Reviews

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

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was so grateful to get an advanced copy of Sandwich by Catherine Newman thanks to NetGalley and Harper.

There is so much I loved about this book. I liked the structure, and that it’s told over the course of a week. While we learn so much about Rocky and her family’s life, it is a very tightly written story.

And yet, in this short novel, Newman packs in so much. Like being human, which Rocky describes as “crushingly beautiful,” so is this very intimate, honest, reflective story.

Rachel, or Rocky, is our 54 year old main character whose first person perspective guides us through her history as a young mother, to the present, as a mother of a 21 and 24 year old. We spend a week with Rocky, her husband, Nick, their kids Willa and Jaime, Jaime’s girlfriend Maya, and Rocky’s aging parents.

Throughout this week, we get a glimpse into Rocky’s past and her feelings about this stage of her life, as a wife, a mother and a feminist. Rocky’s nostalgia for the old days with her young children is balanced by her recognition of how difficult those days were. There is uniquely hilarious situational humor right alongside serious and sad commentary on women aging, menopause, love, loss, secrets, shame, worrying, motherhood, marriage and aging parents.

Th writing in this book is simple but profound. Newman layers these characters and drives her points home expertly.

I also love the setting of Cape Cod in the summer, and it reads like a light, enjoyable summer read while covering a depth of topics in a way that does justice to them through these characters' stories.

It’s only early June, but I think this will definitely have a place as one of my top books of this summer!

wendybookishthoughts's review

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lighthearted reflective

4.0

3shinywindows's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was incredible. I cried multiple times throughout reading it and I think it will stay with me for years to come. It made me want to hug my mum and mourn the growth of my future children all in one story.

Content Warnings

jess_lovesreading's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

carolinerosereads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lifewithallthebooks's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

sierrah_2101's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

tracyt223's review against another edition

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3.5

This is the story of a one week family vacation to The Cape, the same beach house they have rented for two decades. Rocky (Rachel), her husband, their grown children and also her aging parents are all there and all dealing with their own issues. It's a fairly quiet book that is more of a character study of a woman in menopause trying to deal with the changes in her own life as well as those of her family. She has quite a lot of trouble letting go where the adult children are involved. There is a lot of talk of menopause, some I could relate to and some not so much. Over the course of the week some secrets are revealed and Rocky must learn how to deal with what could be a painful past to try to get to a place of happiness in her current situation.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harperbooks for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars (rounded to 4)