‘Tis the season for family gatherings. If you’re anything like literally everyone else, you’ve got a few members of the family that know how to push your buttons. Or you may be the button pusher. Whatever your role, we can all agree fictional dysfunctional families are far more entertaining than the real deal. So, if you find yourself dreading Thanksgiving dinner with a particular aunt, uncle, in-law, or sibling, I’ve put together a list of books that will give you a reason to sneak away and escape into another family’s drama so you can avoid your own.
- This is Where I Leave You- Jonathan Tropper
Judd Foxman’s father has passed away. He’s just found out his wife is having an affair. His brothers and sisters are all going home to sit shiva for seven days and nights under the same roof. If you’re thinking this is a recipe for disaster, you’d be right. I really enjoyed this one. The movie is good, too, but not as good as the book. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- The Most Fun We Ever Had- Claire Lombardo
A story of the Sorenson family, which consists of a mother and father and four daughters. In this book we get to know the whole family and all their secrets. When one secret, in particular, comes to light, the Sorensons are forced to confront all sorts of uncomfortable things. This book is beautifully written and is an excellent book club book, too. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- Wild Dark Shore- Charlotte McConaghy
A dysfunctional family in Antarctica with numerous skeletons in the closet. Plus a woman washes ashore with her own family drama that mixes with theirs. This is another beautifully written book. I definitely recommend. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- These Summer Storms- Sarah McLean
A billionaire dies and leaves his family with a game to play to compete for their inheritance. If that doesn’t scream dysfunctional family, I don’t know what does. Think Succession but more drama. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- Broken Country- Clare Leslie Hall
This may be the best book I read this year. I loved it so much! It tells of a grieving married couple, a murder, secrets, and so much more. It’s a genre-bender that is incredibly well done. This one is so much more than dysfunctional families, but you’ll definitely get plenty of that. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- Sandwich- Catherine Newman
Rocky is the mother of adult children and the daughter of aging parents. Every year they all go together to the same beach house. This particular year feels different because of the ages of her children and parents. It seems that this could be the last year. As the drama unfolds, you’ll probably be left feeling pretty good about your own family. Rocky’s story continues with Wreck, which was released last month. I haven’t read it, but I’m intrigued enough by Sandwich to give it a go. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
7. The Glass Castle- Jeannette Walls (Nonfiction)
The only nonfiction title on my list is for The Glass Castle. It was a beautiful story of a girl with the most dysfunctional parents/family I’ve ever read. The sad, yet intriguing, part is that these are real people. I don’t always love a memoir because most are so sad, but this one reads like fiction and will leave you reminded that every family has “something” to cope with. It’ll also put into perspective your own “something” whatever that may be. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- The Paper Palace- Miranda Cowley Heller
This is a story of infidelity, so if that’s not for you, scroll on to the next. However, it’s more than that. It’s about a few dysfunctional families and the decisions they make along the way and the events that lead them to this particular time and place. It’s been a while since I read it, but I do remember thinking these people had serious issues, and I was glad to be me with my problems and not them with theirs. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles- Rufi Thorpe
As if Margo didn’t have enough of her own drama and dysfunction, throw in a father who used to be in the WWE and a VERY crazy mother that I really hated at one point in the book. This wasn’t my favorite read, but it was pretty entertaining. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
- Mary Jane- Jessica Anya Blau
This tale of a 14 year old who gets a babysitting job for a crazy dysfunctional family is excellent! It takes place in the 70s and sex, drugs, and rock and roll are ever-present. It’s so, so good, but wow these people have their drama…lots of it. Get yours at your local library, Amazon, Pango, or Bookshop.
A Bonus Book
I’ve not read this one, nor do I know anything about the plot. But I’m told that The Irish Goodbye is a great dysfunctional family book that’s also a good Thanksgiving book. I’ve got too many on my plate to add this one to my TBR at the moment, but if you read it, let me know all the things!
As a reminder, Pango is a second hand book site I shop all the time. Bookshop is an online platform to support your favorite indie bookstores when you can’t get to the brick and mortar.
Have you read any of these wonderful books? If so, let me know! If not, add them to your TBR.
Happy Reading,
