The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon is a cozy romance with a touch of mystery with some badass grandmas and a conflict-avoidant main character. It's a fun, easy read. I couldn't put it down.

Kasey Nottingham needs a big idea to save her job, so she throws out a wild pitch—her grandma’s small-town bakery, Mags' Desserts. She never expects her boss to say yes, but when he does, she’s sent back to her waspy home in North Carolina to make it happen. There’s just one problem: Mags and her best friend Celia aren’t interested. Actually, scratch that—there’s a much bigger problem. Something sketchy is going on in their kitchen.

Locked cabinets, cryptic whispers, weird financial records… and oh yeah, a string of dead abusive men in town, all of whom recently got a delivery from Mags' Desserts. Yikes. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Kasey ropes in Celia’s grumpy but gorgeous nephew, Jackson Quaid. Between dodging investors, uncovering secrets, and way too much kissing, Kasey’s got her hands full. But if her grandma really is in the poison pie business, keeping her out of jail might be the toughest challenge yet.

There's a lot to love in The Usual Family Mayhem. There's great banter and a few laugh out loud moments. I loved the romance between Kasey and Jackson. They are delightfully flirty. What I didn't love about this story is how conflict-avoidant Kasey and her grandmother are. I wished that they would just talk to each other.

Overall, The Usual Family Mayhem was a fun read. Thank you to Avon Books, HelenKay DImon, and Netgalley for and Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I honestly really enjoyed it and look forward to recommending it to friends and family this summer.

A sweet (see what I did there?) cozy mystery that will make you want to grab a pie. The family dynamics were great and you could see the real love between the characters. I love how this goes a bit deeper with the why behind it all. The grandmas were definitely the best duo in this story and I do wish we had more time with them.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story. This book has it all, cozy mystery, opposites attract and lots of family drama. Strong females that dominate the story. Loved the grandmas and how they take Kasey under their wings even though they are keeping secrets on their baking that might be related to deaths of certain men. Loved Jackson, Kasey's long time crush, whom helps Kasey try to uncover these secrets that her grandmas are hiding. Many laugh out moments through out the book.

The Usual Family Mayhem is a hilarious, feel good story about a granddaughter who accidentally uncovers her grandmother’s might be murdering people with pie, with laughs along the way.

From the moment I read the synopsis of this book I knew I was going to be in for a good time. Kasey, Mags, Celia and the gang are a colorful group of characters, and had me genuinely cracking up at all the ridiculous things that go on throughout this book. From the initial sales pitch to her clearly awful snooping skills, Kasey is a flawed but lovable character, who only wants the best for those she loves but manages to screw things up along the way. She’s adorable and funny and so likeable that I fell in love with her from the start. Mags and Celia are such a fun couple - complete opposites of each other but so devotedly in love, that you can’t help but feel a grandmotherly hug when reading them.

The subplot of Kasey and Jackson’s love affair was also so fun - while mostly off page. It keeps a good mix of the mystery and romance genres, without getting spicy in case you’re not into that.

Overall I adored this book, and I can’t wait to see what else HelenKay Dimon writes!!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet, action-packed and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Dimon, and Harper Voyager / Avon for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I LIKED the Moorewood Family Rules. It was fun, even though both the romance and plot were a little more underbaked than I had expected. But the Usual Family Mayhem was (to continue the baking analogy) completely raw on the inside. Based on the blurb I had expected a poison pie scheme being carried out by two crafty lesbian grannies, with a side of romance for Kasey the MC. I was disappointed by the back seat the poison pie plot arc took. I'm still not entirely sure what exactly Mags and Celia's exact roles were. They provided the poison? They were just a listening ear? *shrugs*

Meanwhile, Kasey, Kasey, Kasey. Wow. I read in another review the phrase "weaponized incompetence" and frankly I think it's perfect for Kasey. She was COMPLETELY incapable of telling the truth, finishing a sentence, taking any accountability or responsibility whatsoever, doing her job, being a good family member, you name it. Her two grans were such competent, capable women but they (s)mothered her straight into complete infantilization. It's no mystery how or why Kasey was incapable of retaining a job: she's a female BIG, a child in a woman's body. It was frustrating beyond words how Kasey floundered in indecision and wallowed in avoidance, exactly, EXACTLY, like my 10 year old child putting off a chore. The real mystery here is what about this woman Jackson found appealing.

