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The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster
From the acclaimed author of The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks and Must Love Books comes a heartfelt bookclub read following one woman's journey to reconnect with her Black family in the south, just as it's on the brink of falling apart, perfect for fans of The Chicken Sisters and The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel.
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.
For better or for worse.
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.
For better or for worse.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2024
140 people are currently reading
12966 people want to read
About the author
Shauna Robinson
5 books967 followersShauna Robinson writes contemporary fiction with humor and heart. Originally from San Diego, she now lives in Virginia with her husband and their sleepy greyhound. Shauna is an introvert at heart—she spends most of her time reading, baking, and figuring out the politest way to avoid social interaction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
July 29, 2024
The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Shauna Robinson. As the title suggests, this book was about family a lost recipe and lots of secrets. Mae Townsend, recently engaged to Conner Parker, all of a sudden had a real desire to get to know her father’s side of the family. She had had no contact with them at all in a very long time. Mae remembered that her late father had always traveled to North Carolina every year for his family’s annual Fourth of July barbecue. As much as Mae begged her father to let her accompany him, he always went by himself. With her and Conner’s wedding rapidly approaching, Mae wanted the members of her late father’s family to attend her wedding. Mae was a product of her parent’s biracial marriage and now she was following in their footsteps by marrying Conner, a white boy from a very affluent family. When Mae learned about her paternal grandmother’s death, she informed Conner that she was going to go to North Carolina to attend her funeral. Mae wanted to reacquaint herself with the Black members of her family and try and get them to come to her wedding. It was time that Mae got to know this side of her family. She could take care of last minute wedding plans long distance and could also work remotely. Mae promised Conner that she would return as quickly as she could but a lost recipe and an offer to plan the annual Fourth of July barbecue prolonged Mae’s stay longer than she had intended. Would Mae be able to worm her way back in the graces of this part of her family with the promise of replicating the traditional Fourth of July barbecue? Would Mae be able to discover the secrets that led to the estrangement with this part of her family? Could Mae accomplish all this before her wedding?
I listened to the audiobook of The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster that was well narrated by Chante McCormick. Each character’s voice was easily recognizable and distinguished from the other characters. I appreciated the characters that Shauna Robinson brought to her book. Mae and Mae’s cousin, Sierra, were my favorites. I admired Mae for her determination and how she came to terms with very significant issues in her life. Sierra was the most difficult and unwelcoming of all of Mae’s family in the beginning. It was touching how Sierra’s and Mae’s relationship changed over the course of the book. As an added touch, Shauna Robinson mentioned and included many Southern dishes throughout the book that made my mouth water for them and my imagination feast on them. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was about family, secrets, racism, acceptance of biracial marriages, standing up for what is right and the importance of passing down family recipes. I will definitely seek out more books by Shauna Robinson in the future. I recommend this book if you enjoy family drama and women’s fiction.
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I listened to the audiobook of The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster that was well narrated by Chante McCormick. Each character’s voice was easily recognizable and distinguished from the other characters. I appreciated the characters that Shauna Robinson brought to her book. Mae and Mae’s cousin, Sierra, were my favorites. I admired Mae for her determination and how she came to terms with very significant issues in her life. Sierra was the most difficult and unwelcoming of all of Mae’s family in the beginning. It was touching how Sierra’s and Mae’s relationship changed over the course of the book. As an added touch, Shauna Robinson mentioned and included many Southern dishes throughout the book that made my mouth water for them and my imagination feast on them. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster was about family, secrets, racism, acceptance of biracial marriages, standing up for what is right and the importance of passing down family recipes. I will definitely seek out more books by Shauna Robinson in the future. I recommend this book if you enjoy family drama and women’s fiction.
Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 30, 2024
This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of drama, secrets, love and mouth-watering dishes. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down.
I loved Mae, she was so desperately trying to navigate the complex dynamics of her family while juggling her own need for boundaries or lack thereof. I think her struggle to assert herself amidst her family's chaos and secrets is what made her all too relatable.
I did not see the plot coming, but when it hit, it was like a delicious plot bombshell that added layers to an already captivating story.
I love this story. It left me with all the feels. I laughed, l cried, and l found myself wishing it didn't have to end. Truly, a testament to the power of storytelling when it's done right, and trust me, Shauna Robinson’s “Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” does it right.
Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC!
I loved Mae, she was so desperately trying to navigate the complex dynamics of her family while juggling her own need for boundaries or lack thereof. I think her struggle to assert herself amidst her family's chaos and secrets is what made her all too relatable.
I did not see the plot coming, but when it hit, it was like a delicious plot bombshell that added layers to an already captivating story.
I love this story. It left me with all the feels. I laughed, l cried, and l found myself wishing it didn't have to end. Truly, a testament to the power of storytelling when it's done right, and trust me, Shauna Robinson’s “Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” does it right.
Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC!
December 28, 2024
Mae, her mother and her whole family was starting to get on my nerves. I'm realizing that I don't care for the miscommunication trope that much. When confusion can be cleared up with a conversation and you choose not to ugh. I guess they redeemed them selves in the end but it took forever.
August 9, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Shauna Robinson, Spotify Audiobooks, and NetGalley.
The narrator of this audiobook is Chante McCormick. Ms. McCormick's voice was perfect for Mae. With slight alterations in tone and pitch, Chante was able to effectively give each character their own voice. This allows the reader to simply settle in and enjoy the story. I quite enjoyed her and plan to seek put novels narrated by her in the future.
This was my first time reading a novel written by Ms. Robinson, but it won't be my last. I adored everything about this comfortable adult coming-of-age story.
The reader joins Mae just before her wedding to Conner. Conner is wealthy, from a well-connected family and white. Mae's background is different. Mae's father was Black, and her mother is white. Mae's parents both grew up in North Carolina and left before she was born. There was some drama about her parents interracial marriage that caused a rift in her father's family. As a result, after the death of Mae's father, she loses touch with her father's side of the family.
As a soon to be bride, Mae yearns to learn why her father's family isn't a part of her life. With her weddinh increasingly becoming a society affair put on by the groom's parents, Mae decides to head down to North Carolina.
Mae finds out some truths about those she loves that surprise her. This handles the complexity of interracial families well. I have a white mom and a Black father. Now I was born in the 70s, but it's surprising how much things stay the same.
