The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide

Sweet Potato Queens #5

by Jill Conner Browne

You are cordially invited to attend...

The Sweet Potato Queens are bona fide experts at planning a marvelous marriage (and ending one—flip this book right on over if you're looking for advice on dumping a deadweight hubby!), so who better to provide this handy wedding planner? And even if you're not planning your own nuptials, surely you have dreamt about your perfect day, regardless of whether you've met Mr. Right yet! In this essential manual, you'll

• How to plan a truly regal wedding

• What to wear (and what not to wear) to your own wedding, or to anyone else's

• How to organize the sassiest games and sauciest entertainment for the occasion

• How to plan and prepare the greasiest, tastiest wedding vittles for your big-ass guests



You are hereby summoned to appear . . .

The Sweet Potato Queens know a thing or two about ending a marriage (and beginning one—flip this book on over if you’re planning on attaching yourself to the ol' ball and chain!), so who better to provide this crucial divorce guide? Besides, whether you’re getting your own personal divorce or not, chances are you’ll be calling Mr. Right Mr. I-Don’t-Think-So sometime in the future! In this practical handbook, you'll

• How to survive even the nastiest divorce while maintaining your queenly composure

• Why it’s appropriate—and necessary!—to throw divorce showers and send out divorce announcements

• Why love is even better the second, third, or fourth time around

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Southern, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Memoir, Comedy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Jill Conner Browne is the multiple #1 New York Times bestselling author of nine Sweet Potato Queens® books and has created a global phenomenon--6,200 chapter groups in 37 countries--based upon her philosophy and world-view as recounted through these rollicking, raucous and riotously funny essays. Women and smart men understand that the bawdy, sassy, down-to-earth humor is simply the vehicle by which the greater message is conveyed--that is, one of self-reliance and empowerment, inspiring all to do what makes their hearts sing.

Reviews

[Ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio version is fantastic and truly a great performance by the author. I laughed and cried and enjoyed it the whole time. I highly recommend it. You'll appreciate her books much more if you're Southern or middle-aged, but I think anyone could find the humor in them.

[Andrea Greenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book in a 3 dollar bin while on vacation. I was recently engaged, so naturally read the wedding planner part first (thinking it would be a "how-to"). The divorce guide is HYSTERICAL too. It's not a wedding "planner" in any sense of the word. It is a crazy woman who is the Queen of a group of ladies who call themselves "Sweet Potato Queens." They have yearly conferences/ parades/meetings/etc. and it is a collection of hilarious stories about the differences between men and women. I laughed out loud...a great book for any girl, doesn't matter if you are married/single/divorced/whatever. Very funny!

[Jessie Farnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books!! Going through a divorce, the divorce guide made me understand and feel understood

[Tabby Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter where you are in your marriage-anything from planning to meet the future groom to trying to decide how big to make the bonfire of the ex husband's crap-this is the book that tells a woman most of the things her friends are trying to tell her nicely. But they love her so they can't be nice about it-so get a big, funny Southern woman to tell you what you need to know. In classic Southern way, Browne regails you with stories of her friends, leaves you in stitches, offers a few yummy recipes (who wants to diet when something so important is happening?), and helps you plan any number of parties you need to feel. Her conversational tone gives the image that, were you to visit to Mississippi for the SPW march, you could walk up to her and give her a bear hug.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like to read a Sweet Potato Queens book (except for that god-awful novel that Jill Conner Browne tried to write), and I'd love to go to Jackson, MS one of these years to see the SPQs in the St. Paddy's Day Parade. This book isn't really anything new (you'll need to read the first book or two for that), but it's funny, and I think it was clever to have a "wedding planner" on one side and a "divorce guide" on the other. It's worth noting that, although the wedding planner isn't actually useful at all to anyone planning a wedding, Jill breaks out of entertainment mode several times in the divorce guide to urge women in abusive situations to get themselves out of those situations as quickly as possible. As usual, there are some intriguing recipes, too.

[Pamela Sweezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every witty word of this book. I thought it was brilliant and hilarious to include both a wedding planner and a divorce guide. Don't be offended, just laugh at the practicality of it all. And speaking of brilliant, they put recipes in there. So... I now need a copy of this in case you were wondering what to get me for my birthday.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio. Jill Connor Browne does such a fantastic job narrating again. Her commentary on southern life and women's issues remind me so much of my crazy aunts and grandmas back home that I will be, of course, listening/reading more from this author.

