Book Review: "The Bluff" by Wade Rouse

Ahh, nothing like a dysfunctional family Christmas!! This book is described as a blend of Succession and The Family Stone, and while there are elements of both, it’s definitely not that sad. I’d like to thank Wade Rouse and Thunder Road Books for the advance copy!

The Chapman family believes in traditions, especially around Christmas. The holiday is always spent at the family’s lakefront mansion on Mackinac Island, with the same food and celebrations year after year. And it’s just the Chapmans and their spouses—the family doesn’t “share” the holiday.

But this year, Kat, the wife of oldest son Chris, has organized Christmas—and she’s shaking everything up, much to the dismay and anger of her mother-in-law, Charli. Not only is the Christmas tree in a different place, but Kat has invited her parents to join them, and they’re not at the same level as the Chapmans.

So while Charli rages at everything Kat does, there’s plenty of other drama. Her two sons, Chris and Cormac, are trading barbs about Chris’ handling of the family business. Cormac’s wife, Brie, isn’t above a little scheming to get her and her husband a leg up. Kat’s son Chip is ultra-conservative and motivated solely by money, and her daughter, Leah, is all too willing to question the status quo. And Kat’s mother has some secrets of her own.

As if there wasn’t already enough tension, a big snowstorm is headed for Mackinac Island, and it will trap them together. Resentments, secrets, lies, and manipulations will fill the home as much as the smell of Christmas cookies does. Will the family be speaking by the time they thaw out?

Wade Rouse’s books always have so much heart. I was completely hooked on this family’s story, even though many of them weren’t particularly likable! There’s lots of emotional depth, bad behavior, and even some name-calling…we’ve probably all experienced a bit of this drama! It definitely put me in a holiday mood.

The book will publish 10/13.