Thank you to Shauna Robinson, Spotify Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator of this audiobook is Chante McCormick. Ms. McCormick's voice was perfect for Mae. With slight alterations in tone and pitch, Chante was able to effectively give each character their own voice. This allows the reader to simply settle in and enjoy the story. I quite enjoyed her and plan to seek put novels narrated by her in the future.
This was my first time reading a novel written by Ms. Robinson, but it won't be my last. I adored everything about this comfortable adult coming-of-age story.
The reader joins Mae just before her wedding to Conner. Conner is wealthy, from a well-connected family and white. Mae's background is different. Mae's father was Black, and her mother is white. Mae's parents both grew up in North Carolina and left before she was born. There was some drama about her parents interracial marriage that caused a rift in her father's family. As a result, after the death of Mae's father, she loses touch with her father's side of the family.
As a soon to be bride, Mae yearns to learn why her father's family isn't a part of her life. With her weddinh increasingly becoming a society affair put on by the groom's parents, Mae decides to head down to North Carolina.
Mae finds out some truths about those she loves that surprise her. This handles the complexity of interracial families well. I have a white mom and a Black father. Now I was born in the 70s, but it's surprising how much things stay the same.
Thank you to Shauna Robinson, Spotify Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
April 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
OK as someone who has read all of Shauna Robinson’s books, I can definitely say that this is her best one yet! I think her writing and characters are a lot more mature this time around, which is what really sold me on this. Not to mention Mae, omg. I love her and just want to be her bestie and give her the biggest hug.
This book is great for the summer, poolside or at the cottage. Definitely enjoy it with a side of Mac ‘n Cheese <3
OK as someone who has read all of Shauna Robinson’s books, I can definitely say that this is her best one yet! I think her writing and characters are a lot more mature this time around, which is what really sold me on this. Not to mention Mae, omg. I love her and just want to be her bestie and give her the biggest hug.
This book is great for the summer, poolside or at the cottage. Definitely enjoy it with a side of Mac ‘n Cheese <3
March 29, 2025
This is a light, wholesome, quick read. I think there is a lot here that is interesting but I just kind of wish it was explored deeper. Also the main character seemed really naive to me and things worked out a little too easily but I didn't hate my experience reading this.
July 24, 2024
While visiting her estranged family before her impending nuptials Mae discovers family secrets, longtime grudges, and the best mac & cheese she's ever had!
See full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
See full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
July 7, 2024
I was back and forth on how to rate this one because there were a lot of things I loved about it, but there were also some things I didn’t care for.
I really enjoyed the focus on family and community. The large family gatherings had a wholesome vibe to it, even though the idea of a giant family barbecue every year is my idea of a nightmare.
I also liked how the author discussed the micro-aggressions that Black people have to face. A lot of people make racist comments that they think are little or harmless, and this book explored how damaging these comments can actually be.
The writing style itself was amazing. It all sort of flowed together and had me captivated several times throughout the story. But I also felt that the book dragged on quite a bit and was missing something more from the plot that I needed to keep my interest.
I was also really bothered by the MC. Most of her decisions didn’t make any sense to me, and I found her to be pretty cringey at times.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!
I really enjoyed the focus on family and community. The large family gatherings had a wholesome vibe to it, even though the idea of a giant family barbecue every year is my idea of a nightmare.
I also liked how the author discussed the micro-aggressions that Black people have to face. A lot of people make racist comments that they think are little or harmless, and this book explored how damaging these comments can actually be.
The writing style itself was amazing. It all sort of flowed together and had me captivated several times throughout the story. But I also felt that the book dragged on quite a bit and was missing something more from the plot that I needed to keep my interest.
I was also really bothered by the MC. Most of her decisions didn’t make any sense to me, and I found her to be pretty cringey at times.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!
July 9, 2024
Family recipes are so much more than just a list of ingredients - they are love, history and culture passed down through the generations. Much like a family tree, they are complex, filled with secrets and forever updating. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster follows a family in mourning as they search for the missing ingredient of a beloved recipe, and also in their lives.
🔐 Family Secrets
🧀 Mystery Mac & Cheese
⏳Countdown
💍 Wedding Bells
❤️🩹 Healing
🥘 Delicious Food
🫶 Family & Friendship
Shauna Robinson has whipped up another perfect recipe for a heartfelt novel! It’s full
of tough conversations, decades old secrets, love, loss and beautiful connections. 10/10 recommend!
Thank you so much Sourcebooks & Spotify Audiobooks for the gifted copies!
🔐 Family Secrets
🧀 Mystery Mac & Cheese
⏳Countdown
💍 Wedding Bells
❤️🩹 Healing
🥘 Delicious Food
🫶 Family & Friendship
Shauna Robinson has whipped up another perfect recipe for a heartfelt novel! It’s full
of tough conversations, decades old secrets, love, loss and beautiful connections. 10/10 recommend!
Thank you so much Sourcebooks & Spotify Audiobooks for the gifted copies!
March 29, 2024
This is the first novel I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. It touched on some very real subject matters - family, sisterhood, race and of course, good food! The passion and dedication of Mae to want her two sides of the family to connect and forgive the past was admirable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
July 23, 2024
A notice about her grandmother's funeral prompts Mae Townsend to travel to North Carolina in the hope of connecting to her Black relatives, despite the many things left to do for her three-week-away wedding to her white fiancé Connor Parker. His parents have a highly planned event with many small details in mind, which neither Mae nor Connor really want. Also, Mae is uncomfortable with the Parker parents, never really sure if certain of their comments and questions are honest curiosity, or micro aggressions or outright racism, like those from her white mother's side of her family.
Her mother and her dad loved each other a lot, but Mae's father always kept her apart from his family, for no reason Mae ever understood. Even though she knows crashing the funeral, and then the reception, are uncomfortable for everyone involved, Mae decides that she really wants to meet the family she never knew.
Things are uncomfortable, with no one telling her what has kept her separated from them, but she does discover that there was a longstanding grudge between her paternal grandmother and her maternal grandmother. This is after Mae decides to invite everyone to her deceased grandmother's place for a 4th of July barbeque, and a desire to divine the secret of what made her grandmother's mac & cheese so special so she can serve it at the get together.
Mae experiences some hiccups to her new relationships along the way, but she and her cousin Sierra, aunt Barbara as well as others begin warming up to Mae, as she has everyone taste test her attempt at recreating her grandmother's mac & cheese. Then Mae learns a shocking secret about the family, and the real reason for the estrangement, and decides to do her best to mend fences, even while managing from afar Connor's anxiety about the upcoming wedding and a possible job offer, and preparing her grandmother's place for the upcoming barbeque.
