Since dropping out of law school, Kasey has been struggling to find her place in the world & hold on to a job at the same time. While sitting in a meeting at her current place of employment she inadvertently pitches her grandmother’s bakery business as something the company can invest in & her boss loves it and sends her home to close the deal. Now she’s back home, avoiding telling her gram about the deal she’s supposed to be brokering, while trying to figure out why everyone is acting so weird. Can she survive the chaos of being home or will she finally lose it?

I was in the mood for a lighthearted cozy mystery and this book definitely delivered. I absolutely loved Kasey. She was strong, sarcastic, kind, loving and extremely relatable.
Her character proved that it’s okay to not have it all figured out & that you can always change your course if the one you’re on isn’t suiting you. And then there was Jackson who completely balanced her out without her even realizing it. Without him, I feel like the story would’ve fallen flat. Definitely one of those books where I wouldn’t be mad if it got turned into a cozy little series.

***Thank you #NetGalley and Avon Publishing for providing an ARC for my honest opinion***

The Usual Family Mayhem by Helen Kay diamond, I in no way liked Casey’s perpetual damsel in distress and woe is me personality. let me list the things she couldn’t do; describe and or do her job, having an adult conversation, be honest with her grandmother and aunt, think for herself, bake, cook or basically any thing attached to being an adult. it almost seems absurd that these two poised southern women raised her because they are so conpedent and she is so not. don’t even get me started on how the Taseturn Jackson, would even be attracted to this bumbling idiot. It takes so long for her to even tell her Gram and aunt Cecilia why she is even there and the only reason they do find out is because her boss’s shows up due to her not responding to their calls. I have read other books by this author and found them hilarious and all so worth reading but sadly this one was not. I will still read her books in the future but as for this one I wouldn’t recommend it. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#HelenKDiamond, #TheUsualFamilyMayhem,

To save her job, Kasey Nottingham needs to come up with a good idea for her work that invests in the "next best things." With nothing else on her mind, Kasey pitches her grandmother and Celia's small baking business, Mags Desserts. Surprisingly, Kasey's boss eats it up and sends her to broker the deal.

But when Kasey gets back home, she notes some oddities in the business, including some recent clients' husbands ending up dead. Teaming up with her childhood crush Jackson (Celia's nephew), Kasey aims to find out what is going on. And maybe finally get closer to Jackson.

This novel was a super quick and cozy read. I would have given it a higher rating if it had pulled more toward the mystery side. It felt like the romance aspects and mystery aspects were pulling the storyline in different directions at times. Other than that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable book that even had me laughing out loud at some points.

Thank you to Avon Books, Haper Voyager, NetGalley, and HelenKay Dimon for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Usual Family Mayhem takes your usual rom-com and mystery and twists them into a fun romp.

Kasey tries to save her job by pitching her beloved grandmother's pie company as a possible franchise... then she has to go home and see if she can convince them to bite. Before she brings it up, she gets suspicious of husbands dying after eating their pies. Throw in some family squabbles, unrequited crushes, and corporate backstabbing, and you've got a fun book.

Kasey is a flighty FMC, but her heart is in a good place, and it's easy to root for her. Her grandmother and her partner are HILARIOUS. I also love the banter with Jackson.

The corporate backstabbing and philandering politician father are a bit annoying-- but don't detract from the enjoyment as a whole.

Really enjoyed this one!

The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon is a wildly entertaining dive into the chaos of a dysfunctional family. Packed with drama, secrets, shifting alliances, and plenty of backstabbing, this family is anything but ordinary. Amidst all the madness, there are a few standout characters who break the mold and fight to carve their own paths. It’s messy, hilarious, and completely addictive. I couldn’t put it down!

I really liked Moorewood Family Rules, so I was hopeful for this one, but I soon realized it was more cozy than I typically like and didn’t have the humor and bite that made Moorewood Family Rules fun. Probably will stick to the author’s thrillers under her pen name. DNF at 21%.

The Usual Family Mayhem is a cozy mystery with a side of romance. The title for this book does not fail to deliver on the mayhem. Kasey is chaos and mayhem. She somehow gets herself into a situation at work by telling her boss that she has an idea for a business acquisition, a bakery run by her grandmother, Mags, and her best friend, Celia. Of course they have no interest in selling.

