Incredible. I could not stop reading this book and finished it in one long sitting. I absolutely fell in love with the Endicott siblings and their journey back to each other after a three year separation. This was so full of heart. The story of their love, forgiveness and reconciliation was stunning. The book takes you along with the siblings through their memories with their mother Frankie and then present day. The back and forth through the timeline was so well done. Ultimately this book made me sob and smile. On a 5 star rating scale I give it 20 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC of this book published by Random HousE. This will be published on April 15, 2025

Beautifully written story about all the dynamics of being a family- the happy, the sad, the sometimes dysfunctional family. The four siblings had a childhood that forced them to grow up, especially the oldest Gemma. All of the siblings had extraordinarily careers and one fateful weekend in North Dakota changed the perception of their childhood. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

I simply loved this book! I was engaged from the very first page. The four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Jude, Roddy and Connor were very close growing up. Gemma was the de facto mother when their own mother left to find herself, leaving her to be there for her 3 siblings. Frankie their mom would reappear every summer to take the children on a road trip, exploring the United States.

Sadly the book opens with the siblings estranged; aside from occasional texts or quick phone calls, that bond that they thought was un breakable is no longer. Out of the blue Jude, who now is an Oscar nominated actress, summons them all to a weekend in North Dakota, in February! Each of the siblings has challenges the others know nothing about, including Jude who seems to have it all together.

As the weekend unfolds secrets, stories and heartache are shared, bringing the family back together.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Ballantine and NetGalley for this arc, it was easily such a special read. Fun for the Whole Family is a book that I think any one of any age should read. It's the perfect mix of two of my all time favorite reads, Malibu Rising and Blue Sisters. As you travel through North Dakota, you meet four siblings who have been through it all together, and throughout this trip they endure it all again. As someone who is very family-oriented and has always loved books that stress the importance of being with the ones you love, this will be an easy recommendation for me. I found myself in all of these characters in a way, longing for what could've been, but also connecting with their fears in the other parts of their lives. I would give this a 4.5 if half stars existed on NetGalley or Goodreads (the half star only being removed because I've had no time to read and unfortunately this book got put on the back burner), but it will always be one that I can gladly recommend. Jennifer E. Smith's writing is something that I will definitely continue to read.

"Fun for the Whole Family" is a beautifully crafted, emotional rollercoaster. The Endicott siblings' complex relationships are explored with depth and heart, weaving together their past, present, and the secrets that bind them. Each character is wonderfully developed, and their unique struggles are relatable, making you feel every moment of their journey. The stunning backdrop of North Dakota adds to the rich storytelling, while the theme of forgiveness resonates deeply. This is a must-read for anyone who loves family dramas filled with heart.

I was so glad the publisher mentioned Smith's first book (Unsinkable Greta James) in the review request. I loved Greta James and appreciated the chance to read Fun for the Whole Family. The sibling dynamics rang so true and I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.

the Endicott children, Gemma, Roddy, Jude, and Connor were once inspirable, but they have lost touch with each other., until Jude summons them to a weekend in North Dakota. secrets will come out. good story.

This was my second Jennifer E. Smith novel, and my second time giving this author five stars - I love Smith's writing style. While this book addresses a number of sad and challenging family topics, it is witty and light to read through. Fun for the Whole Family tells the story of 4 adult Endicott siblings, each extraordinary in their own way. The narrative shifts from perspective to perspective, allowing the reader a closer look at the individual's life, thinking, and decisions.

At the start of the book, the Endicotts haven't spoken in three years. Their family ruptured after Connor wrote a novel not-so-loosely based on their lives. Connor's siblings feel wronged and exposed, and gradually, then all of a sudden, they have become somewhat estranged. Out of seemingly nowhere, with no context, rich-and-famous movie star sister Jude has invited them all to a weekend away at a remote cabin in North Dakota. Each sibling feels an obligational pull to join her, The four reunite (+ Connor's two children and Roddy's fiancee) for this weekend. Big, long-held secrets are revealed. Bonding and breaking and rebonding happen. It's all sad and delightful and the emotions are tangibly real (even if the circumstances might be extreme).

I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book really is fun! I enjoyed the quirky family dynamic and everything they had to go through. it shows how important family is

This is one of those books you continue to think about long after finishing. Not my usual read, but I really loved this one. I have a tendency to hold grudges against 'unlikable' characters and not be very receptive to their growth. I think that reading quirk is very easy to abandon when it comes to family dramas like this book. No matter what the truth is, every family is flawed and every person has done something wrong. This book is the perfect depiction of that, and how love powers through it.

This was an enjoyable book about 4 siblings whose childhood included a very absent mother and a father who couldn’t take the role of both parents. It was up to Gemma, the oldest to keep the siblings together. They were a close knit sibling group until an event caused them to distance themselves. I predicted most of the ending through the first part of the book, that was definitely a turn off for me. The romance that developed over two days between Connor and Annie was also very contrite. Overall 3 stars.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

The Endicott siblings feel so relatable and believable, that you often forget you aren't related to them yourself! The time jump/multi POV narrative worked really well here with the way it was laid out overall, making it seamless throughout. The book got a bit slow at times, but then picked right back up by again soon after making it a perfect quick read. This book deals with some heavier family & life themes and handles them gracefully each time. Jennifer E. Smith has blown me away with this one and I am excited to see what she does next!

Can definitely see this being picked up for a celebrity book club!

This was such a great read- Add it to your 2025 TBR immediately!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the Digital ARC!

4.5 stars but rounding up!

