I’ve always thought Jennifer E. Smith’s writing was super compelling and genuinely unputdownable but this might be her best yet. Even though books about siblings are my weakness I usually find myself zeroing in and hating one in particular, but all the Endicott’s were so thoughtfully fleshed out I was rooting for every single one of them. I found the big reveals easily predictable, but I also don’t think that matters in the grand scheme of things when the book is doing such a good job of asking the question I think every sibling asks as an adult “how do you keep a family going once everyone has grown up?”

I loved this book. Four siblings grow apart in adulthood after relying on each other due to mostly absent parents. The tale of this dysfunctional family is told with a light hand through each sibling’s eyes and memories.. My only quibble is I don’t think the author stuck the landing with the last chapter or it just didn’t work for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Review posted 10/4 on Litsy and Instagram.

I loved the author's last book, and although this was a different type of book, I loved it so much, too. The writing was excellent and I enjoyed the in between chapters of the past timeline.

This was a wild ride of a story. They’re definitely was some predictability, but I think the 4 siblings were well developed characters. The side characters were fun and each added to the story.
I loved the very short chapters that were only a blip of where and what and when of one of the main characters life.
This story also makes you take a step back and look at your relationship with your family.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes a good family that’s comes together story!

I'm not sure what I was expecting out of this book, but it ended up being a beautifully written family saga with doses of humor and sentimentality. The Endicott family had an...unusual childhood. Their mom ran out on them, then returned every summer to take them on a wild road trip in an attempt to hit all 50 states, until a traumatic event happened and she disappeared from their lives more permanently. Each kid dealt with the abandonment in a different way; Gemma, the oldest, now lives a quiet life in Chicago with her husband, contemplating whether she wants a kid of her own after essentially raising her siblings. Connor, a writer, published a book that was a little too on the nose for his siblings. Twins Roddy and Jude each found fame, Roddy as a soccer star and Jude as an actress. After some estrangement, Jude calls all the siblings together to hit one obscure state together on a snowy weekend in February. Turns out Jude has been holding in some secrets, and they're about to come out as all the siblings (plus a few extras) are trapped in a snowed in cabin in North Dakota.

I love a story told from multiple perspectives, and this one didn't disappoint. I laughed, I was crying by the ending, and overall this was a beautiful testament to the bonds of family.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith is an easy, engaging read that moves quickly, making it ideal for a few relaxing sittings. I read it on the beach while on vacation and this felt like the perfect read for that occasion! The unexpected twists, particularly around Jude’s secrets, kept the story intriguing, and a detail of the ending offered was surprising. Readers who enjoy light, heartwarming stories with a focus on family relationships will enjoy this book.

I feel like this my reading experience does not reflect a universal experience and the following comments are made with that in mind.. Although I generally appreciate novels with multiple character perspectives, I felt that this book did not utilize that mechanism effectively; the siblings often felt flat and indistinguishable from one another, which hindered my connection to their individual journeys. Additionally, I found parts of the story, especially the dialogue and resolutions a little predictable and, at times, slightly corny.

Overall think this would make for a fun light summer beach read!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer E. Smith for providing an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An incredibly touching family drama about four siblings. This book was beautiful, raw and emotional. The characters were extremely well developed and multi-dimensional.

The Endicott siblings are brought back together after being completely estranged for three years. They are reunited for a trip to North Dakota. Through each other, they rediscover the beautiful complexities of what it means to be a family. This is a moving book about forgiveness, grief and relationships.

The characters in this book was truly the highlight of it. I didn't love nor hate the book, I am very in the middle. However I think the characters and their dynamics, personality, and the way their think and act was fun to follow and I enjoyed that aspect of the book because I tend to lean towards character rather than plot in books like this.

I really enjoyed Smith’s previous book “The Unsinkable Greta James” and was excited to get my hands on this advanced readers copy of her next book. I hated how this book ended but I think Smith put a noble effort into depicting complicated family relationships. I can’t get over how played out the ending was though, which is why this is rated below four stars.