She returns to her small town in North Carolina to talk to them about the situation she got herself into but everyone is suspicious about her return…assuming that she is in a mess or going to cause one. Which is accurate.

While Kasey is home she starts to suspect that her Mags and Celia are in the business of selling “special” pies leading her to start snooping around. And there is also her long standing crush on Celia’s nephew, Jackson. He tries to be the voice of reason for Kasey but isn’t always successful.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style. This was a fun and cute read with banter among all the characters and Kasey’s chaotic schemes. That said there were some heavier topics that were touched on so check the CW more details.

Read this if you enjoy:
cozy mysteries
slow burn
family drama
pies and scones
closed door romance

Sugar-Coated Shenanigans Abound in The Usual Family Mayhem

Kasey is on her last chance at her business investment firm in DC. She has never been able to hold a job and has no idea what her role is even supposed to be. So when she’s put on the spot to come up with a pitch to save her skin, our babbling & bubbly lead panics: She suggests investing in Mags’ Desserts, her family’s pie business back home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

There’s just one problem, though. Her gram, Magnolia, and her partner, Aunt Celia, would never sell and can spot bullshit coming a mile away. But Kasey keeps her half-promises and even-less-than-half-truths coming and she winds up in a tangled web of her own making. Especially when Kasey’s longtime crush, Jackson, fans old flames and gets far too involved with her business for comfort. Especially, especially, when she catches whispers of Gram and Celia serving poisoned pies to abusive husbands who wind up dead. Whew, girl, what mess has Kasey got herself into?

As someone blessed with a formidable grandmother, as well as a dear friend (RIOTUS’ own Sherin) who is from Winston-Salem and now lives in DC, The Usual Family Mayhem was destined to be a big hit with me. I couldn’t resist this title and, if you’re into the family business of vigilante justice with a dash of cinnamon, you won’t be able to resist either.

Kasey is undeniably chaotic, often frustrating but always hilarious as she collects fibs like Pokémon and leaves them trailing behind to bite her in the ass every time. Jackson is a charming love interest, balancing out Kasey with calm confidence but truly coming alive when they’re together. And his father Harlan is a great antagonist, as smooth-talking as a politician and just as sneaky. Coupled with Kasey’s too-big-for-their-boots investment firm, who comes knocking at the most inconvenient times, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster; the suits will trigger your squeamish side as they try to slimeball their way in.

But it’s the star bakers who steal the show: Gram is the Southern lady with all the sass and knowledge of “proper” etiquette to weaponize it to the greatest effect. Celia is the calming presence at her side, plying others with sweet treats to remind them of who they’re dealing with. Watching them conspire and strengthen one another will make you want to call the matriarchs in your own life; Kasey is lucky to have them.

The twists take unexpected and highly enjoyable routes as nothing is as it seems and the messes grow more and more unhinged. The payoff at the end might not have quite the sugar rush you were hoping for but the recipe is still sweet and delicious. Author HelenKay Dimon’s writing is witty and sharp, keeping you on your toes while also letting you in on the jokes, even if the characters haven’t caught up yet. I giggled the whole way through. There are also some darker emotional moments that serve to make the characters more endearing, placed well within the overall amusing narrative.

The Usual Family Mayhem is a delightful read that mixes family, murder-mystery, and romance and serves it up with a side of pecan pie (or apple, or lemon icebox, or coconut cream—whatever your heart desires). Dig in and enjoy!

What a fun quirky, cozy mystery! This is a great read when you want a mystery but also some laughs and romance. I loved the characters, especially Gram and Celia. The banter was laugh out loud. This was my first read of Dimon's and won't be my last.

Read if you like:
🥧 Banter similar to Gilmore Girls
🥧Cozy Mystery
🥧Romance
🥧Strong characters
🥧Yummy desserts

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was a perfect mix of mystery and romance and was overall a fun read! I loved each of the characters (with the exception of you know who) but the characters i hated are meant to be disliked so they’re written well as well. The plot was well paced and so good. Thank you for my eARC!

This was a lot of fun. In one sentence, it's about mischievous older women baking pies that may or may not contain poison.

