Beignets and Big Feelings: A Novel

by Leslie Gray Streeter

A grandma’s dying wish results in a weeklong scavenger hunt designed to reunite a family in a heartfelt and hilarious journey by the author of Family & Other Calamities.

When Grandma Olivia Hollis passes away, her funeral reunites four generations of heirs, complete with a surprise will. Grandma has orchestrated a New Orleans scavenger hunt for her female relatives, determined to bring her family back together if it’s the last thing she does. Everyone game? If not, no one gets a dime.

Of course, Grandma, bless her meddling heart, has other motives in mind for all of them. Especially for her guarded sister, Mona, who fled decades ago and never looked back. Following a preplanned itinerary for one revelatory week, the women find themselves on a Mississippi River jazz cruise, braving a bayou swamp tour, uncovering forgotten histories in old cemeteries, rekindling former flames, and, just as Grandma planned, unlocking what they’ve hidden from each other for far too long.

Amid beignets, popcorn shrimp, and chicory coffee—so bitter and sweet—these women just might discover that no matter what awaits them at the end, the real treasure is becoming the family they were meant to be.

Genres: Fiction

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 13, 2026

Reviews

[vlm]

Beignets and Big Feelings was a heartfelt and entertaining family story with plenty of New Orleans atmosphere. I really enjoyed the idea of Grandma Olivia leaving behind a scavenger hunt for her female relatives and basically forcing them to spend a week together whether they wanted to or not. It made for some funny, emotional, and occasionally messy family dynamics.

I liked watching the women slowly uncover old secrets, misunderstandings, and things they had been keeping to themselves. The New Orleans setting was also a lot of fun, with the jazz cruise, bayou tour, cemeteries, beignets, and all the food woven throughout the story.

There were definitely some big feelings and family drama, but there was also enough humor to keep the story from becoming too heavy. At its heart, this is a story about complicated families, second chances, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people who matter.

A warm, enjoyable read with a great setting and a cast of women who each bring something different to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

[jasmine]

Normally when I write reviews, I can be as ruthless as I feel the book warrants. However, I just saw a picture of the author and she looks like such a sweet woman that it would feel heartless to berate this book in the same way I usually would.

So, all I’ll say is that it’s been 24 hours since I finished this book and I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in it. Character names have blurred into one and I can’t recall any major plot points other than the opening funeral scene.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[January]

Beignets and Big Feelings by Leslie Gray Streeter (2026)
7h 38m narrated by A'rese Emokpae, 231 pages

Genre: African-American Women's Fiction

Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-13

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½🪦🛬⚜️

Good Hallmark Vibes and Light Family Drama

Beignets and Big Feelings is exactly what the title promises. The blurb offers a heartfelt premise about family reconciliation, but it reads more like a lighthearted Hallmark movie than a deep emotional journey. A woman has a deathbed request that her sister, daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter all go on a trip together to New Orleans so they can reconcile. The focus is primarily on her sister and her daughter since the younger generations do not really know the aunt.

​I wanted to say I absolutely loved the story, that it touched my heart and made me cry, but that would be untruthful. It is pretty much a Hallmark story, and it did not go as deep as I thought it should, except politically, which I am okay with. The romance seemed very convenient and improbable, and the drama between the family members seemed quite shallow when you got down to the heart of it.
​I enjoyed the story, but I was never laughing out loud, shocked, or emotional while listening to it. It was pretty much a standard Hallmark drama and perfect as a palate cleanser. I also want to mention the audio narration. A'rese Emokpae did a fabulous job with all of the character voices. She seamlessly transitioned between golden, silver, teen, male, female, and even Scottish accents.