I loved this book. Author Shauna Robinson's prose evoked so many strong emotions in me as we followed Mae forge new connections: from the discomfort of Mae's early attempts to connect with standoffish relatives, her happiness when people agreed to come to the barbeque, the frantic feel of late nights perfecting a recipe while preparing her grandmother's home for the get-together, the exhaustion of also working full time, the shock of the family revelation, and the warmth of the wonderful ending. This book made me happy.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Her mother and her dad loved each other a lot, but Mae's father always kept her apart from his family, for no reason Mae ever understood. Even though she knows crashing the funeral, and then the reception, are uncomfortable for everyone involved, Mae decides that she really wants to meet the family she never knew.
Things are uncomfortable, with no one telling her what has kept her separated from them, but she does discover that there was a longstanding grudge between her paternal grandmother and her maternal grandmother. This is after Mae decides to invite everyone to her deceased grandmother's place for a 4th of July barbeque, and a desire to divine the secret of what made her grandmother's mac & cheese so special so she can serve it at the get together.
Mae experiences some hiccups to her new relationships along the way, but she and her cousin Sierra, aunt Barbara as well as others begin warming up to Mae, as she has everyone taste test her attempt at recreating her grandmother's mac & cheese. Then Mae learns a shocking secret about the family, and the real reason for the estrangement, and decides to do her best to mend fences, even while managing from afar Connor's anxiety about the upcoming wedding and a possible job offer, and preparing her grandmother's place for the upcoming barbeque.
I loved this book. Author Shauna Robinson's prose evoked so many strong emotions in me as we followed Mae forge new connections: from the discomfort of Mae's early attempts to connect with standoffish relatives, her happiness when people agreed to come to the barbeque, the frantic feel of late nights perfecting a recipe while preparing her grandmother's home for the get-together, the exhaustion of also working full time, the shock of the family revelation, and the warmth of the wonderful ending. This book made me happy.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for my review.
November 4, 2024
3.75/5⭐️ this was the type of family drama that I was in the mood for. Even though it’s written in third person I still enjoyed it. Don’t know that I’ll be wanting any Mac and cheese anytime soon though 😂
July 15, 2024
"The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster" by Shauna Robinson is women's fiction, but specifically, it's a family drama story.
Mae has one black parent and one white parent. She is estranged from her black family in North Carolina. She is getting married soon to Connor, who is a white man. She travels to North Carolina for the funeral of her grandmother. She gets herself invited to the reception. She really wants to get to know this side of her family. She stays awhile, intent on hosting the Fourth of July family barbecue.
This story is well written. It kept my attention for a full listen all at once. The characters are quite well described. The plot isn't too elaborate. The audiobook is narrated by Chante McCormick, and she was easy to listen to and did all the voices well.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 35/8 = 4 3/8 rounded to 4 stars
Thank you to Netgalley, Spotify Audiobooks, and Shauna Robinson for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Mae has one black parent and one white parent. She is estranged from her black family in North Carolina. She is getting married soon to Connor, who is a white man. She travels to North Carolina for the funeral of her grandmother. She gets herself invited to the reception. She really wants to get to know this side of her family. She stays awhile, intent on hosting the Fourth of July family barbecue.
This story is well written. It kept my attention for a full listen all at once. The characters are quite well described. The plot isn't too elaborate. The audiobook is narrated by Chante McCormick, and she was easy to listen to and did all the voices well.
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 35/8 = 4 3/8 rounded to 4 stars
Thank you to Netgalley, Spotify Audiobooks, and Shauna Robinson for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2024
What a sweet read! I was gifted the advanced copy of the audio version, and I really hope the physical copy comes with recipes!!
This was a book filled with family drama, generational recipes, and thought patterns. Along with the struggles of family secrets and the ins and outs of being in an interracial relationship while finding your voice and standing up for yourself.
It was a true love letter to black family gatherings and communication with a sweet wedding to top it off. If you're looking for a good women's fiction/romance book that's wrapped in racial topics that are written with love, this book is for you!!!
This was a book filled with family drama, generational recipes, and thought patterns. Along with the struggles of family secrets and the ins and outs of being in an interracial relationship while finding your voice and standing up for yourself.
It was a true love letter to black family gatherings and communication with a sweet wedding to top it off. If you're looking for a good women's fiction/romance book that's wrapped in racial topics that are written with love, this book is for you!!!
January 4, 2025
While this was a pleasant read, I found it quite forgettable—much like Mae’s first attempts at the mac and cheese recipe, it felt like that little oompf was missing to make it stand out more.
February 25, 2025
Shauna Robinson has done it again!!! After enjoying The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks, I decided to see what else she had up her sleeve. Let’s just say I will be back for more with this lady.
She had me in the first half, NGL
This is certainly a case where me being autistic impacted my experience as a reader. Our protagonist, Mae Townsend, has some intense reconciliation fantasies when it comes to the Black side of her family. She hangs on to every random tidbit her (worthless) father shared about them, checks her grandma’s residence on Zillow to see if she still lives there, and regularly stalks her cousin on Instagram. This is all before she decides to actually “crash” the grandma’s funeral to begin her forced bonding time. Once she gets to the Townsends’ hometown of Hobson, NC, Mae is faced with the reality of decades of distance from her family. She doesn’t know these people, and quickly abandons her ridiculous musings in lieu of actual relationship building efforts. However, before I realized this was indeed what was going on—like her initial reunion fantasies were intended to be hyperbolic—I was just soooo annoyed by this girl. Thankfully, Mae quickly grows on you as a reader!!
Speaking of Mae growing on you, immediately when she gets to Hobson, it becomes clear that her family is avoiding her like the plague. We don’t know exactly why, but there are clearly some whispers about her grandmother and her father. There are two separate “revelations” explaining this silent treatment, and both are really believable. The second revelation shocked me and my friend/buddy reader, Michaela. By the point it’s introduced (54% through the story), we agreed it was literally the ONLY way to make sense of the first half. The plot twist immediately justified the actions of several characters that I had written off as misguided assholes, and also made me want to murder Mae’s father (who mind you, is already dead!) If you stick with Shauna Robinson, in time, she will reveal all the other Townsend characters to be caring, reasonable people who are simply doing their best to clean up the hot holy mess that Rodney left in the world.
