The Family Compound

by Liz Parker

A compassionate and insightful novel about family, broken dreams, and holding on to everything in life that matters.

Five cousins must band together to decide the future of their shared inheritance—the family’s sprawling property in Stowe, Vermont—but with each at a different place in life, reaching a unanimous decision seems unlikely.

Penny struggles with depression and craves stability in an unstable world. Halsey is divorced, raising her child, and contending with an unexpected realization about herself. Irresponsible William can be counted on only to fall in love as capriciously as he falls out of it. And both Laurie and Chris are floundering after betrayals—hers professional, his personal. With little in common except childhood memories, the five face impossible choices. It’s going to take sacrifice, compromise, and a plan for moving forward they can all agree to. Until then, the fate of the Nolan family compound is as uncertain as their paths in life.

As five lives in flux converge and tensions run high, the cousins will have to rely on each other if they’re to have any hope of preserving the past. From the author of All Are Welcome comes a novel about a family legacy worth fighting for.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Family, LGBT

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2022

Reviews

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried as an ebook and flipped to audio. I wanted to love this one - this idea of 5 cousins inheriting a sprawling compound with lots of acres and a few houses on it. I liked the idea of 3 siblings on one side and 2 on the other, having to work together to agree on what to do with it. But I couldn't find single cousin to like. I found them all pretty shallow and awful to each other. I found the drama dialed to high and I just couldn't get invested in it.

I wish I'd liked it more.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a predicament many families have found themselves. What to do with several owned property? The cuz compound sounded interesting so I dove in. The beginning was promising. But then the reading momentum slowed to a dribble. I found the characters uninteresting and their interactions lukewarm.
One of the scenes I did appreciate was Hensley finally telling Laurie off.
The ending redeemed the book, somewhat, but overall this was a mediocre read for me.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the early copy.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

*read for free with Kindle Unlimited and audible audio *

Narration: pretty good 👍
Plot and characters: 3.25 stars 🌟

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It took awhile to get going but it ended up being a decent read.

I thought there should have been apology scenes between two certain parties and not down to a one line comment to explain it away. I was ready to drop kick the one cousin,..and the other wasn't much better in the conflict. The one redeemed herself in the story, but the time jump made me feel..disconnected from it.

Penny was relatable to me with the mental health stuff. Some of the stuff she described definitely sounded familiar. I hugged her so many times in my mind.

The end result of one part had me smiling and glad for the family..while being glad they weren't mine haha.

Besides Penny, Halsey and Miles were my favorite. :)


A good read overall, not sure if I'd read it again or not..we shall see.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: The Family Compound
AUTHOR: Liz Parker
PUB DATE: 08.23.2022 Now Available
Synopsis: Swipe Above

I love Liz Parker’s novels - the characters are living, breathing, and as real as it gets. They are flawed, complex, and very relatable. The stories are about the complexities of family relationships, taking a snapshot of their lives in the most unique of circumstances.

Just like ALL ARE WELCOME, Parker’s fantastic debut novel, THE FAMILY COMPOUND delivers in this satisfying page turner, highlighting a dysfunctional family in all its glory in such an idyllic location in Vermont.

Parker’s keen observations translates into an incredible character driven story that is not only funny but also incredibly fun to read about. Enjoyed this one a lot!

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about three siblings that must cope after their father dies unexpectedly. I didn't enjoy it at all. I was barely able to finish it. None of the characters were likable. I just didn't feel anything for anyone of them. I wasn't able to be sympathetic to the siblings and all their miniscule problems.

[km8284 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The family dynamics felt real and the chapters were a nice length to read multiple at a time. Great palate cleanser for me.

[Beauregard Francis]

dnf @ 40%
Truly astronomical how much I did not care about anything happening to anyone in this book. Normally if I get this far in a book I just finish it off but I just couldn't do it this time. The setting was the biggest draw for me and aside from name-dropping some towns and mountains there really was nothing to say that this couldn't have happened literally anywhere.

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Family Compound was an interesting read about a group of cousins trying to come to terms with land and two homes left to them after their parents die. The problem comes in because the land and homes are all part of one parcel and it's an all or nothing deal.

The characters, each with their own quirky personalities, were well written and their interactions were always unique and sometimes puzzling and/or heartwarming.

At one point, I did quit reading because I just couldn't get into it, but eventually I realized I wanted to know what they ended up deciding about the land. So I started reading again, and at that point, maybe 40%, the pace picked up and other characters entered the story, helping to drive the pace.

