Book Review: A Family Affair by Robyn Carr

Posted March 28, 2022 by WendyW in Book Review, bookblogger, Uncategorized / 36 Comments

A Family Affair
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by Robyn Carr
Publication Date April 5, 2022
Published by MIRA
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Genres: Fiction / Family Life / Marriage & Divorce, Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 400
Format: ARC

***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***


Life’s biggest dilemmas can provide its sweetest rewards

Anna McNichol knows how to take charge. Raised by a single mother, she’s worked to ensure her three children have every advantage she didn’t. And while her marriage has its problems, she values commitment and believes in "till death do us part." Now an empty nester, she’s at the peak of her career and ready to seize the opportunity to focus on her future.

But life can change in an instant, and when her husband dies suddenly, Anna’s carefully constructed world falls apart. The mysterious young woman at the memorial service confirms her husband had been keeping secrets, and Anna is determined to get to the truth.

For once, she doesn’t have the answers. Her kids are struggling with their grief, her mother’s health is in decline and Anna needs closure. Faced with one challenge after another, she finds support from an unexpected source. And as she puts her life back together, Anna realizes the McNichols may not be perfect but they’ll always be family, and family is forever.


A Family Affair by Robyn Carr is a stand-alone novel about one family who lost one of its own, and how they came together to help each other survive the loss and examine their past.  I was riveted by this family drama and wanted each of the characters to find some happiness.  

Anna McNichol was raised by a single mother and is now the mother of three adult children.  Her work ethic is a result of being raised on the edge of poverty, and never feeling settled.  In response, Anna works hard as a judge, working her way through law school with young children.  Anna’s husband Chad is a therapist and active in the community.  Their marriage on the outside was perfect, but after Chad’s sudden death in a rafting accident, secrets come out that affect the entire family, and maybe their marriage wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. 

I love Robyn Carr’s heartwarming style of writing, and it shines in this book as well.  She has a knack for exploring families, and their dynamics and her writing is compassionate as well as compelling.  The characters are well developed and I wanted them to succeed and be happy.  I especially related to Anna, the main character, and how her past dictated the decisions she’s made while raising her own family.  Also, I thought it ironic how Chad was a therapist, and yet, his wife and children needed help as much as some of his clients.   

I highly recommend A family Affair to anyone who loves a good family drama.  I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About Robyn Carr

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel A FAMILY AFFAIR is coming in April 2022. The fifth novel, THE FAMILY GATHERING, in her fan-favorite Sullivan's Crossing Series was released in Jan. 2020 and a Sullivan's Crossing TV series is in production! The Virgin River TV Series, season 3 is now streaming on Netflix (July 2021) with season 4 and 5 coming soon.
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

36 responses to “Book Review: A Family Affair by Robyn Carr

  1. As you know, I loved this story so much too! It was ironic that with Chad being a therapist his family needed help and he was so unhappy and unfulfilled. What a self-centered man!

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  3. I have this one coming up in a couple of days for the blog tour. It sounds emotional, but cleansing. I always go into stories with grief slowly as they usually hit me hard. Wonderful review Wendy.

  4. Jenny+McClinton

    This does sound a bit emotional but I do love to read a family drama so sounds good 💕

  5. I think that often happens with therapists because they have compassion and can see the person behind the mental health challenges but they can’t actually act as the therapist for their loved ones. It’s a weird conundrum. I will have to try a Robyn Carr book one of these days. I’ve thought about it many times but never have. Excellent review!

    • Nice insight, Tessa. He was a great therapist, but not such a good husband! Robyn Carr is excellent at writing family dramas.

  6. Hi Wendy! I have never read anything by Robin Carr, but I did watch the first two series of Virgin River. This does sound like a good family drama and your review was lovely.

  7. Books about family relationships and dynamics do make for interesting reading. Loved your review of this one Wendy🙂 will look up the book sometime

    • Thank you. Robyn Carr writes such heartwarming books. I’ve read most of her books, and I always enjoy them.

  8. Intriguing! I have discovered a love for family drama books recently, and this seems like a great one to add to the list. Thanks for the review!

  9. This sounds really good. I’ve only read one of Robin Carr’s novels previously but I did enjoy her writing style.