I did like the North Carolina setting and the southern atmosphere (and culture) felt very authentic. I also liked that the toadstool Brock got his comeuppance, albeit somewhat undeservedly: he was an ASSHOLE, but he was absolutely 100% spot-on about Kasey. I would have liked to see the poison pie plot line brought way, way forward as that was the real draw, for me. The peach scones sounded pretty good too although if I ate that many baked goods (and skipped running) I'd have to buy new pants in a week. Enjoy that youthful metabolism while you've got it, Kasey!

Unfortunately overall I was disappointed but YMMV.

⭐⭐

I so wanted to love The Usual Family Mayhem, which teases hijinks, girl power, hilarity and revenge served with one of Grandma’s “special” pies.

But, alas, award-winning author HelenKay Dimon’s rom com/mystery only rose to a three-star bake for me.

The story seemed to be on preheat way too long for my taste and I lost interest in the characters. While the premise was good, a few twists and turns and some amusing scenes, I’m sorry to say, weren’t enough to save it for me.

I received this advanced reader copy of The Usual Family Mayhem from Avon and Harper Voyager courtesy of NetGalley.

The Usual Family Mayhem was described as a mix of mystery, romance, and comedy featuring the serious main male character, the chaotic main female character, and spirited grandmothers. The story blurb describes a young woman, Kasey, arriving home to her grandmother’s house and discovers suspicious activities with whispered conversations, locked cabinets, and secret business spreadsheets. She begins to suspect that her grandmother and her grandmother’s partner may be involved in vigilante justice against abusive men in their community. She enlists the help of childhood friend/nemesis Jackson to discover the truth.

This description invoked a feeling of the classic film Arsenic and Old Lace. This expectation is what may have lead to the slight disappointment in the story. The main character, Kasey, does not come off as spunky, but as immature. She often jumps to conclusions and is quick to blame others for her own lack of direction. These are not the most endearing character traits and they seemed to dominate the first third of the story. This made the first third drag a bit and the mystery aspect was very light. After the first third the story began to pick up and the mystery ramped up. Overall it was not bad, but not what I was looking for at that moment.

The Usual Family Mayhem follows Kasey who in a desperate moment in a department meeting pitches her grandmother's bakery business. She sets the the business as a company that should be invested in and taken from local to national. Her grandmother does not feel any such way. When she goes home to get her grandmother on-board, she stumbles into secrets that her grandmother may be hiding. Is her grandmother and her partner poisoning men?

This story didn't know what it wanted to be. The characters and the relationships were cute but was it a small town romance or a cozy mystery? I didn't know what storyline that I should care about. I think getting Kasey home without including including her job would have put more of the focus on the poisoning storyline which was the better storyline...in my opinion.

This novel is so convoluted with way too many sup-plots. It is next to impossible to keep everything straight.

ARC Review

Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶/5

This book was delightful! I struggle with classifying the subgenre of mystery books but I think this would classify as cozy! If you like books like Finlay Donovan is Killing it and Arsenic and Adobo, you will love this book!

I identified with Kasey more than I expected as I also went to law school, lived in the DC area, and have family/friends that keep things from me because it's not my job to worry about them! Except I'm going to worry anyway, just like Kasey!

The cast of characters are funny and engaging! The romance was adorable! And the villains were easy to dislike! I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AvonAndHarperVoyager for the book #TheUsualFamilyMayhem. This book is about revenge, secrets and abuse. Mags and Celia are best friends and they live together. Kasey pitches the idea of Mags Desserts to Mags and Celia but they are not interested. They have servers they are trying to hide which involve their pies and possibly abusive husbands. Are these sweet little old ladies committing murder?