Some minor annoyances
While she made lots of things work by the end, there are some annoyances that never really went away. There are a lot of biracial blues in this book, and Mae’s hyperfixation on microaggressions from the dozens of white people in her life was grating. At least with the in-laws, I actually fell into the camp of “this is what you signed up for.” Like it would be one thing if the in-laws were saying TERRIBLE things to Mae all the time, but the one comment from the mother-in-law could’ve gone either way, and it never should’ve gone so far in isolating them. My whole irritation with this sort of thing is like when people act like they are being FORCED to have white in-laws. The choices are clear: date differently, or suck it up when there are minor annoyances tied to the family of the people you love! Like you don’t see me whining that my girlfriend’s family prefers pumpkin and not sweet potato pie, or Jewish apple cake and not pound cake!!! They are third- and fourth-generation Pennsylvanians—of course they do!!! Maybe I’d feel differently if my “in-laws” were White, but I highly doubt it—in any universe, I thik I would find Mae to be unreasonable on this topic.
The other issue I had with Mae’s issues with her white family is that ALL families hurt each other by saying insensitive or biased things—including the Townsends. I just could not believe that this girl thought her BLACK SOUTHERN FAMILY was going to be the exception lmaoooo. Like the white cousin commenting on her hair or Black-owned businesses and the uncle talking about gangs was light work!! Like tell me without telling me you haven’t heard your Black Gen X relatives’ takes on the crack epidemic. ☹ If Althea hadn’t died so early on, Mae surely would’ve seen her insult someone’s appearance, love life, and homemaking skills all in the same sentence!!! As Michaela said in her text review, the (character’s? author’s?) naivete around Black conservatism and criticism just struck me as a bit too easy. The fact that racism, but none of the other many negative traits that Black and White families share, would be Mae’s line in the sand?!? That just seemed too good to be true, and a way to erase Madison and some of the mom’s family by the end of the story.
Black Southern inaccuracies
There are two elements that didn’t curl over for me as someone whose family is mostly from North Carolina. (I should also note that I currently live in Durham, so I found it funny that Hobson was positioned as a nearby town—to me, it felt most like Oxford than Roxboro/Henderson.) First, the obituary malfeasance in this book is ASTONISHING. I cannot see a world in which Mae would’ve been omitted from her grandma’s obituary, even if she is the long-lost granddaughter. Barbara, who would’ve written the obit, was not actually that spiteful. Phyllis, who would’ve edited the obit, actually is that spiteful, but she’s also a stickler for accuracy, meaning that Mae would’ve been in there along with Sierra/Jeremiah/all the grandkids, each listed in birth order. (Another option I’ve seen is grouping the grands/great-grands by the birth order of their grandparents, the deceased’s children. It’s a bit imprecise for my taste, but I do see the appeal from a lineage tracking perspective.) I could’ve even seen them specifically listing Sierra as a “devoted” granddaughter to slight Mae. But, leaving Mae out of the list completely?!?! None of the Townsends seem like the type to make that bold of a statement.
Even earlier, a pivotal part of the big secret hinges on a certain character believing Mae already knew the secret. However, for that character to believe this, they would’ve had to miss a crucial piece of information in the obituary of a much-earlier funeral. That just doesn’t make sense—people pore over these things way too closely. I hate to say it, but the first thing my sister and I do at a funeral is go to the end to see who was listed and in what order. My grandma, like most people’s grandmothers, had an extensive obit collection, and often left recent ones on the fridge so she could look through them for a while before stowing them away. I say all this to say people study these things INTENSELY, because they are important familial and communal records. There’s no way the character would’ve missed the slight in that obituary.
My second issue deserves no preamble—who the fuck would make mac and cheese for a barbecue?!? That is a declaration of war against the family’s lactose intolerance…I just don’t believe it LOL. While I loved the recipe bonding, if it was really about perfecting a North Carolinian grandmother’s cherished barbecue dish, I would’ve preferred to see Mae trying to nail a baked beans recipe or something.
Moving family + partner dynamics
One thing I really respect about Shauna Robinson’s novels are how they allow readers to explore difficult topics in a comfortable format. One such difficult topic is the humiliating failure of Rodney Townsend, Mae’s dead father, who is also an emotional deadbeat when it comes to connecting her with the Black side of her family. I felt so bad for Mae, who had the inordinately difficult job of trying to bond with long-lost family without any support from the person who put her in this position. In my experience, it’s so much easier to interact with family you don’t know as well when you have the support of your siblings, first cousins, parents, grandparents, or aunts/uncles. In this case, Mae is going it all alone, and while it’s tough to see, it’s also really inspirational to watch.
One of the most encouraging parts was seeing Mae stop following her father’s cowardice, and find her own way to connect the different people in her life. See how easy it is to stop hiding your white spouse at home when you give a fuck about them????!!!! Seriously though, Connor is actually a pretty wonderful character. He is a patient, thoughtful, and compassionate partner to Mae. (To be fair, the longsuffering white boyfriends of troubled biracials and bisexuals usually are.) He encourages her to shoot for her dreams and desires, but also pushes for clearer communication so they can both get what they need in the relationship. Overall, I loved him!!! Even though romance isn’t a huge part of Shauna Robinson’s books, she does have a really nice eye for couple dynamics—it’s like a pleasant background element of these stories.
Final Thoughts
This is another delightful read, even with some of the cultural inaccuracies LOL. I did want a bit more nuance with Madison/the white relatives, but mostly it was still fine! While I enjoyed most of this book, it also could’ve been a bit shorter without suffering much. By the end, Mae Townsend became a lovable (though slightly delusional) character who you want to support, despite her drama and chaos. I wouldn’t mind seeing her reoccur in a Hobson literary universe—maybe Sierra could be up next?!?
She had me in the first half, NGL
This is certainly a case where me being autistic impacted my experience as a reader. Our protagonist, Mae Townsend, has some intense reconciliation fantasies when it comes to the Black side of her family. She hangs on to every random tidbit her (worthless) father shared about them, checks her grandma’s residence on Zillow to see if she still lives there, and regularly stalks her cousin on Instagram. This is all before she decides to actually “crash” the grandma’s funeral to begin her forced bonding time. Once she gets to the Townsends’ hometown of Hobson, NC, Mae is faced with the reality of decades of distance from her family. She doesn’t know these people, and quickly abandons her ridiculous musings in lieu of actual relationship building efforts. However, before I realized this was indeed what was going on—like her initial reunion fantasies were intended to be hyperbolic—I was just soooo annoyed by this girl. Thankfully, Mae quickly grows on you as a reader!!
