A heartwarming and heartbreaking book all in one. A story of siblings that twists and turns and tells a story that will keep you reading.

The four Endicott siblings were once inseparable. Their mother was a free spirit who deserted her family for most of the year, and then returned for a few summer weeks when she would take the kids on incredible road trips. The goal was to eventually visit every state.

After an unfortunate incident, their father puts a halt to these adventures. Decades later the siblings have drifted apart. Connor’s latest novel won a national award. Roddy is at the end of his very successful career in soccer. Jude has just been nominated for an Oscar. And Gemma, who basically raised the others, is a businesswoman in Chicago.

Some three years after they were last together, and with any number of simmering conflicts, Jude gets them to agree to come to a small town in North Dakota. This time together becomes a journey of revelation and forgiveness. As one might expect, the title is a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published April 15, 2025.

This is my second book by this author. The Unsinkable Greta James was also about family.

This was an easy book to get into. We meet the Endicott family and the four siblings when they are asked to meet one weekend in North Dakota after not speaking for years. Jude, the actress, has 3 secrets to share. I found the characters interesting and how they slowly worked through their family dysfunction believable.

Based on the title, cover and first line of the description, "a joy-filled novel", I happily began reading this book. That feeling of happiness didn't last long. This is one of the most depressing books I think I've ever read.

Not only was the story sad and not the fun filled family vacation I thought it would be but I really didn't care for any of the characters. Well, except for maybe Winston and Annie. But maybe it was just that they didn't irritate me as much as the others did?

A sad story (don't even get me started on the ending) plus characters I don't like equals a book I won't be recommending.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

I loved the first book that Jennifer E. Smith wrote for adults so I was very much looking forward to her sophomore effort, and Fun for the Whole Family definitely did not disappoint. Smith does a great job exploring family dynamics in her books for adults, and here it is four siblings that have grown apart as adults after their idyllic family road trips with their absentee mother come to an end. Three of the four siblings have gone to lead exceptional lives, while the oldest sister Gemma, has preferred a much more ordinary path after doing much of the raising of her three younger siblings. When Jude, the younger sister and A-list actress, asks them to join her in North Dakota in the middle of winter, it's not really a convenient time for Gemma, Connor or Roddy, but all three feel compelled to go after the siblings had stop speaking three years prior after their dad's death and an only slightly fictionalized recounting of their childhood by Connor. To have an Oscar nominated actress, a successful MLS player and a National Book Award winning author all be siblings is definitely more on the fantastical side, but it doesn't really feel like an overly important part of the story. Gemma is in her last round of IVF with her husband Mateo. After raising her siblings, she still doesn't know if she wants a child even though she knows Mateo would be an amazing father. Connor's marriage has dissolved and he's living away from his two kids trying to overcome a massive case of writer's block. Roddy deeply loves his fiancé Winston, but is creating problems in his relationship because he's making career decisions without speaking to him. And Jude has the two biggest secrets of all - one from the past and one in the present that could change everything for the siblings. There are definitely some heavy moments in the book, but Smith keeps them from overwhelming the book, having lighthearted moments between the siblings, Connor's kids along for the ride, and a burgeoning romance between Connor and practical and wise local Annie. I loved this book, and definitely got caught up in the siblings and their relationships. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions here are my own.
4 estranged siblings are called to a small town in the Dakotas by one sister - and what happens next becomes sort of a locked room drama. They are snowed in and must confront the elephants in their history together.
This book should have been completely relatable to me, as one of 5 siblings. However I didn't really feel much from the characters. I wasn't drawn to any one them which was sad to me. The book was OK to me, but the back and fourth timelines for that many characters made the book slow in spots.
It will be a nice summer read and will probably be loved by many, but it wasnt the book for me.

Vibes= 5 Stars
Plot/Writing = 5 Stars

This book was a wonderful read that tugged at my heart strings and one that I connected with deeply in many areas. It seems that I have a particular gift for finding books that make me cry, and this one was no different.

'Fun for the Whole Family' is about a family - four siblings specifically - who have traveled to almost every state. Starting when they are young, their mom would appeared every summer to take them on a road trip, promptly disappearing again afterward, and then continuing throughout their amazing and ordinary lives. The story is told with flashbacks of past trips and the different perspectives of each sibling throughout the years.

The character I connected most deeply with was Gemma, the oldest sister of the four. By all accounts, she is the most ordinary of the 'Extraordinary Endicotts', a fact of which is looked down upon by her more "accomplished" siblings. However, I believe she is the happiest in her life. Growing up with an absent mother who swoops in for fun road trips and an emotionally absent father who is only there to provide a roof over his children's heads, Gemma is in every way a parentified oldest sibling. As a result, she feels as though she has already raised a family, so when it comes to the idea of having her own child, she is at a crossroads. She has a very loving and understanding husband in Mateo, and I appreciated their dynamic throughout her uncertainty. She wanted to resist the message from her youngest sister when she first received it, but in the end, both she and Mateo knew she could not turn away from her siblings when they need her. She may not have had Fiona Gallagher moment with her parents, showing them she should have been allowed to be a child as well, but the sentiment is explored in a satisfactory way throughout the story.

