The Townsend Family Recipe For Disaster: A Novel by Shauna Robinson
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Web ID: 18453284Difficult family overcome by tenacity
I received an advanced copy of Shauna Robinson’s latest novel, “The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” from NetGalley for free. Thank you to Ms. Robinson, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark for giving it to me. My opinions are voluntary. The book is full of complicated, difficult family drama and interactions involving both sides of an interracial couple’s family, going back to before they were born and affecting their relationships to their offspring. The families’ lies, deceits, prejudices, and cowardices negatively affect their children despite their efforts to protect them. While the book’s protagonist has an overwhelming optimistic approach to life, she can’t help feelings of being left out and “othered” by the circumstances of her life. Thank goodness for her tenacity and her very wise choices for her best friend and her fiancée! This attribute and these people made reading her heartfelt story gratifyingly worthwhile and enjoyable.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Journey of Identity, Family, and Belonging.
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.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Enjoyable Emotional Story
An enjoyable story about Mae Townsend reaching out to her estranged father's side of the family. Mae was raised by her mother who was white with her family and values. Only her father who was black went home during their family reunion barbecue. This story has all the feels with engaging characters. Mae is getting married and is hit with the feeling of wanting to know about her father's family especially after receiving news that her paternal grandmother died. She decides to attend the funeral, a move not well received from the Townsends. Unknowingly Mae lit a powder keg full of family secrets. What occurs is a touchy, emotional story of Mae endeavors as she connects to the Townsends. I volunteer to read and review this copy I'd received via Goodreads.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A heartfelt story about family and belonging
Oh, my heart is bursting! I fell head over heels for Mae and the Townsends! And Connor! Everyone needs a Connor! He was so incredibly patient and understanding, and you can feel his love for Mae just jump off the page! Mae Townsend has always yearned for a connection with her father's side of the family. While she grew up in California, her father made a yearly trek to North Carolina for the Townsend family BBQ every 4th of July. Mae was always left behind because her father's family didn't approve of his marriage to her mother. With her own impending marriage to Connor, Mae feels the glaring absence of her father's family. She makes the last-minute decision to "crash" her grandmother's funeral in an effort to find where she belongs. In The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster, Shauna Robinson skillfully navigates some of the challenges of growing up biracial. I felt Mae's struggle on how to handle microaggresssions. It's hard to know what to say or do when friends or family say things. It's even more difficult to reconcile racist remarks from people you love. I loved the role food played in the story! All of it took me back to my childhood growing up in NC. With Mae's heartwarming story (and Althea's secret recipe for mac and cheese), Robinson tackles weighty issues while illustrating just how important family can be to our sense of self-worth. Read this if you like: • Family secrets • Southern food • Book club reads • Heartwarming stories
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A great heartwarming summer read!
Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.The Townsend Family Recipe For Disaster by Shauna Robinson, All of Mays life she grew up always being the only black kid at the family get together‘s where she grew up with her mom‘s family in California. Although her dad went back to South Carolina once a year for the Fourth of July barbecue despite Mays begging he never would let her go with him. This is why three weeks before her wedding to her white fiancé and soulmate Connor Rutherford she learns her grandmother passed away and despite not knowing anyone in South Carolina she goes to the funeral anyway. After an awkward start Maye wants to get to know them better and find out why they kept their distance her whole life. So she offers to throw the Fourth of July bash at her grandma Althea‘s house a week before her wedding. The only issue is she also promised to re-create Althea‘s famous macaroni and cheese because everyone loves it and it was the only recipe May and Sierra couldn’t find. In her fantasy the barbecue turned out great she figured out the recipe in the Townsend attend her wedding but will it all go that way and what about all the time she spending away from fiancé Connor and leaving him to deal with all the wedding preparations? If Viv you like funny heartwarming stories about family then you’ll definitely love the story I really really enjoyed it my only issue is and this is just a minor issue is that when Susan asked May “how dark did she get in the sun” maybe I’m ignorant but I don’t see how that is racist and not just Susan being curious about another woman’s skin tone. That is in no way equal or worse to the fact that her relatives kept calling Connor “white boy,” I mean imagine if instead of calling her by her name Connors family just said black girl… That would’ve been a reason to be upset I got everything with her California family but I think if we’re going to stop all racism we should call it out no matter who is saying it. This was still a great book that made me laugh out loud and also gave me some heartwarming moments as I said. I do recommend it as I totally enjoyed it.#SourcebooksLandmark, #NetGalley, #ShawnaRobinson, #TheTownsendFamilyRecipeForDisaster,
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com