As the holidays approach, so is the time for family gatherings. Regardless of how (or if) you’re getting together with family during the holidays, the nuances of those relationships always come to light during this time of the year. Families are complicated, but love and loyalty generally outweigh everything else in these relationships.

Throughout the year, I put together lists of books that encompass the feel of the seasons and occasions. This is my list of books full of familial love, drama, and secrets. Whether you’re looking for a rom-com, a mystery, or a quirky read there’s something for you in this list.

Grab some cider or your favorite seasonal drink … and enjoy some family-related stories during this holiday season.

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

The Brennans are complex, flawed, and loyal but haunted by mistakes and secrets from years past. Told from the POV of multiple family members, we get a well-rounded account of their secrets, truths, and mistakes.

See my book review here.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

To say the Astons have some problems, would be an understatement. As the story unravels, we learn about each of the family members, and the problems and secrets they’re hiding. Some painful truths are unrecovered and their support for each other is challenged.

See my book review here.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Bridget expects to have the perfect summer with her boyfriend, at her old farmhouse in Connecticut. Instead, it’s a summer of musical chairs, with people constantly coming and going as their plans change throughout the summer. This is a witty story about family and friends, and the value they add to one’s life in spite of the chaos.

See my book review here.

The One You’re With by Lauren K. Denton

This is a story about marriage and the impact of past choices. Edie and Mac have been married for almost twenty years. They weren’t honest with each other before they got married, and now the future of their marriage is being tested. When an unexpected visitor shows up at Mac’s office one day, this family’s life changes forever.

See my book review here.

A Pumpkin and a Patch by Jennifer Peel

Meet the Petersons. They are a complicated and close-knit bunch, full of odd pumpkiny traditions. They are constantly in each others’ lives, and have hurt each other in the process. When Reece Cavanaugh starts coming around the Peterson’s Pumpkin Patch to be around Josie (Peterson), past decisions are challenged.

See my book review here.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

The Delaneys are flawed, complicated, and extremely close. Stan and Joy have been married for fifty years, and have four grown children. When Joy goes missing, the questions and finger-pointing ensue and their trust is challenged.

See my book review here.

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella

One minute she’s enjoying her family’s company while Christmas decorating and celebrating her father’s birthday. The next minute, her parents announce they’re getting a divorce! This is a funny and heartwarming story about family, relationships, and new beginnings. 

See my book review here.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

One man. Two daughters. Two families. Two countries. This is a novel in verse about family, secrets, self-discovery, and acceptance. Camino and Yahaira’s story is both heartbreaking and enlightening.

See my book review here.

The Stepsisters by Susan Mallory

Daisy and Sage became stepsisters when their parents married. Their parents then had a daughter, Cassidy. Now as grown-ups, they’re estranged from each other. An unexpected event and facing their past, is what it takes for them to become sisters again. 

See my book review here.

The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert

Sanna Lund has been living with her father at their apple orchard all of her life. She’s estranged from her mother, and is in constant conflict with her brother. Along comes Isaac and his young son Sebastian, traveling to stay away from trouble back home. This is a charming story about families and new beginnings.

See my book review here.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Meet the Rivas, whose past is as chaotic and troubled as their present. Mick Riva, the famous singer, abandoned his wife, June, and four children years ago. June raised their four children on her own. The year is 1983, and it’s the day of their annual end-of-summer party. By midnight, secrets will be revealed and their lives will be changed forever.

See my book review here.

Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman

Meet the Gogartys and decide for yourself who the good eggs really are. This story reminds us that even when we’re at our wits’ end with the chaos and drama, love and family prevails. Be entertained by the mishaps and predicaments of the Gogarty family.

See my book review here.

Are you looking forward to meeting some of these fictional families?