​Recommend to others?: I certainly am. I saw that this is going to be on Kindle Unlimited with audio, so if you have Kindle Unlimited, you definitely need to get this book. If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, it is still worth it. It is not a bad story at all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Featuring: Deathbed Request, Deathbed Request, Grief, Estranged Family, Teens, 4 Generations, Family Dynamics, Funeral, Divorcée, Oregon, Forced Family Trip, New Orleans, Louisiana; Meddling, Baltimore, Maryland; Titled Chapters, Mississippi River Cruise, Jazz, Sex - Off-Camera/Implied, Drama, Honoring Ancestors

[Quaterria Brown]

Count on Grandma Hollis to do some meddling beyond the grave to reunite some of her estranged family members. With an intriguing storyline and effortless humor woven throughout, I could not help but to thoroughly enjoy this book with such deep emotional layers.

Generational secrets and family drama that needed to be revealed and resolved made this trip so worthwhile as these adults needed to face some harsh truths in order for them to reconnect and strengthen the severed familial bonds.

This emotionally compelling read is such a beautiful story centered on healing and second chances.

Shoutout to Grandma Hollis for making this happen.

I'm ready for a trip to New Orleans after reading this book! Who wants to go with me??

[RoRolovesreading]

The story begins at the funeral of family matriarch Olivia, and that’s where all the drama starts. Funerals have a way of bringing old hurts and unresolved family issues to the surface, and that is exactly what happens when Olivia’s long-lost sister, Mona, unexpectedly shows up. I found this so relatable because it feels like every family has that one estranged relative. In this case, it’s Mona. She left Baltimore decades ago to attend college, found success and wealth, and never really looked back.

At the reading of the will, Mona joins Olivia’s daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter to learn that Olivia has planned a trip to New Orleans for the four of them as a condition of receiving their inheritance. Her final wish is simple but meaningful: she wants them to learn how to be a family again. What follows is a carefully planned scavenger hunt-style adventure that not only helps mend broken relationships but also reconnects two of the women with long-lost loves and opens the door to a promising new romance for another.

At its heart, this is a story about forgiveness, second chances, and giving yourself permission to embrace life, even when it takes you in unexpected directions. It’s also a beautiful reminder that family is about more than shared blood. I enjoyed spending time with these four generations of women, watching them rediscover one another and things about themselves, and grow throughout the journey.

As a New Orleans native, I especially appreciated how lovingly and authentically the city was portrayed. The culture, food, people, and local landmarks felt true to the New Orleans I know and love. I was particularly glad to see the Whitney Plantation included, as it is the only plantation museum in Louisiana dedicated to telling the stories of the enslaved. That visit added an extra layer of depth and meaning to the story.

I also really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and handling the various accents. As someone from New Orleans, I usually brace myself for disappointment whenever I hear a narrator attempt our accents, but this performance pleasantly surprised me. Aside from a couple of mispronounced street names, the narration felt authentic and added so much to the listening experience.

Overall, this was an uplifting and heartfelt story filled with family drama, healing, love, and self-discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for providing an advance listening copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Sohana Nasrin]

I really enjoyed this one. Beignets and Big Feelings is funny and warm, but there is also a lot underneath the humor about grief, family history, old resentments, and the things people leave unsaid for years.

I loved the setup of Grandma Olivia sending the women in her family on one final scavenger hunt through New Orleans. It could have felt gimmicky, but instead it gave the story a really lovely sense of place and created space for all of these women to confront things they had been avoiding.

The family dynamics were probably my favorite part. Everyone is carrying something, and I liked that the book lets them be messy, stubborn, loving, and frustrating all at once. And, of course, the New Orleans setting—with beignets, jazz, cemeteries, bayou tours, and food everywhere—made the whole book even more enjoyable.

A very heartfelt story about grief, forgiveness, and realizing that sometimes family is both the problem and the thing that helps you heal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance copy.

[Bossmanaries Smith]

Let’s travel to beautiful New Orleans for gumbo, beignets, family secrets, and a little healing. 🥰

A delightful, cozy story about four generations of women brought back together after Grandma Oliver Hollis’s death—and one surprising stipulation in her will: they have to take a trip to New Orleans together.