Speaking of Mae growing on you, immediately when she gets to Hobson, it becomes clear that her family is avoiding her like the plague. We don’t know exactly why, but there are clearly some whispers about her grandmother and her father. There are two separate “revelations” explaining this silent treatment, and both are really believable. The second revelation shocked me and my friend/buddy reader, Michaela. By the point it’s introduced (54% through the story), we agreed it was literally the ONLY way to make sense of the first half. The plot twist immediately justified the actions of several characters that I had written off as misguided assholes, and also made me want to murder Mae’s father (who mind you, is already dead!) If you stick with Shauna Robinson, in time, she will reveal all the other Townsend characters to be caring, reasonable people who are simply doing their best to clean up the hot holy mess that Rodney left in the world.
Some minor annoyances
While she made lots of things work by the end, there are some annoyances that never really went away. There are a lot of biracial blues in this book, and Mae’s hyperfixation on microaggressions from the dozens of white people in her life was grating. At least with the in-laws, I actually fell into the camp of “this is what you signed up for.” Like it would be one thing if the in-laws were saying TERRIBLE things to Mae all the time, but the one comment from the mother-in-law could’ve gone either way, and it never should’ve gone so far in isolating them. My whole irritation with this sort of thing is like when people act like they are being FORCED to have white in-laws. The choices are clear: date differently, or suck it up when there are minor annoyances tied to the family of the people you love! Like you don’t see me whining that my girlfriend’s family prefers pumpkin and not sweet potato pie, or Jewish apple cake and not pound cake!!! They are third- and fourth-generation Pennsylvanians—of course they do!!! Maybe I’d feel differently if my “in-laws” were White, but I highly doubt it—in any universe, I thik I would find Mae to be unreasonable on this topic.
The other issue I had with Mae’s issues with her white family is that ALL families hurt each other by saying insensitive or biased things—including the Townsends. I just could not believe that this girl thought her BLACK SOUTHERN FAMILY was going to be the exception lmaoooo. Like the white cousin commenting on her hair or Black-owned businesses and the uncle talking about gangs was light work!! Like tell me without telling me you haven’t heard your Black Gen X relatives’ takes on the crack epidemic. ☹ If Althea hadn’t died so early on, Mae surely would’ve seen her insult someone’s appearance, love life, and homemaking skills all in the same sentence!!! As Michaela said in her text review, the (character’s? author’s?) naivete around Black conservatism and criticism just struck me as a bit too easy. The fact that racism, but none of the other many negative traits that Black and White families share, would be Mae’s line in the sand?!? That just seemed too good to be true, and a way to erase Madison and some of the mom’s family by the end of the story.
Black Southern inaccuracies
There are two elements that didn’t curl over for me as someone whose family is mostly from North Carolina. (I should also note that I currently live in Durham, so I found it funny that Hobson was positioned as a nearby town—to me, it felt most like Oxford than Roxboro/Henderson.) First, the obituary malfeasance in this book is ASTONISHING. I cannot see a world in which Mae would’ve been omitted from her grandma’s obituary, even if she is the long-lost granddaughter. Barbara, who would’ve written the obit, was not actually that spiteful. Phyllis, who would’ve edited the obit, actually is that spiteful, but she’s also a stickler for accuracy, meaning that Mae would’ve been in there along with Sierra/Jeremiah/all the grandkids, each listed in birth order. (Another option I’ve seen is grouping the grands/great-grands by the birth order of their grandparents, the deceased’s children. It’s a bit imprecise for my taste, but I do see the appeal from a lineage tracking perspective.) I could’ve even seen them specifically listing Sierra as a “devoted” granddaughter to slight Mae. But, leaving Mae out of the list completely?!?! None of the Townsends seem like the type to make that bold of a statement.
Even earlier, a pivotal part of the big secret hinges on a certain character believing Mae already knew the secret. However, for that character to believe this, they would’ve had to miss a crucial piece of information in the obituary of a much-earlier funeral. That just doesn’t make sense—people pore over these things way too closely. I hate to say it, but the first thing my sister and I do at a funeral is go to the end to see who was listed and in what order. My grandma, like most people’s grandmothers, had an extensive obit collection, and often left recent ones on the fridge so she could look through them for a while before stowing them away. I say all this to say people study these things INTENSELY, because they are important familial and communal records. There’s no way the character would’ve missed the slight in that obituary.
My second issue deserves no preamble—who the fuck would make mac and cheese for a barbecue?!? That is a declaration of war against the family’s lactose intolerance…I just don’t believe it LOL. While I loved the recipe bonding, if it was really about perfecting a North Carolinian grandmother’s cherished barbecue dish, I would’ve preferred to see Mae trying to nail a baked beans recipe or something.
Moving family + partner dynamics
One thing I really respect about Shauna Robinson’s novels are how they allow readers to explore difficult topics in a comfortable format. One such difficult topic is the humiliating failure of Rodney Townsend, Mae’s dead father, who is also an emotional deadbeat when it comes to connecting her with the Black side of her family. I felt so bad for Mae, who had the inordinately difficult job of trying to bond with long-lost family without any support from the person who put her in this position. In my experience, it’s so much easier to interact with family you don’t know as well when you have the support of your siblings, first cousins, parents, grandparents, or aunts/uncles. In this case, Mae is going it all alone, and while it’s tough to see, it’s also really inspirational to watch.
One of the most encouraging parts was seeing Mae stop following her father’s cowardice, and find her own way to connect the different people in her life. See how easy it is to stop hiding your white spouse at home when you give a fuck about them????!!!! Seriously though, Connor is actually a pretty wonderful character. He is a patient, thoughtful, and compassionate partner to Mae. (To be fair, the longsuffering white boyfriends of troubled biracials and bisexuals usually are.) He encourages her to shoot for her dreams and desires, but also pushes for clearer communication so they can both get what they need in the relationship. Overall, I loved him!!! Even though romance isn’t a huge part of Shauna Robinson’s books, she does have a really nice eye for couple dynamics—it’s like a pleasant background element of these stories.
