After a falling out three years ago, four siblings finally reunite. Three of them are famous: Jude, the Oscar-nominated actress; Roddy, the famous soccer star; and Connor, the award-winning author. Gemma, the oldest, lives a normal life with her husband, Mateo. This hilarious family drama had me laughing out loud at the siblings’ witty banter. It also made me feel emotional about family secrets that were revealed after years. Jonathan Tropper’s “This is Where I Leave You” is a comparable novel with a similar family dynamic storyline, dialogue, and humor. If you enjoyed that book, you’ll definitely enjoy “Fun for the Whole Family.” I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, Lauren Graham. I think she’s the actress from “Gilmore Girls,” and she does an amazing male English accent. The book was easy to follow, even with chapters alternating characters and multiple timelines. Some of the flashbacks were during the summers when the siblings and their free-spirited mother would travel all over the United States experiencing life adventures. It was a great read with quick short chapters. I couldn’t put it down, I was eager to finish it to find out all the secrets and what happens to the four siblings. I can’t believe this book didn’t get more press. It’s so good! Be sure to check for trigger warnings.

A beautifully written, character-driven family drama that explores the complexities of sibling relationships, memory, and forgiveness. Smith masterfully weaves past and present as the estranged Endicott siblings reunite and confront the emotional weight of their shared history. Heartfelt, nostalgic, and quietly powerful—this book is perfect for anyone who loves a story about finding your way back to the people who knew you first.

A well written family drama! I loved the dynamics between the siblings and the others in their lives. The format of alternating past and present made for interesting reading. Thanks #NetGalley#BallentineBooks

This book is a tender, layered look at the complicated ties that bind and sometimes pull families apart. Smith’s storytelling is warm, emotionally honest, and full of small moments that quietly break your heart. It’s the kind of novel that lingers long after the last page, in the best way.

When this novel starts, the four adult Endicott siblings haven’t spoken in three year when one of them asks the others to all join her for a trip to North Dakota. The book is told from all four siblings’ perspectives in both the present and the past. In the past, we learn about their chaotic childhood with an erratic mother that left them but returned each summer to take them on crazy road trips. And in the present, we see that each of them have their own problems/secrets/struggles and we slowly see them try to reconnect and eventually learn why they stopped speaking.

Given the title, I feel obliged to say this one puts the “fun” in dysfunctional family, though I’d say that the book is somewhat heavier than the cover or title suggest - but still written with a light touch. With four perspectives and jumping around in time, it does take a minute to get oriented to who everyone is and what’s going on, but once I did I really got invested and cared for all the characters - culminating in an emotional ending that left me crying.

The four Endicott children had an usual childhood that brought the four of them together as they had to take care of themselves. Their father worked long hours and their mother was gone most of the year, but would return every summer to go on road trips to visit all 50 states. After a tragic event on one of their trips, they do not go on another trip with their mom. Although the siblings, Gemma, Connor and the twins Roddy and Jude, have a special bond, life gets in the way as they go into their own orbit and having successful lives. Gemma hopes to have a baby, Connor is a writer, Roddy is a professional soccer player, and Jude is a famous actress. As each one is facing a decision in their lives, Jude invites everyone to a small town in North Dakota. The four of them had not been in close contact but they drop everything to make the trip. While there, they reconnect but also learn of each other's secrets. Fun for the Whole Family was a bit darker than the title might imply, but the story was engaging and the characters were believable. Fun for the Whole Family, which is told from each character's point of view, is an excellent story of the love and bonds that are within a family where they all support each other no matter what happens.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Fun for the Whole Family.

Me 🤝 messy family dramas…

Fun for the Whole Family follows four estranged siblings as they reunite for the first time in years. They spent their childhood going on roadtrips throughout the US, and their sister, Jude, has planned for them to meet in North Dakota. While stranded in a snowstorm with no electricity, the four siblings are forced to work through their past and present, as their secrets unfold. Don’t let the cover fool you, this is not the light-hearted novel it suggests.

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this! I loved the sibling dynamic. The snippets into the past added layers of depth to their story. It was messy, emotional, and ultimately heartwarming.

Also, have tissues handy — I cried so much by the end.

4.5⭐️

This novel about four siblings coming to terms with the truth about their shared past is a solid three-star read. This author is a talented writer (I used to love her YA books), and I enjoyed her dialogue and description, but at times, I felt distant from the characters, whose personalities felt a little bit issue-driven as characters dealt with homophobia, IVF, and other common contemporary issues. I had a hard time getting immersed in the story emotionally even as I appreciated the turns of phrase. I was surprised to see reviewers saying the book made them cry, as I was never invested enough to feel much of anything.

The audiobook narration by Lauren Graham (which I purchased from Audible, despite having a digital review copy from Netgalley) was also surprisingly not as dynamic as I expected. I think more of a performance from her as an actress and not just a straight reading would have done a lot to bring the story to life more fully. I'm not at all sorry that I read this, but it also wasn't a huge favorite.

An enjoyable and fun read that was just OK for me--I didn't really connect to any of the characters. The road trip aspect was fun, though. I liked the author's previous novel, so I'll definitely keep her books on my radar in the future. The writing was solid.

