"A breathtaking, joy-filled novel about the people we love, the secrets we keep, and the enduring power of family..."😭 What an emotional journey with the Endicott siblings! This was so heartfelt that I felt as if I knew them individually. I was saddened by their upbringing by parents who neglected their emotional needs. Their mother, an actress, lived away from her children until summer came, then she showered them with road-trips. The story is told in each of the siblings points of view, which gives the reader an edge to the inside of each of their thoughts.
As adults, they became busy with their lives and spent less time together. Each became very successful, but with their own personal struggles. When Jude, a successful actress invited the siblings to a cabin in Colorado, they all accepted. The oldest is Gemma, married, but hesitant to have children of her own since she raised her siblings. Connor is a writer. Roddy is a soccer player planning his retirement and also a twin to Jude.
With snow on the ground, the power out, the only warmth inside will be the gathering of these four. They will have time to reminisce and encounter each one's journey and progress regardless of their situation as children. This will leave you in puddles, as they understand each other's perspective and learn to forgive. Emotional but appreciative of this emotional journey and growth for each lovable character. This is a must-read for those who love family deeply and can sincerely forgive them.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this story about the four Endicott siblings who basically raised themselves. They used to travel to a different state each summer, when their mother would show up, and then she would disappear again. Having become distant following the death of their mother, and then their father, they come together to meet in North Dakota at a remote town upon the request of the youngest sister. . In the Extraordinary Endicotts, one is a professional soccer player, one an author, one an Oscar nominated actress, and the oldest a marketing executive. But each sibling have secrets they've withheld, making it an awkward gathering. In addition, they all have their own feelings and perceptions of events in their past that has impacted their adult life. As their story and past unfolds, you begin to understand the dynamics between the siblings and see how they are working their way back to each other. But get the tissues out, because this is a tear jerker. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of family told from multiple POV's. But this book is hopeful that you can forgive and believe in the bonds of kinship. Many thanks to #netgalley #funforthewholefamily #jenniferesmith for the chance to read and review this book.

It took me a second to warm up to the characters but when I did, I was hooked. The siblings are distinct and interesting, and the dynamic when they’re all together (in the past and the present) captures strong family bonds so well. I don’t even know who my favorite would be because they all belong together in my mind.

The plot and the side characters supported the strong leads really well. It’s a story about family and grief and anger and happiness and love in all its forms and finding your way when you feel lost and estranged from the people most important to you. Not simple things, but important ones, and I think Smith does it really well.

Fair warning, I ugly cried at the end. And honestly? That made me like the book even more

Heartwarming and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved the Endicotts and was captivated by this particular chapter in their lives. After three years of near-silence, Jude, Roddy, Connor, and Gemma (somewhat reluctantly) reunite in the middle-of-nowhere North Dakota. Jude--now an Oscar-nominated movie star--called them together after the big fight that broke them apart years ago because she has three secrets to share, a few of which might be unforgiveable.

Accompanying the siblings on this adventure are Connor's two children, Roddy's fiance, Connor's Uber driver (a total meet-cute), and later, Jude's movie star boyfriend. Over the course of the long, snowy weekend, the Endicott siblings begin to deal with their issues with one another, each while wrestling with personal issues that their siblings may be uniquely able to help them resolve.

It's actually fun for the reader, if not the whole Endicott family. The story toggles between the present and flashbacks to earlier years, when their mother would drop in and take them on road trips before disappearing again. Readers also will see what drove the siblings apart in recent years, which raises the stakes for the reunion.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fast-paced, warm, and emotional narrative about family dynamics (the good and bad).

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good family drama, and this one certainly delivers. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY follows the four Endicott siblings (Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude), who forged a close bond growing up—with a mostly-absent father and a mercurial mother, the siblings knew they could always rely on each other, no matter what. Now, the siblings haven't spoken in years...until a surprising text arrives from Jude, who's now a famous actress, encouraging them to meet her in a small town in North Dakota. Her three siblings, all dealing with their own secrets and struggles, agree to join Jude for a life-changing weekend. Although they've grown apart, can the Endicotts still face anything together?

The writing style of this book instantly drew me in! I also liked having POVs from each sibling, allowing readers to fully follow their journeys in both the past and the present. Jennifer E. Smith does a fantastic job of conveying the complexity of familial relationships, how although these siblings haven't seen each other in years, their bond is still so strong nonetheless. The road trip element of the story was another great touch—many of the flashback chapters take place all around the U.S., showing how these different locations shaped the characters' upbringings and the people they became. While FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY might seem like pure fun at first glance, thanks to the colorful cover and title, Smith blends the more cheerful elements of the story and the overall lighthearted tone with some heavier themes, making for a bittersweet tale of family, forgiveness, personal growth, and love! If you're in search of a family drama with equal parts humor and heart, you won't want to miss this one when it hits shelves. I'd definitely be interested in reading more from Smith, too! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Four siblings have a non-traditional childhood- a mostly absent father and a mother who leaves them to peruse acting, only coming back to take them on summer road trips. The siblings are very close but as they become adults, grow apart and have incidents that make them not talk for years. Three of them get very famous in their career fields- Jude becomes a famous actress, Roddy a professional soccer player who is gay, Connor writes a fictional novel about their family, and Gemma, the oldest who took care of the other three, is happy in her quiet life but not fully fulfilled.

After not being in contact for a few years, Gemma summons them to North Dakota on the verge of her best actress Oscar ceremony, to try and repair their relationships. Will they be able to come together and work out their differences?

Like a few of Smith previous books, especially my favorite The Unsinkable Greta James, I loved this book. What Smith does right: memorable, fully drawn characters who are not perfect but are trying. Complicated relationships that are real but not heavy. Travel settings with witty and interesting side characters (and kids). A plot that goes somewhere but doesn't overwhelm you with too much meandering.

Basically, if you like messy families but want something a little lighter in tone but not in content, then this book is for you. (Insert a joke about how this book would be Fun for the Whole Family.)

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

I’m calling it. This is going to be one of my favorite books of 2025.

Four siblings unite after 3 years, when Jude summons them all to the middle of nowhere North Dakota. Without knowing why, Gemma, Roddy, and Conner all make the trek out to see their sister and to see if they can repair their once solid relationship. With multiple POVs, flashbacks to their childhood, and colorful characters, this is such an engaging family drama.

What a rollercoaster of emotions and if you have siblings this will hit you right in the feels. Siblings are really the only people who can truly know how you were raised and the highs and lows of your childhood. They’re the people you both hate and love the most, but no matter what they will always show up when they’re called.

This is what I hope my kids will be like (not the dysfunctional pieces or the not great parents) when they’re grown. The ending had me tearing up and I just loved everything about this book. This heartwarming family sage will reel you in and leave you wanting to call your siblings. I love it and it was definitely what I needed to read right now.


Fun for the Whole Family comes out April 8, 2025. Huge thank you to Ballantine Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my:

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3.5/5 - I have been a fan of Jennifer E. Smith for years and I absolutely adored her adult debut. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit the same way. We have these four siblings and the narration is split between them and because of that, I don’t really feel attached to any of them. It feels like Connor especially had a lot of narration time and he was my least favorite sibling.

I also found that I wasn’t surprised by anything in this book. The plot and various “twists” went exactly how I thought they would which made for a slightly boring read. I turned to my husband early on and told him “This is going to happen and then this” and sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.

I did like the format of the book with the locations and the flashbacks, but almost wish we’d gotten more of that. I wanted to get to know Frankie better. Why did she marry their dad in the first place? Why did she stick around to have four kids and start to raise them before taking off? I know people do that, but I don’t feel like I really understand Frankie at all. But I guess maybe that’s the whole point as that’s how the kids feel as well.

