24 Best Family Drama Books You Will Love
Our December 2022 Reading Challenge prompt is to read a family drama. Why? Because there is something about family drama books that are so indulgent around the holiday season.
Maybe it’s because there are lots of family holidays to experience, but I always find myself craving books about families more dramatic than mine this time of year.
Below you will find all sorts of books filled with family drama. From found family novels to multi-generational tales, you’ll find options across a variety of genres. If you want more options, check out our list of family saga books.
Many of the books below are also perfect to discuss with your local book club, so keep that in mind as you peruse the list.
*The family drama books post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
Best Family Drama Books About Found Family
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor
Author: Bianca Marais
Year: 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The magic in this book is woven seamlessly into the story and has non-stop surprises. The book begins with the people of the town descending onto Moonshyne Manor with a wrecking ball to destroy it and the distillery. This will leave the five octagenarian witches who live there, homeless. They are left with less than two weeks to save their house but to do so, they must reveal long-kept secrets.
The cast of characters is fantastic from Queenie, the witch in charge, to Ursula, Jezebel, Ivy, Tabitha, and Ruby (whose return to the manner they are eagerly awaiting), I loved their eccentricities that can only be afforded to a group of eighty-year-olds who have no one to impress.
Why Jackie loves it
I am a huge fan of Ms. Marais’ writing. I read her previous two books and was so excited to read this adult fantasy book because fantasy is my favorite genre. This book did not disappoint. The writing is beautiful and very much Marais’ style and the witches in this book are hilarious. The witches are witty and funny and there is never a dull moment in the Manor.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book made me laugh out loud often and shed a few tears as well. I love the cast of characters and the emphasis on found family.
Find this book in: Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Best Adult Fantasy Novels / The Best Witch Books / Adult Fantasy Novels
Under the Whispering Door
Author: T.J Klune
Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Locus Awards Top Ten Finalist for Fantasy Novel
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Wallace is dead. When the reaper collects him at his funeral and brings him to a strange tea shop, Hugo is waiting with the promise of helping him cross over.
Wallace is not happy to be dead which is not surprising considering he was never happy when he was alive. This light fantasy will make you smile until the last page.
Why Jackie loves it
How many stars can I give? T.J. Klune has done it again with the wonderful book. House on the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book last year. I read this paranormal book in a day and loved every minute of this wonderful family drama book that is truly about found family. The character development feels real as Wallace finds himself and discovers what life is all about.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Family Drama Books / Best Ghost Books / Best Fall Books
The Most Likely Club by Elyssa Friedland
Elyssa Friedland is quickly becoming an auto-order author for me with her quirky characters and unique plots. Fresh off the success of Last Summer at the Golden, The Most Likely Club is another fantastic book club book!
With a 25-year high school reunion as the backdrop to this story about 4 life-long friends, there is so much to discuss in this fast-paced, witty book. When the girls realize that they are not living up to the high school superlatives in their yearbook, they make a pact to supercharge their lives and career goals.
But is it possible for women in this age to have it all? Partly a feminist story, partly an ode to female friendships, you’ll be laughing and contemplating serious matters in the same breath. I adored this book about friendship which is a family drama story and can’t wait to share it with my own girlfriends! It is also a perfect book from best beach reads 2023.
Plot
Imagine a world where a group of strangers co-parent one another’s children in a perfect little community bubble. That’s the Infinite Family Project, where Dr. Grind imagines 10 babies being raised collectively without ever knowing who their real parents are. They say it takes a village, and new high school graduate, Isabelle, needs a village so she doesn’t have to raise her baby alone.
Why Kirsten loves it
I found her story and involvement in the project to be so fascinating. I could not put it down. The drama of the parents, the way their little utopian society starts to crumble, it’s just so good. This is one found-family drama that is unlike any other. I urge you to give it a try with your book club!!
Find this book in: Family Drama Books / Books About Mothers
Family Drama Books About Money
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Commonwealth explores the dynamic of a family where two people commit adultery, separate their families, and then attempt to bring their various kids together.
When one child grows up and begins an affair with a novelist, her family story becomes the basis of his wildly successful novel. This complex family drama book spins a tale of love, family, and the ties that bind.
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
This novel takes place in modern-day New York City. The four Plumb children all had big plans for their inheritance until Leo, the oldest, uses it to get out of a sticky spot.
The siblings, all in their 40s or 50s and living separate lives from each other, begin to reconnect as they try to work their way out of the messes they have created for themselves over the years.
They each had banked on the money from “the nest” bailing them out, and now the money is gone. This dysfunctional family was a hot mess, but I totally fell for them. Funny, poignant, and full of drama, The Nest is a perfect beach read and a must-read family drama book.
