Search by Michelle Huneven

I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Search

Author: Michelle Huneven 

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 4.26.22

Publisher’s Summary 

From critically acclaimed, award-winning author Michelle Huneven, a sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee, told as a memoir with recipes

Dana Potowski is a restaurant critic and food writer and a longtime member of a progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Southern California. Just as she's finishing the book tour for her latest bestseller, Dana is asked to join the church search committee for a new minister. Under pressure to find her next book idea, she agrees, and resolves to secretly pen a memoir, with recipes, about the experience. That memoir, Search, follows the travails of the committee and their candidates--and becomes its own media sensation.

Dana had good material to work with: the committee is a wide-ranging mix of Unitarian Universalist congregants, and their candidates range from a baker and microbrew master/pastor to a reverend who identifies as both a witch and an environmental warrior. Ultimately, the committee faces a stark choice between two very different paths forward for the congregation. Although she may have been ambivalent about joining the committee, Dana finds that she cares deeply about the fate of this institution and she will fight the entire committee, if necessary, to win the day for her side.

This wry and wise tale will speak to anyone who has ever gone searching, and James Beard Award-winning author Michelle Huneven's food writing and recipes add flavor to the delightful journey.

My Review

I didn't love (or even like) this book but it's my own fault. While the summary (and title) specifically stated that this novel would be about a search for a new minister, I expected there to be more of a focus on food. The main character is a restaurant critic and food writer, much like the James Beard Award-winning author Michelle Huneven, but by the 20% mark she had only had one meal at a restaurant and there weren't any details. I had to throw in the towel.