Sophia's Reviews > One Big Happy Family
One Big Happy Family
by
by
A woman towing company owner has a lot on her plate entering the holiday season and is looking forward to a holiday getaway with her boyfriend while her adult kids are off doing their own thing and his kids are with the ex. But, holiday mischief abounds and her secret man and their combined extended family are about to make Christmas for two multiply exponentially. One Big Happy Family in the large family cabin produce mischief more than mistletoe. Susan Mallery’s latest holiday release kicked off the Season nicely.
The central figure of One Big Happy Family is Julie and by central figure, I mean the person everyone else revolves around. Julie is strong-minded, forthright, capable, and warmhearted especially to her children, but she is also hiding a desperate need to be in tight control and not give more than necessary when it comes to matters of the heart. No one sees this side as she hides it well behind a large, generous personality. She owns and operates the family towing company and it is a successful business she hopes to pass down to her son. But, lately, she’s been itchy about doing it all alone and has been dating a wonderful guy, Heath, who just happens to be a decade younger. Julie isn’t ready to put her adult kids in the know she’s with a younger man though he is a solid businessman himself, dependable, and has it all together. Just the two of them this holidays and she can’t wait.
Then, plans change when her son, Nick, and daughter, Dana rethink things when they are missing their recently deceased dad, Julie’s ex, and want to have a family holiday at the cabin in honor of him. Julie is generous and goes with it making the plans and getting it done for a dozen odd people come together to celebrate the holidays.
The narrative bounces among most of the adults who end up at the cabin from Nick’s estranged mother in law, Dana’s on again off again boyfriend breaking her heart, and Heath’s ex and kids. One Big Happy Family is not trying to do something original or complex, but simply showcases a family who are good and solid, but keep it real with the mishaps, miscues, and mistakes common to all during the holiday season in a woodsy setting and a not-so rustic six-bedroom cabin. There are funny moments and my favorite is the way the acoustics work so any conversations or arguments or otherwise are overheard by many others. Cracked me up when it happened.
The conflicts have their emotional impact, but doesn’t get overly dramatic which is how I like it. People messed up, but they figure it out and with the help- wanted or not- from family. The cozy holiday vibe was strong and I enjoyed the romances though they were not center stage. An all-around good pick for a holiday contemporary fiction sparkling with emotion and spirit.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Dec 18th, 2024.
The central figure of One Big Happy Family is Julie and by central figure, I mean the person everyone else revolves around. Julie is strong-minded, forthright, capable, and warmhearted especially to her children, but she is also hiding a desperate need to be in tight control and not give more than necessary when it comes to matters of the heart. No one sees this side as she hides it well behind a large, generous personality. She owns and operates the family towing company and it is a successful business she hopes to pass down to her son. But, lately, she’s been itchy about doing it all alone and has been dating a wonderful guy, Heath, who just happens to be a decade younger. Julie isn’t ready to put her adult kids in the know she’s with a younger man though he is a solid businessman himself, dependable, and has it all together. Just the two of them this holidays and she can’t wait.
Then, plans change when her son, Nick, and daughter, Dana rethink things when they are missing their recently deceased dad, Julie’s ex, and want to have a family holiday at the cabin in honor of him. Julie is generous and goes with it making the plans and getting it done for a dozen odd people come together to celebrate the holidays.
The narrative bounces among most of the adults who end up at the cabin from Nick’s estranged mother in law, Dana’s on again off again boyfriend breaking her heart, and Heath’s ex and kids. One Big Happy Family is not trying to do something original or complex, but simply showcases a family who are good and solid, but keep it real with the mishaps, miscues, and mistakes common to all during the holiday season in a woodsy setting and a not-so rustic six-bedroom cabin. There are funny moments and my favorite is the way the acoustics work so any conversations or arguments or otherwise are overheard by many others. Cracked me up when it happened.
The conflicts have their emotional impact, but doesn’t get overly dramatic which is how I like it. People messed up, but they figure it out and with the help- wanted or not- from family. The cozy holiday vibe was strong and I enjoyed the romances though they were not center stage. An all-around good pick for a holiday contemporary fiction sparkling with emotion and spirit.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Dec 18th, 2024.
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Reading Progress
August 22, 2024
– Shelved
November 17, 2024
–
Started Reading
November 18, 2024
–
Finished Reading