Aunt Mona, Ellen, Felicia, and April each arrive carrying their own wounds, regrets, and missing pieces. Along the way, they discover that what they’ve been missing isn’t money or material things—it’s family.

There isn’t a ton of drama here, and honestly, that’s part of the charm. This is a gentle story about rediscovery, forgiveness, connection, and finding treasure in the people sitting beside you.

I’m also a sucker for chapters with both numbers AND titles. “Memory Lane Can Be Rocky, Depending on Which Way You’re Driving” is exactly the kind of clever chapter title I love.

🎧 Audiobook Narration: A’rese Emokpae did a wonderful job giving each character a distinct voice. Aunt Mona had some very specific ways about her, and that character could have easily gone sideways—but the narration pulled it off beautifully. I wish I’d had the audio earlier because it definitely enhanced the experience.

If you gravitate toward family-centered literary fiction with heart, humor, and a cozy New Orleans backdrop, this one is worth the trip. Leslie Gray Streeter spreads family joy like a fever—one person catches it, and suddenly everyone is feeling it.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC and ALC. Do yourself a favor and experience this one with both the book AND the audio.

#BeignetsAndBigFeelings #NetGalley #LeslieGrayStreeter #AreseEmokpae

Pub Date: October 13, 2026
Review Date: September 22, 2026
Audio Review Date: September 30, 2026

[Joanne Yarin]

Before Olivia Hollis passed away, she made a plan. A plan that none of her family members would know about until after her funeral. At the will reading, Olivia‘s family members learn that in order to inherit what she is leaving them, they have to go on a trip together to New Orleans. She is sending them on a scavenger hunt of sorts. What they don’t know is that she had planned this trip bringing four generations together in order to mend broken hearts and repair broken relationships. What follows is the touching and at times humorous adventure of a family not just sorting out their past, but building a future together. Leslie Gray Streeter’s writing is straightforward and fits the personalities of the characters in the story. It genuinely sounds like the sometimes good-natured and other times ill-tempered banter between family members. This is a quick, entertaining read that reminds us just how important our family is.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy.

[Donna]

Grandma Olivia died and the funeral was packed. It seemed like all of the black church ladies of Baltimore brought various dishes and were making sure that those who took ate every scrap. Unfortunately, Felicia took a piece of fried chicken before remembering that she didn't eat meat-luckily  her mother Ellen, Olivia's daughter, helped her out after the expected lecture. Felicia was definitely not herself, having been recently dumped by her husband in favor of his business associate.  Felicia's daughter, sixteen year old April was impressed that her great-grandmother's funeral brought her great aunt Mona, the black sheep of the family, back from Oregon where she had lived away from her family for years. Mona had been in love with a man from Oregon, but when he decided to flee to Canada to evade the VietNam War, she decided not to follow him. She studied hard, got her doctorate and had been a professor at an Oregon college-she knew her sister Olivia was dying but didn't even come home to say goodbye.. The rest of the family wasn't too pleased to see her now.
The next day, the family gathered at Olivia's attorney's office for the reading of the will. They thought it would be a simple matter-Olivia didn't have much left, but grandma still had some surprises. According to Olivia's video, her children Ellen and brother Teddy were gifted her house, and any other settlements of monetary holdings, great-granddaughter April would get her car, and granddaughter Felicia was instructed to take Aunt Mona, Ellen, and April on a vacation to New Orleans. She was given custody of the fifteen thousand dollars Olivia budgeted to cover the trip and instructions to book the vacation at a specific B&B. In fact, Olivia left an envelope every day with the B&B owner for Felicia as to what they were supposed to do and see-it was well thought out. Aunt Mona, who had invested in a certain pacific northwestern shoe company start-up and wanted to high-tail it back to her bougie life in Oregon, was stopped in her tracks by the attorney's caveat. No one would get anything if all four didn't go together-it was to be an all or nothing adventure. Mona reluctantly acquiesced.
The novel portrayed four distinct generations of women who had to resolve their differences, their choices in partners, and the years of missed opportunities and misunderstandings. Of course the city of New Orleans was a character too-the scenery, the music, and the food certainly helped in healing this family. Even though there was much humor in the writing, the "big feelings" were serious and a lot of hurt and anxiety emerged before any forgiveness could be given. Could the matriarch fix from beyond the grave what couldn't be accomplished in her lifetime?  Laissez les bons temps rouler!

