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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re ready for some great Christmas vibes and family drama, look no further than One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery. Normally, this time of year, I’m all about cozy mysteries, witchy romances, and everything fall-themed. However, I love Susan Mallery’s books, and I needed a break from my usual reads, so I figured it was the perfect time to get into the Christmas spirit
Julie is a badass mom and business owner who’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas at her family’s cabin—aka mansion in the woods—with her younger boyfriend, Heath. Her kids all have their own plans, and his ex-wife has the kids for the holiday. But as we know, life doesn’t always go as planned. The cabin ends up packed with more people, secrets, and drama than anyone could’ve imagined.
I saw so much of myself in Julie that it was hard not to root for her. She cares deeply about everyone else and making them happy. It’s so evident in her detailed plans to ensure everyone has the most amazing Christmas ever. And while Julie might seem like the perfect mom and girlfriend, we also get to see her unravel and expose all her flaws as the story unfolds.
Thank you to the author Susan Mallery, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
hopeful
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One Big Happy Family is a very classic Susan Mallery novel that somehow gives you the warm and fuzzies while navigating (very real feeling) family drama. The main storyline follows Julie, who for years has put on a long, elaborate family Christmas, looking forward to finally having a quiet Christmas with just her and her new (and younger!) boyfriend, Heath. Those plans go out the window when her grown children come to her and ask to have a big family Christmas after the death of Julie’s ex-husband. Julie’s quiet Christmas quickly snowballs to include an estranged mother, an uncle, two exes, and Heath’s children. As she does with everything, Julie jumps right in to make sure the holiday is wonderful for everyone, but things get messy when Julie has trouble with leaning on anyone else for help – especially with Heath.
This was a very sweet Christmas novel, as you can always expect from Susan Mallery. I did start off a little confused with the multiple plotlines and characters, but after a while settled into it. Heath is such a calm, steady presence for Julie throughout the book, forcing her to slow down and take care of her own needs, and I really loved that. She’s so well intentioned, and giving, and afraid of the vulnerability that comes with relying on other people, which many people, but especially matriarchs, can relate to. I think all of the couples had such great connections to each other and balanced each other out. Family is hard, and this book really took that head on, dealing with issues from the past, the present, and the future all at once. So few families now adays are just the nuclear “Dad, Mom, and 2.5 kids” and include step-family and extended family and messy relationships. It was great to see that represented in a novel where, in the end, you knew how much love everyone had for each other. A great, cozy Christmas read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an eARC to review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an eARC to review. All opinions are my own.
In “One Big Happy Family”, Susan Mallery delivers a fun and heartwarming holiday story packed with family chaos! Julie plans to have a quiet Christmas with her secret boyfriend Heath, but things take a wild turn when her adult kids, in-laws, and more show up at the cabin. I couldn't stop laughing at all the drama and antics! Despite the craziness, Julie and Heath's relationship was seriously swoon-worthy. Heath is the perfect book boyfriend—attentive, loving, and caring. Along with the main romance, there are other subplots like forgiveness and healing from heartbreak that add depth to the story. If you love stories filled with family drama, love, and personal growth, you’ll want to pick up “One Big Happy Family” this holiday season!
Thank you @susanmallery, @harlequinbooks, @canarystreetpress and @netgalley for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Hallmarkie "Messy Family Comes Together" Type. This is a Susan Mallery book, and it is Christmas book from Susan Mallery - so you know you're going to get a lot of drama, but in a very Hallmarkie manner where the drama never gets *too* intense and everything wraps up with a nice dose of Christmas magic by the end. Considering the popularity of both Mallery and Hallmark Christmas movies, this isn't exactly a losing strategy... if a bit "been there, done that".
Where Mallery manages to spin things with this particular one are, well, the particulars - and there are a lot of things here that aren't exactly typical. Irritable Bowel Syndrome shown in all of its complexities in a book? Happens some, not exactly overly common in my experience. Female tow truck company owner? I actually am related to one - a cousin - but she's literally the only one I had ever heard of before reading this book. Age gap romance where the *woman* is the older *and* is on the back side of "middle age" to boot? Done, somewhat, but rarely in this particular combination/ age range. On and on it goes.
Oh, and for anyone who says that this gets way too far out there with just how "together" everything gets... if you've read a few of my other reviews over the years, you know about my own family history - same side as the cousin above, actually. You see, both sets of my grandparents were divorced long before I was ever alive. But my mom's parents in particular? My grandmother remarried, also before I could ever remember anything. My step grandfather was my "second grandfather" (the other died 5 weeks after my birth). And yet there was more than one instance of my grandmother and step-grandfather living on my grandfather's land over the years, including at least one stint in his house with him. So my sense of "weird family relationships" may be a bit skewed, having seen this type of thing - along with several of the exact scenarios Mallery includes in this book - in my own (extended) family over the years.
Ultimately a solid book of its type, and one for anyone looking for a good Christmas family drama to check out.
Very much recommended.
Where Mallery manages to spin things with this particular one are, well, the particulars - and there are a lot of things here that aren't exactly typical. Irritable Bowel Syndrome shown in all of its complexities in a book? Happens some, not exactly overly common in my experience. Female tow truck company owner? I actually am related to one - a cousin - but she's literally the only one I had ever heard of before reading this book. Age gap romance where the *woman* is the older *and* is on the back side of "middle age" to boot? Done, somewhat, but rarely in this particular combination/ age range. On and on it goes.
Oh, and for anyone who says that this gets way too far out there with just how "together" everything gets... if you've read a few of my other reviews over the years, you know about my own family history - same side as the cousin above, actually. You see, both sets of my grandparents were divorced long before I was ever alive. But my mom's parents in particular? My grandmother remarried, also before I could ever remember anything. My step grandfather was my "second grandfather" (the other died 5 weeks after my birth). And yet there was more than one instance of my grandmother and step-grandfather living on my grandfather's land over the years, including at least one stint in his house with him. So my sense of "weird family relationships" may be a bit skewed, having seen this type of thing - along with several of the exact scenarios Mallery includes in this book - in my own (extended) family over the years.
Ultimately a solid book of its type, and one for anyone looking for a good Christmas family drama to check out.
Very much recommended.
emotional
medium-paced
This Christmas family drama was riveting and poignant, evoking a whole range of feelings from anger and heartbreak to forgiveness, happiness, and love.
There were parts that I loved and others not so much. Dana and her relationship woes felt a bit neglected. I was happy that she found her own happy ending, but between all the other things going on there wasn’t enough time to explore this plotline properly. And there certainly was a lot of drama.
Nick came across as very charmed. Everything seemed to fall in line just right for him. Even with the conflict with his mother, you just knew it would work out for him because Julie would never begrudge him any of it.
As for Julie and Heath, Susan Mallery has done this before and she does it really well – create conflict and consequently strengthen bonds in an existing relationship. Julie represented a generosity of spirit that should be everyone’s goal. She held no real resentment, even with Nick’s revelations and Gwen’s unpleasantness. Heath embodied the image of an ideal partner. One who sees all your faults and still loves you unconditionally. Yet, these two characters showed enough flaws to be realistic at the same time.
I was captivated by this family dynamic. The ending may have been predictable, but it was a pleasure getting there. I can highly recommend this if you like big family drama and romance.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to the author and Canary Street Press for the book. These opinions are my own.
Susan Mallery writes absolutely lovely and heartwarming family dramas. In this book, Julie is ready to have a Christmas with just her boyfriend after her adult children decide to go elsewhere for the year. But with just a week to spare, plans change, and suddenly everyone will be joining Julie and the boyfriend they didn't know about at the family cabin. The guest list was ever expanding and all inclusive as more and more people with any sort of tie to anyone already there showed up.
I found this so messy and complicated and so real. It was set in the most amazing winter wonderland cabin. It included people of all generations with all sorts of issues. And there was even a phenomenal dog. Everyone came with secrets in the midst of a cabin with amazing acoustics that made private conversations essentially nonexistent.
And it its heart, this is a story of love and generosity. It filled me with such joy. It's certainly a great read for the upcoming holiday season, and I also think you could enjoy this any time of the year.
CW: grief, hospital visits
Susan Mallery writes absolutely lovely and heartwarming family dramas. In this book, Julie is ready to have a Christmas with just her boyfriend after her adult children decide to go elsewhere for the year. But with just a week to spare, plans change, and suddenly everyone will be joining Julie and the boyfriend they didn't know about at the family cabin. The guest list was ever expanding and all inclusive as more and more people with any sort of tie to anyone already there showed up.
I found this so messy and complicated and so real. It was set in the most amazing winter wonderland cabin. It included people of all generations with all sorts of issues. And there was even a phenomenal dog. Everyone came with secrets in the midst of a cabin with amazing acoustics that made private conversations essentially nonexistent.
And it its heart, this is a story of love and generosity. It filled me with such joy. It's certainly a great read for the upcoming holiday season, and I also think you could enjoy this any time of the year.
CW: grief, hospital visits
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you enjoy watching the Countdown to Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel One Big Happy Family is for you. There is a lot of family (real and found) drama and trauma (mental and physical), but true to the genre everything has a way of working out.
OBHF features a lot of characters they’re not all lovable nor do they get equal amounts of “screen time,” so to speak. I think OBHF would’ve been better served by having fewer characters, several of them got lost in the shuffle whilst others motivations/behaviors, while clarified, weren’t developed enough, for me. Hence the need for fewer characters.
One Big Happy Family has a lot going on, maybe a little too much. However, that being said I enjoyed the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC of One Big Happy Family.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Susan Mallery, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this story! Susan Mallery has a such a way of drawing the reader into the worlds she has created. It was so much fun reading about the different Christmas traditions this family had and seeing such an odd mix of people together!!!!
Well written and full of heart, I would revisit this story again and again
I absolutely loved this story! Susan Mallery has a such a way of drawing the reader into the worlds she has created. It was so much fun reading about the different Christmas traditions this family had and seeing such an odd mix of people together!!!!
Well written and full of heart, I would revisit this story again and again