When they were young, four siblings were told that they were the "Extraordinary Endicotts" ... even though they were raised by a nonchalant father and by a part-time mother who showed up only to take them on summer road trips. Now Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude are in their late 30s and early 40s. Their parents are gone. They haven't seen one another lately. Three years ago, something happened that caused an unfortunate rift among them. Now Jude suddenly wants to get her brothers and sister back together, with a group meet-up at a small town in North Dakota, in winter. What? Why? And will they actually talk to one another?

As their mother had hoped and expected, the Endicotts DID prove to become extraordinary. Connor is an award-winning author. Roddy is a professional soccer star. Jude is a talented actress who just got nominated for an Oscar. Gemma, the oldest, and the one who raised the others, is satisfied with her marketing position. Each has found a home away from the others and away from their roots in Michigan.

Certainly, our attention is drawn to what may or may not happen at this sudden gathering in North Dakota. Along the way, though, we learn a bit about each person. We learn about their relationships with their siblings, and their connections with their current partners. We start to piece together the history that has led everyone to this point.

The storytelling style is a main feature here. The approach is different. It's unique, it's unexpected. Chapters are marked with years and character names. The ones for 2025 are written in third-person present tense and address the North Dakota reunion. Other chapters are written in past tense. These excerpts dip into each life at some remarkable point in the past. As we readers toggle back and forth, throughout the years of this family, we are gradually allowed to glean the facts of the situation and the reasons for the split. We are led to hope that some peace can be restored, by the end. I like this choice.

Fun for the Whole Family makes for a delightful and satisfying read. Once you invest in knowing more about the Endicotts, you'll want to keep going so that you can understand The Rest of the Story. It's a tale of sibling dynamics. Perspectives and perceptions. The keeping of secrets, especially of the long-time family variety. It's simply an illustration of Life, as it applies to the experiences of one group of people.

It may NOT have been fun for them all along. It may not even be fun for them NOW, as they revisit and remember. But it turns out to be enjoyable entertainment for us. And maybe it serves as a prompting for us, as well. When was the last time YOU got together with your sibs and/or cousins?