[LaKayla Pierce]

Beignets and Big Feelings — Come for the beignets, stay for the healing!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how Grandma used the trip and scavenger hunt to bring the women together while also creating opportunities for them to address things from their past and begin healing. And honestly, Grandma was definitely giving meddling older family member who knows her family very well. I actually loved her tactics and how intentional she was about getting everyone where they needed to be.

Felicia and April were probably my favorites. I especially liked how they both served as peacemakers, with April in particular helping keep things from going completely left. Mona, on the other hand, tested my patience. I understood that she was hurt by her past, but her “I’m better than you” attitude was not my favorite. I was glad to see her come around by the end, though.

I also really enjoyed the different POVs. They helped me feel more connected to each of the women and gave us pieces of the story that could have easily been missed from a single perspective. I was a little confused in the beginning trying to keep up with everyone’s relationships to one another, but once I got everyone straight, I was good.

The plot kept me engaged, too. One particular plot twist was one of those where I picked up on some of the clues as the story went on, so when it was revealed, I was definitely an, “I knew it!” moment. But I wasn’t mad about it because I still enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded. There were enough twists and different storylines happening that I genuinely wanted to keep listening to see what would happen next.

And I have to mention the New Orleans culture because I REALLY enjoyed this part. The way the food, history, and especially the excursions were woven into the story made the setting feel like more than just a backdrop. And the timing couldn’t have been better because the hubby and I are headed to New Orleans soon, and we’re planning to experience some of the same things mentioned in the book. Needless to say, this definitely made me even more excited for our trip!

Overall, this was such a fun, heartfelt story about family, friendship, healing, and second chances, with a healthy dose of New Orleans culture mixed in. I loved how the women’s relationships and romantic storylines wrapped up, and I’m definitely glad NetGalley, the author, and Brilliance Publishing provided me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: October 12,2026

[Marcie]

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Much thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to access an early copy for my honest review.

I went into this book wanting beignets and a good ole family dust up. I got just that, plus a few laughs. 🤣

The book opens with a funeral scene. When the beloved Olivia Hollis passes away, she leaves behind a broken-hearted family and an interesting request through her will. I already knew what to expect and Leslie Gray Streeter did not disappoint. There’s always some kind of “craziness” at black folk’s funerals. 🤷🏾‍♀️ The animosity between the ladies is pretty evident too. Her final request puts Mona (sister), Ellen (daughter), Felicia (granddaughter), and April (great-granddaughter) on the road to New Orleans to right some wrongs from years ago. The family money is tied to them being successful. From the beginning, I identified Mona to be the problem. To be honest, Olivia was straight meddling in Mona’s business! The adventure is filled with “heart string” tugging moments, but I consider this a light emotional read.

I enjoyed the scavenger hunt that Olivia created for her family. April stole the show with her old soul and youthful vibe. I do find it funny how she is the only one on the trip that “gets” Mona and is comfortable moving between the ladies. I like her approach to the family being recorded for social media, she embraced that they were entertaining to the other tourists. I laughed at how Gray Streeter wove the bystanders into the story with their filming and eavesdropping as the ladies try to work out their next steps. I admit, I would eavesdrop too if I heard all those shenanigans.

Mona’s reasons for abandoning the family all those years are not as “deep” as it was made out to be, but I can understand her reasoning. I think perhaps I was expecting a slide down the wall type of dramatic revelation.🤣 However, heart break will make folks do unexpected and at times, crazy things. If you are looking for laughs and light family drama, grab this one! Let me know if you end up finding a place to get beignets too.