Connor is the second oldest sibling, with every ounce the middle child energy. I really enjoyed reading his chapters, and found myself laughing at a lot of the dialogue between him and the other characters. Of the siblings, he is the award-winning author. However, this award-winning novel is what sparked the three-year split among the siblings after their father's funeral. Now he is divorced with two young, very bright, and silly, young kids, Rosie and Hugh. Side note: I thoroughly enjoyed the kids in this book. There are a lot of stories where kids are written like the author has ever met a child, but I feel like this was not the case with this book. Back to Connor: now that he has written his famous novel, he has a major case of writer's block and is just going through the motions of life, missing his kids and a place to call home. There's nothing holding him back whenever he receives the text from Jude to go to North Dakota for the weekend, and maybe it's just what he needs to get a new spark.

Next there's Roddy, Jude's twin brother, the famous soccer player who is yearning to play one more season, reluctant to let go of the sport he truly loves and the thing that gave him the chance to shine in his family. However, his knee isn't what it used to be, and there may be some ulterior motives for the club to hire him. The biggest issue, though, is if he takes the gig, he will miss or have to postpone his wedding to his lovely fiancé, Winston. Winston is very understanding of Roddy's wants, but he also wants to be a part of the equation in consideration. I feel like Roddy may demonstrate the greatest avoidant attachment of the siblings. When he is worried Winston would say no, he doesn't ask him and just accepts the offer - then proceeds to walk away at any hint of argument with Winston or his family. However, it is kind of hard to run away when you're snowed in in North Dakota. With all that being said, it is obvious that these two really love each other, and I think it is evident throughout.

Last but certainly not least, we're introduced to: recently nominated for an Oscar, arguably the most extraordinary of the Endicotts, and quite possibly the object of the majority of their mother's affection - !*Jude*! She was definitely the most illusive of the siblings, and her motivations for the whole family meeting in North Dakota??? Unclear..... Of course, that is, until the secrets start unravelling. Maybe being a famous actress has allowed Miss Jude to camouflage for a little too long. Maybe both twins suffer the worst with avoidant attachment .... you never have to face the problems if you just keep them a secret, right??? In truth, we all love Jude. I tried putting myself in her shoes throughout the story. In all honesty, I am too much of a blabber mouth to keep things a secret, so I probably wouldn't have held in the dark truths she did for too long, but I can't necessarily say I blame her. It could have only been Jude that would have been able to get the group back together, and I am really glad that she did because it made for a great story that explored the complex dynamics of siblinghood.

I think the author did a fantastic job with the main conflicts of the story and the subsequent resolutions. I was a tad bit worried when I pieced together the final secret, wondering how it would unfold, but I can not vouch enough in saying it was perfectly handled by the author - and also called out the potential issue I was fearing. There are so many great lines in this story, I think I have a highlight on every page. This book is captivating from page one. I was immensely frustrated when I had to go back to real life and put the book down. I teared up in a couple of places throughout, but when I tell you I sobbed, I SOBBED at the conclusion of this story. This one will definitely stick with me.
Beautifully done.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this amazing piece of literary fiction's digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Do you judge books by the cover? Well I most certainly do….. let’s say when I got this book and even read the synopsis I thought…. Oh a fun and lighthearted story about siblings. What I got? Was an in depth look at how this family of kids bonded together through their own trauma all while holding back their hurting from their siblings, the ones they loved the most and held dear. Meanwhile these things do what they do and tear small seams in the happy moments and cause families to fight and drift apart. I really had to pause multiple times and I saw things in my own life that mirrored these experiences. When all was said and done and as I wiped my eyes at the end…. Not all stories end happily ever after but with a realistic view.

“Fun for the Whole Family” really does live up to its name. This was such an enjoyable and honest read—there’s truly something any reader can relate to in this book, whether it’s personal relationship troubles or not wanting to disappoint a cherished family member. The novel did feel slow at times and less engaging than I would have preferred given the numerous characters and their interwoven stories, but this is certainly a book I would recommend, especially for those of us with complicated family relationships. I loved how the character’s arcs and concerns inevitably worked out and the all the layers of humanity that involves.

A breathtaking, joy-filled novel about the people we love, the secrets we keep, and the enduring power of family, from the bestselling author of The Unsinkable Greta James.

The four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—were once inseparable, a bond created by the absence of their dazzling, mercurial mother, who would return for a few weeks each summer to whisk them off on sprawling road trips around the country.

Decades later, the unthinkable has happened: the Endicotts haven’t spoken in years . . . until an out-of-the-blue text arrives from Jude, now a famous actress, summoning them to a small town in North Dakota. They’re each at a crossroads: Gemma, who put her own ambitions aside to raise the others, now isn’t sure if she wants to be a mother herself; Connor, a celebrated novelist, is floundering after his recent divorce and suffering from an epic case of writer’s block; and Roddy, at the tail end of a professional soccer career, is dangerously close to losing his future husband for the chance at one last season.

