4.5 stars rounded down

I found this book to be such a fun read. I picked this book up because I was in need of a change of pace from all of the mysteries and thrillers that I usually am reading. It was a great choice. Kasey was a fun main characters to read about even when the choices she made made me cringe at times. And her grandmother Mags was just perfection. I loved the relationship between them as well as her grandmother's partner Celia. The three of them together were hilarious at times. While reading I was constantly trying to figure out how Kasey was going to get herself out of the mess that she had gotten herself into. Add into all of that the mystery of what was really going on with her grandmother's business and a developing romance to equal out to one really great read. I haven't seen anyone really talking about this one on here (meaning Instagram) which is a shame. It's such a fun read perfect for spring or summer reading.

Readers who enjoy romances and especially romances with a thread of humor to them should pick this book up. I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author after enjoying this one so much. 4.5 stars overall but rounding down on Goodreads.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Honest thoughts are my own.

Super quick read, this was a cozy mystery with an equal amount of romance. It was like reading a Hallmark mystery where it's predictable but keeps you reading to see how we get there. While this type of mystery isn't exactly my cup of tea, the fact that it was well-written and had a witty FMC kept me reading. Will be recommending to my mom and her friends-- definitely their speed!
Sincere thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

This took me a bit to get into, and unfortunately, I think it was too slow. I liked the concept but was so annoyed with Jackson for most of the beginning, and honestly, Kasey too. Loved Mags and Celia, though, and thought they were entertaining. This one just wasn't for me, but I think if you're looking for a funky cozy mystery with a bit of romance you may enjoy!

This is a fun romp that will keep you wondering what’s next. Dimon’s characterizations were spot on, though Kasey did drive me crazy when she kept not having an adult conversation. Best enjoyed with a large glass of sweet tea.
4 stars

This was exactly the book I needed right now! It’s part mystery, part romance, and all about family drama in the best way making this a FIVE STAR read for me!

Kasey Nottingham, a 26-year-old trying to prove herself at work, pitches her grandma’s dessert business, Mags’ Desserts, as a possible investment without talking to her grandma ahead of time.

When she travels to her hometown to see her grandma and casually throws the idea out there, she finds out her grandma and her partner Celia aren’t just disinterested, they are hell-bent against the idea of it!

While in back in her small hometown, she uncovers some suspicious secrets, including rumors that someone’s been using pies to poison abusive men.

With the help of Celia’s smart (and very attractive) nephew Jackson, Kasey has to figure out what’s really going on—without getting anyone hurt.

Once again, I was able to read the ARC before requesting the audiobook and I just LOVE doing that! I request any and all audiobook that go with the ARC’s because I feel it adds something so magical and creates a more immersive experience. The voice actress, Mia Barron, did a phenomenal job breathing life into all of the characters!

Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, Avon Books, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to this AMAZING book in exchange for a review!

A solid 3 star read. It would have been 4 star if not for certain parts of the story felt rushed. This book made me laugh at times although it does mention domestic violence and spousal abuse. Revenge is an underling theme.
********************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley. *****************

Kasey hates her job and knows she is going to get fired. She just doesn't know what else to do with her life. Blurting out an idea based on her grandmother and her grandmother's special friend's baking business, she is shocked when the big boss is intrigued with the idea. Heading home to scout out her grandmother's feelings on selling, she is visiting on borrowed time. Her immediate supervisor shows up to prove that her idea has not merit and her long-time crush Jackson surprisingly shows up to back her up.

Very fun read in the vein of Jesse Q. Suntanto's "Aunties" series. Shocking family secrets plus a little matchmaking with a dab of getting one over on the boss makes for a great summer read.

I ended up enjoying this even more than I expected. Loved the relationship between Mags and Celia. And I loved how Kasey figured out who she was along the way. Jackson was a lovely foil for Kasey's more free-spirited personality while still loving her for who she is. I was a little surprised by the darker backstory of Mags, but perhaps I shouldn't have been given the murder mentioned upfront.

What do you get when you mix grandma's pie, small-town secrets, and a dash of murder? A perfectly baked cozy mystery you won't want to put down!

This book was a total delight! Funny, heartwarming, and full of surprises (three of my favorite things hehe) At first glance, it feels like your typical cozy mystery with small-town charm, a bit of family drama, and a slow-burn romance. But what really sets it apart is the powerful thread of female resilience and justice woven through every page.

Kasey, a lovable mess trying to save her career, impulsively pitches her grandma's pie business to her boss without their knowledge. The business, "Mags' Desserts" is run by her sharp, spirited grandma Mags and her equally fierce best friend, Celia. These two women have already survived life's worst: deadbeat husbands, financial hardship, and the weight of being underestimated. Now they run a successful, word-of-mouth dessert shop ~ with secrets literally locked behind closed cabinets.

As Kasey starts her amateur investigation, she realizes the business isn't just about pies. There's a darker, morally complex layer beneath it all: a string of mysterious deaths involving abusive men, all somehow connected to dessert deliveries from the dessert shop. The story raises a fascinating question; what if vigilante justice is the only justice some women ever get?

The story explores this moral grey area with a light touch but doesn't shy away from the deeper themes of female empowerment, found family, and women reclaiming control of their lives. Mags and Celia aren't just side characters, they are the heart of the story, showing what strength looks like in everyday moments and quiet defiance.

Add in the growing romance between Kasey and Jackson (Celia's sweet and sensible nephew), lots of playful banter, and some seriously mouthwatering dessert descriptions, and you have got the perfect cozy mystery for readers who love stories about justice, love, and unapologetically strong women!

If you are looking for a feel-good, fast-paced read that balances humor with heart and features women taking matters into their own hands, The Usual Family Mayhem is a slice of exactly that! 💙

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.