 10+ at the family cabin. With moments of unexpected chaos, embarrassment, joy, and love, the group finds themselves coming together to create one memorable Christmas holiday.

Susan Mallery was able to piece and weave together such beautiful family dynamics. The relationships between the characters felt very authentic-I could picture each family having their own type of Julie, Gwen, Axel, and Dana…among other characters!

One Big Happy Family was a sweet, fast paced holiday novel that will feel like a Hallmark movie. Grab a cozy blanket, mug of cocoa, and dive into Christmas time at the cabin!
•••••••
Thank you to @SusanMallery @HTPbooks @CanaryStreetPress for a copy of One Big Happy Family

I love that I started my Christmas reading with a great new novel by Susan Mallery. One Big Happy Family was such a fun read. Special characters make the family eclectic. The secrets that are revealed add humor and emotion. Character growth throughout is heart-warming. It's a real feel-good story, I highly recommend it. I listened to the audio which was well done.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

What starts with family members travelling on their own vacations for the holidays ends up with everyone at the family cabin. One Big Happy Family is a story of a family rife with dysfunctionality like a tangled ball of string. There are boyfriends with kids, on and off again boyfriends, neglectful mothers trying to reenter adult children’s lives and domineering yet well-meaning moms, ex-in-laws, employees and ex-boyfriends. Top it off with a recently deceased dad and the holidays, and you have one big happy family in a nutshell. However, they aren’t a happy family at all…at least not in the beginning.

Single mom and business owner, Julie, is the main character in the story. She is a fiercely independent and strong woman. That also translates to a domineering mother and boss at times. The adult children are perfect in the characterization of the usual push-pull relationship with parents. Not-so-forced proximity in a mountain cabin presents opportunities for the chaotic mess of this soon- to- be- blended family to come together. I did not really get into anyone character, but enjoyed the overall momentum of the plot, the holiday setting and the story line.

What a perfect title for this book.  I really liked Julie, her take charge attitude, her stubbornness, and her need to take care of everyone but herself.I could relate to that.  I also liked how she would do anything for her kids including changing her Christmas plans to accommodate her children who werespending their first Christmas without their dad.  Julie and Eldon had divorced many years ago but often celebrated Christmas with their children.
The twists and turns in this book, along with the secrets, surprises, and ever growing guests made this such a fun, captivating, and interesting book to read.  I enjoyed how Julie seemed to have met her match in Heath if she could just get over the age gap between them. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chase to write an honest review.

A not quite so happy family that is getting bigger....

Julie is relieved and excited NOT to throw a big ole Christmas for her two adult kids, Nick and Dana.
She instead would like to get cozy with her younger hottie BF.. Heath, who has his own younger kids and an ex wife. This cast keeps growing, as more and more people show up for a big ole Christmas. Family dynamics. and ever expanding cast....
Recommend.