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.

Fun for the Whole Family is a tale of four siblings through their trials and tribulations. When we meet them, they have been estranged following an incident that is disclosed late in the novel. Gemma, the eldest is in a happy marriage, but is ambivalent as she goes through IVF with her husband after spending much of her childhood playing mother to her younger siblings in light of their absent father and mother who disappears for months at a time. Connor's marriage has fallen apart, leaving a complicated relationship with his two children. He is a famous writer, having won the national book award for a semi-fictional tale about his family. Roddy is an aging soccer player with knee injuries weighing one last go with a new club or settling into retirement with his soon to be husband. Jude, Roddy's twin is a famous actress who texts her three siblings saying she needs them... in North Dakota. What transpires are secrets revealed (ones that really aren't all that shocking) and sibling drama. I appreciated the complex relationships between the siblings, though I found the ending to be a bit emotionally manipulative. If you enjoy thorny familial relationships in your books, you'll like this one!

Thank you to Ballantine Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

After reading and loving The Unsinkable Greta James, I was so excited to see a new novel by Jennifer E. Smith, and Fun for the Whole Family was everything I expected and more! The premise also seemed like it was right up my alley, with a family of siblings that have lost touch and are reunited for a weekend together. I was also intrigued by the fact that the siblings took a road trip every summer with their mother, and that the siblings are each now struggling with life choices. The whole novel revolves around love in all its forms and forgiveness as well. In Ms. Smith's able hands this story moved me to tears and it is one that I will think of often and recommend to everyone I see.

The four siblings were well-defined characters, each very successful in life following very different paths. The mystery of what caused the rift between them was compounded by their obvious bond and devotion, enough that they each drop everything when Jude texts a request for a weekend in North Dakota. I felt each person's struggle with their current circumstances and also how deeply their sibling bond was. The book would be a great choice for a book club, as the characters are grappling with a lot of deeper issues as well as choices that were made in the past.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for the digital ARC of Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith. The opinions in this review are my own.

Fun for the Whole Family follows four siblings in past and present POVs as they navigate complicated family dynamics after a fallout. I loved having POVs from each sibling and seeing their individual and mutual dramas. The alternating chapter style and hinted "secrets" kept me entertained throughout the entire book, and I found the ending to be the cherry on top to a complex family drama.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this story that follows the siblings of the Endicott family. Told over the years in a diary type format, it follows them along with their on again/off again mother, who shows up at the same time every year to take them on a road trip across the US.

As they each face the past - and also some of the present tragedies in their lives - they each realize that they don't know each other as well as they seem...some are harboring secrets, some are not being their true selves, and others who just don't know how to be happy.

This was a lovely story and heartbreaking at times, but I highly recommend to anyone that loves a good family story!

I normally love reading about family conflicts/dynamics but I think there were too many points of views and different timelines which made for a disjointed read. The four siblings had distinct personalities and I liked the banter between them. The writing was solid and poignant but I think there’s stronger novels in this genre that I had more fun reading in the past. Good book but very memorable.

I adored this story of the four Endicott siblings, who were once exceptionally close but have been estranged for several years at the start of the novel. Smith weaves the story back and forward in time, alternating POVS among the siblings, and constructs an engaging novel about the bonds of family. This book does contain one of my big triggers, a narcissistic and immature parent, but I'm glad I pushed past that and was rewarded with a wonderful family story about four remarkable siblings. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a digital review copy.

The morning I started this, I wanted to take the day off of work and read it through but alas life happens and that's not always possible. I loved The Unsinkable Greta James by this author and this one was a love too. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review a solid 4.75

This book felt like the warmest hug. A beautiful family story with laughs and lessons throughout. I enjoyed the writing and characters, the kind of book that makes you feel good and hopeful about life (which we all need right now)

What a delightful ride! Fun For The Whole Family is a well-written, character-driven novel focusing on four estranged siblings. I enjoyed every one of the multifaceted characters and their backstories. The Academy Award nominee summons her siblings with a cryptic message to a small town in North Dakota. And that's when the real fun begins. I found this book to be enjoyable and thoughtful.

Wow. These are such well-developed, lovely characters. The writing and formatting of the book was exceptionally well done. And wow did I feel that ending.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

A wonderful story of the four Endicott siblings and their reunion one snowy weekend after being estranged for 3 years. I loved the character relationships, the flashbacks to their childhood, and the multiple perspectives this book takes. A must read for anyone who enjoys family stories!

4.5 stars! This book isn’t the book I thought I was getting when I saw the cover—it’s better.

I loved reading about the flawed but lovable siblings, the impact their upbringing had on them, and the power of forgiveness.

I so identified with Gemma, who found contentment with the “smaller” life she had compared to her “extraordinary” siblings—and how she showed that a life you love, no matter how ordinary it feels, is pretty extraordinary.

I loved reading about the past events that shaped each sibling and how their perspectives were similar and different. All were flawed, and yet all very lovable as well.

Notable quote:
- “Did it ever occur to you guys that maybe the reason it all seemed fun is because I was there, making sure nothing bad happened? That the reason you all got to grow up to be so fucking extraordinary was because I was the one worrying about all the ordinary things for you?”

This book made me laugh and cry, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!

A character-driven drama that is complex, meaty and sprawling. I loved how the story here hopped back and forth between the various trips that the Endicott siblings took with their mother as well as other notable events from the past to everything unfolding in present day after they have all gathered together in North Dakota. Each of these four characters are well-rounded with interesting perspectives, and Smith does a wonderful job of conveying how strong the bonds between the four of them are, even while they are estranged over a period of time. Although the secrets add a little intrigue to the tale when they are first teased, they are somewhat predictable when eventually revealed and I didn't get emotionally invested in what happened until the very end. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this with it successfully communicating the power of both family and forgiveness.

This family has had its share of family conflict and drama. When they are all summoned to meet again, the siblings reluctantly all agree. What follows is a trip of reuniting and reconnecting. This was a good, emotional story that fans will enjoy!

I really really enjoyed this story! The characters all had great depth, honest qualities, issues, and eventually growth. The siblings felt like family and some I could relate to. This was a great heartwarming read!