[Renee Guill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the library's audiobook version thanks to the Libby app. I just loved this book. The author was also the narrator. She is such a hoot, and I love her accent. She gave a lot of great advice, some I wish I had thought of before I married, but I'm taking some of her divorce advice. I want to get the print version just so I can have the recipes. If you are thinking about marriage or divorce this is a must-read, in matter what your age is.

[Jana Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my introduction to my now beloved Sweet Potato Queens. Stumbled upon during a library search for wedding guides for a marriage that never took place, this book made me laugh so hard... With Browne's trademark tounge-in-cheek southern humor mixed in with nuggets of wisdom and some great recipes....what true flower of Southern womanhood wouldn't love it?

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely adorable book, but the best part is listening to the author on the audio. There were so many laughs and the sad stories were matter of fact, yet dealt with humor. The author shares her friendships and marriages and advice on planning a wedding and accepting a divorce. Delicious sounding recipes are also included. I recommend this book.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun summertime read, being from the south I can absolutely identify with a lot of it and there are some really funny situations. I have read some intense, serious and sad books this year so a silly read that made me laugh was a nice break!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I seriously and devotedly plan to never plan a wedding again, and while I certainly did survive two divorces, I do so wish I had had this hysterical "Twofer" on hand during BOTH procedures! A lighthearted, fun, but OH-SO-TRUE look at both "engaged" and "dis-gaged!"

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of may all time favorite laugh out loud books. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[Enigmaticblue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best part of this (if you’re not getting married or divorced) is the advice in how to respond to those who are. I highly recommend.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious juxtopasition... was so fun to read! Love the southern charm and reference to "Queens" throughout the book.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with light-hearded irreverence and whit with poignant truths, and tongue in cheek social commentatry. I will definitely search out the earlier books in the series. Great audii book!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read in the SPQ. Very amusing and quite Southern.

[Kim Bardsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a lot of fluff and a waste of time.

[Donna Dalziel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick, enjoyable book. It contains fun scenarios and recipes besides. There are many books of this type by this author. If you like one, you will no doubt like them all.

[Carolyn McDermott]

Funny, a bit difficult to actually read page for page. Great to pick up, open up randomly and read a few stories

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious. Funniest book I have yet to read.

[Conni Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hysterical.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hilarious reference is a one-stop relationship shopper's dream: start from the front and it's a wedding planner; flip the book over and it's a divorce guide. Boasting "around thirteen marriages and eight divorces—so far—not to mention more than 300 combined years of valuable experience," Browne and her fellow Queens offer sage advice, dire warnings and sidesplitting anecdotes for women who could use "some sympathy, some understanding, some refreshments and a little f*cking help around here." Between offering tips on how to save money on weddings and avoid manslaughter charges during divorces, Browne also teaches her own language course in Southern-speak, which she dubs "Y'allbonics," and shares recipes encouraging "balloonia" over bulimia.

As funny as Browne can be, her powerful underlying message has always been preaching empowerment to women who feel they have no options ("Quit investing your life in a relationship that's bringing you only minimal returns. Don't be skeert of going for more").

AND NOW A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK READ BY JILL CONNER BROWNE:

Brown's fifth outing shows no sign of wearing out her welcome as the Southern fried guru of belles past 40 but never past their prime.

Browne justifies her one-stop shopping approach to relationships (which combines advice on planning nuptials as well as tearing them asunder) by quipping, "Statistically, 100% of all divorces do start with weddings."

Browne's audiobooks are laugh-out-loud, steer-your-car-off-the-road listening experiences. But the reason there are nearly 4,800 worldwide chapters of Sweet Potato Queens is because she uses her wild and irreverent humor to empower and embolden her readers. Bemoaning that too many young women are going to college in search of a husband, Browne cautions, "If you're gonna go to college for Pre-Wed, I insist that you also take a full course in Pre-Death/Pre-Divorce and get yourself an education that will prepare you for the 'unthinkable situation'—taking care of yourself and possibly a bunch of children by yourself for a large part of your life."

This benevolent Boss Queen has the rare ability to sprout phrases like "busier than a one-armed monkey with six dicks" and still sound refined. Her wonderful, deadpan delivery enhances the humor and her warmth radiates on every track.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is a butt-shakin' hilarious book...the advice is dead right on serious. Many of us would think the advice is a "no-brainer", but in truth it isn't....