I had high expectations for this book. Dimon's first novel in this vein, Moorewood Family Rules, was one of my top books of 2023. While The Usual Family Mayhem didn't quite reach that level for me, it was still a very enjoyable read.

I loved the relationship Kasey has with her grandmother and Celia; the unconditional love the two women have for a young woman who is still trying to find her path. Those two are sharp cookies. It's hard to put anything over on them, though Kasey tries her darndest. In the end, though, it's Gram and Celia who show it's never wise to underestimate two white-haired ladies or what they might be hiding behind those sweet smiles.

I enjoyed Jackson's character a lot. I found him to be interesting, endearing, and multi-layered. I appreciated his honesty but also his loyalty and how far he was willing to go to support those he loves. Kasey, on the other hand, is a clueless - but lovable - mess. She creates much of the drama in the book but has good intentions at her core.

If you enjoy a madcap cozy mystery that features dysfunctional family (Jackson's), supportive family (Kasey's), humor, finding one's path, murder (or is it?), female empowerment, dispensing justice, and a sprinkle of romance, give The Usual Family Mayhem a try.

ARC received from Avon via NetGalley.
Fair and unbiased review.

Kasey Nottingham heads back to her quirky hometown to pitch her grandma’s beloved bakery as the next big investment — but things take a wildly suspicious turn. Locked cabinets, cryptic conversations, and a trail of dead abusive men have Kasey wondering if Mags’ Desserts has a secret ingredient… and it might just be murder. With the help of Jackson, her long-time crush, Kasey tries to unravel the truth — while trying (and failing) not to fall for him.

This book was an absolute delight! HelenKay Dimon masterfully blends cozy mystery and romance, creating a story that’s equal parts charming, hilarious, and heartwarming. Kasey’s grandmother, Mags, and her partner Celia completely steal the show with their sass, wit, and secret-keeping ways — they’re the kind of characters you wish you could sit down with over a slice of pie. And speaking of pie… the bakery setting was pure perfection. All the talk of pies, muffins, and scones had me craving every sweet treat mentioned. Kasey and Jackson’s relationship added the perfect touch of slow-burn romance, full of playful banter and undeniable chemistry. If you’re looking for a lighthearted mystery packed with humor, heart, and a dash of intrigue, this one’s a must-read!

The audiobook version takes the experience to an even higher level. Mia Barron’s narration was spot on — she did an incredible job differentiating the characters’ voices, making each personality distinct and memorable. Her lively delivery and perfect comedic timing truly brought this story to life, making the humor, emotion, and intrigue even more engaging. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is a fantastic listen!

Thank you to the author, Avon Books, Libro.fm, and Harper Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

This felt like the perfect rom com mystery and I loved every moment! Jackson and Kasey's romance plot line is near perfection, and i couldn't put it down cause of their storyline! They had a level of distain for each other in the first section of this book that was perfect and matched their situation quite well! When they started dating, it was just so sweet and confident on Jackson's side that I adored so much! Kasey was a little more timid and afraid and I understand why, especially with her job in a different city and falling apart!

The mystery element of this book is so fun and unique because Kasey suspects her family of using pies to murder husband's and at the same accidentally offered her family business up for sale at work so there are some different things happening as everyone tries to hide things from each other!

Overall, this is a cute and fun book that i just adored!

2⭐️ Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I felt like the premise sounded so interesting and I was really excited for this book. I love a good cozy mystery but for me this book was just boring. I found myself dozing and thinking of other things while reading and it just didn’t capture my attention fully. I kept waiting for it to get twisty and mysterious and it just felt like it never came. A positive I do have for this book is I did enjoy the witty writing style and I would read from this author again, I just feel like it was poor execution unfortunately.