The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson
This contemporary fiction book had a little bit of everything and I could not put it down. When their Helen grandmother dies, the family is amazed to find out that she has left her granddaughter a massive diamond that can only be the Florentine diamond.
As the family hunts for the truth, there is drama from all over the world. Everyone seems to have a claim on the diamond and how did Helen come to process this priceless treasure?
This jewelry novel has suspense, history, treasure, and family drama- the perfect combo for a great summer read.
Family Dramas About Family Business
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Author: Elyssa Friedland
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: A Good Morning America Buzz Pick, A Best Beach Read of 2021 from Bustle, A Best Summer Read of 2021 from PopSugar
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel is all about 2 families who own a resort in the Catskills and are thinking of selling or overhauling the Golden. This is the ultimate in family drama books.
Three generations of the Goldmans and Weismann clans have gathered to make the decision and family secrets are unspooling left and right in the midst of goat yoga, comedy shows, and salon catastrophes.
Why Kirsten loves it
It was a pleasure to read it while staying at the Hyatt on the Chesapeake and experiencing some resort life of my own.
Why Jackie loves it
This book had an amazing cast of characters that made me laugh out loud. I loved the dynamics of the family as they navigated to changes that come after the heydays of family resorts
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Books for Book Clubs / Summer Camp Books / Books With Colors in the Title / Books with Summer in the Title / Books Set in the 1960s
Dial A for Aunties by Jessie Q Sutano
I heard great things about this romantic comedy/ murder mystery mashup. It sounds like the weirdest combo, right? This book had me laughing out loud.
Meddelin Chen has an amazing, meddling Chinese-Indonesian family. Meddelin and her four Aunts run a wedding business together. When Meddelin accidentally kills her date and he ends up in a cooler at a wedding with two thousand people, what can go wrong?
It is the definition of a family drama story as Meddelin and her Aunties try and cover up the murder. This comedy of errors is being adapted by Netflix and if it is anything like the book, it will be amazing too.
The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz
This book has all the elements of the perfect beach read. Gorgeous jewelry and a cast of characters you’ll adore are all wrapped up in this wonderful family drama book!
Lizzie and Richie’s love story has its share of ups and downs, but after a 9-month separation, Ritchie gives his wife an 11-carat Diamond ring styled after Elizabeth Taylor’s.
Decades after the ring was stolen, or missing, or gambled away (depending on which of their children you ask) and long after their parents have passed, it resurfaced in the Caymans. The ripple effects of the ring and the drama are created, threatening to tear the 3 grown siblings apart.
I adored every character in the book and loved watching their personal growth and the way it impacted their family relationships.
We Are the Brennans by Tracy Lange
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves a family drama book. After a terrible car accident, Sunday is convinced to move back home with her family to recover and help with the family business that is close to financial ruin.
But, what she finds are the family secrets long buried and the potential to cause her family further disruption. This story is about the bonds of family and the secrets we keep to protect those we love.
Family Dramas Books About Forced Togetherness
Plot
Rocky and her family have gone to a rental in Cape Cod for 20 years. This year, the vacation feels different. Rocky’s kids are almost fully grown, but not quite, her parents are getting older faster than she would like and she is experiencing all the joys of menopause.
As they spend the week together, Rocky sees things differently than she has in the past. She has secrets that she no longer wants to keep.
Trigger Warnings
Abortion
Why Jackie loves it
This 236-page book is an absolute must-read. I related to Rocky’s mood swings and inner monologue so much I was screaming with laughter. The way she simultaneously loved her husband and felt the urge to slap him was all too familiar (sorry honey). I also loved the relationship that she had with her kids. This book is perfect for any woman who is in the sandwich generation and trying to find her place as a mother and daughter.
Why Kirsten loves it
I savored this book and it ended too soon for me. Newman’s portrayal of being a mother, a wife, and a daughter were spot on. I laughed out loud and even cried a little too with this 5-star book.
Find this book in: Books with Food in the Title / Best Family Drama Books / New June 2024 Book Releases / Best New Fiction Books of 2024 / Giftable Books / The Best Books of 2024
Tom Lake
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction (Dual Timeline)
More info: August 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 15+
Plot
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return home and beg their mother to tell the story of her romance with a movie star from long ago.
Throughout their Mom’s telling of her summer theatre experience at Tom Lake, the daughters get the long-awaited answers to questions they’ve asked for years. The whole family also re-examines their lives and relationships through the new lens of information. While this is a pandemic story, it’s more of a plot device to get the family together than anything else. So don’t expect to be triggered!