This probably didn’t hit as much for me because I’m an only child. It got me in a reading slump.

Jennifer E Smith was one of my favorite YA authors growing up, but this was a different type of love story than I’m used to from her.

But the ending 😭

Also, this quote: “It's funny how you can want something and not want it at the same time, how you can love your life the way it is and also wonder if there's more.”

If that isn’t a summary of your twenties, idk what is

Gotta love a book that quotes Jerry Seinfeld, "There's no such thing as fun for the whole family!"

This was a sweet family saga with surprising depth by the talented @jenniferesmith . I appreciated the family dynamics as each character had something to bring to the narrative. And while there were somewhat dubious details and the ending was a bit predictable, it didn't take away from the storyline. I really loved the way it was written from each sibling's perspective, both in the past and present - it made the story so compelling.

I do so enjoy reading stories about siblings from large families, as I often ponder my own children's relationship with each other in hopes that they will always remain close.

I'd recommend this book for fans of family dramas, sibling rivalry enthusiasts, and devotees of the Rashomon approach.

Many thanks to partners @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this #gifted review e-copy!

Fun for the Whole Family features a group of siblings as they try to navigate a vacation together after a fallout from years ago. Featuring flashbacks from previous vacations and alternate points of view, this book is all about finding your family.

What I liked: I found this book very well written. The characters were each very distinct and I really enjoyed the scenes on their past vacations.

To improve: I wish there was a little bit more of a full circle moment that connected the past vacations to the current one. I also feel that more information about the mom would have helped feel a greater connection to the siblings as a whole.

Rating: 3⭐️ I found this book engaging, but that I lacked some cohesion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!! This book was so fun and entertaining with all the feels of how families are! Really enjoyed it! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith in exchange for an honest review. It was published earlier this month, so you can - and should - run to get your copy!

The four once-close Endicott siblings - best-selling author Connor, twins Roddy, an aging pro soccer star and Jude, an Oscar-nominated actress, and older sister Gemma who keeps them all afloat - haven’t spoken in three years when Jude invites them all to meet her in North Dakota for a winter weekend of togetherness and revelations.

This book starts out as a cute if somewhat sad read about the annual road trips the “Extraordinary Endicotts” take with their typically absent mother each summer until one night everything goes horribly wrong. These snippets are interspersed with chapters about each sibling, their current lives, and the actions that led to their estrangement from the others. What makes this story of the Endicotts truly extraordinary, however, is the brilliant character development of the siblings, and the gut punches that move the narrative from four stars to five. I really loved this book.

Beautiful, heartfelt story of four siblings coming to terms with their pasts.

The four Endicott siblings: Gemma, Roddy, Jude, and Connor, were very close when they were younger. Their mother left the family to pursue her dreams, but would come back every summer to take them on wild road trips around the US. Due to something that happened a few years before, the siblings have fallen out of touch with each other. Yet when Jude contacts them to come spend a weekend in North Dakota, they all come together again. What they discover will challenge their thoughts and ideas about the past, present, and future.

I liked that each of the siblings are given distinct personalities and issues that they have to confront within themselves and with each other. Despite the large number of characters, they are easy to keep straight and I was always interested to find out the next thing about each of them. Usually I gravitate towards one story or another more in these types of books, but in this one I liked all of them.

There's humor to balance out the sadder and more challenging moments. The kids really helped with the levity and to keep things from getting too heavy. The cover makes it seem like this is a lighter book than it is. Yes, it has some light, funny moments, but overall it's a family drama, very character driven and contemplative.

Emotionally, this book tore my heart into a million pieces by the end. I really connected with these siblings and it made me think of all of the sibling relationships in my life. If you're looking for a very meaningful, emotional story, then definitely pick this one up.

I want to thank everyone for this early gifted copy of Fun For the Whole Family by Jennifer E Smith.

I have enjoyed some of Jennifer’s other books, but for some reason this story didn’t speak to me. I found the characters flat and kind of hated that the siblings relationships with each other…..it was all kind of chaotic.

Four siblings are on an unusual road trip. They haven’t spoken in years and each is dealing with their own personal issues. On the trip secrets are revealed and issues are discussed. A real journey which takes you along.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this family drama following four siblings over a course of about 30 years. It is a wonderful book about families (of all kinds), relationships, an unconditional love in the face of hurt and betrayal. It even made me cry a couple times at the end, which is always a sign of a great book.

This explores the dynamics of a complex family. I had a hard time with the characters but began to get more into the story as it went on. Glad I continued reading!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books an Imprint of Random House. This story line has romance, drama and mystery. Family dynamics are easy at times and very difficult at other times. A secret or a misunderstanding can unravel a close family. Roddy thinks he knows what he wants in his life but when a secret comes out can he withstand the storm. Jude has had to keep some difficult secrets in her life time. Will she stand up and tell the truth or will time run out and her secrets stay with her. Connor found inspiration in writing but do the others in his family agree with him or turn their backs. Gemma had been a mom to her siblings. She has finally gotten a break but will she decide she wants to be a mom again or will that choice be taken away from her? This is for a mature audience but can be read anywhere!