Noble crafts a character-driven, multi-generational family drama as the Chamberlain clan gathers for a ten-day retreat in the Cotswolds. At the heart is elderly patriarch Charlie, grappling with the void left by his late wife, Daphne, and concerned about the family's growing disconnection. As the three children and their families convene, the stage is set for a tumultuous blend of conflict, chaos, and the intricate complexities that define family dynamics. Each member carries their share of troubles, from Laura's shattered marriage to Nick's grief and Scott's adjustment to step-parenting. Noble skilfully navigates the intricate web of family relationships, delivering an engaging tale of modern familial challenges and the pursuit of closeness amid chaos.

What amazing writing in this book.
Beautiful characters and a great story. A perfect book to lose yourself in

Elizabeth Noble’s latest novel The Family Holiday is a tender yet heartwarming read about the joys and heartbreaks of a family struggling to find its way back to togetherness. With the guidance of their patriarch, Charlie Chamberlain, Laura, Scott and Nick set off for a holiday reunion with more than their luggage in tow - hopes, expectations and emotional baggage from the past come along too.

As their relationships grow, the holiday grows more meaningful as the Chamberlain’s find strength in family. This incredibly emotional read captures the ups and downs of family life as it interweaves childhood memories, regrets and love, allowing readers to follow along in this intimate tale as the Chamberlain’s embark on a healing journey that none of them will forget.

Noble has crafted a powerful, poetic story of strength and forgiveness with The Family Holiday that will surely stay with readers long after they’ve finished the last page. With memorable characters and delicate themes of family and personal discovery, this novel is a definite must-read for anyone who enjoys thoughtful and meaningful stories.

This book is a joy.
It is about an ordinary, kind hearted, lovely family who don't always get on and who deal with their own business day by day but who are bought together for their father's 80th birthday party - a holiday of ten days which they mostly approach with dread.
I have been on these holidays and I have felt the dread! But what is at the core of this book is the unconditional nature of family love and that whatever surface tensions there are, when push comes to shove families will support each other.
Great, read in one sitting

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

It has been forever since I last read a new book from Elizabeth Noble, so was delighted to see The Family Holiday had been released.

And even after a considerable gap between releases (unless I've missed some, somewhere), her writing is still fabulous, and the family and its strands in this story really got under my skin.

I loved all three siblings and their stories, Laura, now single mum to teen Evan, who himself is having a rather nightmarish time of things at the moment. Scott who is happily married to Heather and his two step daughters who seem lovely. And then there is Nick, who is a widower with 3 young children, 5 and under, and is just trying to make it from day to day.

And patriarch of the family Charlie who has summoned them all to the Cotswolds for a summer family holiday and to celebrate his 80th birthday.

I enjoyed seeing how all the various kids got on together, as well as the dynamics between the siblings who don't seem overly close as adults.

At times I wanted to reach out and hug Evan, and Nick, and the little kids. They were all so much in need of some extra special love!

Really enjoyable story that I'm glad I finally sat down to read.

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Whist this book is probably not the most interesting read it is a perfect read for over say the Christmas season. It’s a feel good saga told well with laughter and rears along the way.

An emotional family drama. Widower Charlie brings his family together for a holiday in his eightieth birthday. An okay read but not for me.

A great family story, heartwarming and full of likeable characters with their own problems... and what can't be sorted out in a big Cotswold house with all of your family around you! I loved Charlie and he was such a great patriarch figure, obviously loved by all of his family and really helped bringing everyone together

A really great read, very heart warming. Likeable characters with some humour thrown in!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble is a perfect example of a wonderfully written family story. The characterisation is faultless, enabling the reader to empathise with and enjoy the company of the individual family members. It’s a real feel good read but not without heartache and loss. I thoroughly recommend it.


My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Publishers for a complementary copy.

The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble was a good read. Charlie is 80 and he hires a Cotswold cottage for his birthday and invites his family to join him. Like all families they all have their ups and downs but can they get together for their father. A lighthearted book that I enjoyed.

What a lovely and endearing story!