When Kasey piques the interest of her bosses in a frantic sales pitch, she accidentally brings them to her hometown. She also manages to do this just before she starts to suspect that her grandmother and her grandmother's partner, Celia, may be involved in the deaths of terrible men in their town. As she investigates these shenanigans, she enlists the help of Celia's son, Jackson, for whom she has harbored feelings for years.

I don't know how much more I can say without spoiling anything, but this book was entertaining. It was sweet to see Kasey and Jackson's relationship unfold, and I adored how many of the characters really had each other's backs throughout.

It was a fun read, but I found a few sections slow. I feel it was missing something, but I'm unsure what.

In half stars, I would give this a rating of 3.5 stars.

Super cute and fun cozy mystery, I think this one is comparable to Vera Wong series but still a ton of fun. Super quick and light read

This was such a fun and quirky book. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Celia and Mags! It was a sweet, sad, and funny read! The story felt so real and the way grief was explored was done so well and so tastefully!

This is my first book by HelenKay Dimon. I really enjoyed the second half but found the first half moved really slowly. I love Jackson, Celia, and Mags. Kasey, not so much. I’m not sure what Jackson saw in her , but it must have all happened before this book! I found her annoying. The writing is good and the story kept me interested. I’ll definitely look for more books by this author.

I think this is a book that was let down by my high expectations - I adored Moorewood Family Rules so much and I also adore Pies before Guys series. Unfortunately I don't think this book really benefits from comparisons to either. I know that this is mostly a "me problem" - while I like the premise in the actual reading of it I couldn't get into it at all. I think partly because Kasey drove me nuts. I didn't find her quirky I found her annoying which meant I didn't get the banter or chemistry with her an Jackson I just wanted her to grow up. It also felt unnecessary to have the backstory between Kasey and Jackson be honestly icky - it wasn't necessary and again made me want to smack Kasey into some therapy.
I really loved the grannies and I think I would have loved a book more focused on them, but as it stands it just isn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley for recommending and providing this arc. I thought this would be a fun read and it was but it felt too long. The story between Kasey and Jackson didn’t feel as easy and natural as it should have but I loved reading about Mags and Celia. Overall not my favorite book but I did like the story.

I nearly stopped reading this book a couple of chapters in because of the annoyance I felt with the main character, Kasey. However, I'm delighted I stuck with it becuase this turned out to be a fun read with fantastic supporting characters.

This book combines several tropes. The older ladies are portrayed as wise and nosey but deadly. The romantic interest was shown as being a stick up the butt lawyer, with an impossible father. Kasey's bosses, well, I can't even describe them, but you will love seeing how things work out with them.

This will be a great summer beach read, one that will take you out of your problems and entertain you.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Avon/HarperCollins, the author, and NetGalley.

A cute and entertaining read. No surprises from the plot really but the writing is easy to digest and the characters are fun. Good pacing makes for a nice reading session.

This was another cute and cozy read, although not as exciting as I wanted it to be.

This is one of those books that has a little bit of everything, it has romance and mystery and iconic characters. These characters can just be so funny, especially the old ladies. They are the real stars here. And no one is denying that.

I do wish there was a little more oomph to our FMC, Kasey, I just didn't find her to be fully realized yet. Like she didn't feel real to me, she felt a little flat and two-dimensional.

When you find out the grandmas are involved in the disappearance of poopy/abusive/bad men...good for them! We support women's rights and wrongs and in this household!

This was fun!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

1.5⭐️

I finished this book out of spite. I’ve never seen so much weaponized incompetence from a FMC and her ‘I’m just a girl 👉🏼👈🏼🥺’ schtick drove me absolutely insane. She had so many times to come clean about accidentally putting her grandmother’s small business on the radar of cut throat firm that wants to buy them out. Instead she repeatedly acted like a child who’s afraid to get into trouble and just kept saying ‘I’ll do it later.’

There is a brief mention of an eating disorder that Kasey had that she “recovered from” at the beginning of the book, and then the rest of the book was spent mentioning every single piece of food that she put in her mouth.

The poisoning of bad men aspect is the main reason I wanted to read this, but the story was so slow and drawn out that it wasn’t worth it. The romance felt forced and the MMC extremely one dimensional. Also the “grudge” that Kasey held against him for years because she kissed him when she was a teenager and he was in his mid-20’s and he didn’t reciprocate was wild.

Thanks Netgalley and Avon for providing this ARC to me!