I think that if you like family sagas, tales of family and found family you'll enjoy this book as I did. Give it a shot!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Amazon Publishing for my e-ARC in exchange for the honest review.

When Penny, Chris and Laurie’s father died The Compound was divided to the siblings and two cousins evenly. For the siblings, for them it was so hard to talk about their parents because of what happened. All they have was each other and they’re cousins.

they start voting if the compound will stay or sell, they start arguing about that. The compound leave to the five cousins but their dad/uncle never leave any money for them. So all they have was the house. Halsey, she was divorced and raising her child. Chad was an asshole for cheating with their babysitter.

This book has multiple POVs.

[Jude (HeyJudeReads) Fricano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this insightful novel about family, broken dreams, and holding on to everything in life that matters. Two sets of siblings - five cousins must together decide the fate of their shared family property. They each have individual perspectives and as we learn what both makes them tick and their background we root for them, not one, not two but all of them, each of them to find a way to have a shared future!

[Chatti · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kindle says I'm 37% through the book and yet I don't believe that. It feels like I have been reading for years trying to get through it. This one dragged so much with little development in characters. Nothing happens, none of the characters are interesting or likable. All I can think was poor estate guy. I would have gone bonkers if I had to deal with this family.

A DNF for me, unfortunately.

[Melissa Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Natasha Bransford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Families. Talk about drama. And with the Nolan and Ridge families, there is no shortage of drama. Everyone used to exist on their own, floating along, until the patriarch (and remaining adult of that generation) of the Nolan family suddenly passes away and they're forced to grow up and deal with their shared family inheritance of land and ultimately, figure out what really matters to them.

The Nolan family has 3 siblings, Laurie, Chris, and Penny. Laurie and Chris are successful in the traditional sense, professionally and therefore financially. Penny is the youngest and is floating along, working at the local grocery store and contemplating her next move.

The Ridge family has 2 siblings, Halsey and William. Halsey is a recently divorced single mom to Miles and is the only family member of the current generation to live full time in Stowe and on the inherited land. William is a yoga "influencer".

The land is shared between the two families, used as weekending property and summering property throughout their childhoods. Each family has fond memories of times spent at the family compound in Stowe, but each one is unsure of its role in their lives as adults. The stipulation of the will when the land was left to the cousins, was that they either live owning the property together or sell it together. Cue drama. Only 2 of the cousins have jobs to support the taxes and expenses of the property. 1 lives elsewhere and is uninvested in the property, 1 is unsure of everything in her life, and 1 desperately needs to stay but has no money to do so.

The story mainly focuses on the drama in Laurie, Halsey, and Penny's lives. Each one is forced to move forward and take those terrifying steps into the unknown to see what lies ahead of them in their lives. One thing I wish for this story was that some of the more stories were more flushed out, I felt like I needed to know more about Chris and William. They gave their stories a little bit of depth but then left it with loose ends that were tied quickly at the end. Sometimes the flashback the author uses could be a bit jarring and was hard to figure out if they were in the past or present at first. The authors imagery of the land was amazing and made you want to be in rural Vermont. Overall, the story was a good one, with a resolution that was heartwarming. I definitely enjoyed spending time in the world of the Nolans and Ridges.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star read for me

I'm always game for a great family drama (with bonus points when set in New England) and The Family Compound initially seemed to fit the bill. Five cousins from two families (siblings Chris, Laurie and Penny, and siblings William and Halsey) have always had the family compound in Stowe, Vermont in their lives. They're now all adults and the oldest family member has passed away, leaving them with a quandry about how to deal with the property moving forward, and in compliance with the strict terms of the property trust.
Their life circumstances are so different, ranging from a single mother who doesn't work outside the home to a private equities executive. They'll need to work through their many differences if they want to keep the property in the family. Ms. Parker does a nice job of capturing the grief of losing a parent and how relationships among family members can change in adulthood.
I liked the flashbacks to earlier times when the cousins were younger and families intact. Everyone seemed very functional at that point, but they all seem to have evolved to different stages of being dysfunctional (without helping the reader to understand how that happened). At different points, I wanted to yell "grow up" to each of the cousins!
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Family Compound in exchange for an honest review.

[JosieGL [glossinbossin] · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought this was a quick read re: a family drama re: a land inheritance. Sometimes this type of story takes a nasty turn, but that wasn’t true here. It skirted on the top without ever going too deep, but it was still enjoyable.

[Kriti | Armed with A Book]

If your family had a huge piece of land or an ancestral home and you inherited it, what would you do with it?

The Family Compound is the story of five cousins who are now responsible for the family’s sprawling property in Stowe, Vermont. They may have grown up together but since reaching adulthood, each cousin has made their separate path in life.

We have Halsey, the oldest, unemployed, single mother, who has to make room in her tight budget to keep the property going. Penny is the youngest. She was the one who found her dad in the garden and since his passing away, her unresolved past has resurfaced. Her support system seems minimal and she has to take charge of her life if she wants to keep the property. Laurie, Chris and William are the other cousins, ages between Halsey and Penny’s – each more independent than the last.

While The Family Compound touches on the lives of all the cousins, I felt that Penny and Halsey were the main perspectives – and good ones too! While all the cousins needed to grow in their own ways, the leap for these two needed the background that the author provided.

I liked how each cousin had different feelings related to the property based on their situation in life and the connection they had had with the place. The ones who had moved away weren’t so interested in keeping in and seemed to see it as a financial burden while those who called it home wanted it to stay that way. Halsey wanted her son to grow up there and she fought hard to make it so.

A property is not just for the people who live on it or own it. I appreciated the perspective that the family solicitor, Trevor, brought to the table. In trying to get the cousins to agree to a plan of action to keep the property, he had to put aside his personal relationships with them. Sometimes, he had to put his foot down.

If you are craving a fast-paced light read, give The Family Compound a try. It has a family drama and secrets which I quite enjoyed. It addresses the theme that life is always changing. Without any of the parents around, all the cousins had to step up and be adults. I enjoyed this perspective of how life constantly gives us opportunities for a fresh start if we are willing to take it.

Many thanks to Over the River PR and the publisher for the gifted copy of the book for an honest review. This review was first published on my blog. Follow the links to never miss a review: Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

[Aimee Dars]

After Frank Nolan unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, his three children and his late sister’s two children inherit shared property in Vermont they call The Family Compound. It’s the site of treasured childhood memories, and Halsey even lives there with her son Miles.

At the reading of the will, the cousins learn that any decisions made about the property have to be unanimous and that they must find funds for the upkeep. They quickly agree that being so close, they’ll have no problem reaching a consensus. Soon, though, tensions arise. Only Laurie and Chris have steady jobs, so when the maintenance fund runs low or emergencies arise, they must cover the expenses, something they increasingly resent. Penny, who lost all her friends five years ago, refuses to share her troubles. Halsey, Laurie, and William all have secrets of their own they are desperate to keep hidden, but the greater the conflict grows among the cousins, the more the the property is in jeopardy. Only by taking risks, individually and together, can they achieve a fulfilling future.

I devoured this book in a day; I always enjoy reading about families. The novel focused on the women who were much more sympathetic when interacting with people outside the family, but I suppose we are cruelest to those we know won’t abandon us. The energy with which the women cling to their secrets would have been so much more productive if directed elsewhere, and hiding became such an unnecessary burden.

Thanks to @otrpr and @AmazonPublishing for providing an advanced reading copy!

[Syifa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc!

So, this book is family drama between five cousins that inherited a property in Vermont as equal owners. They have to come up with a decision together whether to keep it or sell it. The cousins shared some history that they used to spent time together in the property. As times goes by and they grew up, they grew distance and becoming strangers to each other, untill they have to gathered up when patriarchy of the family died. Filled with secrets and struggles they barely shared, they have to come through a lot of things to reach the final decision regarding the land.

It's my first time reading family drama book and I don't have any expectations about it. To my surprise, this book focused on the relationship between siblings and cousins that grew distant and relearning about each other again after some times (which is a theme that very close to me). The author also successfully brought the issue about being a kid trapped in adult body which might be relatable to many!

I love the three women characters (Laurie, Penny, and Halsey)'s development and growth, since the story is written around their POVs. it's exciting to explore more about them, their secrets and struggles, and how to overcome it. Not to mention how the women are the force that determined the decision!

Overall, it's a heartwarming and very nice first read experience for me on this genre!