[An]

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is about several generations of the Hollis family women who were forced to go on a planned trip as ordered by their late Grandma Olivia Hollis' will. The trip brings them to New Orleans where they have to hunt down locations from the clues their grandma left behind.

This was a family with messy, emotional and interesting dynamics that made for a good heartwarming story. During this trip, the Hollis women encounter shadows of their pasts, face longtime buried pains and are forced to unpack their emotions. There was plenty of family drama and feelings involved in this book. However, this book retained its essence on the importance of giving second chances, hearing out the other person and willingly giving forgiveness. This book was definitely best savoured slowly. It was a little draggy for me at the beginning and when I reached the middle of the book but pacing myself helped me to better appreciate all the little details better.

I really liked that every single one of the characters had vastly different personalities that clash with each other yet somehow also really blends well together. It's a very realistic portrayal of a family that has several generations of women with experiences from different eras. I really loved the character development that happened throughout this book and the development on their family dynamics.

The only thing that I didn't really enjoy about this book was the jumping in POVs of the different characters narrating the story. It was a little confusing and took me a while to differentiate who was narrating what.

[Crystal]

ARC & ALC Review
📚 Book Title: Beignets and Big Feelings
✍🏽 Author: Leslie Gray Streeter
🎙️ Narrator(s): A'rese Emokpae
📕 Format: 📱 & 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🕑 Quick Take:
What would you do if you had to complete a seven-day scavenger hunt to claim your inheritance after losing a loved one? That’s Olivia Hollis's final wish: for her youngest sister, Mona; her daughter, Ellen; her granddaughter, Felicia; and her great-granddaughter, April, to travel to New Orleans and follow a carefully planned itinerary. Along the way, they’ll grow closer, get to know one another, confront their past, and begin a journey toward becoming a family. In short, Grandma Olivia was meddling from beyond the grave.

✨ Themes:
- Family Reconciliation & Unity
- Grief & Loss
- Hidden Truths & Secrets
- New Orleans Food & Culture
- History & Remembrance

🎭 Narration:
A’rese Emokpae’s narration was exceptional. She did a great job keeping the novel focused, especially since it’s told in third person from each woman’s point of view. The dialogue includes special touches that bring out each character’s personality, whether forthright, quirky, spirited, youthful, or full of flair.

💭 Final Thoughts:
There were many things I loved about Beignets and Big Feelings. There were moments that were fun and made me laugh, and others that made me reflect. The reflective moments made me think about reconciliation, forgiveness, legacy, and family. There were also elements of second-chance love connection stories. Overall, this was an engaging read.

Thanks, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for the early copies!

[Jerri Bosley]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

★★★★☆

Beignets and Big Feelings is a wholesome story based on a family who have fallen apart. Several generations of women are gathered at a will reading of their family member, Olivia, where they find out they have to go on a planned trip together – or risk losing everything left to them in the will. The trip takes them to New Orleans where they connect with persons from their past and have to work out how to reconnect with each other.

I loved how feel good this story was, it warmed my heart, it had me smiling. I loved the character development, watching them change and grow throughout the novel. I LOVED April, what a sweet child – I think every mother would like an April!

I found this book to be slow at the beginning, however this might be down to me being neurospicy and becoming overwhelmed when introduced to a lot of characters at once. I did find it hard to keep up with who is who initially, but once the pace of the story picked up and I began to remember each of the individual character’s stories – I completely fell in love with them and this book!

This book is for anyone who likes to read stories based on family dynamics, and read a book that will leave them happier than when they started. A quick read that made my heart so full.

[Ladiami]

I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read centered on family, forgiveness, and second chances. The story follows four generations of women brought together by Grandma Olivia's final wish, a weeklong scavenger hunt through New Orleans that forces them to confront old wounds, long held secrets, and strained relationships.

The New Orleans setting added a lot of charm, and I enjoyed how the local food, music, and history were woven into the journey. The scavenger hunt kept the story moving at a steady pace while giving each woman an opportunity to reflect on her past and reconnect with the rest of the family.

