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A review by mishale1
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Julie was looking for a break this year for the holidays. An actual break. Not like Christmas time normally with her family where they spend almost two weeks in the family cabin and Julie does all the work. This year she plans to spend it with her (younger) boyfriend Heath.
Then Julie’s adult children change their minds and ask to spend the holiday in the cabin together. Julie’s ex-husband, their father, died in January and this their first Christmas without him. They want to go to the cabin together as a family.
Julie agrees. She goes right back into planning mode.
In addition to her kids Nick and Dana, Nick’s wife Blair invites her mother and her uncle.
Then Heath’s holiday plans change when he winds up with his kids and Julie invites them.
Eventually the cabin will host: Julie, Heath, Heath’s two kids, their dog, Heath’s ex-wife, Julie’s adult children Nick and Dana, Nick’s wife Blair, Blair’s mother and uncle, Dana’s ex-boyfriend, and Julie’s employee.
My goodness! All of these people in one big massive cabin for two weeks together. All kinds of hilarity ensues.
There’s Christmas tree cutting gone wrong, secrets coming to light, romance, grudges, fights, and pain killers.
This was definitely the funniest book I’ve read this season. I want there to be a sequel now. I think there should be another book focused around Dana. Definitely recommend this! It’s very entertaining. It does tackle a couple of sad issues, so content warnings for death of a parent and child death in the past. But I didn’t feel like either one caused the story to be overly sad.
Then Julie’s adult children change their minds and ask to spend the holiday in the cabin together. Julie’s ex-husband, their father, died in January and this their first Christmas without him. They want to go to the cabin together as a family.
Julie agrees. She goes right back into planning mode.
In addition to her kids Nick and Dana, Nick’s wife Blair invites her mother and her uncle.
Then Heath’s holiday plans change when he winds up with his kids and Julie invites them.
Eventually the cabin will host: Julie, Heath, Heath’s two kids, their dog, Heath’s ex-wife, Julie’s adult children Nick and Dana, Nick’s wife Blair, Blair’s mother and uncle, Dana’s ex-boyfriend, and Julie’s employee.
My goodness! All of these people in one big massive cabin for two weeks together. All kinds of hilarity ensues.
There’s Christmas tree cutting gone wrong, secrets coming to light, romance, grudges, fights, and pain killers.
This was definitely the funniest book I’ve read this season. I want there to be a sequel now. I think there should be another book focused around Dana. Definitely recommend this! It’s very entertaining. It does tackle a couple of sad issues, so content warnings for death of a parent and child death in the past. But I didn’t feel like either one caused the story to be overly sad.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death of parent