A successful journalist returns to her hometown just as her biggest mistake becomes headline news in this vibrant, funny, and heartfelt novel about facing the past, and its secrets, head-on.
“Family & Other Calamities delivers exactly what I want when I sit down to read a novel. It has genuinely memorable characters, a fresh voice that kept me reading, lines that made me laugh out loud, and scenes that brought me to tears.” ―James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“a romp that plumbs emotional depths of family ties and what we sacrifice to follow our dreams. Streeter’s debut novel (succeeding the memoir, Black Widow, 2020) is a winner.” ―Booklist
“Family & Other Calamities is about love in many forms―family, friendship, and standing up for what is yours. Dawn Roberts is a funny and charming character you will want to root for. Streeter’s signature humor and charisma shine bright in this bighearted debut.” ―Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author
“A compelling story of truth, justice, and the American way. Leslie Streeter understands both the news business and the heartbreak business.” ―Josh Mankiewicz, correspondent for Dateline NBC
“Leslie Streeter’s dialogue is delightful. Even when the good times slam into bad times, her heroine holds on to her sense of humor and you won’t want to leave her side. As a bonus, this novel offers deep wisdom about being a journalist, so not only will you laugh―and be moved―but you will also learn how to be a better writer.” ―Nell Scovell, author of Just the Funny Parts
“Family & Other Calamities is vintage Leslie Gray Streeter: hilariously funny, and with a powerful emotional punch. It’s a deep study in the gifts we get from the people we love the most, even when we don’t always like them.” ―Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author of Housemoms
An award-winning journalist and columnist for the Baltimore Banner, Leslie Gray Streeter knows a thing or two about chasing down a good story and scoring in-depth interviews with celebrities. In FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES (Lake Union Publishing; June 1, 2025), she has tapped into her years of experience in the biz to create a riotous, emotionally relatable novel about a Black woman journalist who is going through it all – grief, betrayal, family drama, long buried secrets, and so many carbs.
Fans of Jasmine Guillory, Candice Carty-Williams, and Dolly Alderton will delight in Gray Streeter’s fiction debut with a tell-it-like-it-is protagonist, an eclectic cast of endearing characters, and a wildly entertaining story you won’t soon forget.
To celebrate the publication of FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES, we are hosting a virtual book tour throughout June featuring this fabulous roster of book influencers. Follow along for plenty of laughs, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!
Monday, June 2 – WE LOVE BIG BOOKS AND WE CANNOT LIE
Monday, June 2 – MY BURSTING BOOK BAG
Tuesday, June 3 – CASSIE’S BOOK REVIEWS
Tuesday, June 3 – STOREYBOOK REVIEWS
Wednesday, June 4 – DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK
Thursday, June 5 – BOOKS N BIKRAM
Friday, June 6 – KIM READS AND READS
Saturday, June 7 – BOOKPHILE BELLE
Sunday, June 8 – PURRFECT PAGES
Sunday, June 8 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY
Monday, June 9 – BOOKS AND COFFEE MX
Tuesday, June 10 – KATIE NEEDS A BIGGER BOOKSHELF
Tuesday, June 10 – BOOKIN IT WITH AHTIYA
Wednesday, June 11 – SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF
Wednesday, June 11 – THE BOOK CLUB MOM
Thursday, June 12 – LOVE MY BOOKS 2020
Thursday, June 12 – SUZY APPROVED BOOK REVIEWS
Friday, June 13 – ELLIOTT READS
Friday, June 13 – SUNFLOWER BOOK LOVER
Saturday, June 14 – WUTHERING VINES
Monday, June 16 – SUE THE BOOKIE
Tuesday, June 17 – BOOKS AND BIEWERS
Tuesday, June 17 – BOOKALONG
Wednesday, June 18 – MEG’S BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, June 18 – BEE IS FOR BOOKS
Thursday, June 19 – DANISH MUSTARD READS
Friday, June 20 – 2 MANY BOOKS 2 LITTLE TIME
Friday, June 20 – WE BREAK FOR BOOKS
Monday, June 23 – ARMED WITH A BOOK
Monday, June 23 – GLORIANA WONG
Tuesday, June 24 – JOURNAL OF JAIDA
Tuesday, June 24 – BLACK BIRACIAL AND BOOKISH
Wednesday, June 25 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR
Thursday, June 26 – BOOKAPOTAMUS
Friday, June 27 – NISSA THE BOOKWORM
Friday, June 27 – BOOKS AND THEMES
