Make Nice

Quotes

"A bingeable addition to the dysfunctional-family-goes-on-vacation genre, with a motley crew of characters: a child actor turned cocaine salesman, a deceived divorcée, a scientist, a disgruntled teen, and an emotionally stunted widower mourning the family matriarch while harboring his own secrets. Perfect if you’re hiding out by the pool, wishing your own family were a bit more normal."
—The Boston Globe

"Ryan Effgen’s family comedy sparkles with genuine humor, smart writing and an ending that bravely goes for hopeful rather than happy.”
—The Wall Street Journal

"Family scandal, snail hunters, con men, and cocaine are at the center of this compulsively readable, big-hearted family beach book. It follows three generations who descend upon a Lake Michigan resort with one goal in mind: to be nice to each other, which proves complicated when secrets start to pour out."
—Marie Claire

"A sharply observed novel about sibling rivalry, old resentments, and the impossibility of escaping your family. . . . Effgen never lets the family’s genuine pain overwhelm the fun. Sharp dialogue, spectacularly bad decisions, and the forced proximity of a long weekend keep the story moving, while the elegant lakeside setting makes every awkward meal and sibling skirmish even funnier. Beneath the comedy is an astute understanding of how quickly adults revert to their childhood selves around family."
—Goop

"Ryan Effgen takes on family dysfunction in his debut novel Make Nice. . . . What unfolds is pure comedy. . . . Effgen's skill lies in rendering the surface chaos while taking the reader along to see how long it will be before something gives."
—Business Day

"If you’ve got concerns about your own family vacation, just wait until you read about the one the Pickford siblings are taking. . . . The family’s agitation is a boon for readers, who’ll surely enjoy the smart structure of the plot, the finely drawn characters, and the general mayhem they bring to what’s supposed to be a place for relaxation."
—Town & Country

"A brilliant comedy of manners. . . . Effgen make[s] each family member a full-blooded, sympathetic character. There’s so much to enjoy in this novel."
—Manila Bulletin

"If you enjoy my novels, then Make Nice is for you! Ryan Effgen chronicles the hijinks and complicated dynamics of a weeklong family vacation in a gloriously depicted Mackinac Island—replete with fudge shops, lake views, and horse-drawn carriages. Engaging and charming, perfect for your own summer vacation."
—Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket

“When the Pickford family returns to the Lake Michigan island where they spent childhood summers, they explore not only sandy beaches and fudge stores . . . but long-hidden family secrets. I can’t decide which Pickford sibling I love the most. There’s Pete (a snail scientist) and Viv (whose husband's sexy secret has nothing to do with her)—but my favorite has to be Corey, the wayward little brother who’s hoping to fix his life by selling five pounds of stolen cocaine to a rich stranger at the hotel his dad is paying for. Make Nice is true, tender, and sneakily hilarious...the perfect novel to make you treasure your own imperfect family.”
—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

"Tired of our long national nightmare? Take heart in Make Nice, a witty, tender family saga that will have you grinning from ear to ear as you bury your head in the sand for a few blissed-out hours. And trust me when I say: it is very, very good sand."
—Joshua Ferris, author of A Calling for Charlie Barnes

"A brilliantly funny, big-hearted novel full of family drama, scandalous secrets, big dreams, and long-shot gambles, with love and fireworks aplenty. Effgen's debut is pure pleasure, and I relished every page."
—Amy Poeppel, author of Far and Away

“Invasive snails, stolen drugs, a gay husband, romance, and long-held secrets color the Pickford family’s return to their old holiday island in Lake Michigan for one last get-together. . . . Effgen stirs this busy pot with a capable hand . . . and a wry comic touch. . . . Deftly woven. . . . An appealing escapist read.”
—Kirkus

"Make Nice is fun to read and transports readers. . . . There’s pleasure in watching these characters unravel and lose themselves on the island. . . . I’m happy to have spent time with the Pickford family, and to have joined them on this wacky Great Lake Island retreat.”
—Ian Macallen, Chicago Review of Books

"Witty and introspective. Bring this one on vacation."
—Booklist