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.

i loved this book! i could relate to how the MC felt and it all felt so real and like I was there in the book

With fading traditions, hidden secrets, and family drama, I was reminded of both Black Cake and The Wedding People as I read The Townsend Family Recipe For Disaster by Shauna Robinson!

After her grandmother's passing and shortly before her own wedding, Mae works tirelessly to achieve relationships with her estranged family members. Along the way, Mae learns the truth of various events that have caused friction, helping to enlighten her view of her late father and shed light on the dynamics of her family.

As Mae discovered her bigger story, she came into her own, standing up for both herself and her convictions along the way. Mae's partner Conner was beyond likable! He was so supportive of Mae, and although he was almost a background character, he truly played a leading role!

Narrator Chante McCormick really brought Mae's personality to life with her exuberant voice! I loved how McCormick slowed down and read a text that Mae wrote as if it were being deliberately thought out and slowly typed with consideration! As a whole, I loved how the authors' acknowledgments were part of this recording, as most times they are omitted from an audiobook. However, I wish both the "Reading Group Guide" and "A Conversation With The Author" were included as part of the audiobook version since they were part of the ebook.

Pulling at my heartstrings, this story questions how others see us and reminds us that we are more than our legacy after we're gone! It also has one of the best found family representations that I've ever read, making it a very comforting read!

This book is a true testament to the kitchen being the heart of the home - but this beautiful story is also so much more than that!

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Landmark and Spotify Audiobooks for the complimentary copy to read and review.

This was a sweet story about family and figuring out where you belong, but it didn’t totally do it for me. It had its moments, but the pacing felt off, and I didn’t connect with it as much as I wanted to. Not bad, just not something that stuck with me.

🍽️ The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster - Shauna Robinson

4 ⭐️ - I love having a book to read in November that centers around food. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was the perfect mix of family, food, and drama to get me prepared for Thanksgiving. With plenty of storyline wrapped around family, finding yourself, and staying true to your roots, this book has something for everyone. I loved the growth and development of our main character throughout the whole book and was pleasantly pleased with the ending. Definitely recommend for November reads.

One estranged family. One lost recipe. One last barbecue on the line. Mae is about to learn what happens when things go south…

Mae Townsend has always dreamed of connecting with her estranged Black family in the South. She grew up picturing relatives who looked like her, crowded dinner tables, bustling kitchens. And, of course, the Townsend family barbecue, the tradition that kept her late father flying to North Carolina year after year, despite the mysterious rift that always required her to stay behind.

But as Mae's wedding draws closer, promising a future of always standing out among her white in-laws, suddenly not knowing the Townsends hits her like a blow. So when news arrives that her paternal grandmother has passed, she decides it's time to head South.

What she finds is a family in turmoil, a long-standing grudge intact, a lost mac & cheese recipe causing grief, and a family barbecue on the brink of disaster. Not willing to let her dreams of family slip away, Mae steps up to throw a barbecue everyone will remember.

This book hit home for me. I loved it from start to finish. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster contains complex characters whose journey in the book the reader can't help but follow with eagerness. As a main character, Mae stands out as her determination to connect with her estranged family pulls her into situations that challenge what she already knows about her history. While the family truths tug at the heartstrings, this is more than just a feel-good book. Characters deal with personal struggles as they try to come together and understand each other. Mae goes through a significant transformation as she connects with her own feelings and needs. This is the perfect book for anyone who enjoys books about how family relationships change and grow, as well as how family members set foundries and foster understanding between each other.

Mae is getting married and now wants to meet the family she never knew. She shows up at her grandmothers funeral and baby it wasn’t nothing nice after that.

This book does highlight the challenges of Mix raced couples especially ones with Children. I wish the author would’ve went a little deeper on the topic.

This was slow for me & too many unnecessary characters and the big plot twist wasn’t really twisting. Overall solid book but it fell short for me.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson is a charming and humorous tale about family dynamics, secrets, and the chaos that ensues when things don’t go as planned. Set against the backdrop of a family-run restaurant, the story is filled with heartwarming moments, quirky characters, and plenty of mishaps. Robinson’s witty dialogue and relatable portrayal of family make this a fun, feel-good read, perfect for fans of lighthearted family dramas with a touch of romance and humor.

