Pies! That was the first thing that came to mind when Kasey was asked to pitch an idea at an office meeting. Kasey had been working for the company that developed business ideas for four months and the pressure was on to finally make a pitch. If she wanted to keep her job she had to think of something. What was better than two elderly ladies who baked mouthwatering pies and cupcakes. The business she described was owned by her grandmother and Aunt Celia. Now she had to travel home and try to convince them to sell their business, knowing that they never would. When she arrives, she gets the feeling that something is off. She is afraid that they may be having money trouble so she begins to snoop into their business. What she discovers leads her to believe that the ladies are selling more than their baked goods. There are stars next to some customers’ names, one of whom lost her husband right after receiving a pie. Kasey takes her suspicions to Jackson, a lawyer who happens to be Celia’s nephew. Kasey grew up with Jackson and he has always been a friend. Now that they are older there is an attraction that she tries to deny, but he makes that very difficult. As she dodges questions from Gran about her sudden visit and interest in the business, she also has to find a way to avoid her boss, who has shown up for a progress report.

Kasey is a liar and constantly makes plans to avoid trouble. She dropped out of law school and has had trouble settling into a job for any amount of time as she tries to find her niche. She was raised by Grams after her mother was killed by her abusive father. Grams and Celia have also both experienced abusive marriages. Their goal now is to help women who find themselves in a similar situation. Kasey’s goal, however, is to keep the women safe and out of jail. With two very nosey but lovable seniors, a kitchen filled with the scent of baking and a possible murder, HelenKay Dimon provides more than just The Usual Family Mayhem. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Dial Press for providing this book.

3.5 rounded to 4 of 5 stars
Kasey is desperate for an idea to pitch to her company's investors. She decides to pitch her grandmother's pie shop "Mag's Desserts", but Mags and her partner, Celia, don't want anything to do with this idea. Kasey needs to keep her boss from realizing that the women aren't interested. What Kasey discovers is that Mags and Celia have a very big secret. Kasey, who has a big crush on Celia's nephew, Jackson together look into this secret, and wonder if their relatives are responsible for the deaths of abusive husbands in the community.
A rom-com with a different twist, and some funny moments.

Many readers are likely to alternate between recognition and exasperation at the familiar family dynamics in Dimon's latest, and relief that the straits 20-something Kasey Nottingham places herself in are strictly fictional. Kasey's well-intended floundering to establish a sustainable career puts her at odds with both her employer and her beloved grandmother; she is aided and obstructed in her efforts to resolve the difficult situation before a deadline by both her relatives and her own worst impulses. A fun low-stakes outing.

The Usual Family Mayhem is a cute, cozy and fun mystery read that will leave readers hungry (the bakery business alone-swoon) but satisfied. Featuring a cast of charming characters (Mags alone could have her own novel), Southern baking and HelenKay Dimon's storytelling, this novel is about more than solving a potential murder mystery. It's about chosen family, finding your own passion and challenging the norm. Pick this one up if you are looking for redemptive cozy mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I loved this! It was honestly so cute and I loved the idea of grandmothers poisoning people.
I thought that the characters were well developed, and I really rooted for Kasey, even if she was a little bit of a mess.

When Kasey uncovers strange happenings at the bakery run by her grandma—including reports of abusive men dying after placing orders—she teams up with teenage crush Jackson to investigate. Can she balance a budding romance with the need to keep her grandmother out of trouble?

I love, love, love this audiobook. It’s emotional and fun, delving into serious subjects with humor and sensitivity. Kasey is sweet and caring, but a little lost—not surprising after her traumatic childhood. Jackson counterbalances her perfectly. The audiobook narration reinforced the uplifting tone of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved HelenKay Diamon’s novel ‘Moorewood Family Rules’, so I was excited to follow another messy family amid a mystery. Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit for me as well as the previous novel did, but I think a lot of others would really like this cozy mystery style book with a tinge of romance!

A fun read, the story of Kasey and Jackson. Kasey is being secretive about why she is back home, but discovers more than she bargained for! I liked both main characters, and wanted everything to work out for them.

When Kasey is put in the spot at her new job, she wings out a pitch idea thinking it will buy her some time, onk6 to have her bosses call her on it and send her to get the ball rolling. Little do they know that the idea she pitched was about her grandmother and aunts bakery business. Now she just has to get her grandmother and aunt to go along with the idea.
She gets home and is greeted by her former crush/current nemesis who soon can’t deny the sparks between them, but his powerful father won’t let them be together.
In the process of trying to please her boss and get her grandmother to go along with her plan, Kasey snoops in their books and realizes that their may be more to the bakery than meets the eye when you have an item called “funeral pie” on your secret menu.
This was a fun cozy mystery that had romance, family drama and murder all rolled into one. I had a good time with it and look forward to more from the author.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Fun mystery with a side of romance, Kasey made for a funny FMC who takes on to snooping around her grandmother’s bakery business to help her win an account at her job. After finding mysterious ingredients in locked cabinets, dead husbands corresponding with client orders Kasey brings in Jackson, her childhood crush who is the nephew to her grandmother’s partner to help solve the mystery. Overall it was a fun thoughtful read that dealt with DV survivors.

