Sandwich

A Novel

De: Catherine Newman

Narrado por: Nan McNamara

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Sandwich is joy in book form. I laughed continuously, except for the parts that made me cry. Catherine Newman does a miraculous job reminding us of all the wonder there is to be found in life."—Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake

“If you like my novels, you will love love love this . . . . I stand in awe, it’s just perfect.”—Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Swan Song

“A total delight.”—Kate Christensen

From the beloved author of We All Want Impossible Things, a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go.

For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.

This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.

It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.

©2024 Catherine Newman (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Depressing

Rocky was extremely depressed and never received the proper therapy. She said she had seen a therapist, but never told him/ her about the babies and therefore never resolved her primary issue.
There were some very funny moments, and the writing is good. Overall was depressing to listen to.

Cape Cos

Details and characters
Never quite crosses the line for a 5 star rating, but worth the read

great feelings spoke about

enjoyef the raw feelings. a multi generational gem that should not be missed this summer

Adored this book!

5 stars for this quick and delightful read, Sandwich, by Catherine Newman. I adored this book. It's the story of Rocky, a 50 year old mother of two adults with aging parents and an annoyingly perfect husband, who gets one last week at their Cape Cod cottage with her family for summer vaca before settling into her Empty Nest. The writing is so clever I found myself highlighting quotes on every page. Newman's observations on even the most ridiculously mundane events become laugh out loud funny and SO relatable on the page. (Example~ when talking about aging she states, "Activities that might now injure include ping pong, napping, and opening a tub of Greek yogurt!" Her wildly humorous depictions of menopause are just so laugh out loud legitimate. But it's not only the main character who is so spot on. All of her characters are enjoyably authentic and endearing. I loved this family - Willa her 20 year old daughter who works tirelessly if unsuccessfully at dragging her mother into the current politically correct world where you can't say, "Daddy." Nick her husband who sends text gifs of Buddy the Elf for every emotion he wants to convey but will never admit when he is wrong. Jamey the oldest son who is tenderly trying to extricate himself from his mother's loving arms and become a man. And Alice and Mort - the aging parents who are as accepting as they are old school and unapologetic as all 70 year old's can someday hope to be. I loved them all! Even Chicken the cat! There are strong themes of unplanned pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion and pro choice and living with the decisions you make - so head's up on that if it is an area you are sensitive about. Truly my fave book of 2024 so far and will definitely be in my Top 10 of the year. I think this book will mostly be appreciated by readers who enjoy stories about the bonds of family and in particular that middle aged period of life where you find your family going in all different directions and long to keep it as close to heart as possible.

Relatable for us who are “Sandwiched!”

This was a light hearted, easy, and entertaining story. I was able to laugh at so many things that make me want to scream in my real life as a middle aged woman. I found it funny how she was having to contend with her woke children. It was fairly unbelievable that she went along with it so easily, but I didn’t feel any agenda being pushed on me. Those who say menopause can’t be this bad, just haven’t been there because they are too young or are male.

Brilliant read!

I don’t write many reviews, but this wonderful book has been shortchanged by many reviewers. It’s funny, sad, heartwarming, filled with rich characters, full of deep truths, and splendidly written. It’s much more than a summer read. It’s brilliant! Buy it.

Love and sorrow.

I liked the love bubbling over in the protagonist. The sorrows which are unavoidable and the love which is healing.

Beautifully written but too sentimental for me

A novel about a mother’s love for her children. Three generations of a family spend their annual week on Cape Cod. The narrator is the menopausal mother of the second generation. A secret she has long kept comes out. The characters are nicely drawn and the descriptions are lovely, but I found the book mawkishly sentimental. Perhaps some mothers really do feel this sort of connection to their children, but it doesn’t resonate with me. Probably a book only a mother could love.

not for me

I could not relate to all the talk about abortion being no more than I reproductive right as simple as ordering a cup of coffee. Of course she ended up having emotional struggles with it, but I just couldn't write to a lot of the agenda in this book. But I have to say it was well written and related too much about the menopausal stuff.

Disappointed , didn’t love the story or narrator

Very short (good summer read) but disappointing; didn’t love the narrator.. interesting topic but and liked imagining the setting but just didn’t grab me..