I also didn’t love the ending. I wanted a little more for the siblings. I wanted to see all four of them come together and move forward as a group with their relationships. Overall, I liked this book fine, but I didn’t love it. And to be honest, I do feel a little disappointed as I’ve really loved this author’s books in the past.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & Ballantine Books for an eARC ❤️


"Fun for the Whole Family" is the kind of book that sneaks up on you.💔At first, it feels like a witty, breezy story about four estranged siblings reuniting—complete with banter, old grudges, and that special brand of family awkwardness we all know too well. But then, somewhere between Jude’s cryptic texts and Connor’s midlife crisis, it hits you right in the feels. 🥺By the end, you’re emotionally invested in these messed-up, loveable Endicotts like they’re your own dysfunctional relatives.
❤️
The best part? It’s *real*. Nobody’s perfect here. Gemma’s over being the responsible one, Roddy’s risking his relationship for one last shot at glory, and Jude—well, Jude’s got secrets that’ll make your jaw drop. And the flashbacks to their chaotic childhood, dragged around the country by their flaky but magnetic mom? Absolute gold. You totally get why they’re all a little broken and why they still can’t quit each other.
The writing’s sharp and funny, but it also knows exactly when to tug at your heartstrings. I laughed, I got way too emotionally involved, and I *definitely* side-eyed my own siblings afterward (love you guys… but we should talk). My only complaint? I needed *more*—especially about Roddy’s choices and what the heck was really going on with their mom. But maybe that’s the point—families don’t wrap up neatly, and neither do the best stories about them.
If you’ve ever fought with a sibling, questioned your life choices, or just love a book that feels like a long, cathartic conversation with a friend, this one’s for you. It’s got heart, humor, and just enough drama to keep you hooked. ♥️

Ballantine eARC
Oh my heart. I just adored this book of adult siblings reconnecting after being estranged for three years. Told from all four of their POVs and childhood memories, she created such complex and real characters here. I could relate to Gemma’s oldest daughter parentification so much. I had so much empathy for all of them because there was so much going on here. This book was tender and vulnerable. It was thought provoking and heart warming. I love this author’s writing and will continue to read her.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E Smith was a different book for me to choose. I have mixed feelings about books with too much family drama and secrets. I do want to read them, but sometimes the secrets get to me, especially when they prevent people from forming lasting relationships, yet I want to read them. This was my ambiguity with Fun for the Whole Family.

The novel focuses on the four Endicott siblings Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude. Although in reality their mother is another main character although deceased. Their mother took off and left the four children to be raised by their father, who was also absent a lot of the time. Gemma pretty much raised the younger siblings. Connor, Roddy and Jude are all rather famous for various reasons (writer, soccer player, actress). Instead the mother shows up once a year and brings them all on a road trip.

At Jude’s request (pleading) all the siblings agree to meet in a small town in North Dakota for a reunion. A lot of information, old disagreements, and secrets are shared. The siblings in their own disjointed fashion share information which leads to other revelations.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E Smith with the various voices and viewpoints was a good read.

Oh my heart! I loved this book. I loved the story line, I loved the characters, the fall out and reconciliation. I am a sucker for a good family drama, and this is a GOOD family drama. It is the story of four siblings left to raise themselves. They all become successful following their dreams, but it all isn't as its cracked up to be since they can't share it with each other. It takes the effort of the youngest to bring them all back together after years of estrangement. The book shows admiration, resilience, respect, self-growth, and mostly love. Though I called this a family drama- it's a drama in the simplest sense of the word. There is nothing that gets your hackles up, all characters are likable. Even the sub-characters are strong and you want to know more. The story is told in such a way you know everyone, both past and future. Well done. Joy and tears with this one. Should be a hit of the summer!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the preview copy, and the pure joy of this journey. Can't wait to read more by this author. I also enjoyed The Unsinkable Greta James, so when I had the opportunity to review this one, I grabbed it!

I'm not sure that the cover fits the vibe for this book, but setting that aside I enjoyed it. It had a very different feel that the author's last book, in my opinion, so I went in with expectations. Since the story is about four siblings who are reuniting after a three year estrangement, it takes some time to get the lay out the land and understand who they each, what happened to their family as kids and what split them apart.

As you move through the story, layers are peeled back and you get to know and like them all more.

(Spoiler: But you're in for some sad moments too which were quite affecting.)

I liked the device of having interstitial chapters that trace one of their memories to a specific state since they'd had the goal of visiting all 50.

