The Usual Family Mayhem Review – A Cozy Mystery with Family Drama & Fierce Women

This warm, witty read had me laughing, swooning, and even questioning my own morals — here’s why I’m cheering these women on.

I’ve been curled up with The Usual Family Mayhem this week, and wow… I’m obsessed. Like, truly obsessed. The characters feel so real, the family dynamics are messy in all the best ways, the women are strong (and complicated, which I love), and there’s just the right mix of drama, romance, and laugh-out-loud moments. I haven’t even finished the audiobook yet, but I already ordered a physical copy because I know this is one I’m going to want on my shelf.

But here’s the thing, this story has me really thinking. Not just about the twists and turns, but about myself. About morals. Or maybe not morals exactly… more like values. The book dives into women reclaiming their lives from some truly terrible men, and I found myself nodding along the whole way. When did it hint that women were helping their husbands into an early grave? I didn’t even flinch. Honestly, I was cheering them on.

Which made me pause. Am I a good person? Or if something like that happened in real life, would I still feel that way? The more I thought about it… yeah. I think I would. There’s something about women taking back their power that feels cathartic and, dare I say, cozy in its own way, not because of the violence itself, but because of the solidarity, the sisterhood, and the sense of justice.

This post feels a little heavier than my usual cozy chats, less “pumpkin spice and porch reads” and more “let’s talk about justice with a side of dark humor.” But sometimes books spark conversations we didn’t know we needed, and I love that about them.

👉 Now I’m curious, how about you? Do you ever find yourself rooting for a fictional character to do something you’d never actually condone in real life? Would you be cheering on these women, too, or do you feel differently? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts.