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A review by smileymiley550
Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Fun For The Whole Family" is a family-focused tale with themes of love, forgiveness, empathy, and how we cope when we find ourselves at a crossroads. The characterization of the siblings and their family dynamic feels real and grounded in reality and is the novel's greatest strength, in my opinion. As an eldest sibling, I quite related to the dynamic between siblings.
This book has a timeline that jumps back and forth. Sometimes, I find this structure frustrating but here, I found it serving the story quite well--propelling us through the weekend trip to North Dakota and ultimately, the reveal of Jude's three "secrets." I think it made the story more engaging than a typical chronological structure.
What holds this book back from five stars for me is two fold.
-Three out of the four siblings being "extraordinary Endicotts" (an Oscar-nominated actress, a professional athlete, and an award-winning author) is both improbable and at odds with the relatability of the characters. I kept thinking "there's no way this family could exist," which disrupted my reading experience.
- Unfortunately, the plot was predictable at points. About 10-20 pages before a plot development, I would have a moment of clarity of "Oh, that's what is coming next."
All in all, I really enjoyed this novel. I think it would make a fantastic television series, where there is ample time to dive into the family dynamic.
I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballatine Books. All opinions are my own.
This title releases on April 8, 2025.
This book has a timeline that jumps back and forth. Sometimes, I find this structure frustrating but here, I found it serving the story quite well--propelling us through the weekend trip to North Dakota and ultimately, the reveal of Jude's three "secrets." I think it made the story more engaging than a typical chronological structure.
What holds this book back from five stars for me is two fold.
-Three out of the four siblings being "extraordinary Endicotts" (an Oscar-nominated actress, a professional athlete, and an award-winning author) is both improbable and at odds with the relatability of the characters. I kept thinking "there's no way this family could exist," which disrupted my reading experience.
- Unfortunately, the plot was predictable at points. About 10-20 pages before a plot development, I would have a moment of clarity of "Oh, that's what is coming next."
All in all, I really enjoyed this novel. I think it would make a fantastic television series, where there is ample time to dive into the family dynamic.
I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballatine Books. All opinions are my own.
This title releases on April 8, 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail