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Unabridged Digital Audiobook
Runtime: 9 hours, 9 minutes
Read by: Tanya Eby
For some people, Christmas is a quiet, relaxing holiday—with a few loved one gathered around the tree. For others, it’s big and busy and noisy—with friends and family all around. And in the audio edition of One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery, a big holiday gathering just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
The story braces for another busy holiday season with Julie Parker. When Julie’s son, Nick, decided to spend Christmas on a belated honeymoon with his wife, Blair—and her daughter, Dana, decided to spend the holidays nursing her broken heart—Julie was excited to spend extra time with Heath, the much-younger boyfriend that she hadn’t gotten around to introducing to her kids. But a last-minute change of plans has her scrambling to prepare another big family gathering at the family’s cabin. And the closer the holidays get, the more lonely souls join in the festivities.
What originally promised to be a dream holiday quickly turns chaotic as Julie prepares to host her kids, some in-laws, a few friends, her boyfriend, and his two young kids—with new guests getting added to the list every day. The huge cast of characters comes with a whole lot of holiday excitement and holiday mishaps—but also plenty of holiday drama, too. And that offers a whole lot of opportunities for romance, reconciliation, and surprises along the way.
Not all of the characters here are entirely likable. Julie’s daughter-in-law, Blair, reluctantly invites her mother, Gwen—a prickly woman who’s quick to complain and disapprove of everything everyone does. And while Julie is generally a kind and generous woman—to the point that she’s perfectly happy to open her home up to anyone who needs a place to go for Christmas—she’s not without her sometimes frustrating flaws.
Still, despite some of the drama—which touches on everything from loss to parental estrangement to broken relationships—there are so many characters with their own stories that the story never really has a chance to spend too much time on any one topic. And there are a few lighthearted moments mixed in to keep things relatively easygoing and festive.
With its mix of family drama, holiday pandemonium, and the occasional steamy romance, One Big Happy Family is a cozy read. Though it has moments that may be cause some anxiety for those who are dreading their own holiday drama, it balances it out with a healthy dose of Christmas cheer.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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