FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY by Jennifer E. Smith

5 stars

What a amazing book!! This poignant family drama centers on a North Dakota reunion of the “Extraordinary Endicotts” – four siblings who have been estranged from each other for over three years after a dramatic sibling fight broke out between them. They’ve been summoned together by their sister, the ultra-famous Jude, who’s just been Oscar nominated for her acting and has paid for the trip. Turns out that Jude has brought them back together as she has powerful secrets she both needs to share, and fears to share, with her siblings, each of whom she deeply misses.

Jude’s twin Roddy has particularly missed his closeness with Jude, but has thrown himself into his now fading career as a soccer star. Roddy has brought along with him his fiancé, Winston, with whom he’s fighting as they live in D.C. and Roddy has accepted to play for one professional soccer season down in Florida with asking Winston. Attending means Roddy will miss their wedding date, and Winston questions his commitment to their relationship.

Older brother Connor has authored of a book that has gone on to win national awards, but that he’s based without permission on his siblings and their time growing up together. His siblings are suitably pissed at him. Connor’s divorced, has moved to Nashville to work on a new novel that’s going nowhere, and has brought his two children with him for the sibling’s reunion in North Dakota.

Gemma, the oldest who basically ended up parenting her siblings, lives a normal life in Chicago, happily married, but facing infertility and a husband who adores her but is desperate to be a dad.

The siblings grew up with a detached father and an absentee mother who decided to leave them to pursue her dreams as a small-time actress, but who spent every summer with them on a quest to visit all 50 states.

The novels continually alternates between everyone’s points of view, as well as individual sibling first person memories from summer trips on the road with their Mom. Each remember family stories that they see as defining who they emerged as adults. These growing up memories intermingle with the North Dakota weekend unfolding.

What emerges is the capturing of the drama, hurt and love that entangle sibling relationships, and what it ultimately takes to get over hurt feelings, face ugly self-truths, and find acceptance.

The depth of their emotional connections and powerful love for each other proves transcendent.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.