For me, this was an even read from beginning to end. There weren't any major emotional highs or dramatic lows, but it remained engaging enough that I wanted to see how everything came together. The family dynamics felt authentic, and I appreciated that every character had room to grow in their own way.

Overall, this was a heartfelt novel about healing, reconnecting with loved ones, and discovering that sometimes the greatest inheritance isn't money at all, it's the relationships we choose to rebuild. If you're looking for a light, feel good family story with a touch of humor and plenty of Southern charm, this is a solid choice.
Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing
for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Cristina Rodrigues Silva]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

This book really surprised me.

As someone who grew up in a Black family, the family dynamics felt incredibly real. The grudges, everyone talking over each other, the respect for the elders, the strong mother figure, and the sacrifices made by the women before the next generation all felt very authentic. That was easily my favorite part of the book.

The premise was interesting from the beginning. The grandmother’s final wish brings four generations of women together on one last trip, hoping they will become a family again. I understood the setup very quickly, but I also felt it lasted a little too long. There was a point where I almost gave up because it felt like the story wasn’t moving forward.

Thankfully, the second half completely changed my experience. The emotional conversations finally started, long overdue questions were asked, relationships began to heal, and I became much more invested in the characters than I expected.

The only part that didn’t completely work for me was the parallel romance between Felicia and Mona. It felt a little too convenient and a bit too perfectly mirrored.

Overall, this is a touching story about grief, forgiveness, family, and finding your way back to the people who matter most. It took a while to get there, but I’m glad I stayed with it.

⭐⭐⭐

[aishareadsnrambles]

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

STORYLINE :
The book is about three women in the Hollis family going on a trip planned by the dead matriarch, Olivia Hollis. The storyline was promising. A bunch of estranged relatives going out to rediscover themselves and their bonds. Unfortunately, it fell short for me.
I was expecting more time among the women spending time together and talking things out. Although some of these still happened, I felt there was more focus on their romantic relationships rather than their familial bond.

CHARACTERS:
The characters, Felicia, April (F's daughter), Ellen (F's mother and A's grandma), and Mona (F's great- aunt). My least favourite was Mona, I didn't accept her excuse for bailing out on her family. But, the other women + girl were okay

WRITING STYLE:
It was okay, my complaints is that I would have preferred if each MC had their own chapters and POV instead of suddenly wavering paragraph by paragraph

SETTINGS:
The book was set in New Orleans, and it was well described. I demt like a tourist while reading!

OVERALL:
I liked that this is a book celebrating black women and black culture. Unfortunate, the storyline was a miss for me

[Shanquelle]

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

As someone from New Orleans, I was really excited to read Beignets and Big Feelings. Give me a New Orleans setting, beignets, family drama, and a meddling grandma and I’m in!

Unfortunately, this one ended up being just okay for me.

The story follows four generations of women brought together after the death of their grandmother, Olivia, who leaves behind a very specific condition in her will: complete a weeklong scavenger hunt around New Orleans together or nobody gets their inheritance. Of course, Grandma has more in mind than simply sending everyone sightseeing. There are old family wounds, secrets, lost loves, and relationships that need repairing.

There were some sweet and slightly funny moments, and I liked the overall message about family, forgiveness, and reconnecting with the people we love. But this book talked about New Orleans a lot. And I say that as someone who is actually from New Orleans! At times, it felt like the city and everything associated with it were being mentioned so often that New Orleans became less of a natural setting and more like another character the book really wanted to make sure you noticed.

The best way I can describe this one is: it felt like a Hallmark movie in book form.

I think readers who enjoy heartwarming, multigenerational family stories with a little romance and a lot of sentimentality may really enjoy this. For me, though, it just wasn’t particularly memorable. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I don’t see myself thinking about it or talking about it much after finishing.

The audiobook will also be included with Kindle Unlimited when the book releases in October, which could make this a fun, easy listen for readers looking for a family-centered story with plenty of New Orleans flavor.

