Every Happy Family Sarah Stovell

5 stars

What an interesting book. Minnie and Bert have three grown-up children. Lizzie and Owen were from Minnie’s first marriage to a man who was an alcoholic and Jess is her and Bert’s child.

It is Christmas and for the first time in ten years she is going to have all her children together.

Lizzie has a 13 year old daughter, Ruby and lives with her Enduring Feminine Ally, Tamsin, who lives with them but purely as a platonic friend. Lizzie had a physical abusive husband that she finally managed to escape from.

Owen has been living in Australia for ten years, is married to Sophie and has a daughter, Layla. He has come home for Christmas but only with Layla, saying that Sophie has to remain in Sydney to work.

Jess is living with her wife Anna and they have two children, a toddler and a new born baby.

All the families’ trials and tribulations are described from various points of view but overriding everything is the story of Owen, who at the age of 19 had had a baby with his girlfriend Norah who was only 17. All the way through this book hints are made about what happened between them and what happened to their baby and the fact that it was Minnie’s fault. Then we discover that Norah’s father has died and Norah herself is in the village.

This was a lovely book to read, it was well-written and I read it in a few days. Ms Stovell is very good at describing problems within what is a fairly dysfunctional family and the reader will probably find something to relate to within their own family group.

I will look for more books from this author, highly recommended.


Karen Deborah
Netgalley

For the first time in years Minnie's grown-up family will all be together for Christmas and like most families they come with their own problems and baggage. Sarah Stowell has written a fabulous novel with wonderful well rounded characters that you can relate to and care about. It's told from multiple viewpoints and different timelines but is easy to follow and engage with. Some serious subjects are compassionately dealt with but these are balanced with light hearted moments also. I was hooked from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a great family story. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read and review 'Every Happy Family'.

An honest look at the reality of a family Christmas. We all know that is never all happiness, fun times and everyone getting on, and things are no different for Minnie and Bert who are expecting their 3 grown up children and their families to arrive for Christmas festivities.
Eldest daughter Lizzie, her teenage daughter Ruby and friend/partner Tamsin are first to arrive. Then there is Owen who is over for the first time in years after emigrated to Australia under a dark cloud, along with his daughter Layla. Finally, youngest daughter Jess who has just given birth to a daughter is also bringing her wife and young son.

Giving a past and present look at the family, as well as from several perspectives, this was a well-rounded family drama giving an insight into the issues that have led them to be the slightly dysfunctional group they are now.

Lots of characters in this book made it very complicated but a good story with a mixture of serious moments and also some laughable ones. Well worth a read

Minnie and Bert are having a family get together at Christmas, the first in a long time and they are looking forward to a perfect Christmas but things don`t go as well as expected with lots of drama.
The story includes childhood pregnancy, post natal depression, alcoholism and overdose.
I enjoyed the book as it has lots going on but I really wanted someone to help Nora.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Posted to Goodreads

Great family drama.

I love stories who people and their relationships and this one is really good.

The characters are likeable so you’re rooting for them and makes it a very enjoyable read.

A new author for me and I enjoy he book. The differing timelines and personalities were easy to link with the exception of Lizzie who I felt was an underdeveloped adult character. The story of a dysfunctional family reunited for Christmas after many years is compelling and honest. Recommended.

This felt like an honest look at how dysfunctional families are and the secrets and lies we keep to protect people from the truth but also to protect ourselves. As a family finally come back together after many years apart for Christmas secrets and lies and resentments threaten to come spilling out. Can they all heal from the old pain and move on and start forgiving each other.

All the family back home together for Christmas, is this a good idea or a recipe for disaster ?
Bert and Minnie are looking forward to having all the family together for the festive season, but will it be all they wish for? Firstly there’s Lizzie who has come with her daughter Ruby and her “feminine ally” Tamzin, then there’s Owen who lives in Australia, he arrives with his daughter Layla, his wife back in Oz, and finally their youngest daughter Jess who along with her wife Anna has just given birth to a new baby girl.
This story takes the reader on an unexpected emotional journey. While the family assemble to celebrate Christmas the author takes us back to the past, to the early life of this family. As in all families there are ups and downs but following the death of Minnie’s first husband this story expands to tell of a tough few years. Without giving too much away this is a compelling drama that had me hooked.
If you’re looking for a warm fuzzy Christmas story this isn’t it nor is it a heartbreakingly sad book, what it is, is a really well told story that just happens to be centered around Christmas. It’s a great family drama and for me it’s a 4.5 ⭐️book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley and HQ for my advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A realistic, poignant, sweet and harsh story that I liked. Family dynamics are well explained and I couldn't wait to read what caused the problems as it happened in the past.
Well written, interesting characters, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A multi-generational story with attitude. Minnie is looking forward with some trepidation to her son Owen’s arrival from Australia for a family Christmas. It took me a while to get into this book because there are so many characters but Minnie brings it all together.

A good story about family life. It has a good balance of seriousness and humour. We’ll written and enjoyable. Recommended

This is a tale of a dysfunctional family. After many years, Minnie finally has her three grown up children and their families all under the same roof for Christmas. It’s a chance to reacquaint but also revisit secrets and resentments of the past. I know the majority of people seem to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I’m not sure what it was but I felt it struggled to hold my interest. I would reset this 2.5 stars but have rounded up to 3. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

I read this book in one day. Spilt between present day and their childhood, the stories of Minnie’s children gradually unfold. The deceptions between siblings, children and parents are those that happen in many families. There are some humorous moments, and overall this is a brilliant book. Proof that every family is mad in its own way!

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for arc of this novel
I have read Sarah Stovell s other novel Other Parents and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to this book immensely
It started off with the story of Minnie and her children who all now grown up would all be visiting her this Christmas as it was coming up to Christmas I thought fabulous time to read it but I just couldn’t get into this novel as much as I wanted to I understood it dealt with teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, drugs, depression suicide and death and how young and old alike deal with these things
It showed it through the different ages from Minnie as a teenager to Minnie as a sister and as and a parent all the ways you shouldn’t have to deal with it. It showed how the funny mad woman from one end of town became intrinsically linked in their family
All this and more is revealed in one Christmas that Minnie and Bert thought was going to be a chance at a second chance Christmas again but maybe it will be ok ?

Love this authirs books and did try but impossible to concentrate on a character rich book with the words’Copyright’ and Harper Collins then ‘publishers’ and ‘materials’ appearing every few lines in the middle of a sentence in light grey,needs imrooving before sending out to readers tbh

Well this book packs in a lot of themes telling us the story of one family's life and how so many things are intertwined whether you are family or not, there was humour but also the harsh reality of the relationships you have and how they shape you, your life, goals and outlook on life.
Overall a compelling read

A good all around read, serious, and has a funny side too.

Family is always at the heart of this book. Whether they’re coping, moving on, or sorting life out itself.

I found the book very readable. A mixture of characters that have their own little foibles.
Some parts serious, others more lighthearted and funny.
I enjoyed reading this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions of the book are entirely my own.

A complicated story about families and their secrets, Lizzie, Owen and Jess return home for Christmas after years apart, what secrets will be unearthed? Only time can tell.

Every family has its drama but this family took it too another level! This book explores teen pregnancy, DV, addiction and overdose, even with all these subjects it didn’t feel like a heavy read. The writing was great and the characters very well fleshed out.