Trigger Warnings
Pandemic
Why Kirsten loves it
Ann Patchett is an amazing storyteller and I love all her books, so it’s no surprise that this story is one of my best books of 2023 picks! I was completely enchanted by this story, especially because Meryl Streep reads the audiobook version.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Novels Set on a Lake / Isolation Books / Family Dramas / Best Reese Witherspoon Books
Plot
Hornak takes series topics and makes them funny. This family drama book is about crazy coincidences and epic drama in one completely dysfunctional British family. What starts as a family spending a quarantine quietly in the family country home, turns into something from a soap opera. Every member of the family has their secrets and lies exposed.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a hilarious look at what happens when a family is quarantined together over the holidays. The entire time I was reading this quarantine isolation book, I kept thinking to myself that it should be a movie. When I first read this holiday book, I thought it was the perfect book for book clubs. Now, after a pandemic, there is so much more for book clubs to discuss.
Find this book in: Best Christmas Books of All Time / Christmas Book Club Books / Isolation Novels / Family Drama Books / Best Books of 2017
Dava Shastri’s Last Day
Author: Kirthana Ramisetti
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: December 2021 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I DEVOURED this contemporary fiction story of a billionaire music mogul who releases her death announcement 2 days early so she can read her own end-of-life articles. The best part was that during the snowstorm that trapped her family with her at the ski chalet, she neglected to tell them about her terminal illness and her harebrained scheme.
Trigger Warnings
Cancer, Death
Why Kirsten loves it
We get to see the impact the decision has on her family as well as get a look at her colorful life before her cancer diagnosis. This family drama was so compelling, I totally understand why it was a book club pick.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers / Family Drama Books / Family Sagas / Contemporary Fiction Novels / Best Celebrity Book Club Picks
Happiness Falls
Author: Angie Kim
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery
More info: September 2023 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
Happiness Falls is a captivating and heartwrenching tale about a Korean-American family in Virginia. When her dad mysteriously vanishes, Mia is convinced there’s a logical explanation. But as the search unfolds, family secrets unravel, and Mia’s younger brother, who is non-speaking Autistic, becomes the only witness.
Packed with shocking twists and thought-provoking questions, this book explores love, language, disabilities, and the lengths a family will go to understand one another. It was more than just a mystery. It was an exploration of the bonds of family.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a parent
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the portrayal of this family. Not only is this book filled with twists, it delves into the complexity of family and expressions of love.
Find this book in: Best Family Drama Books / Good Morning America Book Club List / Best Books for Book Clubs / Best Books of 2023 / Books With Neurodivergent Characters
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Tropper
When Judd Foxman’s father dies, the entire family must come home to spend seven days under the same roof while sitting shiva.
The family has not been together in years and the reunion is even more awkward due to Judd’s missing wife, Jen. Jen had an affair that was painful and public. The week becomes a time to rehash old grudges and remember what it is like to be a family. If you love family drama books, this one is for you.
Plot
Ernt Allbright has come home from the Vietnam War traumatized and as his mental state deteriorates, his wife, Cora, and daughter, Leni, must learn to navigate the Alaskan wilderness on their own. It has elements of survivalists, anarchy, and mistrust for the world, but is tempered with young love, community, and hope.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic abuse, Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
This isolation book is so haunting. I could not get it out of my head. Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer with wonderful characters. Her stories feel realistic almost to a fault. They are heartbreaking and heartwarming and utterly unforgettable. I did not think that I would like a book about Alaska but, I could not put it down.
Why Jackie loves it
Another Kristin Hannah story, another NYT best seller – and for good reason! I liked this coming-of-age story set in the Alaskan wilderness. The setting is truly its own character, bringing an element of desperation to that story that wouldn’t exist in another locale.
Find this book in: Books set in the 1970s / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Isolation Books / Winter Books / Family Drama / Best Books of 2018 / Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing / Books Set in the 80s
Family Drama Books About Weddings
The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner
This wacky story about three sisters who get engaged at the same time is laugh-out-loud funny. When their parents decide that the best way to save money is to throw them a joint wedding, well…let’s just say it’s a wild ride! How can there not be some serious drama?
Full of heart, sisterhood, and love, this contemporary fiction family drama story is one of Brenner’s best works. Of all the books featuring weddings on this list, this is probably one of my favorite feel-good books for the wedding season and it is a perfect pick for a list of books about sisters!
Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu
I’m obsessed with Destination Wedding. It’s a wonderful read for the summer wedding season or all year round. I knew very little about Indian weddings but now I’m dying to be invited to one! They sound like so much fun! This book takes place in India, but the main character is American-born. This could be just a light, beach read, but instead, it’s more.
The author touches on racism, and what it means to be an American-born child to parents who are from India. The feeling of not being at home in either location is explored in a way that I found very relevant today. I actually highlighted a few lines because they were eye-opening to me. It’s a summer read that has heart and a family drama book that is not to be missed.
Celebrity Book Club Family Drama Book Picks
This is How It Always Is
Author: Laurie Frankel
Year: 2018
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: October 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Rosie and Penn have five boys. The youngest, Claude wants to be a girl when he grows up. The family begins to navigate life with secrets because there is never a good time to explain that your youngest daughter was born a male.
These loving and supportive parents try to navigate a world where not everybody is open-minded, all while trying to do right by each of their children.
Trigger Warnings
Transphobia, Homophobia
Why Kirsten loves it
This is one of the best book club books on this list and a powerful look at what motherhood is all about.
Why Jackie loves it
Wow! There are so many things that I love about this contemporary fiction book. The story is poignant and all too realistic. It captures the innocence of youth and the struggles of an entire family.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Books about Mothers / Family Drama Books / Best Contemporary Fiction / Best LGBTQ Books / Best Books About Siblings
The Vanishing Half
Author: Brit Bennett
Year: 2020
Genre: Literary Historical Fiction
More info: June 2020 GMA Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The premise of this book set in the 70s is so unique. Two black sisters are so pale they can pass for white. One embraces her black heritage and her hometown, the other disappears into white suburbia. When they meet up again 20 years later through their own daughters, the result is a stunning portrayal of the ties that tether us to our families.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, Domestic Abuse
Why Kirsten loves it
I adored Bennett’s debut book The Mothers so I was nervous to read her sophomore novel. Sometimes the next novel doesn’t live up to the first, but The Vanishing Half absolutely does with this wonderful and thought-provoking book.
Adaptation Information
Issa Rae is producing the movie adaptation of this book for HBO.
Find this book in: Books Becoming Movies / Thought-Provoking Books / Books Set in the 70s / Books About Sisters / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Family Drama Books / Beach Reads 2021 / Best Books About Siblings
Nothing to See Here by
Author: Kevin Wilson
Year: 2019
Genre: Magical Realism
More info: November 2019 Read by Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range:16+
Plot
This magical realism book is about a woman who becomes a nanny for two children who start on fire when they get mad. There is wonderful humor in this book that is centered around strong and beautiful relationships. I cannot recommend this family drama story highly enough.
Why Jackie loves it
There is so much that I love about this family drama novel. It is such a feel-good book that is more than what it seems. It is well-written and funny and made our top books of 2019 list.
Find this book in: Best Family Drama Books/ Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Magical Realism Books/2024 Read with Jenna Book Club List / Adult Fantasy Novels / Best Books About Siblings / Best Read With Jenna Books
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 12+
Plot
I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18.
But when she hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother.
Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.
I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone who asks for a book recommendation because it’s my favorite book of 2022
Why Jackie loves it
This book has more heart than any book I have read in a long time. The unique perspective of a grumpy octopus may seem silly, but is brilliantly done and adds a unique perspective.
Why Kirsten loves it
The themes in this book, the plot, and the characters- especially Marcellus- really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved that Marcellus added some laughter and made me smile. I recently gave this book to my son and he adored it as much as I did.
Find this book in: Best Audiobooks of 2022 / Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Contemporary Fiction Books / Best Book Club Books / Best Read With Jenna Books
Family Drama Books About Neighbors
The Family
Author: Naomi Krupitsky
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: November 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Set in the 30s and 40s in Red Hook, NY, this family drama story is about two girls born into the Italian Mafia. Sophia and Antonia are the best of friends, neighbors, and daughters of local mob members. The story spans their childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood as they navigate their relationships with each other and “The Family.”
Why Kirsten loves it
It was captivating and wonderful to learn about the lives of the women in a crime family. It’s a must-read mob novel because it’s so unique.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Friendship Books / Family Drama Books / Best Read With Jenna Books
Little Fires Everywhere
Author: Celeste NG
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: September 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Nobody in Shaker Heights was prepared when Mia, a single mother and artist, rents a house from the Richardsons. When friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, the town becomes divided and Mia and the Richardsons are on opposite sides.
Trigger Warnings
Abortion, Miscarriage, Racism
Why Jackie likes it
I have mixed feelings about this family drama book about motherhood. There was nothing I didn’t like. It is a great story and is written well. I think I was expecting to be completely blown away because of all the hype. Ng has depth to her characters and looks at highly emotional issues. I ended up really liking the book once I got past the beginning.