[Books and Blether]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

Well this was a delightful surprise of a book - warm, funny and entertaining, just the sort of heartwarming book I was in the mood for after a couple of heavier ones. This is a solid 3.5 stars for me.

After Grandma Hollis’s death, the women in her family discover she has left a task for them to compete - a week long scavenger hunt in New Orleans designed to try and reunite four generations of women who have lost their way with each other over the years. The catch is that they must take part in order to receive any money from her will. What ensues is a journey that brings old secrets and relationships to light and helps everyone realise the importance of family.

I loved the setting of this story in New Orleans which was really brought to life with the descriptions of jazz music and all of the sight seeing that happened in the book. I also loved the references to different cultural dishes and cocktails that were woven throughout and became a motif to represent the family being brought together.

This is a book about second chances, forgiveness and strong women and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Kayla]

I cackled so much reading this captivating family drama. The protagonists are 4 generations of black women, and the setting is family vacation in NOLA. BUT… as for the plot..

Imagine: a beloved and revered matriarch being meddlesome from beyond the grave…by way of her last will and testament. So it’s all legal!! Wheeewwww chile. The plot was everything lol.

I really enjoyed April, Felicia, Ellen, and Mona’s journey together in this novel. Although, Ellen was the least likable one IMO. (She had the EQ of a 6 year old *eyeroll*.) The only thing that held me back from giving it a 5 star was the writing style. Early on, it read choppy, and other times I questioned if 3rd person was the best route when there are four main characters. Perspectives of who was doing or saying what weren’t always clear.

But I look forward to recommending this to friends who may need a contemporary fiction option or are ready for a good ole family drama to enjoy.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Kristyn Dayton]

Came for the city, stayed for the sass.

“Beignets and Big Feelings” is my first read by this author. As a former New Orleanian myself, I was drawn to the setting first and foremost. I love a book that dives headfirst into my old stomping grounds: oak trees lining St. Charles Ave, Spanish moss hanging down, and jazz music on every corner of the French Quarter.

This story follows four generations of female relatives who are thrust into a weeklong New Orleans scavenger hunt orchestrated by their late matriarch, Olivia Hollis, as a condition of her surprise will. Following a preplanned itinerary, the women find themselves braving bayou swamp tours, embarking on a Mississippi River jazz cruise, and unlocking secrets they’ve hidden from each other for decades to claim their inheritance.

It was a solid 3-star read and very much a feel-good palate cleanser. I could easily picture this as a Hallmark-esque movie… the perfect balance of G-rated romance and Black family comedy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy! This one is available on October 13, 2026.

[Shawna Briseno]

Families are complicated. And that's especially true for the Hollis family. Even more so when their matriarch, Grandma Olivia, passes away. She leaves behind four generations of women, all with their own issues intertwined with long-held familial grudges. But even from the grave, Grandma Olivia is determined to reunite her family. Using the conditions of her will as a bargaining chip, Olivia sends them off on a family reunion of sorts. Call it a girls trip if you like. Whatever works. So they're off, four generations of Hollis women, to spend the week in New Orleans. Everything has been arranged by Olivia. All they have to do is show up and follow the directions she's left for them. As soon as they arrive, however, they realize that this won't be a simple rest and relaxation kind of trip. Olivia has a plan for them. Will it be enough to heal old wounds and finally bring the family back together? This was a fun, light-hearted story with an underlying message of the importance of family. A good read!

[Donna Robinson]

E-ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

In this contemporary novel, we follow the Hollis family as they must complete tasks to access their grandmother's will. The group of four women travels to New Orleans, where they experience enlightening visits, delicious food, old romances, and the chance to rebuild relationships. At some parts, the story struggled to get up and move along, but when it did get there, it worked really well. There were some heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, like discussing their past with another and the events that led them there. The characters had plenty of dimension to them and a great setting. I wished the details of New Orelens were more fleshed out to match the intensity of feelings the characters experienced. Overall, this was a good contemporary novel focusing on family, relationships, and reuniting with others.

