Update: knocking it down a star after reading another review that points out many more problematic issues - use of “Indian-style” repeatedly instead of cross-legged, the way depression is portrayed, use of “fucked up kid with asperger’s”.... seems the author is a tone-deaf and inconsiderate with her language choices.

Thanks to Doubleday for the free copy! The Most Fun We Ever Had follows the various members of the Sorenson family. David and Marilyn have four daughters - Wendy and Violet are Irish twins, followed by the effectively middle child Liza and the much younger baby of the family Grace. Wendy is a young widow, Violet is a mom of two young boys, Liza is pregnant with a child she’s not sure she want, and Grace is living across the country and lying to her family about what she’s actually doing.

I found this book to be very readable, and I really liked some of the characters (Marilyn and Wendy in particular). Of course, as with most family dramas, secrets come out and things aren’t always as they appear.

This book is about marriage, the sacrifices of parents, family secrets, and sisterhood. It’s engaging, and the characters are well developed. I definitely felt that each character was their own, and I think that’s impressive for a debut, especially in a book this big with this many characters. I also found the story compelling enough that there were times I didn’t want to put it down.

I did have a complaint that the characters used the R-word multiple times in the book, which rubbed me the wrong way. There’s really no reason that particular word needed to be used. Also, everyone in the family is gifted and smart and beautiful, and although they deal with some struggles and tragedies, there is no real examination of that privilege.

Overall, though, this is an entertaining read and I was invested in the stories. I also think it would be a great TV show. If you like big family sagas, this is a good one.