Final Thoughts
This is another delightful read, even with some of the cultural inaccuracies LOL. I did want a bit more nuance with Madison/the white relatives, but mostly it was still fine! While I enjoyed most of this book, it also could’ve been a bit shorter without suffering much. By the end, Mae Townsend became a lovable (though slightly delusional) character who you want to support, despite her drama and chaos. I wouldn’t mind seeing her reoccur in a Hobson literary universe—maybe Sierra could be up next?!?
September 3, 2024
4.2 stars
As a foodie, this was a fun read. I would have LOVED Althea’s Mac and cheese recipe included at the end of the book. Mae is a sweet, albeit chaotic character. I wish the Townsends put in more effort to get to know her. She was obviously very earnest in her attempts to bring them all together, and they didn’t really reciprocate. All in all, a light hearted story about family, food and honesty. I recommend ☺️
As a foodie, this was a fun read. I would have LOVED Althea’s Mac and cheese recipe included at the end of the book. Mae is a sweet, albeit chaotic character. I wish the Townsends put in more effort to get to know her. She was obviously very earnest in her attempts to bring them all together, and they didn’t really reciprocate. All in all, a light hearted story about family, food and honesty. I recommend ☺️
November 29, 2024
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.
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.
June 28, 2024
And another absolute hit from one of my favorite authors, Shauna Robinson! The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster on the surface sounds a bit different from Robinson's two other books, but at its heart, it was the perfect third novel from her, and makes me so excited for all the stories she must have cooking up for us in the future (pun mostly unintended)!
This book made me so nostalgic, on so many levels. The first level being that I was raised in North Carolina, so the mentions of Cheerwine and Harris Teeter and sweet tea and Bojangles (I'm so normal about Bojangles appearing on page) really took me back to one of the happiest times of my life. But also, it made me nostalgic for what I didn't have, either. Like Mae, I was never close with my extended family, but I always wanted to be. Mae's journey to discover belonging, and to see just how far she had to go to feel like she fit in (spoiler: the power was always vested in her!), was one that was so heartfelt, thoughtful, and relatable. Robinson just got these emotions and distilled them so perfectly in Mae's narration and her story. I truly am not sure I'd be able to read a story about an estranged family uniting without comparing it to this book (where this book is always at the top, of course).
My favorite thing about Robinson's writing is how her main characters will always do what they think is right, which usually is the right thing. But then of course, life is rarely simple and always complicated, so the right thing usually leads to a lot of unforeseen negative consequences. But! It'll look so perfect and doable at first! Until it all implodes. And I live for that tension, for the drama of that moment but also, just for the sheer relatability of it all. I 100% was following Mae's logical steps here, because who wouldn't want to make those steps towards connections? Who wouldn't want to believe everything was all tidied away? You just have to read it to know what I'm talking about, and to be prepared for some curveballs!
Special shout outs to Jayla and Conor, who were my favorite supporting characters on page. Both absolute icons.
This book will make you hungry, specifically for mac and cheese (and thank you Shauna for including your recipe inspiration in the back I will be looking into this further). But if you're hungry for stories of found family and connection, this is the book that I'm going to be recommending for years to come.
This book made me so nostalgic, on so many levels. The first level being that I was raised in North Carolina, so the mentions of Cheerwine and Harris Teeter and sweet tea and Bojangles (I'm so normal about Bojangles appearing on page) really took me back to one of the happiest times of my life. But also, it made me nostalgic for what I didn't have, either. Like Mae, I was never close with my extended family, but I always wanted to be. Mae's journey to discover belonging, and to see just how far she had to go to feel like she fit in (spoiler: the power was always vested in her!), was one that was so heartfelt, thoughtful, and relatable. Robinson just got these emotions and distilled them so perfectly in Mae's narration and her story. I truly am not sure I'd be able to read a story about an estranged family uniting without comparing it to this book (where this book is always at the top, of course).
My favorite thing about Robinson's writing is how her main characters will always do what they think is right, which usually is the right thing. But then of course, life is rarely simple and always complicated, so the right thing usually leads to a lot of unforeseen negative consequences. But! It'll look so perfect and doable at first! Until it all implodes. And I live for that tension, for the drama of that moment but also, just for the sheer relatability of it all. I 100% was following Mae's logical steps here, because who wouldn't want to make those steps towards connections? Who wouldn't want to believe everything was all tidied away? You just have to read it to know what I'm talking about, and to be prepared for some curveballs!
Special shout outs to Jayla and Conor, who were my favorite supporting characters on page. Both absolute icons.
This book will make you hungry, specifically for mac and cheese (and thank you Shauna for including your recipe inspiration in the back I will be looking into this further). But if you're hungry for stories of found family and connection, this is the book that I'm going to be recommending for years to come.
July 15, 2024
Special thanks to the author & @bookmarked for my advanced e-ARC‼️
This one had a lot of potential but fell a little short on what I expected. I was waiting for a disaster to happen like something major and while we do get some family drama and some secrets I still felt like something was missing.
Mae was getting married soon and after all these years of not connecting with her father’s side of the family she decides now is the time. Longing for a connection from those who look like her and she could relate to reconnecting with the Townsend’s would give Mae just that. But what Mae doesn’t realize is you can’t just walk back into someone’s life expecting open arms when you don’t know them and they really don’t know you.
When Mae showed up to her grandmothers funeral whom she barely knew I figured some of the family wouldn’t take it well. Mainly Sierra she didn’t let up off Mae nearly the entire book. Read it and you’ll eventually understand why. But I kept thinking wtf is this girl issue with Mae y’all family but don’t know each other enough to have all this animosity. Barbara was passive asf just inviting Mae to things without informing the rest of the family. They were acting funny and looking upside her head when all she wanted to do was get to know them. I don’t know what side of the family was worse her dad’s or her mother’s.
I kind of wished the author dove deeper into the whole spill of being biracial and how it is growing up having a white mom who can’t really relate to you. I liked how she touched on some of the microaggressions Mae dealt with from her mom’s family though.
Overall,the book was okay but it had a slow start. There were a few characters we could’ve done without like Madison. I thought the big reveal wasn’t as big of a surprise but it explained why the Townsend’s were acting funny with Mae. I also blame her father and mother for the division she had with her estranged family. But if you’re looking for a fun read with lots of family drama you might like this book.