Its a story about an ordinary family with everyday problems. The characters are well developed and we can associate with them because we've all struggled with similar problems.

Charlie is turning 80 and all he wants for his birthday is to have his family together again for a few days. His wife Daphne past away a few years before. She was the glue that kept the family together and Charlie feels like they've drifted away from him. He books a holiday for all of them with the hope that everyone will come. How will this play out?

Beautifully written with some really sad moments. It's about love and loss and the most important; family.

Thank you to NetGalley, PenguinUK and Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wonderfully heartwarming read.
Charlie rents a huge house in the countryside for his 80th birthday and invites his grown children and their families to help him celebrate.
I could picture the setting, as we recently had a holiday in a similar complex (albeit we were staying in the converted stables, rather then the 'manor house'!).
It was lovely to feel the sense of distant family through circumstance coming together and each dealing with life's problems, grief, family dynamics. They ease into living together , with the surprise that Scotts wife, who they've only met twice being the glue that brings them all together and organises things.
The holiday has it's own shocks, surprises and family moments and Charlie loves having his family around him. Family brings the support they've all needed in various ways and making the future look brighter for them all
I'd love to book a similar holiday.

When you pick up a book by Elizabeth Noble you know that your will be reading a super, absorbing family saga and this book was no exception. Charlie is approaching his 80th birthday. He is still recovering from the death of his beloved wife Daphne and realises that the family have drifted apart, so decides to book a family holiday in the Cotswolds. We are then introduced to the members of his family and we learn about all the problems they have encountered. Thus holiday is a chance to bring the family back together but not before they endure drama and tensions. This book gives you a warm, feel good feeling and is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble was an easy feel good read, a story of Charlie’s 80th Birthday and the ten days that all his family spent with him in a big house, with tennis courts and swimming pool. The reader sees how his fractured and broken family all come together and enjoy their time together. The storyline is excellent and the characters are all interesting and the whole book was an enjoyable read.
Highly recommended.

A really lovely family story. I read in two days and really enjoyed.Three siblings there off spring and dad go on a holiday and it makes for good reading time.Perfect for this time of year.

I really loved this book. A family reunion. Each with a bit of baggage. Some emotional back stories. Heart breaking, heart warming and some delightful humour. Really relatable characters. I would love to meet them again in a follow up!

Charlie Chamberlain lost his wife Daphne 10 years ago . And he feels his family 2 sons and a daughter are all going In different directions . So far his 80th Birthday he hires a house to get them all together.
They all have different things going on in their lives .
Nick is still trying to get over the loss of his wife while still looking after his 3 children.
Scott is married to an American influencer and his bringing up 2 stepdaughters .
Laura whose marriage has fallen apart and has a 16 year old son who has problems of his own.
There’s plenty of laughter, heartache and love in this book.
A great read
Thanks NetGalley

Having enjoyed Elizabeth Noble's Love, Iris, I looked forward to reading this, a character driven multi-generational insightful family drama coming together to spend ten days in the Cotswolds. Elderly Charlie Chamberlain lost his beloved wife, Daphne, ten years ago and still feels her loss and the essential role she played in keeping the family together. Approaching his eightieth birthday he worries about how much more splintered the family has become, and he has concerns about them. He invites his three children and their respective families to the Cotswolds, hoping to bring them closer together again. To his utter relief, they all accept, setting the scene for the conflict, chaos, messiness, troubles, trauma, angst, secrets and pain that tends to comprise the nature of families.

Laura's marriage has fallen apart with her husband leaving her, bringing up sixteen year old Ethan, Nick is a widower, who is still in the process of grieving at the loss of his wife, struggling to bring up three children and Scott has married American divorcee, the seemingly perfect Heather, a professional influencer, he has been thrust into the role of step-dad to her two daughters. Prior to the family holiday, we are introduced to all of them, all experiencing their problems, challenges and issues, all baggage that they bring with them to the Cotswolds. Are the family going to be able to negotiate their way to becoming closer, given all that stands between them? Noble weaves an engaging and entertaining story of the complications of families in the modern world. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph.