Multi-generational family fiction recs?

[travelingtortoise]

I have a week off work next week and want to spend it lying in the sunshine reading – so I need your help!

Looking for intelligent contemporary fiction about families. Especially love it if there's some good old dysfunction and a house involved.

Recent faves include:

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
Love Marriage by Monica Ali
French Braid by Anne Tyler
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

Anything along these lines that you've particularly enjoyed and would recommend?

Everyone Is Still Alive (Cathy Rentzenbrink)
Malibu Rising (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
The Garden of Lost and Found (Harriet Evans - lots of her books would fit the bill)

i just read Bad bad summer people which was a great holiday read but more about friends than family. lovely beach houses in that though i'm a sucker for an American summer house thing!
also recently enjoyed At the table Claire Powell.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas.

I haven’t read any of your list so this might be very off piste but I enjoyed Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen recently (one family story and multiple perspectives from all family members including back in time for parents to reveal motivations etc). And this one could be very out there but is a fantastic book and definitely ticks the multi generation box, but The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is amazing.

oops just saw the “contemporary” part - considering pillars of the earth is set in the 12th century this probably won’t be what you’re after 😂 it’s amazing though if you want to try something new.

Ooh, so many great ideas here!

@mosiacmaker Crossroads has caught my eye so many times but for some reason I've never actually picked it up – I might start there.

And @piglet81 The Garden of Lost and Found sounds ideal...

Thanks all - keep them coming – I'm making a Big List!

Philip Hensher - The Northern Clemency

Tim Pears - In a Land of Plenty

The Secret Children by Alison McQueen. It's very "Indian Summers" with and multi-generational / cross-culture themes.

Run also by Ann Patchett
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield
Bournville by Jonathan Coe (spans from 2nd ww up to modern day)
Many by Anne Tyler , eg Digging to America, Back when we were Grown ups

Red at the Bone - Jacqueline Woodson

My favourite genre! Don't know if these are multigenerational enough, but Tessa Hadley's Late in the Day and The Past are both brilliant.

thanks for the tip really enjoying everyone is still alive - any other tips appreciated!!

All My Mothers by Joanna Glen

Second to Malibu Rising
Also The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan

Cazalet chronicles are not contemporary but amazing multi generational family story. Try book one, you will thank me.

Probably not multi generational enough but Hamnet from Maggie O Farrell

Yes to the Cazalet chronicles!

Lots of my favourites have been mentioned already.

I'd also add a couple of Jane Smiley books - A Thousand Acres is brilliant, as is her Hundred Years Trilogy; the first is Some Luck.

I also really liked I'm Sorry You Feel That Way recently.