Kasey is struggling at her new job. Out of desperation she pitches her grandmother's baking business as a potential client. Mags runs her shop with her longterm partner Celia. Kasey has to return to her home town and figure out how to bring this up to her grandmother. Complicating her return is the presence of her former crush Jackson, Celia's nephew. He quickly deduces that Kasey is up to something. Kasey also begins to suspect that Mags and Celia's deserts may be associated with the deaths of the abusive husbands of multiple clients. With Jackson's help Kasey sets out to discover the truth.

I have had a great time with HelenKay Dimon's books and this one was no exception. It had the perfect mix of mystery, romance and humor. Kasey is a little bit of a mess but has a huge heart which makes her the perfect match for structured and sturdy Jackson. The real standouts for me were Mags and Celia. They are the heart of the story, bringing Jackson and Kasey together. The mystery portion of the book was very entertaining and plenty of twists and turns. I really hope this will be a series because I would love more of this crew. I will absolutely be picking up whatever HelenKay does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & Avon for an eARC ♥️

Hey, have you ever stumbled upon a book that's just so ridiculously good, you can't stop raving about it? That's exactly what happened to me with this latest novel from HelenKay Dimon.😍
The story follows Kasey Nottingham, a determined and resourceful protagonist who's trying to save her job. She pitches her grandma Mags' beloved small-town bakery, Mags' Desserts, to her boss, but things take a surprising turn when he sends her to North Carolina to seal the deal.
Here's the thing: Kasey's grandma and her live-in "best friend" Celia are hiding some serious secrets in their kitchen. As Kasey digs deeper, she uncovers a web of mysterious deaths, cryptic conversations, and suspicious business records. It seems that Mags and Celia might be serving up more than just delicious pies...
I love how this book combines humor, romance, and intrigue. Kasey's investigation is helped along by Jackson Quaid, Celia's nephew and Kasey's long-time crush. Their reluctant partnership is filled with witty banter, swoon-worthy kisses, and some seriously funny moments.
What I think I loved most about this book is its lighthearted take on some heavier themes. It's all about female empowerment, family secrets, and the power of a good pie (just kidding about that last one... or am I?) 😌😁

Kasey Nottingham is a 26 yr old working for Nexus Opportunity Ideas (NOI) in Washington D.C. NOI looks for promising companies to invest in and then eventually takes over control of the company to make a profit. During the departmental meeting, Kasey zones out and gets called out by her boss, Brock Deavers to offer a potential client. Panicking, Kasey says Mags’ Desserts, her grandmother's baking company along with her partner Celia Windsor. Brock knows that she is lying, but the company's owner, Micah Bainbridge says that she should head to North Carolina and check it out. Kasey knows her grandmother and Celia would never sell, but sees this opportunity as a 2 week vacation with her family.

After Kasey arrives back home, she starts to discover a few things that seem suspicious with Mags' Desserts. Things also seem to coincide with sudden deaths of local husbands. When Kasey starts having strong suspicions , she enlists the help of Jackson Quaid, Celia's nephew and the 33 year old guy she has forever had a huge crush on. The lawyer has his doubts but agrees to help Kasey investigate. As these two spend more time together, feelings start coming out. It turns out Jackson also has crushed on Kasey.

When Kasey's boss, Brock arrives and partners up with Jackson's dad, Harlan, everything starts blowing up. It seems everyone has a few secrets. It will take a lot of people admitting to the truth of what is going on, and then everyone can finally come to an understanding. In the end Kasey and Jackson will finally find their happy ending....together!

I enjoyed this funny, cute family story with lots of secrets, twists and turns. Jackson was so yummy! He seemed like the perfect calm to Kasey's impulsiveness. It was great seeing these two finally find their way to each other.

This was a cute and cozy book with likeable characters and an enjoyable plot. The book tried to be both a cozy mystery (ish) and a romance, but both felt underdeveloped to me. If the book had focused on Kasey and Jackson, we could have seen a second-chance romance unfold. If the book had been about Mags and Celia (who are adorable, by the way), we could have enjoyed more of their antics. As it was, I was left wanting to know more about both of these stories. Thanks so much to the publisher for inviting me to read this book!