Rating: 3.75/5⭐️
This one had a lot of potential but fell a little short on what I expected. I was waiting for a disaster to happen like something major and while we do get some family drama and some secrets I still felt like something was missing.
Mae was getting married soon and after all these years of not connecting with her father’s side of the family she decides now is the time. Longing for a connection from those who look like her and she could relate to reconnecting with the Townsend’s would give Mae just that. But what Mae doesn’t realize is you can’t just walk back into someone’s life expecting open arms when you don’t know them and they really don’t know you.
When Mae showed up to her grandmothers funeral whom she barely knew I figured some of the family wouldn’t take it well. Mainly Sierra she didn’t let up off Mae nearly the entire book. Read it and you’ll eventually understand why. But I kept thinking wtf is this girl issue with Mae y’all family but don’t know each other enough to have all this animosity. Barbara was passive asf just inviting Mae to things without informing the rest of the family. They were acting funny and looking upside her head when all she wanted to do was get to know them. I don’t know what side of the family was worse her dad’s or her mother’s.
I kind of wished the author dove deeper into the whole spill of being biracial and how it is growing up having a white mom who can’t really relate to you. I liked how she touched on some of the microaggressions Mae dealt with from her mom’s family though.
Overall,the book was okay but it had a slow start. There were a few characters we could’ve done without like Madison. I thought the big reveal wasn’t as big of a surprise but it explained why the Townsend’s were acting funny with Mae. I also blame her father and mother for the division she had with her estranged family. But if you’re looking for a fun read with lots of family drama you might like this book.
Rating: 3.75/5⭐️
January 2, 2025
I really enjoyed and even loved this book in the beginning but then it got a little boring and honestly pointless in the middle. I found the Townsends frustrating. I understand her grandmother was racist and can understand the bad blood with them. I can even understand being cautious with Mae’s mom, her daughter. But to totally cut out and have nothing to do with the innocent child Mae was, is inexcusable. To me it’s also inexcusable for her father to go visit his family yearly and leave Mae; again an innocent child, behind. Especially as she was so dying for family and connection and always begged to go. They all made horrible decisions. Really took my enjoyment down. The best character was Connor. Who is bi, btw. Not sure what that had to do with anything but it was thrown in. The more I type the more my rating goes down lol. 2 stars
Also: as a grandmother myself now, I could NEVER. I don’t care who the one parent is or who the other grandparent is. Reprehensible
Also: as a grandmother myself now, I could NEVER. I don’t care who the one parent is or who the other grandparent is. Reprehensible
February 21, 2025
This isn’t a book I would normally read, but I chose it because it was listed as an option on the essential reader category challenge and for some reason I care about coloring in Goodreads bookmarks. 😂
It seemed an easier book and not traumatic or heart wrenching as many of the other choices. I was right that it would be a fairly light read, but it was somewhat boring. The beginning and ending were interesting, but the middle was a bit of a slog. I felt sick as if I were the one eating all the Mac and cheese after reading page after page of her experimenting with recipes. I thought the main character was extremely selfish and had no regard for her fiancé. He was extremely patient while she was off trying to impress people who were also selfish. I understood the hurt feelings and anger towards her dad’s actions, but it was cruel to hold it against her. I guess it’s typical family drama, but it was uncomfortable to read. A lot of plot points just irritated me. Not my cup of tea.
It seemed an easier book and not traumatic or heart wrenching as many of the other choices. I was right that it would be a fairly light read, but it was somewhat boring. The beginning and ending were interesting, but the middle was a bit of a slog. I felt sick as if I were the one eating all the Mac and cheese after reading page after page of her experimenting with recipes. I thought the main character was extremely selfish and had no regard for her fiancé. He was extremely patient while she was off trying to impress people who were also selfish. I understood the hurt feelings and anger towards her dad’s actions, but it was cruel to hold it against her. I guess it’s typical family drama, but it was uncomfortable to read. A lot of plot points just irritated me. Not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
It's a good recipe for a story, but it could've used a bit more bite.
3.5/5
3.5/5
September 17, 2025
When I first started The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster, I was uncertain of where the plot was headed. Especially, when it started with the racism and microaggressions that Mae had experienced all of her life with her mom's side of the family. And the way her mom barely handled it and her father basically danced around it. Which didn't teach Mae how to properly handle her family and their behaviors.
I did like getting the inside scoop on the family mysteries and dramas. Finding out what all the secrets were about. It did break my heart to find out a lot of the hidden bits that created all of the distance between Mae and the Townsends. I loved the twists and turns and enjoyed that Mae grew on me the same way she grew on the Townsends and they were able to accept her the same way.
I would most def pick another book by Robinson.
I did like getting the inside scoop on the family mysteries and dramas. Finding out what all the secrets were about. It did break my heart to find out a lot of the hidden bits that created all of the distance between Mae and the Townsends. I loved the twists and turns and enjoyed that Mae grew on me the same way she grew on the Townsends and they were able to accept her the same way.
I would most def pick another book by Robinson.
February 21, 2025
Once again, a miscommunication trope can never be done well. Mae, the fmc, refuses to speak with her family about her fears, anxieties, and problems, especially the ones regarding race, identity, and the sense of belonging. Every issue in the book can be resolved in a 5 minute conversation, but Mae lets her feelings fester over weeks and years, which only causes more problems.
She doesn't know how to stand up for herself in any situation but mainly the ones with her racist family members. You don't have to like your family or speak to everyone. Mae refuses to acknowledge this, lets herself suffer, and refuses to cut off her family. This conflict doesn't add much to the story and makes Mae insufferable and weak.
Finally, if you write a story set in the South, please learn that sweet tea is not the only drink we have. The food is stereotypical and boring. And you can't make good wine around DC. Why do the in-laws have a winery!?!
She doesn't know how to stand up for herself in any situation but mainly the ones with her racist family members. You don't have to like your family or speak to everyone. Mae refuses to acknowledge this, lets herself suffer, and refuses to cut off her family. This conflict doesn't add much to the story and makes Mae insufferable and weak.
Finally, if you write a story set in the South, please learn that sweet tea is not the only drink we have. The food is stereotypical and boring. And you can't make good wine around DC. Why do the in-laws have a winery!?!
