What a great story! This made me feel so nostalgic and so good. Sad at times, but happy at other times. Just such a feel good story. I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book for sure! The characters were so relatable and just loved meeting them.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

Four adult siblings who have fond memories of road trips with their mom when they were younger reconnect in North Dakota on a weekend in winter. Despite the cover, title, and premise, this was a fairly heavy book. Each sibling is dealing with issues. Although each storyline was engaging, it felt a bit too much when put together. Overall it was interesting, just not what I was expecting.

I received this book fee of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There are four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, and twins Roddy, and Jude. When growing up their mostly absent mother would take them on epic road trips. Until the last one where there was a fire. Their father was mostly checked out as well.

Out of the blue Jude, who is now a famous actress, texts them all to meet her in a small North Dakota town. There is an epic snowstorm and the cabin they are in loses power. This group also includes Conner's two kids and Roddy's future husband and the woman who drove them there. They make the best of it but secrets come out that have been hidden for many years. The dynamics in this family are so relatable. Can this family heals their past wounds and move forward?

A moving family drama involving estranged adult siblings who haven't talked since a tragedy involving their mother's death. This was great on audio narrated by Lauren Graham and perfect for fans of her show, Parenthood. The author explores sibling relationships, infertility, career and marital stresses and more in this layered, nuanced and highly readable story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book, each character so much. It's warm, funny, and bittersweet.
Thank you for the advanced reader copy Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books & Netgalley.

Fantastic sibling saga! I laughed, I cried, I was fully invested in everyone’s life. I could not put this book down! I highly recommend!

Siblings Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude haven't spoken in years. When a text arrives from Jude asking each ​of her siblings to meet her in North Dakota, they all object to the idea, but curiosity gets the best of them. What a fun read! This is good old fashioned family drama at its best. The loveable but flawed characters will be relatable to most readers. Laughter and tears are by-products of this family’s reunion.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love family dramas and that I’m a character-driven reader. 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 was all that and more; it is a complicated, emotional, and heartwarming journey of four estranged siblings trying to find their way back into each other's hearts and lives again.

I loved the way the story was formatted. When the four Endicott siblings reunite, the timeline reflects back on the summer road trips they took with their mother through various states. You hear each sibling’s POV, which allows you to better understand them, including their secrets and flaws. I felt like I was truly getting to know this family.

While the story doesn’t move hurriedly, it focuses on treasured memories and the processes of healing and forgiveness as the siblings relearn about each other in the present.

This story resonated with me because my siblings and I were much closer in our younger years than we are now as adults. Growing up and drifting apart can be very difficult.

Thank you @randomhouse for the gifted ebook via #NetGalley.

Fun for the Whole Family opens with this quote from Jerry Seinfeld: "There’s no such thing as fun for the whole family." I think this line from Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." is more fitting for the story of the Extraordinary Endicotts.

Gemma, Conner, Roddy, and Jude were once those siblings that everyone wants to be: inseparable, full of inside jokes and shared memories. Every summer, their mother would pick them up in Michigan and embark on a road trip for a few weeks.

Decades later, the siblings are scattered throughout the US and no longer speak to each other after explosive events three years prior. Then, a text arrives from Jude, now an Oscar-nominated actress, asking if everyone will meet her in North Dakota. All the siblings happen to be at a crossroads in their life. Conner is struggling. post-divorce and stuck with writer's block after the success of his first novel. Roddy is at the end of his professional soccer career when he's offered one last season, hundreds of miles away from his future husband. Gemma, who had to step up and be the mom for the others, is struggling with fertility and the idea of even wanting to be a mother.

The siblings all reunite, and as they relax around each other, they finally discuss the fight from three years prior and find out why Jude was so insistent that they reunite in this podunk North Dakota town.
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Jennifer E. Smith has written a family story that captures the relationships of siblings who have to band together to raise each other. The interpersonal relationships, the fights, the laughter, the tears...everything is included, warts and all. The Endicotts were an interesting family; yes, they were all "extraordinary," but they were also human beings. Smith is able to capture the essence of each individual sibling, both in the present day and in flashbacks.

Fun for the Whole Family is a rich family drama that runs the gamut of emotions. Every family has its own dynamic, and the Endicotts are one steeped in laughter, tears, and each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a lovely family saga with a cathartic ending. The characters are interesting and well developed, coming through with unique voices and complicated relationships between them.

I appreciated the short chapters, which drove the pacing well. The flashbacks were well placed to drive the story forward and keep up the pacing accordingly.

These characters and this family really jumped to life for me and by the middle of the story, I cared about them and wanted to see them repair the various rifts in their respective relationships.

I would recommend this title to fans of relationship stories, folks who like family dramas, and those who enjoy excellent writing and low stakes.