Thank you to NetGalley for my first-ever early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows four estranged siblings as they reconnect in a small town during the North Dakota winter. Between real-time chapters they each have a chapter remembering different times traveling together with their neglectful and narcissistic mother, always searching for her acting dream.

I really enjoyed how REAL these characters felt. Yes, it's unlikely for one family to produce an Oscar-winning actress, professional soccer player, AND a National Book Award-winning author. And Gemma, the most normal of all. But the specialness of the Endicott siblings just made their foibles and pain stand more true.

Jude, as the driving force of the reconciliation, had some secrets to share. I guessed the big one but still felt the emotional payout, which is what matters.

I felt that every character had adequate page time from the 4 siblings (Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude) to Connor's kids and the various significant others along the way.

This isn't a groundbreaking story like "Educated" (which yes, is a memoir) or powerfully feminist like "Little Women". But it's comfortable and engaging and I would love to watch the movie. There's already a wonderful set of montage-style vignette chapters past the halfway point, too!

Jennifer E. Smith continues to excel at tugging at my heartstrings and this story is no exception. I love the alternating timelines that give us glimpses to the past of the Endicott family. Their reunion, relationships, and struggle through the past are heartbreaking and real. This was excellent.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m not a huge reader of family drama books, but absolutely adored this. There is genuine heartbreak throughout the book and I loved seeing the four sibling’s POV’s and flashes between past and present. It really allowed you the ability to understand where each character was coming from and gave depth to each personality and the family dynamic.

This book beautifully handled what a family can look like and how a falling out can slowly snowball. How they deal with grief, guilt, divorce, longing, reconciliation and more is written in such a realistic and undervalued aspect. I think it was written well and highly recommend it even if this isn’t your typical genre.

The cover of this book suggests kind of a whacky story, but this wasn't whacky at all. It's the story of four siblings who--at the start of the book--are all fairly estranged. The narrative goes back and forth in time and also goes back and forth between the four siblings: Gemma, the oldest who took care of everyone when their mother was absent; Connor the famous novelist; Roddy the famous soccer player and Jude the famous actress. As the book progresses, we learn how they became estranged as Jude gathers them all to North Dakota to reveal three secrets.
On the whole, I liked but didn't love this book. I think it really dragged once they got snowbound in the cabin in North Dakota. I also think the ending was too nicely tied up with a bow. But it's an interesting concept to a book and worth reading. 3 1/2 rounded up to 4 stars.

That cover and title sure does make one think they are getting a story that is light hearted and fun...but that is not the case. This is family drama that really tugs on the old heart strings. I find that I really enjoy stories that are character driven and this one foots the bill. I loved the dynamics between these siblings as they are easy to relate to. It has some very tender and poignant moments while this family, who is flung far and wide, find their way back to each other.

I am NO stranger to family drama, Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith was a deeply engaging read that tugged at my heartstrings. This story revolves around the Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—who reunite after years of estrangement following the passing of their father. When Jude, now a famous actress, calls them together for a weekend in North Dakota, secrets and unresolved tensions begin to surface.

What really worked for me were the alternating perspectives. Smith seamlessly weaves together the siblings' present-day struggles with flashbacks to their childhood. This structure gave each character depth, making their conflicts and emotions so relatable. I couldn’t help but feel for each of them—Gemma’s oldest-sibling burden, Roddy’s career decisions, Jude’s hidden struggles, and Connor’s battles as a single dad. As someone with siblings, it hit home how shared memories can look so different depending on who’s telling the story.

Smith’s character development is a real strength here. While the pacing was a bit slow at times, particularly for a character-driven novel, I loved how the sibling dynamics played out. The flashbacks to their chaotic road trips with their absent mom brought back vivid memories of my own childhood. I saw parts of myself in each sibling, which made their journey toward reconciliation that much more impactful.

That said, I found some of the plot twists predictable—especially Jude's secret—but that didn’t take away from my emotional investment in their story. And the ending? Heartbreaking but beautifully executed. I won’t spoil anything, but I had tears in my eyes during the epilogue, especially when Gemma made a personal gesture that tied the whole book together.

Overall, Fun for the Whole Family is a poignant, bittersweet look at sibling bonds and the power of forgiveness. It’s one of those books that makes you want to text your siblings after reading it, just to say “I love you.” Smith’s writing, while straightforward, packs an emotional punch, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartfelt family dramas.

Fun for The Whole Family is a drama involving four siblings who come together after some life-changing events. Most have their literal claim to fame, while others do not, and ironically, fame and notoriety have driven a wedge between them in one way or another.

Overall, I enjoyed this book -it told the story from different points of view and during other times in their life

Admittedly, a lot about this book is mildly predictable, and sometimes I am confused about why certain characters are even introduced, like Conner’s kids—their presence during the big gathering did nothing for the story.

Some big revelations are uncovered, and they had the potential to drive them even more apart, but as anyone could guess, it didn’t, and things went on as expected. It was an excellent read, but nothing earth-shattering.

I’m a HUGE fan of THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES, and so when I learned that Jennifer E. Smith had a new book out, I basically dropped everything as soon as I could and started reading. Wow, no one writes the pain and hopes of family dynamics like she does. In this new novel, we meet four siblings who have been estranged for the past three years, then finally come together to sort things out. I’ll avoid spoilers, but suffice to say this is a heart wrenching ride, one well worth taking. I really appreciate the small details she includes, and the way she uses supporting characters to fill things out in a very organic way. The scenes are so well written and kept me turning pages and cheering for these characters. A very satisfying read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGally for for giving me the opportunity to review this book.