After a hurricane is projected to hit off the coast of Maine, all the guests start cancelling their reservations at the hotel. But 3 sisters aren’t going to miss the reading of the will, rain or shine! While Charley and Rodrigo are trying to get the hotel ready for their arrival as well as the hurricanes touch down, they also have to figure out how to successfully hide a troubled woman named Bree who is on the run from an abusive partner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 1 was extremely slow for me. I felt a lot of it to be unbelievable. And I don’t want t to give too much of it away. I just expect something classified as a thriller to have that “jaw drop” moment in the beginning of the book to keep readers engaged. Part one did not have this for me. I found it hard to get through, I wanted to DNF it, actually. And bad news if you’re waiting for it in part 2, you also won’t get it there. It’s a lot of how the sisters hate each other and the stories of their past. I guess it set it up for part 3 and 4 which is when the plot finally started to pick up for me. But at last, I still found it predictable and not very thrilling.

I had high hopes for this because some of my favorite authors loved it. But it ultimately fell flat for me, I really wanted to love it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the Advanced Readers Copy of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and words are my own.

3.5⭐️ One Big Happy Family … NOT. This is a promising locked room mystery set in coastal Maine with a hurricane bearing down. A wealthy hotel owner has died and his dysfunctional family is gathered at The Precipice for the reading of his last will and testament. Mysterious messages appear as bodies begin to pile up. Hotel chambermaid, Charley, is caught in the middle. Secrets are revealed and relationships shattered.

Sounds great, right? There’s SO MUCH going on here and SO MANY shady characters to keep track of and SO MUCH unnecessary — stuff — that it’s hard to keep everything and everyone straight. Told in four parts: The beginning is S L O W, parts two and three are overloaded with stuff, and the ending seemed chaotic. It was a good read, but it could have been fantastic with some minor tweaking.

I enjoyed Jamie Day’s first book more because it seemed tighter, and I’m definitely interested in what she writes next. She has a true talent for dysfunction that I greatly appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of the better thrillers I have read this year.
The audio book was well done, and I would have been burning through pages if this wasn’t a listen. What’s the equivalent for tearing through a book but in audio format? Someone needs to come up with some phrases.
Anyway, Charlie Kelly works for the Precipice Hotel on the coast of Maine (so you know the setting is top notch) which is owned by the Bishop sisters. Their past is rocky at best and everyone seems to have a secret (the most well laid plots do). Don’t miss this one.
Jaime Day’s The Block Party has been on my tbr for a while and I now feel more inspired to pick it up.
Thank you netgalley for the AAC!

Day's second novel kept my interest throughout, but I found the ending very Predictable and with an unnecessary epilogue that wrapped everything up a little too neatly. I did enjoy Day's debut "The Block Party" better than this one, but this was a Fun Drama, similar to The Glass Onion plot.

Read if you like:
Family drama
Rich people behaving poorly
A morally grey protagonist
Dialog heavy writing

I absolutely loved this sophomore book by Jamie Day! The plot is perfection, the setting of an old hotel carrying many secrets is the exact right choice by the author for this atmospheric story. Highly recommended! Excellent narration as well!

I love a good mystery at the beach but this one was meh. It was too long and repetitive with character details that’s it muddled the plot.

I read this one as Hurricane Beryl came on land in Houston. It was a great distraction from the storm. It is a fast read . The siblings in this story are horrendous people. I loved the ending.

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 The older I get, the more I realize how many people were raised in dysfunctional families. Many are very lucky to discover a found family later in life with happiness and stability. But what if your found family brings more dysfunction? Charley Kelley is the only year-round employee at the Precipice Hotel in Maine, finding a refuge from her own disheveled upbringing amongst the chaos of the family-owned hotel with its own secrets and lies woven throughout. The storm making its way up the coast of Maine has nothing compared to the upheaval following the death of the patriarch of the Bishop family as the sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith come to terms with their past and the future of the family fortune. One Big Happy Family is an absolutely beautifully written novel. A gripping locked door novel that makes for the perfect summer read, deliciously delving into multigenerational family drama set amongst the picturesque New England coastline.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

If you a fan locked room mystery and family drama, then this one is for you. Add in an incoming storm and an inheritance and I am in. The story is told by Charley, who is a maid at Precipice Hotel. This weekend, the Bishop family that owns the hotel are all gathered together to hear the will of the owner who recently passed away. There's a murder that happens and everyone is now distrustful of each other and dark family secrets are revealed. The story was a little slow but I enjoyed the atmospheric setting and how the story revealed itself.

