NetGalley Book Review: Fun for the Whole Family

Fun for the Whole Family is a book perfect for anyone who loves family drama novels involving multiple siblings. I gave it 5 stars!

I’m so happy I read this book because I absolutely LOVED it! If you are a contemporary literature fan you need to check out this book. I gave it 5 stars for a reason. It’ll make you laugh and cry. You’ll love every character in this book and wonder why they were fighting in the first place. Check out my full review below.

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Fun for the Whole Family Overview

Title: Fun for the Whole Family

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Pages: 552 Pages

Publish Date: April 15, 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

My Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend you read it!)

Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4eJT9oG

Synopsis from Amazon

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.

My Review of Fun for the Whole Family

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Jennifer E. Smith for this ARC copy of Fun for the Whole Family. This book made me laugh, cry (A LOT!), gasp in shock, and made me so grateful for my siblings.

There’s nothing in life quite like the love of siblings and this book explores all the ways siblings love and drive each other crazy. After not talking for three years, Jude summons the family to North Dakota for a reunion. Each sibling comes but they all bring their own grudges and baggage.

Told in two timelines (the present and the past) you begin to understand the rift between the Endicott siblings and why they need to hash things out to become a stronger family. This book also has multiple POVs from each sibling; Gemma, Connor, Jude, and Roddy.

I loved all the characters in this book and could relate to each sibling when it was told from their POV. You can begin to understand how birth order affected their lives and how their absent parents affected their mindsets in different ways.

Fun for the Whole Family is a family drama novel with a little suspense. You’ll wonder what exactly happened to cause such a rift between the siblings and what secrets Jude is hiding. You’ll realize that every family has its grudges and resentments. All we need to do is listen to our siblings and see their POV to help create stronger bonds.

Warning: You will cry but it’ll be worth it!

Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4eJT9oG

Who I Would Recommend Reading This Book

This book is PERFECT for anyone who loves reading family dramas! It’s also perfect if you have siblings because you know how siblings can be. You would also enjoy this book if you love multiple POVs, dual timelines, and loveable but flawed characters. It’s a good book to read if you want to cry. It’s for fans of any contemporary literature about families.

Final Thoughts

Fun for the Whole Family is a great novel that you should check out! It’s a book that makes you appreciate your siblings and how normal your parents are. You’ll be grateful you weren’t raised in the Endicott family. This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading family dramas, dual timelines, people with secrets, flawed but loveable characters, and multiple POVs.

If you liked this review or have any questions about this book, please leave me a comment. I love hearing from all of you.

Lastly, if you have a chance please share this review with your book-lover friends, or share this post on your socials. I greatly appreciate all the love and support.

Thanks for reading,

Kel