Mae has felt the absence of knowing a part of her father's family, who she has been estranged from. As her wedding draws closer, her desire to connect with them grows. When her grandmother passes away, she attends the funeral and starts to build relationships with relatives she's never really known. Her father had reasons for keeping Mae separated from this side of the family, and the longer that Mae visits the more she learns about his past and hers.
I enjoyed the foodie component of this book, especially Mae's quest to replicate a Mac and cheese family recipe. It was a fun component of the story and also made my mouth water. There was also a lot of heart and emotion in the book as Mae is so desperate to connect with this part of her family and at least at first they are not nearly as interested and push her away.

Shauna Robinson beautifully blends humor, heart and heritage in "The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster."

Mae Townsend has always longed to know her dad's family, the famous Townsends, whose annual Fourth of July cookout called her father home every year until he died while Mae was still young. Connecting with the Townsends - her Black family and the characters in tender stories her dad shared - keeps slipping out of her fingers. Mae and her white mother never attended the annual cookout and, even as Mae has hoped fervently that an occasion to bond with her dad's family would arise, her wedding invitations come and go without a single Yes RSVP.

When Mae's grandmother dies, the Townsend Matriarch, she takes it as a sign. Time to head back to North Carolina and meet the people who she's always longed to know. Nevermind that Mae wasn't mentioned in the obituary or specifically invited - not to mention her cousin's wedding RSVP, crossing out "With regrets" and offering only a terse No in response. She is determined to connect with her family - and to unravel the undercurrent of tension that she finds when she arrives.

I wanted to hug this book when I finished. Shauna covers the issues of race, belonging and privilege in a nuanced way. She doesn't skate over the damage that can be wrought by even well-intentioned people - but she doesn't create characters incapable of growth.

I'll look forward to picking up her next book.

Mae Townsend is a biracial woman wanting to reconnect with her southern Black family. Her wedding is quickly approaching and no one from that side of the family has RSVP'd. She decides to pop up on them and discovers herself as well as a few family secrets.

Shauna Robinson sprinkled in the right amount of humor and lightheartedness to balance out the heavy topics of this book.

Shauna Robinson's 'The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster' is a charming and entertaining read. With relatable characters and a delightful blend of humor and heart, it's a perfect feel-good novel. Highly enjoyable.

A great read that covers timely societal issues. Loved the characters. Will definitely read more by the author

Review: The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson
Shauna Robinson's The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster offers a compelling and heartfelt journey into the complexities of family, tradition, and identity. Mae Townsend’s longing to connect with her estranged Black family takes center stage as she ventures to the South to attend her grandmother’s funeral and confront the rift that has kept her distanced.
What begins as a quest for family and belonging quickly unravels into a chaotic, often humorous, look at the tensions and old wounds that run through generations. The missing mac & cheese recipe and an impending family barbecue become symbols of Mae’s attempt to mend bridges and make a lasting connection.
Mae’s journey is a mix of hope, humor, and poignant moments as she steps up to bridge the gap in her family, despite their unresolved grudges. Robinson brings to life a vibrant cast of characters, from Mae’s idealistic expectations to the complicated, sometimes frustrating, dynamics of the Townsend clan. This book beautifully captures the messiness and beauty of family, making it a must-read for those who enjoy stories of self-discovery and reconciliation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

First Read of this Author and ready to read another book from this author. Everyone has family members like characters in this book. The cover definitely pulled me to this book immediately!

Shauna Robinson is an underrated author in my opinion. She writes big-hearted, feel-good novels with characters you can't help but fall in love with.

I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down. I loved Mae so much, and Sierra. This book hits every emotion, humor, sadness, and happiness. I did not see the main plot coming, but it made so much sense once it happened. The story pulled me in, and held my interest so well. I will 100% be reading more from Robinson in the future.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I love a family story and this did not disappoint. although there was some suspension of disbelief required, I loved how the story went from west to north to south. all sides of her family were shown and treated well as characters. I am absolutely in love with her fiance. I can't wait to read Robinson's next book. Great happy endings !