Saskia Maarleveld did a great job with all of the voices.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @netgalley @stmartinspress for a copy of this book.

One Big Happy Family was high on my TBR after really enjoying Day’s previous domestic thriller, The Block Party. However, I feel like this one fell short for me. I couldn’t get invested in the characters, the storyline didn’t feel super cohesive. I was disappointed that I didn’t love this one as much as I wanted. It didn’t keep my interest and was very predictable. I will still try another of Day’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I am very glad that I decided to request this audiobook. I had initially requested this book several months ago and thought it was slightly boring, and didn't give it a good review on NetGalley but here on July 11th 2024, I am happy to report that I was glad I gave this book a second chance as it was a really good thriller. I'm sure it helps that Saskia Maarvelad is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, but from the first few chapters, I was hooked. This is not the first time when I've read an arc and not enjoyed it but then enjoyed the audiobook. Anyhow I highly recommend this book, and if like me you find the print book boring, I encourage you to try the audiobook, I'm sure you won't regret it! This book is a great locked room thriller and I finished the audiobook in under 24 hours!! I am definitely a fan of Jamie Day's now!
—


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

I was so hooked on this story! I loved it even more than her debut last year, The Block Party. I felt the characters were memorable and well fleshed out. The creepy atmosphere lent perfectly for building tension and suspense. I felt satisfied at figuring a few things out and shocked at the things I didn’t see coming. I thought the pacing was well-balanced and kept me engaged and invested. Also, there’s just something about this cover that I was immediately drawn to and it totally fits the vibe of the story. It’s a perfect summer thriller read. I listened to the audio and I thought it was very well done. The narrator captured the voice of the characters and the tone of the story very well. Definitely recommend!


You’ll love this one if you like books with:
Rich people behaving badly
Twists and secrets
Locked-room setting
Toxic, juicy family drama

The Precipice, a hotel in Maine, is about to get hit by hurricane and all the guests have canceled. All the guests, except for the Bishop sisters Iris, Vicki and Faith. Their father recently passed and he owned the hotel and hurricane or not, they want that will read. The sisters all have secrets of their own. Add to that the hotel maid, Charley, she’s young and has grown up with only her grandmother to care for her. Now that her grandmother needs to be in a home, Charley will do what it takes to pay for her care.
There’s murder and suspense and a crazy family. It should have been a thrill ride but unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. The beginning was slow. The secrets as they were revealed weren’t all that engaging. The main character Charley seemed pretty naive to me. I’m never a fan of characters forming super strong feelings for people in a very short time period and Charley definitely does that.
It has nice short chapters and it’s well written. Just oddly felt like a cozy to me..probably because of Charley.
Worth a shot if you enjoyed the authors last book.
I also listened to the audiobook version. Saskia Maarleveld narrates and does a lovely job. I would highly recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley Macmillan Audio and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a fantastic job with the narration. Her voice is easy to listen to and she kept me interested in the story.

I really got into this story. The fact that it takes place during a huge storm that isolates all the people at the hotel with the lights going on and off really pulled me into the story. I felt like the atmosphere around me was going to be stormy whenever I quit reading.

Charley was a great character. She had the responsibility of paying the bill for her grandmother in a nursing home. She was a interesting person. She wasn't so holier than thou that she was above stealing a little bit of cash from people staying at the hotel when she cleaned their rooms. She really did need the money for her grandmother. She was also very compassionate.