[Shhh....Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the untimely death of their father, siblings Chris, Laurie and Penny Nolan, along with their cousins, Halsey and William Ridge inherited their family homes and the vast land that these homes are built on. After the reading of the will, they must decide whether to keep and take care of their land or sell. The upkeep of the land and taxes will be astronomical, so they devise a plan to start a family account to offset any future problems. Since each of them are at different monetary levels to contribute to the family account, there are concerns of unfairness and thoughts of maybe selling the land.

The Family Compound was a slow, but good read. I felt the story was more on character building than plot driven and the ending was predictable. At times I felt as if both sets of siblings didn’t like each other, but what family doesn’t argue or have disagreements. Whatever they were there for each other when it counted. The characters experienced lost loves, betrayal, newfound love and self-destruction. However, there were chapters that switched from past to present without any warning. I would have read a paragraph or two before I realized the time period has changed which I found to be a little annoying.

The story gained more of my interest toward the end of the book. Although it was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed the ending.

ARC received from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my honest review.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

“The Family Compound” by Liz Parker revolves around family and finding strength in oneself. This book takes a different twist on the chestnut of land inheritance, where instead of a set of siblings deciding what to do with it, instead it’s a group of cousins. I felt the beginning set-up to be interesting, where a family friend and lawyer explains what’s been set up by the will and how everything has to be a group decision. For me, this book moved a bit slowly, and I never felt like I “knew” the two male characters - it seemed more that they’d pop into the story then disappear again to the wings. I also found some of the chapters a bit jarring, as I realized they were set in the past - but there wasn’t a note or chapter title indicating this, so it seemed like it was present time. I found the “final decision” to be a bit too perfect in the setting up and resolution. I did, though, like how the family dynamics seemed real - spending time with family when younger doesn’t always mean everyone’s the “same” when grown-up and with other responsibilities (work, family) start taking precedence. Overall, for me this was a good book, but it didn’t always work for me; I’m glad I read it and for those who like family dramas I’m sure they will enjoy it.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a novel based on family saga, then this book might be great one for you.

This is a story of five cousins, Laurie, Penny, Chris, Halsey and William coming into terms with land and two homes left for them after their parents died. Each of these characters have their own personalities--Laurie had been fired from her position as a lawyer in a law firm, Halsey is newly divorced and discovers something about herself, and Penny is seem to be suffering from depression. The story is maily told in Laurie's, Penny's and Halsey's perspectives.

At first, the book did not really get into me and at a point, I was kind of bored with the book. But by 30%, the book suddenly grew into me and soon, I want to know what is going to happen to the land and also to the cousins. The book also mainly talked about the relationships between the cousins, how estranged they were with each other. The pacing grew by the 50% of the book to the point when suddenly I was interested in the ending and wanting to know what is going to happen next.

So if you are into family sagas and family dramas, then this book might be one for you. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Family Compound, by Liz Parker, offered far more than I expected. When an elderly parent dies, five adult cousins inherit a large parcel of land in Vermont. According to the Will, the land cannot be divided or sold without all five agreeing. Drama, strife, and childhood hurts surface as the cousins struggle to decide what to do. The decision is affected by the personal issues that each cousin is dealing with and complicated by the complex historic relationships between siblings and cousins.

This was an extremely rewarding story. It did take a bit of time to sort through how each of the characters were related and which issues each was dealing with. I truly believe that the last stage of adulting is dealing with life after your parents are no longer available to parent. How these cousins grew individually and as a group to resolve the challenge of the bequest caused me to contemplate my own life and those with whom I was fortunate to travel.

Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a bit of a slow start but a strong finish. I became easily invested in the women who each have a POV. I wish the two men had been given one too since their stories were a little thin. There were a few flashback chapters that took me out of the story, and sometimes I had trouble following the timeline- especially with Andrew whose love felt a little too insta and intense- but I guess sometimes that does happen. I really enjoyed Halsey’s plot line though sometimes it was difficult to read. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but I thought Liz Parker did a good job showing their backstories, the challenges they face, and how they overcome them. On the whole, I thought this was a great look at family dynamics and I definitely wanted to know what would happen.

Note: I couldn’t quite figure this out before reading so let me say clearly here: there IS a queer storyline.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing. ARC exchanged for an honest review.

Short summary: five cousins are left 150 acres in Stowe, VT and must figure out whether to sell the land or keep it and how to do so.