[Sans Washington]

This is a great read if you are about to visit New Orleans for the first time or have just returned from the Big Easy. In Leslie Gray Streeters' Beignets and Big Feelings, multiple generations of the Hollis family visit New Orleans to satisfy the dying wish of their matriarch. While in the City that Care Forgot, the group must follow a pre-planned and surprising-to-them itinerary: rolling down the river on a paddleboat, braving an alligator invested swamp tour, rolling down St. Charles and Canal on street cars, etc. . I read this story while spending the summer at my daughter's home in the Lower Garden District. Thus, I can promise readers that the locations described in the Hollis family story are legitimately great places, expecially Blue Cypress Books over on Oak Street!

[Farah G]

When the matriarch of the family Grandma Hollis passes away, several generations of her heirs gather, to find that she has left them a series of activities that form a kind of scavenger hunt. They also discovered that this means that they must spend time together in order to carry out the elements specified.

And as the heirs' time together unfolds, a sense of closeness between them begins to bloom, dispersing the inhibitions, secrets, and lies that have kept them apart. And that is when Grandma Hollis's real legacy emerges...

This is a charming piece of storytelling, that holds warmth and authenticity. It easily earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Syd the Kyd]

Beignets and Big Feelings is a heartfelt, family centered story that reminded me how complicated and rewarding family relationships can be.
The story follows a grandmother who sends her family on a quest that ultimately brings them back together. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Grandma's wisdom. She knows what her family needs, but instead of forcing her opinions, she gives everyone the space to make their own choices and discover the lessons for themselves. As the saying goes, Grandma is usually right! The family dynamics felt incredibly relatable and reminded me so much of my own family, which made the story even more meaningful.
This was an uplifting read about family, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people who matter most.

[Andrea Morgan]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Brilliance Publishing/ Audio for this ARC

What can bring a family together faster than a funeral, or tear them further apart? This book was a quick, fun ride through years of family drama that has left one sister, Mona, guarded and estranged from the rest of the crew.

Enter Grandma Olivia via her will, who is wonderfully messy. Her last wish is for her daughters to finally put their beef to bed, so she sends the family on a trip packed with shenanigans and long lost loves. I was absolutely here for all of it! As the family navigated their various ups and downs, the story managed to be both deeply emotional and incredibly funny, all set with the back drop of beautiful New Orleans . It is a sweet, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

[Beverly Wolff]

Grandma Olivia passes away and has put a restriction on her estate. No one will inherit a thing unless four female family members of four generations take a weeklong trip together to mend their relationships. She has organized a trip to New Orleans with daily activities that are revealed to them in a letter each day As they begin their activities, they realize that Grandma is a bit of a meddler in regards to their past private lives and has specific motives.
The book was cute and heartwarming with a bit of Black History of the south, specifically New Orleans which added interest to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

[Lindsey Barger]

Beignets and Big Feelings is a warm, funny, food-filled family story set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans. I enjoyed the multigenerational banter, the scavenger-hunt premise, and the way the book balances grief, secrets, romance, and reconciliation. The setting was one of its biggest strengths, and several moments genuinely made me laugh. However, the repeated use of “like,” a few distracting errors in the advance copy, and a fairly predictable storyline kept it from being a higher-rated read for me. Still, readers looking for a quick, heartfelt, low-stakes vacation-style novel may enjoy it. 3 out of 5 stars.

[Coffee&Books]

I really liked this book. It's a tale of family drama and reconnecting after loss. I've come to enjoy Leslie Gray Streeter's, work whether it's her columns for the Baltimore Banner or her fiction. Most definitely worth the read. I will say.......i think Aunt Mona had a POINT and Grandma was REAL meddlesome. I'd have been cranky too.
My only nit is that at about 80% in there were so many characters, I could not keep things straight... and I was listening to the audiobook (which was well-performed). I got it together though and enjoyed this one!

I received a copy of the ebook from the author and the audiobook from the publisher. THANK YOU!