The Bluff: A Novel

by Wade Rouse

Succession meets The Family Stone in bestselling author Wade Rouse’s humorous and sharply observant look at a family teetering on the edge of merry mayhem.

The Chapmans do Christmas the way they do everything: impeccably, expensively, and with the unshakable belief that good lighting can conceal bad blood. Their annual Christmas card may look picture-perfect, but behind the polite smiles there’s a storm brewing. This year, at their grand lakefront cottage on Mackinac Island, a snowstorm traps generations of Chapmans—and their schemes—under one roof.

Chris Chapman is on the verge of losing everything: his father’s trust, his role at the helm of the family business, and his wife’s respect. Kat Chapman is already fed up with hosting her critical, stuck-up in-laws and their impossibly inflexible holiday traditions. Her solution? Invite her working-class parents – born and bred Islanders – for Christmas, much to the horror of the Chapmans, whose rule that “We do not share Christmas with other people” is about to be broken.

As the snow piles up, so do the grievances: their children—fiercely liberal Leah and conservative golden-boy Chip—are locked in a battle of wits, Chris’s vaguely corrupt brother Cormac and his calculating trophy wife are stirring the pot, and Kat’s mother is holding onto a secret that could upend the entire game.

Deliciously messy and surprisingly tender, The Bluff is a feisty festive family drama about money, marriage, power, and all the things we bring to the holiday table besides the turkey.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

WADE ROUSE is the critically acclaimed author ofthe memoirs America’s Boy, Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler, and At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream and editor of the upcoming humorous dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship!He is a humor columnist for Metrosource magazine. Rouse lives outside Saugatuck, Michigan, with his partner, Gary, and their mutts, Marge and Mabel.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many stereotypes. Obnoxious, bigoted, entitled rich parents whose son has married a blue collar Mackinac Island girl, Kat. Her parents: kind hearted teachers with a secret. Her children: sweet Leah and Chip, the favorite of his overbearing wealthy grandfather. Her brother in law: volatile and abrasive, with a new young wife who is a schemer masquerading as a dumb, pretty Barbie doll. Kat and her family have always spent Christmas the way mother in law Charli demands, but this year she has invited her parents, much to Charli’s annoyance, to the family home ironically called Brigadoon. I liked the Mackinac Island setting, but had more than enough of this dysfunctional family’s Christmas drama. This author writes books under the pseudonym of Viola Shipman which I’ve enjoyed; this one was a big disappointment. I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bluff is one of the most unique books I’ve read! I’ve never read one where we were in so many different characters thoughts! This family was such a mess and it was so entertaining to read everything they were going through and how they would react to all the drama going on! I definitely was crying at some parts seeing the growth that many of the characters had and disappointed but not surprised about the lack of growth from some others! I now want to take a trip to Mackinac Island cause it sounds so enchanting! Loved the Christmas setting and it makes me long for the next few months to fly by so we can be at the season again so I can be with my own dysfunctional family! Definitely one to pick up and read this holiday

Thankful to have received an eARC from Harper Collins and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Sheri Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advanced read of The Bluff: A Novel by Wade Rouse. Fabulous!!!! The Chapmans,The Browns do Christmas at Brigadoon and on my.. Kat and Chris Chapman are hosting Christmas, Kat has surprises for her mother-in-law, Charli and husband CS the family "royalty", Chris is barely hanging on to being the new CEO, Its a battle of the family. Kat's family the Brown's also have issues they are from the island and have a history. There's a lot going on and never a dull moment, its hard to tell everthing and not give away the story. I like Wade Rouse as he also writes under Viola Shipman. I enjoy his writing and have always found each of his books touching a well written. Read the book enjoy

[Heather Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succession meets Family Stone is the perfect way to describe this book! So many POV's - my most favorite was The Grand Hotel! I have visited Mackinac Island in the summer and I'm so curious about the people that live there full time and spend the holidays there. This family was an absolute mess and I was horrified (in a good way) the whole time. Thanks Netgalley for the arc!

[Karen Piacentini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story on Mackinac Island at Christmas. Discover the magic of Christmas and Mackinac Island. Blending of 2 families in this tender, touching story. Traditions old and new. Sit back and eat some delicious Mackinac Fudge.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put this on your holiday TBR! It’s got a great setting, a unique cast of characters, and a ton of family drama! I laughed out loud, found myself rooting for so many people, and was checking prices to go visit Mackinac Island again. I loved it!