I thought this book was really nice take on blended families and race. I wish we of dove deeper into Maes trauma. At time I felt super invested in the story and at other times it felt like the story was dragging. Incoporating cooking was such a good tie in on blededing families as well.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster is a hilarious and heartwarming look at family dynamics and personal growth. Robinson’s witty prose and relatable characters make it a perfect blend of humor and heart.

Ever feel like you're caught between two worlds that just don’t quite fit? That’s Mae’s reality in Shauna Robinson’s The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster.

Mae, a mixed-race woman raised in California by her white mom and Black dad, has always been torn. Her mom’s side? Experts in subtle racism, but she’s tolerated it because, well, family. Her dad’s side? Living in North Carolina, a part of her life that’s remained distant and unknown.

When Mae’s grandmother passes and her own wedding is on the horizon, she decides it’s finally time to bridge the gap with her father’s family—and hopefully reconnect with her Black heritage (the tension in this part was REAL). The key? Her grandmother’s secret mac and cheese recipe. Can a little cheesy magic bring Mae the connection she’s been craving?

This book completely pulled me in. It’s heartfelt, raw, and relatable—though at times, the characters might just make you want to scream into a pillow. Watching Mae navigate micro-aggressions and her search for belonging is emotional and powerful. I laughed, I cried, I rolled my eyes, and yes, I got a little angry! 😂 This book has all the emotions and definitely deserves the praise and hype. Shauna Robinson absolutely nailed it with this one.

I really enjoyed Mae's story! It felt like a realistic story line even though it had its share of drama and family secrets. I love that Mae decided she'd had enough of not knowing her father's side of the family and took it upon herself to go get to know them. I also love that even though she went to North Carolina for one specific event, she ended up staying longer to build connections with the Townsend family. It was great to see her breakthrough with her relatives, especially Sierra. This was an enjoyable listen on audio as well!

The Townsend Family Recipe of Disaster by Shauna Robinson was a wonderul family story with good character word and a well developed character.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson is a charming and heartfelt read about Mae Townsend, a woman navigating race and identity. With a mix of humor and emotional depth, Robinson captures the complexities of belonging and cultural heritage. It’s a delightful story that will leave readers craving comfort food and reflecting on family.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I requested *The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster* by Shauna Robinson because my last name is Townsend, and I was curious to see how the story would unfold. The book delivers a fun, chaotic exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the pressures of living up to expectations. With relatable characters, sharp humor, and a heartfelt narrative, it's a delightful read, earning four stars for its wit and charm.

I really liked the writing in this book.

The MC i could totally relate to and this book felt like i was right in the book.

The writing was great and I just really loved this book.

Will read more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Mae has never felt like she fit in and has been estranged from her father’s family.
While planning for her wedding she dives deep into her paternal side and discovers more than she bargained for.
I suspected the truth about Sierra early on and thought it was wrong for that secret to have been kept as long as it was.
I thought Connor was a stand up guy because he was so supportive of Mae through all the upheavals.
Most people have complicated relations with some relatives and easy times with others.
No matter the circumstance family does count.

Mae has always wanted to connect with her Black family in the South; but since her grandmother didn't approve of her father's marriage to her white mother that family line was almost non existent. Save for the famous family July 4th BBQ her father went back for every year.

With news of her grandmother's passing, Mae realizes she doesn't have forever to get to know the other half of her family. As she takes off to North Carolina to attend the funeral, she gets a less than chilly welcome. In hopes of turning things around, she offers to throw the final BBQ and recreate her grandma's famous Mac and cheese. But as she learns more about her family, secrets are revealed that changes the way she's everyone she loves.

I was super excited about this one, being in a similar position. Hearing her talk about microagressions, especially from those you love and the way it complicates the way you see them was such a great take to read... The first few chapters. It was repeated several times in the same manner throughout the book unnecessarily.

There are a lot of feelings at play here, from Mae's, her cousin Sierra's and the rest of the Townsend clan. So there's a lot of hot and cold communication throughout the book that feels like it's jerking you around. This gives way to a bit of an uneven pacing, but the story really picks up around the 55-60% mark.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. There were bits that could be a bit tighter but ultimately it's the miscommunication that turned me off. It's not my fave.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.