In the story, the less than honorable owner of the hotel has died. His three daughters meet the lawyer at the hotel for the reading of the will. Things go a little sideways and there is sooo much tension between all of the characters...and lots of revelations coming to light.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Jamie Day, and St Martins Press for this pre-release copy in exchange for an honest review of One Big Happy Family. The audiobook is over 11 hours long, and the print book is 368 pages.
The narrative unfolds in Coastal Maine at The Precipice, a historic family-owned hotel perched along the rocky coast. As a hurricane approaches, suspense heightens among the skeleton staff anticipating both the storm and the arrival of George Bishop's three daughters—Faith, Iris, and Vicki—for the reading of his will. Each daughter brings their own baggage, complicating the already tense atmosphere.
Nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley, worried about her job security after the death of the hotel's ornery owner, navigates a precarious situation. Desperate to maintain her job for the sake of her grandmother's nursing home fees, Charley takes risks that blur the line between honesty and self-preservation. Against her friend Rodrigo's advice, she shelters a stranger named Bree from an abusive boyfriend, placing Bree in the hotel's most coveted room. This decision risks Charley's job if discovered by the Bishop sisters.
As the storm knocks out the hotel's power, long-hidden secrets begin to surface. The arrival of Quinn, a guest with whom Charley unexpectedly forms a romantic connection, adds further complexity to the unfolding drama.
Initially drawn to the intriguing setting and storyline, I lost interest in the narrator and extensive flashbacks delving into the backstories of unlikeable characters and their often perplexing actions within the plot.
Overall, while the setting captivates, the execution leaves much to be desired as the predictable story weaves through tangled relationships and mounting tensions in the wake of George Bishop's demise. 2.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

With a large hurricane storm barreling down on a small Maine town, housekeeper Charley Kelley is waiting on the imminent arrival of her hotel's newest owners, a trio of sisters whos reputation proceeds them. Their father, recently deceased, has requested that they all return to the inn for the reading of his will, along with their return dangerous secrets from their pasts begin to emerge. Charley has her own secrets, including Bree a hidden stowaway running from an abusive relationship. Cut off form civilization and communication Charley must keep her wits about her or end up the next victim in the families murderous dealings.

I really liked The Block Party and was excited to get Jamie Day's newest work, but this was a little more lack luster for me. The story is broken up into four parts with some of them being slow and a little meandering with too many character backstories. No one is likeable, which in these types of domestic thriller is a good thing but without enough action to carry the story along the characters fell flat. There are some gapping holes like why Bree and Charley would be such best friends in a matter of days. I saw the big end reveal early which is always disappointing. I do like Day's writing style in general and overall its a decent family drama full of secrets and murder. I will look forward to more of her work in the future.

I had the audio version read by Saskia Maarleveld. She is a very enjoyable narrator with distinct voice work and good pace. I recommend picking up some of her work!

I was not a fan of this one. This whole plot felt so chaotic and the characters were childlike and immature. The adults just were irritable in this way, instead of mourning or even worrying about the oncoming storm, they were worried about the will.

This book felt a bit long and seemed to drag on too. The flashback sequence in this book honestly confused me and did not help me to understand our like this family anymore.

This book was just not for me!

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Rating: 3 stars
Pub date: 7/16

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced ecopy, and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

I loved this author’s debut novel, Block Party, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of this book.

The book takes place at The Precipice, a family-owned hotel on the rugged Maine coast. After the death of their father, the Bishop sisters—Vicki, Faith, and Iris—reunite to claim their inheritance amidst an impending hurricane. At the heart of the story is Charley Kelley, the hotel’s resourceful chambermaid, who is trying to make ends meet and care for her grandmother. The arrival of the Bishop sisters brings tension and danger, threatening Charley’s precarious situation.

The story is divided into four parts, and the short chapters keep it moving quickly. I loved Charley, and I think her motivations were understandable and relatable. The rest of the characters were difficult to like or empathize with, as they were all truly horrible. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming lots of family drama, and I enjoyed the audiobook version.

However, the story's pacing drags, and the ending feels predictable. This felt less like a psychological thriller and more like a family drama. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m in the minority here. I would recommend checking this one out if you like locked-door thrillers with lots of complicated family drama.

I received early access to the audio version of this book. The production did a great job and the narrator was easy to listen to. This book had all the components of a thriller to keep readers hooked-mystery, murder, a little supernatural feel. However I just can’t say I loved it. I did finish and felt the ending helped make up for a lot of issues I had with the book. I just didn’t feel much connection to the characters and it seemed like it took a long time for the plot to progress.

3.5 stars. The family in this murdery mystery are horrible and the main character, Charlie, really got on my nerves for some reason.
The Precipice is a family-owned swank hotel in Maine and the owner has passed away. His daughters are coming to claim their inheritance, but first secrets must be spilled.
The story is told from a young chambermaid's POV. She gets roped into serving the family for the weekend, but gets more than she bargained for when a storm rolls through and traps them all together at the hotel. Meanwhile, Charlie is trying to hide a friend in the hotel, one who has secrets of her own. And when some of the guests end up dead, it's a race to figure out the secrets and lies before they all end up dead.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*