Catherine Newman is nothing less than a gift to us all. I actually laughed and I actually cried reading this. I highlighted passages and then I took photos of them because I REALLY wanted to remember them. None of these things are normal for me. I didn’t even read it on a plane! (Planes are emotional pressure cookers for me when reading. If you do read it on a plane - bring tissues and be prepared.) What a gorgeous book, full of life in all of its beautiful, funny, misery. I can’t wait to see where this book goes when it’s out in the world!

Every year for the last two decades, Rachel (Rocky) and Nick have vacationed with their family at the same Cape Cod cottage along the shore. As the years have passed, their children Willa and Jamie have grown into fully (or mostly) independent adults and Rocky's parents have settled nicely into their roles as doting grandparents.

For Rocky, Cape Cod is awash with memories. Between sunscreen sprays and towel dries and sandwiches, she wades into waters of loss and love and nearly everything in between. And as she reflects on the little moments of their weeklong vacation in Cape Cod, she finds that life--more often than not-- is almost too beautiful and too delicate to bear.

And just like that, readers, "Sandwich" becomes a contender for my 2024 book of the year. In well under 300 pages, Catherin Newman pens a poignant and somehow still utterly hilarious story of a woman grappling with the question: "How do I hold onto this all for just a little longer?" Against the gorgeous backdrop of Cape Cod, Rocky becomes keenly aware of time gently pulsing onward: her children are now forging lives of their own, her parents are slowing down, her body is a strange and foreign land of scars and wrinkles and "that wasn't there last year"s.

This tiny book is a quiet, compelling reflection on motherhood, womanhood, and just plain, everyday life; of what happens between wedding vows and beach vacations and making sandwiches. And I mean it when I say that every single word is beautiful.

This book was utter perfection! So happy to have read an advance copy from NetGalley - this would be a great summer read and yes, I will probably read it again. The setting is a town in Cape Cod (Sandwich?) where Rocky and her almost grown kids and her parents spend a week every summer. It’s about the sandwich generation - and also Rocky loves making sandwiches for her family with all the condiment customizations that each requires. The book is so funny - I laughed hard so many times - with such great, realistic dialogue - and traded up at times too. The author is a great observer of all things of day to day life, and in this short book it is all in there. Loved every bit!

I was fortunate to get an ARC of Catherine Newman's latest novel. I really enjoyed this glimpse into a midlife mom's life. So many of the main character's observations resonated. This was equal parts poignant and hilarious. Tears and laughter abounded.

Newman is an auto read for me now!

Thank you Netgalley & Harper Publishing for an eARC ♥️☺️

Sandwich" by Catherine Newman is like a warm embrace that wraps around your heart♥️ You know those stories that make you laugh out loud, tear up a little, and nod your head in understanding? Yeah, this one's got all that and more🥹

Rocky's summer vacation with her family is like a snapshot of real life - the good, the bad, and the messy. And I love how Catherine Newman tells it with humor, compassion, and honesty. You'll feel like you're part of the family, sharing in their joys and struggles.

The writing is simply delightful. Newman has this incredible talent for finding the beauty in everyday moments and weaving them into a story that touches your heart. It's like having a conversation with a close friend who shares their stories and makes you feel seen and understood.

"Sandwich" is more than just a book - it's a reminder to cherish the little things, to hold on tight to the people we love, and to embrace the ups and downs of life.♥️

What an interesting take on menopause and how it affects women. The book is well-written, but it was hard for me to follow in spots.

Steadman has written a short, humorous novel centered around women aging and transitioning into new phase of life. With her kids now in college, Rocky is now "sandwiched" between her parents' and children's generation. Adventures unfold during her yearly summer trip to Cape Cod. This is a quick, zippy, read with funny characters and dialogue.

First book by Catherine Newman for me and one I really enjoyed.A moving story of marriage of family even menapouse .The authors characters are really well developed really come alive.Looking forward to reading more by her.#netgalley #harper

I am sorry but I just couldn’t get into this book. After 25% I am giving up. Based on the reviews so far, there is an audience for this title but it’s not me. I do read books with flawed characters but the descriptions and details are just a little too much for me. I will not post to Goodreads since I didn’t finish the book.