July 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧Song Pairing: Something’s Got A Hold On Me - Etta James
💭What I thought would happen:
I really want some deep rooted family drama 😂 I got a bit but there was no food tossing or anything
📖What actually happens:
Upcoming nuptials > seating chart imbalance > seek out family > mac and cheese > family “secrets”
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
🩵What I loved:
-The MC she’s a sweetie who just wants connections with family
-The endless tirade to make grandma’s Mac & Cheese
-The representation of interracial love
🤷🏼♀️What didn’t do it:
-Nothing really! Which yay but I just didn’t find it overly memorable in the long run
🎧Song Pairing: Something’s Got A Hold On Me - Etta James
💭What I thought would happen:
I really want some deep rooted family drama 😂 I got a bit but there was no food tossing or anything
📖What actually happens:
Upcoming nuptials > seating chart imbalance > seek out family > mac and cheese > family “secrets”
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
🩵What I loved:
-The MC she’s a sweetie who just wants connections with family
-The endless tirade to make grandma’s Mac & Cheese
-The representation of interracial love
🤷🏼♀️What didn’t do it:
-Nothing really! Which yay but I just didn’t find it overly memorable in the long run
June 30, 2024
Oh man, this book hit me right in the heart. Here are five things I loved about this 5-star read:
1) The characters are all so well-rounded and complex. The way they interacted with each other felt natural and their motivations were all clearly within character. Even the side chapters that got very little page time had complete personalities! I don’t know how Robinson managed that, but I applaud her.
2) There were some stand-out characters I particularly loved, most notably Mae, Sierra, and, of course, Connor (the most cinnamon roll man I’ve ever read about). They felt real to me and will stick with me for a long time.
3) The writing is so personable. I loved Robinson’s story telling ability and voice. I’m looking forward to checking out more from her!
4) This story kept me on my toes. It’s clear from the beginning something big happened, but at no point could I pinpoint exactly where the story was going, which I really appreciated.
5) Somehow this book hit several topics that aligned perfectly with what I want in a book right now. Family dynamics (especially in relation to wedding planning), food writing, found and made family - I could go on but there was literally nothing about this story that I didn’t like. It also felt highly relatable while tackling issues I could never understand. This story is in no way for me, but is conveyed in a way that felt universal and can be understood/appreciated by from the outside.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC of what will undoubtably be one of my favorite books this year. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster comes out 7/2!
1) The characters are all so well-rounded and complex. The way they interacted with each other felt natural and their motivations were all clearly within character. Even the side chapters that got very little page time had complete personalities! I don’t know how Robinson managed that, but I applaud her.
2) There were some stand-out characters I particularly loved, most notably Mae, Sierra, and, of course, Connor (the most cinnamon roll man I’ve ever read about). They felt real to me and will stick with me for a long time.
3) The writing is so personable. I loved Robinson’s story telling ability and voice. I’m looking forward to checking out more from her!
4) This story kept me on my toes. It’s clear from the beginning something big happened, but at no point could I pinpoint exactly where the story was going, which I really appreciated.
5) Somehow this book hit several topics that aligned perfectly with what I want in a book right now. Family dynamics (especially in relation to wedding planning), food writing, found and made family - I could go on but there was literally nothing about this story that I didn’t like. It also felt highly relatable while tackling issues I could never understand. This story is in no way for me, but is conveyed in a way that felt universal and can be understood/appreciated by from the outside.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC of what will undoubtably be one of my favorite books this year. The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster comes out 7/2!
February 15, 2025
3.75!
This was a very cute book and dealt with such important themes in a very sensitive manner. It really helped me understand what people must endure and how badly this can effect them, just because someone to decided to mean insensitive and crack jokes that were never funny to begin with.
My favorite character was Connor. WHAT A GREEN FLAGGGG OHMYGOD. EVERYONE needs a Connor pls.
I loved Mae a lot and I really admire her courage to just RANDOMLY, UNANNOUNCED SHOW UP and meet her family, when clearly no invitations were sent💀.
Truly shows that when people actually care and want to, THEY WILL.
This was a very cute book and dealt with such important themes in a very sensitive manner. It really helped me understand what people must endure and how badly this can effect them, just because someone to decided to mean insensitive and crack jokes that were never funny to begin with.
My favorite character was Connor. WHAT A GREEN FLAGGGG OHMYGOD. EVERYONE needs a Connor pls.
I loved Mae a lot and I really admire her courage to just RANDOMLY, UNANNOUNCED SHOW UP and meet her family, when clearly no invitations were sent💀.
Truly shows that when people actually care and want to, THEY WILL.
June 23, 2024
3.75 stars
The most important thing to know about this book is that you WILL crave macaroni and cheese. There's no way around it. I'm vegan, and it was truly all I could think about (and I still have residual cravings thinking back on it now).
Mae, one of the titular Townsends, has some family drama brewing, and this has been compounded by a wedding, a couple of deaths, a lost recipe, and many past struggles. Though Mae has pushed down a lot of those aforementioned challenges, she's now set on two tasks: (1) cracking the code on her deceased grandmother's secret mac and cheese recipe and (2) starting to tackle some of those complicated relationships and hurts.
While I found the pacing a bit slower than I'd like at times, there is a lot to go on here. Mae's experiences with racism, including within her own family, are expressed in a meaningful and realistic way, and her isolation in those circumstances is particularly wrenching. Additionally, Mae's deep desire to connect and her not always effective methods for doing so offer, well, a lot of food for thought, one might say.
It's a pleasure to get to know Mae and to root for her success. This is my second book by this author, and I'm becoming a bigger fan with each read.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The most important thing to know about this book is that you WILL crave macaroni and cheese. There's no way around it. I'm vegan, and it was truly all I could think about (and I still have residual cravings thinking back on it now).
Mae, one of the titular Townsends, has some family drama brewing, and this has been compounded by a wedding, a couple of deaths, a lost recipe, and many past struggles. Though Mae has pushed down a lot of those aforementioned challenges, she's now set on two tasks: (1) cracking the code on her deceased grandmother's secret mac and cheese recipe and (2) starting to tackle some of those complicated relationships and hurts.
While I found the pacing a bit slower than I'd like at times, there is a lot to go on here. Mae's experiences with racism, including within her own family, are expressed in a meaningful and realistic way, and her isolation in those circumstances is particularly wrenching. Additionally, Mae's deep desire to connect and her not always effective methods for doing so offer, well, a lot of food for thought, one might say.
It's a pleasure to get to know Mae and to root for her success. This is my second book by this author, and I'm becoming a bigger fan with each read.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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