One thing that really grabbed my attention was her take on love & olfactory sense. I've thought long & hard about how our sense of smell & pheromones effect our hearts.... and I came to the conclusion that love, smell & pheromones are all tied up together and mostly we fall in love due to the pheromones of that main squeeze. I was surprised to find out that she concurred with my assessment, which in turn made me sigh with relief that I'm not so crazy-thinking after all!

***************************Quotes**************************

"Because lemme tell you something else I learned the very hard way: Every potential husband is a potential ex-husband or even a potential dead husband, and you need a plan just in case either scenario develops down the road."

"What if a whole bunch of guys got together and just started hollering at the top of their lungs that there was a really great sexual opportunity right here for any interested females? Sounds like any bar I've been in actually."

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still the same pithy anecdotes and sometimes low opinion of men (although warranted most of the time). I DID NOT like the envy of girls who are force fed in Nigeria in order to be more marriageable. These poor girls are forced to eat sometimes 12,000 calories per day and lie about, waiting to expand to an acceptable size against their wills. Most of these girls are told if they do not comply that they will be disowned, beaten, or killed as a mark of preserving family honor in the light of such disobedience. It is right up there with female circumcision. It is a horrify and inhumane practice and should not be even jokingly a source of envy. I expect that JCB was being tongue-in-cheek, but there is a limit to even my sarcasm. She redeemed herself by sharing the story about her friend's wedding, which she staged after learning the friend would be undergoing cancer treatment. I will keep reading, but I really want to caution authors not to make light of truly awful practices outside of the US. There are better objects of scorn right here in our own backyards (where civil liberties are at least acknowledged).

[GeeketteKathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her gloriously sassy style, Jill Conner Browne narrates this book on wedding planning AND her wit and wisdom about divorce. While originally from "the North" and now living in "the south." I knew little about "southern ways," i.e. debutante balls and southern hospitality, but was soon to learn a thing or two.

Being a big fan of sassy women (I am admittedly one myself; although in "the north," they have another word for us - "b****"), I looked forward to travelling with Jill as my companion on my recent road trip to Michigan from North Carolina - via Bluetooth and Overdrive on my car stereo speakers. Jill and I spent a wonderful 10 hours travelling together by car through the Appalachian mountains and into the "Big City" (Detroit). While the skies grew cloudy and rain fell, I laughed and smiled at the antics described by Jill all the way "up north." Never has a road trip been this much fun.

[AuthorsOnTourLive! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Conner Browne, Boss Queen of the Sweet Potato Queens of Jackson, Mississippi, and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, reads from and discusses her newest book, The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide.

In this hilarious guide, readers will find must-have advice on planning a marvelous marriage, and (when you flip the book over) everything you need to know about dumping a deadweight hubby!

We met Jill Conner Browne when she visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to her talk about The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide here: http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=52

[MISS]

The Sweet Potato Queens know a thing or two about ending a marriage (and beginning one—flip this book on over if you’re planning on attaching yourself to the ol' ball and chain!), so who better to provide this crucial divorce guide? Besides, whether you’re getting your own personal divorce or not, chances are you’ll be calling Mr. Right Mr. I-Don’t-Think-So sometime in the future! In this practical handbook, you'll learn:

• How to survive even the nastiest divorce while maintaining your queenly composure

• Why it’s appropriate—and necessary!—to throw divorce showers and send out divorce announcements

• Why love is even better the second, third, or fourth time around

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read several Sweet Potato Queen books and they are witty and funny. This one was also entertaining, but it was sometimes annoying like they just kept repeating the same thing and it wasn’t as funny anymore. It reminded me of a comedian where the first 10 minutes are hilarious and then the next 20 minutes are repeats and not that funny the second time around.

The first half of the book is advice about getting married geared to a more seasoned bride, but still with diva bridezilla tones. The second half of the book is about getting divorced in case prince charming wasn’t all he appeared to be.

[Corene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm apparently late to the party on this one, having never heard of the Sweet Potato Queens, who are a real thing, or any of the books. Though themed around marriage and divorce, this one is mostly a collection of comic essays, anecdotes from the author, (who entertainingly performs the audio edition,) and cautionary tales from her Sweet Potato Queen friends, known as SPQs. She gets real at the end of the divorce guide section, with sage advice for women in bad relationships; she herself has been married three times. Bawdy, folksy fun, recipes included.