Family secrets are at the heart of The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster. With the death of the family matriarch, Mae Townsend heads to South Carolina to connect with her extended family she didn't grow up with. Every year her father would head down South for a July 4th potluck, but Mae and her mother would be left behind. Mae knows there are rifts in her family between her parents and the other Townsends but she isn't sure what it is. She's hoping that coming to the funeral will help to solve some of these questions, but it leads to more questions than answers.

I really enjoyed Robinson's storytelling. This is my first novel by her and I loved that way she writes flawed, but relatable and endearing characters. I couldn't find any character I disliked, well except Madison. As someone who didn't grow up close with her extended family, I related to some aspects of Mae's story. This book did make me extremely hungry, so beware of reading on an empty stomach. I really need to make some homemade Mac & Cheese now thanks to this book. I half listened and half read this book and would recommend either format for your reading experience. I will definitely be reaching into Robinson's backlist and her future titles for more stories by her.

Thank you to Sourebooks and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for review consideration.

I absolutely LOVED this book. heartwarming and realistic thoughts on family, belonging, sisterhood, and they way we view our parents.

This book pulled at my heartstrings! To say that main character Mae was my favorite character is an understatement. She was witty yet vulnerable, She was kind and willing to go above and beyond to get to know her family. She reminded me a lot of myself.

I also loved the concept of food being at the core of this novel. It shows the importance of food and recipes passed down through generations and how impactful it is to the Black family.

#TownsendFamilyRecipeForDisaster #netgalley

Loved this story of a woman’s journey trying to connect to her fathers side of the family that had been withheld from her by her father for reasons unknown . Her attempts are sincere, with a yearning for family and answers, and self discovery. This is a great book.

Shauna Robinson’s “The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” is a heartwarming and insightful novel that delves into family dynamics and personal identity. The story follows Mae, a bi-racial woman who has spent much of her life feeling disconnected from her father’s Black family while being more integrated with her maternal white relatives. As her wedding day looms, she is concerned because her father’s side of the family has not replied to her wedding invite. When she receives word that her paternal grandmother passed, she decided to attend the funeral and reconnect with that side of her family. As Mae seeks to reconnect with her estranged Black family in the South, she faces the chaos of a family barbecue that stirs both laughter and deep emotional reflections.

Robinson masterfully blends humor with emotional depth, presenting Mae’s journey with a mix of introspection and comedic inner monologues. The novel addresses complex themes of familial and racial histories, offering readers a thought-provoking and resonant experience. Mae’s quest to rebuild family ties and understand her place within her heritage is both inspiring and relatable. Robinson’s portrayal of family interactions and personal struggles brings the story to life, making “The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” a compelling read for anyone interested in stories of family, identity, and growth.

3.5 stars

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson was one of those books that I had all the feels and didn't want it to end. Mae discovers all sorts of family secrets and I swear, I just wanted to jump in and give her a big hug! High recommended!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. I was not able to finish it so I won't be leaving a full review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved it so much that I read Shauna Robinson’s backlist (two other books) directly after finishing it. The description of this book was spot on. You will get some yummy food, some juicy family drama, and a whole lot of love.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster follows Mae as she plans her wedding. In the midst of planning her wedding, she finds out that her paternal grandmother has passed away. Now, Mae is estranged from her paternal side of the family, but she wants to reconnect. To do so, she uses a family BBQ and a lost mac & cheese recipe to try to reconnect with a family she has never really known.
The story has bumps and turns, but Mae’s feelings made me want to keep reading it. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to know more about them throughout the story.

Please check content warnings for racism, death, toxic friendships, etc.

I read an eBook version and listened to the audiobook. I loved both of these options!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Landmark for the opportunity to read the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a wonderful book!

This is a review for the ebook but I was aable to finish this through the audiobook. This audiobook narrator truly brought the story to life. It was a bit hard for me to get into the story but once I was able to the narrator immersed me extremely well. The production of this flowed nicely and I would gladly pick up another that is narrated by the same person.

The book itself wasa okay but it was a little difficult for me to get through