Thank you to Ballantine Books for the advanced copy of this novel. Fun for the Whole Family will hit store shelves on April 15th.

This sibling story will be an enormous hit this year and undoubtedly be on my favorite books of the year for 2025.

From the bestselling author of The Unsinkable Greta James, Smith weaves together the story of four siblings- Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude who were abandoned at a young age by their mother and now have grown up and gone their separate ways as adults.

It's a large cast of characters, but Smith fleshes each out so well that it's easy to follow. Readers are introduced to Gemma, the eldest, who questions her role as a caretaker and her own desires for motherhood; Connor, a celebrated novelist who uses their family story in sometimes damaging ways; Jude, an Oscar-nominated actress who is navigating big secrets and love in the spotlight; and Roddy, an aging professional athlete on the brink of losing everything.

The siblings are all brought together when Jude sends an unexpected group text calling them to the middle of nowhere in North Dakota. There, the siblings are forced to confront their past and reflect on their many family road trips with their mom, slowly revealing secrets they have kept from one another and new layers to their relationships. Flashbacks and present timelines offer readers an incredible road trip experience through its pages as they travel throughout the U.S. as kids.

Smith undoubtedly has a knack for writing characters that feel like they've been plucked straight from real life in this story—messy, complicated, and utterly relatable despite the many glamorous professions she has created for them. While mess is present in each of their lives, it's filled with endearing blemishes and layered with heartfelt humor on every page infused with familial warmth.

This novel is an absolute page-turner with beautiful layers as the siblings discover more about themselves and each other.

TAG: Road Trip, Books About Authors

Fun for the Whole Family

Jennifer E. Smith