"The Usual Family Mayhem" by HelenKay Dimon is such a fun read. We get sweet and spicy old ladies, a meant-to-be romance, and a well written and plotted story.

If you love Finlay Donovan, you will love the hot mess express that is Kasey Nottingham.

⭐⁣ OVERALL RATING:⭐⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Love it & Recommend - Great book, lots to love, well written, tight plotting, and characters have depth. Even if I have small problems with it I will recommend and want to share with others.

❤️ ROMANCE RATING ❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️ | I love them together, they clearly love each other and are meant to be.

🔥 STEAM | CONTENT RATING 🔥
🔥🔥 | Heating up - References to sex are more overt but not graphic (kissing, a layer of clothing being removed or characters walking to the bedroom and the author will cut to the next scene). All action happens "behind closed doors." Can likely be read by older teens and family members.


Thank you @Netgalley @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon is a fast paced, cozy mystery romance centered around Kasey Nottingham and her family. While trying to save her job, Kasey travels back home and immediately gets caught in the middle of what she worries could be a family scandal and is reminded of what it feels like to be back with the man (she denies) she loves.

The family dynamics in this book were unmatched; Dimon knows how to create characters that you love and hate and truly has a gift at making each of her characters unique and distinguishable from one another.

I loved the narration in this novel as well. Kasey was such a fun and witty narrator and I absolutely loved her commentary as she interacted with those around her.

Her romance with Jackson was also such a strong point in this novel. These two characters balanced each other out perfectly, and if you’re looking for a book where the male character is willing to fight for the woman he loves, this is the book for you. I loved how real their relationship felt and I might have even found a new book boyfriend to add to the ever-growing list. With dialogue like this – “When it comes to you I know exactly what I think and feel. And I’m sure as hell not going to wait another ten years to kiss you again.” – how could you not fall for him?

I will absolutely be recommending this book!

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the Advanced Reader’s e-proof in exchange for an honest review!

What do you get when you mix one chaotic granddaughter, a pair of Southern grandma besties, and a pie shop with a suspiciously high death toll among abusive husbands? A deliciously cozy mystery with heart, humor, and enough sass to fill a bakery case. The Usual Family Mayhem is like if The Golden Girls had a murder subplot and just a sprinkle of romance.


Read If You Like:

🥧 Cozy Mystery
💋 Second Chance Romance
🏠 Returning Home
👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Drama
😏 Chaotic Woman Energy
🕵️‍♀️ Funny Women Solving Murders

Blush Meter: 🔥 / 5

Fade-to-black romance and a whole lotta pie chemistry. This one's sweet with just a pinch of spice.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

Cozy, quirky, and quietly feminist—The Usual Family Mayhem serves up mystery and mischief with a side of heart.


Kasey Nottingham is not what you’d call a woman with a plan—unless that plan is to spontaneously pitch her grandma’s dessert business to her corporate overlords without, you know, mentioning the small detail that her actual grandmother runs it. Or that said grandma and her bestie Celia have no intention of selling. Or that the pie shop may or may not be the epicenter of a string of poetic justice-style murders involving trash husbands and flaky crusts.

Naturally, corporate eats it up and sends her to North Carolina to “seal the deal.” What Kasey finds when she gets home is… less “expansion opportunity” and more murder mystery with a cinnamon-sugar twist. Mags and Celia are being cagey, the cabinets are locked tighter than Fort Knox, and too many women are walking out with a knowing smirk and a pie that seems to change their whole damn lives.

Enter Jackson Quaid: Celia’s nephew, longtime family friend, and Kasey’s “oh-no-he-got-hot” childhood crush. The man is steady, loyal, and somehow manages to stay sane despite the utter chaos around him. Together, they set out to figure out just what’s going on behind the counters of Mags Desserts—whether it’s grandmas gone rogue or a very elaborate revenge pastry scheme.

Let me be clear: this book is pure joy. I grinned through it like I’d eaten a pie laced with serotonin. Kasey is a lovable disaster, Jackson is a human golden retriever with a toolbelt, and the grandma duo? Icons. Southern sass and quiet rebellion wrapped in lace-trimmed cardigans.

Despite the absurdity (and the high probability that someone is definitely baking their way into a murder charge), there’s so much heart in this book. It’s about family—the messy, complicated, ride-or-die kind. About justice, not the legal kind, but the kind where women protect other women with butter, sugar, and maybe just a pinch of poison. And yes, it’s about second chances: in love, family, and finding your own version of peace even when everything else feels like a dumpster fire.