Find this book in: Novels About Art / Books About Motherhood / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Family Drama Books
More Family Drama Books
Plot
Jo Piazza has written the PERFECT summer novel, striking a delicious balance between being relaxing enough to enjoy on the beach but thought-provoking enough to discuss with your book club.
I was swept into the story of Sara and her quest to learn about her unexpected inheritance and the possible murder of her great-grandmother, Serafina. To solve the mystery and claim her inheritance, she must travel to the Italian countryside – giving her a break from her recently closed restaurant and her failed marriage.
The dual-timeline narrative focuses on Sara’s quest and Serafina’s life as a woman coming into her own in the 1900s. The stakes are high for both women as they balance staying true to their dreams in the face of society’s oppression of women, especially when it turns dangerous.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could go on and on about this one. The vivid imagery that Jo paints with her writing had me picturing the town, tasting the food, and smelling the Sicilian soil. I SWEAR, at one point I touched my chin to see if the oil from the meal she was writing about was dripping down my face.
It’s a multi-genre, multigenerational masterpiece of a beach read. #gifted by Dutton Books
Why Jackie loves it
I could not put this book down. The characters and the plot compelled me to keep reading, the descriptions of the people and the places made me feel like I was actually there. The fact that some of this is based in a true story is just a cherry on top of this sundae!
Find this book in: Beach Read 2024 / Books Set in Italy / Family Drama / Best Historical Fiction of 2024 / Best Mystery Books 2024 / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Giftable Books / The Best Books of 2024
The Night of the Storm
Author: Nishita Parekh
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: National Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I finished this multi-genre book in one day. I simply couldn’t stop listening (the narrator is tops!). It was a fast-paced ride the entire time. From the hurricane to the family secrets to the death, it was a shock and surprise around every corner.
Jai is forced to head to her sister’s family home with her son due to Hurricane Harvey. As she hunkers down with her sister Seema, her brother-in-law, his mother, and his brother and sister-in-law, family secrets come out in the most dangerous ways.
From potential affairs to the shocking reason Jai is divorcing her husband, it was a never-ending thrill ride. Add in the tensions between the sisters, Jai’s relationship struggles with her preteen son, and the brother’s drama and you’ve got one hell of a story.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love that the author was inspired to write a thriller that starred an Indian family like hers and that her family and their experience during Hurricane Harvey inspired this story. #Gifted by PRH Audio
Find this book in: Hurricane Novels / Locked Room Mystery / Family Drama / Best New Thrillers of 2024
The Connellys of County Downs by Tracey Lange
From the author of We Are the Brennans, comes another family drama novel about loyalty, family, and love. When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving a sentence for drugs, she has to start over and return home to live with her siblings.
As she works to build a new life, secrets start to unravel. I wanted to walk into this book and fix up this trio of siblings myself. I loved the journey they went on as they recalibrated their lives and found peace with themselves and each other.
Pineapple Street
Author: Jenny Jackson
Year: 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: March 2023 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I loved this family drama book about the blue-blooded Stockton family, told from the perspective of sisters, Darley and Georgiana, and their sister-in-law, Sasha.
Each woman struggles to navigate life in the Stockton family. Sasha, a middle-class artist feels like an unwelcomed outsider. Darley struggles to live up to the Stockton family name after she gives up her identity to embrace motherhood. Georgiana, the youngest, needs to grow up and become a capable adult!
Each family member struggles both on their own and within the family dynamic in this wonderful contemporary fiction. Each sibling faces dramatic struggles from sick parents to committing adultery to a lost job.
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved seeing how they each grew throughout this book for book clubs and ultimately how they strengthened their familial bond. While the book had enough meat for me to get invested, it also had glimpses of the whimsy of the monied elite. The matriarch of this family in particular is a hoot!
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023/ Ultimate Beach Reads 2023/ Best Family Drama Books / Books with Food in the Title / Best Books About Siblings
Plot
This is a beautifully written and poignant book about family, love, and how much we can forgive those that we love. This book is the story of two families who live next door to one another and find their lives intertwined.
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism, Gun violence, Mental illness
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a realistic family drama book that deals with topics like mental illness and alcoholism. At times, I found it hard to read because I could feel the characters’ pain.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Family Dramas / Books About Addiction
When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff
This book is a DOOZY. It deserves a spot on our best family drama book list, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
Cassie Quinn comes from a wealthy New York family that appears picturesque from the outside. But her brother is now standing trial for the rape of his on-again, off-again girlfriend. Cassie heads home to support her brother, but during the trial, family secrets come out that threatens to ruin them all.
This family drama book has a ton of very difficult topics within its pages, so check for trigger warnings before reading.
