Allison’s Book Report “One Big Happy Family” by Susan Mallery

In recent years, Hallmark and other streaming services have made a name for themselves by making what seems like a million cutesy holiday rom-coms. My daughters and I love these movies, and we have spent many evenings this month taking in saccharine-sweet stories about Christmas tree farms, baking and decorating competitions, and corporate Scrooges whose icy cold hearts are melted by their newly rekindled love of the holidays.  Some of our favorites center around big crazy families and extreme family togetherness, and this week's book is just that. 

“One Big Happy Family” by Susan Mallery is an irresistibly Hallmark-esque story that surely will get you in the spirit. Julie Parker’s kids are all grown up, but she still considers them her greatest gift. As much as she adores them, she's not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas this year. Her son, Nick, and his new wife, Blair, are taking a belated honeymoon in Hawaii while her daughter, Dana, is planning to spend time purging her life of bad energy after another messy breakup. Julie is excited to spend the holiday with Heath, the much younger, very hot guy she’s secretly been dating. In true rom-com fashion, Julie’s plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana change their minds at the last minute and plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse but dreads introducing them to Heath and their reactions when they realize she's been keeping him a secret for months. Also, in true holiday rom-com form, the guest list grows and grows - from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children. Julie’s secret is just one of many to be unwrapped. Christmas turns out to be complicated and very funny, with surprises and mishaps on every page. Through it all, Julie discovers that more really is merrier and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.

Susan Mallery has created a fun, easy-to-read story full of romance, laughter, and holiday spirit. I love how many family secrets are floating around and the never-ending hilarious mishaps. Full of heart and laugh-out-loud funny, I promise you that “One Big Happy Family” is the perfect Hallmark-ish fare for this weekend.

That's all I have for this week. If you need me, you can find me at home, watching cheesy Hallmark movies and reading through my stack of books in that same vein. Don't forget to pop over to my Instagram @allison.the.reader, and let's talk about our favorite Christmas books and Hallmark movies.