I love the cover of this book. This book was about siblings, family and of course secrets. I really got to know each of the siblings in this story and could feel for them. Each one was so different and I felt I like I wanted to keep reading after the story was over because I was so invested. I really loved this book and the journey these siblings took together both physically through the states and emotionally to bring forgiveness to each other.

I adored The Unsinkable Greta James and requested Fun for the Whole Family as soon as I saw it on NetGalley. This is a wonderful novel about family, motherhood, ambition, and the special bond between siblings.

The writing is warm and assured. I was immediately pulled into the story and loved every moment - the novel is full of humor, sadness, and lots of hope. There are several main characters and the author makes the Endicott siblings and company feel real and also easy to distinguish, which isn’t always the case with novels featuring multiple leads. The alternating points of view and timelines help keep things a bit mysterious as the story progresses. I cared about each sibling and their respective storyline, and was sorry when my time with them was over. Highly recommend!

Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this lovely novel.

When I first came across Fun for the Whole Family, I immediately knew I wanted to read it for two reasons.

Firstly, a couple years ago I read Smith's YA novel Windfall. I had gone into it expecting pretty standard fare for the genre, but it wound up being a total delight—by far one of the more engaging YA contemporaries I'd read. Now that I've moved onto reading adult novels, I was delighted to stumble upon a book by an author I already knew and loved.

Secondly, while they say not to judge a book by its cover, this book's dazzled me with its bright colors and lively cover art. What can I say? When it comes to book covers, I judge with the eyes of a toddler and/or a magpie. That is to say, I'm enticed by sparkly things and vivid colors.

So, suffice to say, my expectations for Fun for the Whole Family were high. Smith's novel not only met those lofty expectations, but soared above them.

As a kid, I spent many a summer in the car making the long (14 straight hours!!!) trek to visit my grandpa. Smith did a fabulous job capturing the magic of summer road trips, and I was sucked into the world of the Endicott siblings from the very first couple of pages. One of the struggles I often have with books that alternate perspectives or timelines is that one part of the story is more engaging than the other. Despite interspersing multiple POVs and timelines, I was equally invested in the struggles of each character and in the unfolding of both the past and current storylines.

On that note, Smith also did a beautiful job developing characters who were deeply real, flawed people who were still magnetic and likable personalities. Roddy, Jude, Gemma, and Connor all had their faults, and these were explored in-depth in each of their sections. But in spite of, and indeed, perhaps BECAUSE of this, I still wished I could tag along on an Endicott family road trip by the time the novel came to a close.

Overall, Fun for the Family was a touching reflection on family and forgiveness without being overly heavy-handed in its themes. It was also just an incredibly fun book, an invigorating romp through the United States as well as through the ups and downs of siblinghood. I'd recommend Fun for the Family for anyone who wants to laugh, cry, and restore their faith in humanity—so, basically any human being with a beating heart!

Fun for the Whole Family was a fabulous novel that highlights the power of family, secrets, and growth. This is a must read book.