In this novel we follow four siblings through different periods of their lives as they struggle to disentangle their relationships with each other. After a harrowing car accident as kids, different paths are pursued by each that leads one to become an author, another to become an actor, and a third to become a professional soccer player. The author revisits their dynamics as children on their infamous summer road trips and how their memories affects their experiences and dynamics today. The youngest sibling brings them all together in the present day to drop bombshells about their shared history and shatter their perceptions of the past.

I think the author tried to do too much with four siblings and as a result each character came out feeling slightly one dimensional. I think with one less sibling the characters could have been built out more in their early adulthood. We only get peeks into their summer road trips as children and then their present day lifestyle. As I mentioned above, I detest how this book ended. I easily predicted what the third “secret” was going to be and physically screamed at the “one year later” section. I wish this could have been more nuanced and less predictable.

I do applaud Smith for her vivid vignettes between chapters that accurately depicted a deep sense of longing between the characters for each others’ presence in their lives. I personally think longing or the act of missing is a difficult feeling to get across to a reader and Smith succeeded here. If you like complicated family sagas, you’ll really enjoy this read!

This book publishes on April 15, 2025. Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

*Fun for the Whole Family* by Jennifer Smith is a deeply moving, bittersweet novel that beautifully explores the emotional complexities of family life. Smith masterfully weaves together themes of loss, resilience, and healing, creating a story that tugs at your heartstrings. The characters are incredibly well-drawn, each grappling with their own struggles while trying to reconnect as a family. While there are moments of warmth and hope, the book’s emotional depth and poignant storytelling make it a truly impactful read. A touching, unforgettable novel. Five stars!

The story centers the four Endicott siblings - Gemma, Conner, and Roddy & Jude, the twins. In addition to each of their perspectives, we get some flashbacks to their childhood. After a few years of no contact, Jude summons her siblings back together to reunite. The way the characters spoke and behaved was so relatable, and even though time had passed, it was clear the love and connection was needed for each of them. I loved seeing each of them develop throughout the novel.

This is a very character driven book, and is in the genre of "family drama" so I found it interesting and dynamic. If you relate, you will love it too!

In this engaging family drama, the lives of the four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—are skillfully woven together with complexity, heartache, and hope. The story is set in motion by an unexpected invitation from Jude, now a famous actress, who summons her estranged siblings to a remote town in North Dakota. What follows is a beautifully layered narrative about the bonds that hold families together, even after years of silence.

Each sibling is grappling with personal crossroads: Gemma, the nurturing older sister, is faced with a life-altering decision about motherhood; Connor, a novelist struggling with writer’s block and divorce, is searching for purpose; and Roddy, nearing the end of his soccer career, is fighting to save his relationship. While Jude, seemingly the most successful of them all, harbors deep secrets that will shake their fragile reunion to its core.

The strength of the novel lies in its emotional depth. The siblings’ individual struggles are portrayed with nuance, making each character relatable in their own way. The tension between them feels natural, driven by their shared past of being raised by a mother who was more myth than reality, whisking them away on spontaneous road trips but always leaving them to fend for themselves.

The author expertly builds suspense as the secrets Jude is hiding slowly unravel, and each revelation brings the family closer to a reckoning. What makes this story particularly poignant is its exploration of what it means to reconcile with both the past and the future—how we shape our identities around familial expectations and how, sometimes, breaking apart is the only way to come back together.

The small-town setting adds a layer of intimacy to the story, serving as the perfect backdrop for the siblings' confrontations and revelations. It's a place where they can't hide from one another or themselves.

The book is a compelling examination of sibling dynamics, personal growth, and the messy, beautiful nature of family. This is a must-read if you enjoy character-driven stories that delve deep into relationships and the secrets that bind and divide us.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Endicott siblings are all successful in their own ways -- one is an Oscar nominated movie star, one a published author, one a professional soccer player, one a happily married woman who may (or not) want to become a mother. As children, their mercurial mother would come in and out of their lives to take them on adventures across the US. After their mother's death and a serious falling out, they haven't spoken in 3 years. Then Jude, the youngest, calls them together to meet in North Dakota, of all places! Over the course of a few days, we learn what really happened in their childhood and secrets are revealed that will have implications for their future relationship.