The Endicott's are four siblings who have been estranged for years. One of the sisters, Jude sets up a weekend family trip to North Dakota. We discover a lot about the past and the present through each of the siblings view points and through this lens the author does a good job flushing out each of the characters. As secrets and misunderstandings come to light, the family must deal with unexpected realities that make for an emotional read. The family dynamics propel this story for the reader and make this book relatable.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you net galley for the advanced reading copy of this book.

This book is wonderful if you want to deep dive into sibling relationships and how we grow apart through our lives and reflecting back on the lives we lived with the people we loved. One of the things I liked was the different personalities of each of the siblings and how they showed through each of the individual chapters. Another thing that I loved was that the characters were developed through the entire book. This book was not a very funny book at all and it was very emotional dealing with the trauma that they had after their mother's death and the fallout of this siblings. Each of the siblings is dealing with their own issues and trials through their one vacation that they're taking after 3 years of being apart. The ending was absolutely heartbreaking but it made sense to the story. I would highly recommend.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Net Galley for the ARC! This was my first ARC ever :)

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith is a multiple POV about four siblings who reunite abruptly in a small town in North Dakota. It is the first time in three years these siblings are seeing each other. Jude, the sibling who initiates the trip, has one or more secrets that needs to be told.

Throughout the book, there are flashbacks to when they were younger, that may or may not take place in different states. We see how each of them in their adulthood has been affected by their mother’s actions when they were younger. The book explores complex familial relationships, as well as grief.

I enjoyed this book through and through, the story itself, and Smith’s writing. As someone who has siblings, and has experienced complex parental relationships, I was able to relate to each of the siblings. There were times I laughed, and moments where my heart clenched at Smith’s writing. I could easily see myself re-reading this. It’s definitely become one of my favorites of the year!

This book has me sobbing like a baby on an airplane. I will say this book is very character focused and i found it to be a little bit to long, the beginning half really dragged but that second half was exceptional. I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy as i love the cover of this. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Fun for the Whole Family takes place over a long weekend, where four siblings are reunited after three years of estrangement. Flying into North Dakota by request of youngest sister Jude ( an Oscar nominated actress) each sibling brings their own emotional baggage. And while they’ve grown apart, it is obvious that they would do anything for each other.

This was an engrossing family drama, perfect for fans of dysfunctional relationship stories. There were also a lot of moments of humor and hope. I enjoyed the flashbacks to different years and states and that each sibling had their own perspective and character development. It was an emotional and engaging read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

If you love a multi POV story around a large family that has drama then this is the perfect spring read for you! Fun for the Whole Family follows the four Endicott siblings as they reunite after being estranged for three years. The siblings had a tumultuous childhood that bonded them tightly, but as adults they find themselves drifting away from each other. Jude invites them all to gather in North Dakota for a chance to reconnect. The siblings along with a few others find themselves stranded in nowhere North Dakota when a blizzard comes through.

I enjoyed getting to know each of the siblings. And as a graduate of Central Michigan University, I was thrilled to read one of the siblings went there for college. The Endicotts grew up in Michigan, but as adults they live in different states. The oldest Gemma, lives in Chicago and is married to a middle school teacher. Her siblings have all struck some level of fame in their chosen paths - Conner is an author, who wrote an award winning novel based on his childhood; Roddy is a soccer player; and Jude is an Oscar nominated actress. The novel Conner penned is what drove them all apart three years ago. Jude wants them to gather so she can share some heavy secrets. Along for the ride are Conner's two children, Rosie and Hugh; and Roddy's fiance, Wilson. Once they arrive in North Dakota they meet Annie, who drives them around.

There are a lot of people to keep track of in this story and each short chapter is told from a different POV and sometimes from a different time. The time part can get a little tricky if you are not paying full attention when the chapter changes. This was a quick read for me, but very enjoyable. I liked getting to know the Endicott family and would love to see a story based solely on their childhood in Michigan. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really like Jennifer Smith Books, but this one was clearly an adult novel. It had one too many tragedies for my liking, but a hopeful ending comforted me as a reader.