Tolstoy's famous opening to Anna Karenina states, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." The holidays are on their way and with them, a fair share of family functions . . . and dysfunction. We all hope for happy family gatherings but sometimes all those cousins and great uncles and cheek pinches make one long to live vicariously though someone else's family. 

Take comfort! Fiction is here to make you feel better about your own family. Check out these titles about families that may be more or less dysfunctional than your own and escape Grandma's questions about your career or when you're going to have kids for a while. Some are happy, some are sad, and some are hilarious! 

The Wangs vs. the World - Jade Chang: After the collapse of their American dream, Charles Wang forces his family on a hijink-filled cross-country road trip to try and save their pride. 

The Brothers K - David James Duncan: This novel follows the Chance family from the 50s to the 70s through times of tumult, baseball, religion, and more.

The Turner House - Angela Flournoy: The Turner family debates what to do with the crumbling Detroit house their family worked so hard to buy during the Great Migration.

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan: A hilarious saga of a secretive, insanely wealthy family and the unknowing woman who loves the heir.

We Were Liars - E. Lockhart: Family secret and amnesia abound in this fast paced YA puzzle box of a novel. 

Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng: Lydia Lee's family wants nothing more than to give their children everything they couldn't have, but when Lydia drowns they have to reevaluate their whole lives.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - Maria Semple: When Bee's mom, the famous and reclusive architect Berndette goes missing, Bee knows she's the only one who can follow the obscure clues to find her mom.

Maine - J. Courtney Sullivan: Four women of the Kelleher family confront each other's prejudices and memories in the family beach house in Maine.

The Nest - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney: The four Plumb siblings squabble about what to do with the trust their family set up for them when it's finally come of age. 

The Little Friend - Donna Tartt: The most underreated of Tartt's book follows 12 year old Harriet's quest to solve her brother's murder . . . and also win the library's annual summer reading contest.