Jude is the only Endicott who seems to have it all together—but appearances can be deceiving. As the weekend unfolds, and the siblings wrestle with their shared past and uncertain futures, they’ll discover that Jude has been keeping three secrets . . . each of which could change everything.

A captivating journey and an ode to forgiveness that takes readers across all fifty states, Fun for the Whole Family brims with heart and resonates long after the final page.


This book and the family dynamics are so gooood!

Gemma - is married and is figuring out whether she wants to become a mother after she raised her three siblings her entire life. Not as "successful" as the rest.
Conner - is a famous and successful writer who is divorced and also brings his kids to North Dakota.
Roddy - is a famous soccer player who is poised for retirement, and brings his fiance' Winston to the trip.
Jude - a very famous actress who was just nominated for an Oscar and has a few secrets of her own to share during the weekend. Planned the trip to get the siblings together.

You may need a few tissues and this book is definitely never boring!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC! Book will be published April 2025!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Perhaps 3.5 stars? I know giving a 3 stars feels "middling," because it technically is, but I actually liked this one a lot. Once I got who was who under my belt with the siblings and those in their lives, I thought they all felt like real people for the most part. The past timeline chapters I hurried to get through because I felt like the present day ones in North Dakota were far more interesting, save for the chapter that had the siblings' big fight.

<spoiler>
The reason for the three stars are personal (aren't all reviews?). I hate the whole "babies and marriage is what makes people happy" sentiment so many books have and this one fell into that. Gemma was my least favorite sibling to follow anyway because her story just didn't click with me, but I was hoping her hesitation about being a mother would end with her realizing that she didn't want to be. Not because that's the "right" thing for everyone, but just because I so often see the opposite and I was hoping for that subversion, even though I realized it was unlikely. The epilogue, while sweet, just hammered home the babies + marriage = happiness, including for Roddy. I also thought that Connor's side romance wasn't necessary (or all that believable). </spoiler>

But that's focusing on the dislikes. Like I said, by the end of the book, I felt like I knew each of the Endicott siblings. I adore stories about siblings, typically sisters, so I was pleasantly surprised that Jude and Roddy were my favorites here. Jude had three secrets she wanted to tell everyone and I clocked her biggest and last reveal pretty much from the start. It didn't impact my enjoyment, since again the other two I hadn't anticipated.

The book was an easy read but well written and I would look at future books from the author.

Here’s a great book, a real family saga with a lot of gutting issues. The title seems somewhat tongue in cheek.
Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC which I most enjoyed.
This is a totally character driven book and I found the characters to be delightful
4 grownup siblings who had a difficult childhood - their mother left them returning for one road trip each summer. Their father was not coping well (emotionally unavailable) and the eldest Gemma more or less raised the brood.
The stories of each sibling Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude were so diverse and captivating. Over the years they had become estranged. Jude who is a famous actress arranges a getaway in North Dakota in some very challenging weather- what could go wrong?
The result is an unputdownable story that was charming and engaging. As we meet the characters in the present day there are also chapters that go back in their past to illuminate how things came to be as they are. There are many touching moments - both happy and sad - for the reader. Tissues will be needed.
Highly recommended for those readers who love a good family drama!

The sibling dynamic was heartwarming certainly, but I couldn’t get behind the story fully. Lots of cheesy moments but also lots of tough conversations between characters. The ending dragged on a bit and was fairly predictable. I also couldn’t grasp the concept of three famous/successful siblings. You’re telling me out of four kids there ended up being an actress, pro athlete, and author? C’mon now

This book honestly surprised me. It seemed to be about a dysfunctional family who had siblings that drifted apart before being summoned back together. It was funny, I expected that. It was wacky, I saw that coming. What I didn’t see was it being so touching and heartfelt. I found myself tearing up more than I ever thought and the ending was a damn-near sob-fest. I really loved this book and the characters were perfect in their own quirky ways. So well done!

This is a story of 4 siblings told in the past and the present. Lots of family drama, dysfunctional family, and fun road trips make this a fun book that deals with lots of issues. As someone that had a crappy childhood, I definitely connected with this book. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

This is a wonderfully written family drama for the ages filled with love, disappointment, and hope for the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This was an entertaining family drama. Although it didn't feel as if this story were breaking any molds, the characters were engaging and I found myself really caring about their stories.

The four Endicott siblings - Gemma, Connor and twins Roddy and Jude were once a close knit group. Unfortunately,
an argument after their father's funeral has ended up with the siblings not speaking for three years. When Jude i
nvites her siblings to a reunion, each one's past and current life are revealed. Will the secrets Jude reveals mend t
he broken ties? Realistic portrayal of family dynamics and a heartwarming read.
#FunfortheWholeFamily #RandonHouse #Ballantine #NetGalley

This book was delightful! It was heartfelt, entertaining, and had me tearing up at the end. Perfect for anyone who likes books about big complicated families.

So much less of downer than much of the adult fiction out there. I loved the characters, who were not perfect.