I really liked this book. It was entertaining, touching, suspenseful, and realistic. The story unfolds in flashbacks, so it could be confusing to some since there is a constant flipping back and forth in time and place. I really liked the character development. Each character is distinct and has an intriguing backstory. As the story progressed, I was completely involved and anxious to learn how things would turn out for each of the Endicotts. Probably not the best book I've read this year, but definitely worth the time. A great story about family dynamics and the cost of secrets.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Unfortunately, this one did not hold my interest to continue on past the first few chapters.

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith is a multiple pov / time jump story of 4 siblings of the Endicott family. The siblings were close all of their lives, but haven’t kept in touch for various reasons for the last few years when one of them reaches out and invites the other three to a remote North Dakota town for a weekend. What follows is a heavy but humorous examination of their dysfunctional childhood and a chance to restart their relationships.
Expected publish date is April 15, 2025, I expect this will be a successful book from the author of The Unsinkable Greta James. I enjoyed it a lot
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the Digital ARC!

Four kids growing up and trying to deal with a mother who has abdicated her role sounds almost too much like everyday life. Somehow, Jennifer E. Smith makes the story of the Endicott family interesting and charming. Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude share memories of the summers on the road with their mother. The father of this family is busy working. The mother decides she wants to live her life on the road. Gemma, as the oldest, takes on the raising of her siblings. Each Endicott grows up to be successful despite the lack of parental guidance. An argument leads to the sibling being estranged. Jude, the youngest, decides it is time to reconnect. She arranges a weekend away to clear the air and restore family unity.

Family dynamics are as different as each family. The Endicotts are no different. Smith developed each child not as carbon copies but as unique individuals. We learn that the siblings have never stopped caring for each other as siblings do. Time and experience help us become adults. The siblings have moved in four different directions yet treasure the bond that they have. The irritations that they have with each other suddenly seem trivial and laughable. The character development progresses well through the story and more developments add to the depth of the story.

This book portrayed the subtleties and depth of emotion found being part of a family. No matter how flawed the situation can be, you can find your home with your siblings.

This is a beautifully heartwarming story about the complexities of sibling bonds, the weight of secrets, and the importance of reconnecting. It expertly balances deep emotional tension with lighter, joy-filled moments, making it both poignant and uplifting. The writing is infused with warmth, humor, and tenderness, showcasing the enduring power of family, even after years of estrangement. Also, the book’s exploration of forgiveness and understanding feels authentic, leaving you with a sense of hope. In short, is a love letter to the idea that, no matter how far apart life pulls us, family can bring us back together in the most unexpected ways. An absolutely compelling read that will stay with you long after you close the final page.

The story evolves around four siblings torn apart by their childhood experiences, who come together one weekend many years later. Excellent character development provides for a wonderful read. The author weaves a tale of how the warmth and closeness of childhood and can transcend the secrets and lies which tore them apart. My first Jennifer E. smith novel certainly won’t be my last. Definitely recommend,

These siblings felt very relatable and honest. I liked that it wasn't a perfect family, but true issues were discussed. A very heartfelt relationship that kept me engaged through the end. I loved Unsinkable Greta James and this one as well!

The story of four siblings is told through current times and in flashbacks to their youth. Abandoned by their mother (who was off around the country pursuing her lost dream of being an actress) and mostly ignored by their business oriented father, it falls on 12-year-old Gemma to raise her siblings. During the summers, their mother would reappear and take the kids on a mystery car ride trying to cover all 50 states. During the last of theses trips a near tragedy occurs and their mother is no longer allowed to see them.
As adults, each of the three siblings has a special talent, Roddy is a professional soccer player, Connor is an award winning author and Jude is a famous actress. Gemma is the "ordinary" one who has spent her life holding the others together and putting off having a child of her own feeling that she has already had that role while raising her siblings. After the death of their parents, the siblings have a falling out and don't see each other for three years. It is Jude who reaches out to invite them to one last road trip to a tiny town in North Dakota in the winter. It is during this final trip that the siblings learn to give up on old grudges and bond once again into the loving family that they once had.
Each of the characters are well drawn and readers can see how easily this tight knit group of kids loses touch as adults. Readers will run through a gamut of emotions by the end of the book when each sibling's story line melds into the others. Be sure to read this and share it with your family.