The romance is light and lovely—very much “in the background but still satisfying.” If you're looking for spice, this isn't that kind of bakery. But if you're here for tension-filled pie baking, soft forehead kisses, and a boy who’s been in love with the same girl since childhood but never made it weird? You’re in the right place.

Final Thoughts:

If The Maid met Vera Wong in a Southern kitchen with a pie knife and a secret recipe, The Usual Family Mayhem would be their love child. Perfect for when you want a low-stakes mystery with charm, heart, and zero body horror (unless you count pecan pie with raisins… which, honestly, should be a crime).

This is a story that says women are complicated, clever, and sometimes a little bit dangerous—and they should be. Also, don’t mess with Southern grandmas. Just don’t.

Now excuse me while I bake something and side-eye the next book on my reading list.

Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really cute cozy mystery - Kasey gets herself in SUCH a mess but watching her undue it is just really fun. This reminded me a lot of Vera Wong and was really enjoyable!! Super quick read also and I really enjoyed that.

This was an enjoyable read- a touch of mystery, romance and humour!

Kasey Nottingham needs to keep her job and her boss wants her to find and develop the next big thing for investors.

Impulsively, she pitches Mags' Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and friend Celia.
When Kasey goes home to tell them, she finds more than she bargained for... not only with Mags' Desserts, but also her longtime crush Jackson.

Looking for a light read with some laughs and shenanigans, you may enjoy this one too

THE USUAL FAMILY MAYHEM by HelenKay Dimon is a contemporary, adult storyline focusing on Kasey Nottingham’s return to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the hopes of convincing her grandmother to sell her business.

Told from first person perspective (Kasey) THE USUAL FAMILY MAYHEM follows Kasey Nottingham as she struggles to remain employed at Nexus Opportunity Ideas, a centre for creativity and business proposals but weeks go by and our heroine is unable to come up with a definite plan. Put on the proverbial spot, Kasey is forced to come up with a business idea, and spews the first thing that comes to mind-franchising her grandmother’s at home bakery, a business that does more than sell treats and sweets. Hoping to convince her grandmother Mags, and business partner Celia, Kasey’s arrival home comes with much trepidation, and the face to face confrontation with the man who broke her heart years before, a man who is hoping to get a second chance. Jackson Quaid is a successful attorney, and Kasey’s arrival in Winston-Salem comes with too many questions including the obvious why but Kasey believes she has stumbled on to a dangerous secret, and with Jackson’s help begins to uncover a potential murder-for-hire plot using baked goods as the vehicle of death.

The world building follows several pathways including the potential for Jackson to enter politics. Jackson’s ambitious father is determined to push his son onto the forefront of power but Jackson is refusing to play the games, and Harlan Quaid takes aim at Kasey, and her grandmother’s business. Kasey is struggling with a direction in life, and in this, she battles between head and heart, in the face of loving our story line hero.

The relationship between Jackson and Kasey is one of unrequited love but although Kasey has been in love with Jackson for as long as she can remember, our heroine is unaware that Jackson has felt the same, for just as long. Kasey Nottingham is smart yet flighty, and in this, her inability to stay focused will be used as a threat against our story line hero. There are no $ex scenes.

We are introduced to Kasey’s grandmother Magnolia Nottingham, and her partner, Jackson’s aunt Windsor; Jackson’s father Harlan Quaid, and Kasey’s bosses Brock and Micah.

THE USUAL FAMILY MAYHEM is a story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating and thought-provoking; the romance is subtle; the characters are sassy, energetic and charismatic.


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The mystery! The romance! And a baking business that just might be aiding in a little thing called murder! Sign me up!!! This story was such a fun read and the family hijinks were top-notch. It is a wonderfully engaging contemporary cozy mystery and perfect for fans of Dimon's previous book, Moorewood Family Rules.

This is such a cozy and sweet love/mystery story!! I was worried that this would be too cheesy for me…it started off that way but tapered off once the mystery portion picked up. What will Kasey do about her job? Gram? Celia? Jackson? Harlen? Brock? Micah? A few storylines coming together like the perfect recipe. I love most every one of these characters… if you liked the show, Dead to Me, or love seeing the demise of the smallest man who ever lived (Harlen tbh…not a spoiler…you’ll know)…this is a fun one! And also like… I now want pie…or a scone…or muffin…. Or cupcake… but not a mini one…never a mini

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Avon for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own!

HelenKay Dimon is a master at cute, funny dramas! What I loved: quirky and lovable characters like Gram and Celia. The reliable and very dreamy Jackson, and the second chance romance of Kasey and Jackson. I even loved the sniveling and conniving Brooks and the narcissistic Harlan. What I wished was a little more developed was Jackson and Kasey’s relationship before. I would have liked a couple chapters bouncing back and forth from past to present, starting when Kasey move in with Grams and moving all the way through the Christmas with Anna. It would be cool to have it in Jackson’s pov so you could see how his vision of Kasey changed throughout the years.