One Big Happy Family: A Novel

As an avid reader with over 1,500 Kindle titles, I've long appreciated Susan Mallery's ability to weave heartfelt stories with relatable characters. One Big Happy Family is no exception. It's a study of interconnected lives, each with its own emotional depth and dynamic relationships. This novel explores a variety of family situations: the tender and sometimes tense bonds between mothers and daughters, the complexities of mother-son relationships, and even the charm of an older woman finding love with a younger man. Susan introduces a cast of kind-hearted, sharp-tongued, loving, and flawed characters that feel like people you know or would like to know. The layering of stories with multiple simultaneous narratives made me have to study the characters so I could follow each situation. I’ve shared a lot, but rest assured—this review doesn’t give the story away. If you enjoy emotionally intelligent fiction that celebrates the messiness and magic of family life, this book is for you. Read and enjoy. You won’t regret it.

This was a decent read. Not great but not the worst. It was a little boring but I finished it in a couple of days.

I loved this book. It was an enjoyable holiday read. It held my interest and I could not wait to see how it ended.

Loved this! I love all Christmas novels but this one was amazing. So cute with awesome character development, someone everyone can relate to. Also I was to live in that “cabin”.

While I enjoyed the story overall, some of the characters were not likeable or relatable. A lot of the characters went through a growth period during the story and ended up being better, more understood, even Gwen. But I just could never get behind her, even in the end. I could understand her grief but how she was portrayed at the beginning (rudely blunt and obnoxious which didn’t account for her past trauma) vs the end just didn’t make sense. The matriarch of the family, Julie, is the one who keeps it all together. She’s the strong, independent one who just can’t let herself be vulnerable. I liked her character but felt her to just be annoying at times. The strong, close knit family storyline with of course a little bit of drama is what kept me interested. It was also funny at times which added some needed humor and lightness. Overall, through, the tone of this book is more serious so if you’re looking for a quick, cute Christmas read, I’d look elsewhere.

So many good feels with this book. I enjoyed that the writer didn’t fill the story with unnecessary drama. Straight and to the point with most situations. It was like a real family. The had some unplanned situations but Julie did what moms do best and made everything great for everyone. A great happy ending!

I haven’t finished reading it.

This was a great read! So fun and full of family holiday drama! Hoping there will be a sequel! Hint, Hint Susan Mallery!! Maybe for next Christmas?

As with a previous book by this author (For the Love of Summer), the business-owner matriarch of a family is having trouble falling in love with an entirely suitable man. Enter the ex. Despite the element of improbability in the premise of the story, the book held my attention enough to read in one sitting, even at the third read-through before writing a review. The attraction, for me, is that the reader knows the secrets and wants to see how the characters will react to their revelation.

It's amazing the things that can happen when a family gets together at a cottage for Christmas. Family issues, couple issues, exes showing up. A good read at this time of year.

The is the most family drama one needs to have a very fantastic Christmas,it covers all the bases….I recommend it,easy reading,

The clue is in the title. It's a happy book, no violence, do drugs or criminals just family. Makes a nice change.

I always enjoy her books and this is no exception.