Thank you Ballantine for the review copy! I love Jennifer E. Smith's style, her way of capturing family and self growth themes and here a focus on siblings and all the ways siblings need each other, know each other and yet don't know each other. I loved how the plot explored family connection and themes on second chances within families but also perhaps second chances just for oneself.

Smith’s writing is introspective and tender, filled with quiet but powerful moments of reconciliation, self-discovery, and second chances. Each sibling’s perspective is distinct and engaging, making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs. The novel strikes a perfect balance between drama and heartfelt emotion, making it both a light yet deeply moving read.

At its core, Fun for the Whole Family is a story about growing up, growing apart, and ultimately finding your way back to the people who know you best. It’s a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven stories about family, forgiveness, and the ties that withstand the test of time. Emotional, reflective, and brimming with nostalgia, this book is a must-read for fans of sibling dramas and slow-burn family sagas. Keep tissues nearby—you’ll need them.

Family is family, even when they drive you a little or a lot crazy. Four siblings who are beautifully crafted grew up mostly raising themselves and had an incredible bond. They were always each other's ride or die until they weren’t. It’s been a while since they were all together and then a text comes in and changes things. It’s a beautifully written journey for all of them as they reconnect and go on a deeply emotional journey. Beautifully written. Have tissues ready. Lots and lots of tissues.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"A breathtaking, joy-filled novel about the people we love, the secrets we keep, and the enduring power of family..."😭 What an emotional journey with the Endicott siblings! This was so heartfelt that I felt as if I knew them individually. I was saddened by their upbringing by parents who neglected their emotional needs. Their mother, an actress, lived away from her children until summer came, then she showered them with road-trips. The story is told in each of the siblings points of view, which gives the reader an edge to the inside of each of their thoughts.
As adults, they became busy with their lives and spent less time together. Each became very successful, but with their own personal struggles. When Jude, a successful actress invited the siblings to a cabin in Colorado, they all accepted. The oldest is Gemma, married, but hesitant to have children of her own since she raised her siblings. Connor is a writer. Roddy is a soccer player planning his retirement and also a twin to Jude.
With snow on the ground, the power out, the only warmth inside will be the gathering of these four. They will have time to reminisce and encounter each one's journey and progress regardless of their situation as children. This will leave you in puddles, as they understand each other's perspective and learn to forgive. Emotional but appreciative of this emotional journey and growth for each lovable character. This is a must-read for those who love family deeply and can sincerely forgive them.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this story about the four Endicott siblings who basically raised themselves. They used to travel to a different state each summer, when their mother would show up, and then she would disappear again. Having become distant following the death of their mother, and then their father, they come together to meet in North Dakota at a remote town upon the request of the youngest sister. . In the Extraordinary Endicotts, one is a professional soccer player, one an author, one an Oscar nominated actress, and the oldest a marketing executive. But each sibling have secrets they've withheld, making it an awkward gathering. In addition, they all have their own feelings and perceptions of events in their past that has impacted their adult life. As their story and past unfolds, you begin to understand the dynamics between the siblings and see how they are working their way back to each other. But get the tissues out, because this is a tear jerker. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of family told from multiple POV's. But this book is hopeful that you can forgive and believe in the bonds of kinship. Many thanks to #netgalley #funforthewholefamily #jenniferesmith for the chance to read and review this book.

It took me a second to warm up to the characters but when I did, I was hooked. The siblings are distinct and interesting, and the dynamic when they’re all together (in the past and the present) captures strong family bonds so well. I don’t even know who my favorite would be because they all belong together in my mind.

The plot and the side characters supported the strong leads really well. It’s a story about family and grief and anger and happiness and love in all its forms and finding your way when you feel lost and estranged from the people most important to you. Not simple things, but important ones, and I think Smith does it really well.

Fair warning, I ugly cried at the end. And honestly? That made me like the book even more

Heartwarming and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved the Endicotts and was captivated by this particular chapter in their lives. After three years of near-silence, Jude, Roddy, Connor, and Gemma (somewhat reluctantly) reunite in the middle-of-nowhere North Dakota. Jude--now an Oscar-nominated movie star--called them together after the big fight that broke them apart years ago because she has three secrets to share, a few of which might be unforgiveable.

Accompanying the siblings on this adventure are Connor's two children, Roddy's fiance, Connor's Uber driver (a total meet-cute), and later, Jude's movie star boyfriend. Over the course of the long, snowy weekend, the Endicott siblings begin to deal with their issues with one another, each while wrestling with personal issues that their siblings may be uniquely able to help them resolve.

It's actually fun for the reader, if not the whole Endicott family. The story toggles between the present and flashbacks to earlier years, when their mother would drop in and take them on road trips before disappearing again. Readers also will see what drove the siblings apart in recent years, which raises the stakes for the reunion.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fast-paced, warm, and emotional narrative about family dynamics (the good and bad).

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good family drama, and this one certainly delivers. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY follows the four Endicott siblings (Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude), who forged a close bond growing up—with a mostly-absent father and a mercurial mother, the siblings knew they could always rely on each other, no matter what. Now, the siblings haven't spoken in years...until a surprising text arrives from Jude, who's now a famous actress, encouraging them to meet her in a small town in North Dakota. Her three siblings, all dealing with their own secrets and struggles, agree to join Jude for a life-changing weekend. Although they've grown apart, can the Endicotts still face anything together?

The writing style of this book instantly drew me in! I also liked having POVs from each sibling, allowing readers to fully follow their journeys in both the past and the present. Jennifer E. Smith does a fantastic job of conveying the complexity of familial relationships, how although these siblings haven't seen each other in years, their bond is still so strong nonetheless. The road trip element of the story was another great touch—many of the flashback chapters take place all around the U.S., showing how these different locations shaped the characters' upbringings and the people they became. While FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY might seem like pure fun at first glance, thanks to the colorful cover and title, Smith blends the more cheerful elements of the story and the overall lighthearted tone with some heavier themes, making for a bittersweet tale of family, forgiveness, personal growth, and love! If you're in search of a family drama with equal parts humor and heart, you won't want to miss this one when it hits shelves. I'd definitely be interested in reading more from Smith, too! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Four siblings have a non-traditional childhood- a mostly absent father and a mother who leaves them to peruse acting, only coming back to take them on summer road trips. The siblings are very close but as they become adults, grow apart and have incidents that make them not talk for years. Three of them get very famous in their career fields- Jude becomes a famous actress, Roddy a professional soccer player who is gay, Connor writes a fictional novel about their family, and Gemma, the oldest who took care of the other three, is happy in her quiet life but not fully fulfilled.

After not being in contact for a few years, Gemma summons them to North Dakota on the verge of her best actress Oscar ceremony, to try and repair their relationships. Will they be able to come together and work out their differences?

Like a few of Smith previous books, especially my favorite The Unsinkable Greta James, I loved this book. What Smith does right: memorable, fully drawn characters who are not perfect but are trying. Complicated relationships that are real but not heavy. Travel settings with witty and interesting side characters (and kids). A plot that goes somewhere but doesn't overwhelm you with too much meandering.

Basically, if you like messy families but want something a little lighter in tone but not in content, then this book is for you. (Insert a joke about how this book would be Fun for the Whole Family.)

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

I’m calling it. This is going to be one of my favorite books of 2025.

Four siblings unite after 3 years, when Jude summons them all to the middle of nowhere North Dakota. Without knowing why, Gemma, Roddy, and Conner all make the trek out to see their sister and to see if they can repair their once solid relationship. With multiple POVs, flashbacks to their childhood, and colorful characters, this is such an engaging family drama.

What a rollercoaster of emotions and if you have siblings this will hit you right in the feels. Siblings are really the only people who can truly know how you were raised and the highs and lows of your childhood. They’re the people you both hate and love the most, but no matter what they will always show up when they’re called.

This is what I hope my kids will be like (not the dysfunctional pieces or the not great parents) when they’re grown. The ending had me tearing up and I just loved everything about this book. This heartwarming family sage will reel you in and leave you wanting to call your siblings. I love it and it was definitely what I needed to read right now.


Fun for the Whole Family comes out April 8, 2025. Huge thank you to Ballantine Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my:

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3.5/5 - I have been a fan of Jennifer E. Smith for years and I absolutely adored her adult debut. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit the same way. We have these four siblings and the narration is split between them and because of that, I don’t really feel attached to any of them. It feels like Connor especially had a lot of narration time and he was my least favorite sibling.

I also found that I wasn’t surprised by anything in this book. The plot and various “twists” went exactly how I thought they would which made for a slightly boring read. I turned to my husband early on and told him “This is going to happen and then this” and sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.

I did like the format of the book with the locations and the flashbacks, but almost wish we’d gotten more of that. I wanted to get to know Frankie better. Why did she marry their dad in the first place? Why did she stick around to have four kids and start to raise them before taking off? I know people do that, but I don’t feel like I really understand Frankie at all. But I guess maybe that’s the whole point as that’s how the kids feel as well.

I also didn’t love the ending. I wanted a little more for the siblings. I wanted to see all four of them come together and move forward as a group with their relationships. Overall, I liked this book fine, but I didn’t love it. And to be honest, I do feel a little disappointed as I’ve really loved this author’s books in the past.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.