Twisted Family Values: A Novel

V.C. Chickering

Jun 2019 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

An unpredictable and entertaining tale of secrets, desires, and forgiveness spanning four generations of an American family.

In WASPy Larkspur, New Jersey, social expectations and decorum rule, and Marjorie and Dunsfield Thornden are the envy of their neighbors. Their daughters Claire and Cat set the small town’s social calendar by throwing tastefully lavish family parties year round. Because it’s 1977, underage debauchery is to be expected—and Cat and Claire’s children, Bizzy and Choo, are at its very center.

Underneath their well-maintained veneer, the Thorndens are quite dysfunctional, but have always had their entitlement to fall back on. And while some are finally ready to accept what they’re willing to give up for the life that they think they deserve, secrets that should’ve never been kept—especially not from each other—are bubbling unattractively to the surface.

So when a scandal threatens to unravel this tight-lipped family and their secrets, the Thorndens will have to decide how much they’ll let decorum rule social mores dictate their decisions and how far they’ll go to keep some secrets just that. Any choice they make could mean freedom from expectations but will change the course of their family's legacy forever.

Ratings and reviews

The cover for Twisted Family Values is quite eye-catching, and the blurb with its hints at secrets to be revealed appealed to the mystery lover in me. Unfortunately, that was the best of it for me. As a child of the 70's, I would've thought that I would be able to relate to some of the characters better, but the story goes a little too far over the top for me, and other than a few pop culture references, neither the people nor their actions rang true.There are secrets, this family is packed full of them, but without a connection to the characters, I couldn't find much curiosity for the revelations of those secrets. I don't read a lot of women's fiction, but I think it's safe to say that this wasn't the book for me.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review** Twisted Family Values is the second novel by author V.C. Chickering and the title really says it all about this book. We follow four generations of a family through several decades, starting in the 60's and moving through the decades from there. There is a bit of everything in this novel including exploring love, familial ties, taboo subjects and forgiveness. I truly was not sure what to expect when I began this book. I have to say that when I first started it, I wasn't sure if I would make it through the whole book. It started very slowly for me, but once I got into it, I did feel like I had to know what was going to happen. This book is not going to be for everyone. There are some family dynamics that some may not like and also some topics that could be triggers for some readers. I am glad I soldiered through this book as it was very well written and certainly made me think many times as I made my way through it.

This was an absolutely fabulous read which was just what I needed after the emotional roller coaster ride I was on after the last binge. This one was not only entertaining and outlandish but fun and captivating and fast-paced and witty. This dysfunctional family had me laughing my way through their lives. I definitely recommend this one and deem this the perfect beach read. Why didn't I tell you more about it? There is a perfect blurb that tells you about this book and I'm tired and not going to repeat :) READ THIS ONE! You will not regret it. **Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

About the author

V.C. CHICKERING has written for Comedy Central, MTV, Lifetime, TLC, Discovery, NickMom and Oxygen television networks as well as for BUST, Cosmo, and The Washington Post magazines. She's written screenplays; has a local newspaper column entitled, Pith Monger; and a blog. She lives in New Jersey with her family where she also writes and performs witty, original songs for the alt-bluegrass/indi-jazz band, Tori Erstwhile & The Montys. She is the author of Nookietown and Twisted Family Values.