[Katherina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me. I had read about 25% and put it down for awhile, wondering if it was going to hold my interest. I went looking for something else, but found that I couldn’t stop thinking about the two families that shared the family compound. The parents had died and the property was left in a trust. I really didn’t think the terms of the trust were fair. I won’t spoil it for the reader but I absolutely did not feel that two of the cousins would be underwriting most of the expenses just because the others weren’t interested in working as much or as hard. The cousins had to decide whether to keep or sell the place. Of course, family memories mean more to some than others, everyone has their own problems, etc. and I picked the book back up and did not stop reading until the book was over. This may be a slow start but it hooks you. I think this could be a finalist in family sagas this year. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Saned Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primero que todo gracias a Netgalley y a la editora por permitirme leer esta historia.

The Family Compound trata sobre dos familias, cinco primos quienes quedan como herederos de unos terrenos. Entre los cinco primos deben decidir que harán con estos terrenos y llegar a un acuerdo. A lo largo de esta historia podemos ver como los primos deben dejar sus diferencias a un lado y comenzar a trabajar juntos.

Con esta descripción me parece suficiente para atrapar al lector. Aunque al principio se me hizo un poco difícil continuar con esta historia porque me parecía un poco lenta, me di cuenta que mientras más avanzaba se ponía más interesante. El drama, el amor y lo desconocido hacen que esta historia sea única. Es asombroso ver como cinco personas pueden trabajar juntos para continuar con un legado familiar.

4/5 estrellas porque considero que por momentos se hace difícil de leer. Excelentes personajes y trama.

[Saned Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primero que todo gracias a Netgalley y a la editora por permitirme leer esta historia.

The Family Compound trata sobre dos familias, cinco primos quienes quedan como herederos de unos terrenos. Entre los cinco primos deben decidir que harán con estos terrenos y llegar a un acuerdo. A lo largo de esta historia podemos ver como los primos deben dejar sus diferencias a un lado y comenzar a trabajar juntos.

Con esta descripción me parece suficiente para atrapar al lector. Aunque al principio se me hizo un poco difícil continuar con esta historia porque me parecía un poco lenta, me di cuenta que mientras más avanzaba se ponía más interesante. El drama, el amor y lo desconocido hacen que esta historia sea única. Es asombroso ver como cinco personas pueden trabajar juntos para continuar con un legado familiar.

4/5 estrellas porque considero que por momentos se hace difícil de leer. Excelentes personajes y trama.

[Alice C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Family Compound by Liz Parker
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Family drama, big decisions, personality conflicts, individual drama, this book has a lot going on! I loved all of their individual storylines, dealing with and overcoming their problems. This book is extremely character-driven. I really wanted to know how it would end, and where our characters would end up - and this ending was a really satisfying conclusion. It was a relatively easy read but had some deeper moments and storylines, too.

I’m giving this 3.5 stars because it did flip back into the “past” a few times, without telling us it was doing so… it would take a few paragraphs into the chapter for me to have any idea what was going on. I think a timeline of some kind would’ve been helpful, even chapter titles such as “September 2022” or something.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Net Galley and the author for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. When five cousins, who share a history but are all very different, inherit the family property, there are conditions that come with the bequest. They must all agree what the sprawling Vermont property is used for, and whether it will be sold. They are all struggling with different aspects of their lives, and they don't understand where each other is coming from in the decisions they make. Once they start spending time together, they each start to look forward, but with hesitation and fear. They share a past, they share so many memories, but can they be the adults they were meant to be? Can they come together and make a good decision on the path for their lives and for the "The Family Compound."

[Erika Vogel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of 5 cousins who find themselves co-owning land after the death of their parents. The land has been in their family for generations and holds their childhood memories. Each cousin has their own opinion on what should be done (stay or sell).

I felt the book was slow to start, but picked up around half way through. Each character is complex and I liked how their past experiences were revealed to the reader and not the other cousins. The reader was on the outside looking in and was the only one who knew the whole story/truth of each cousin.

The book is under 300 pages, but was slow paced. I liked the premise, but thought it could have had a little more drama, especially with the story with Penny.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy an exchange for an honest review.

[Kristi Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a family is faced with difficult choices following the death of a loved one, it can be daunting. When the 150-acre compound of the Nolan and Ridge families is willed to the cousins, it can be very complicated.

Parker carefully develops each family member (3 siblings, 2 siblings, all cousins) showing their personality vulnerability, and their place in the family. The characters grow together while trying to decide the fate of their beloved family property. The book shows how families can be challenged, disagree with one another, but still work together to make choices and decisions. The relationships are not sugar-coated but have a feel of a real family and the dynamics of an extended family.