(3.5 stars) I could so relate to the narrator in this book. Rocky (short for Rachel) is caught between her aging parents, who are having health issues, and her adult children, who are facing major life events (including sexuality issues). Dealing with all of this, while herself going through menopause, leaves Rocky clinging to her good sense of humor for sanity.

Rocky’s family gets together annually at the beach in Cape Cod, in a beach house that is getting older along with everything/everyone else. Food is a central theme – Rocky makes delicious-sounding sandwiches for the beach and cooks up fabulous-sounding dinners. I’m pretty sure that the title, Sandwich, refers to the small town in Massachusetts, but it would also work for sandwiches, the food, and the fact that Rocky is sandwiched between her children and her parents. I enjoyed the naturally-flowing banter between the family members and could appreciate their reactions to the issues that arise throughout the week of vacation. There were certain hot topics that were dealt with that may turn some off (e.g., abortion), but I, personally, saw my views reflected back at me. This is a book for readers who enjoy quiet stories and witty banter. It should work particularly well for those in their 50s and 60s.

If I could give this more stars, I would.
Rocky is vacationing on Cape Cod (near Sandwich, I presume) in the sandwich generation, with her grown children and her aging parents, literally making sandwiches for their beach trips. Everyone has secrets and we live each day of the week, learning more and experiencing Rocky’s inner thoughts. Shes funny, she’s angry, she’s menopausal, she’s me. I’d start this book all over again.

As you read this book be prepared to smell the slightly salty air of the ocean, hear the lap of the waves and see the seagulls trying to steal your food at the beach. There is so much description in this book that the reader feels transported to Cape Cod (and if you have ever spent time there, you can almost see the places that Rocky, Nick, and their family visit). However, if you are looking for an action book, with a dynamic plot and a lot of sturm and drang, this is not the book for you. Rather it is a slice of life of a family that loves each other, respects, eact other and even though there may be some secrets, they all get shared and accepted. It is a quckee read, but very enjoyable.

A funny and heartfelt novel of transitions that's full of literal and figurative sandwiches. It's a depiction of the struggles and joys of motherhood, both to young and adult kids, the changing relationships with our parents as we and they age, and the general indignities of middle age. I'm a half generation off from the characters in this book, but I still found it relatable and engrossing.

I laughed until I cried during this hysterical yet poignant read about a woman going through menopause sandwiched between her adult children and aging parents. Some of the passages were so funny I screen-shotted them to send to friends who laughed out loud. This book hits the nail on the head for what it’s like to be trapped between generations while trying to find your own footing with changing hormones. My only feedback is that the front half was much funnier than the touching back half and I missed some of that light reprieve, but otherwise, it was a great book that I can’t wait to hand sell!

Immediately take the day off from adulting to finish this amazing novel! I enjoyed how the author crafted a family story with siblings and parents and friends and lovers all set on Cape Cod. I've been to the Cape many times and felt connected with the descriptions Newman writes. I felt like I was on vacation and invested in the lives of these people. Well done! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this very much up until the halfway part as that was when the book slowed for me. The writing was good and I could relate to the wife/mother character in parts yet it all felt like I was reading her journal of a beach vacation rather than a novel. It is definitely a beach read and one that even though has hiccups could be a solid summer vacation book to toss in the beach bag. It felt very regional to Cape Cod so readers on the Cape would surely enjoy it extra much.

Having followed the author for more than 20 years through various blogs, writing, and social media, it was challenging for me to read this and remember it was fictional. But I guess the best fiction is based on real life, right? So I wonder how much was actually taken from real life! Per usual, Catherine Newman’s writing is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I am kinda on the fence ewith this one. Its my first book read by Catherine Newman. This book taks place during a weeks vaction of a middle aged women. I felt like there should be more to the story.

This book perfectly captures the hearbreak of an empty nest and the pinball gamelike experience of menopause. I wanted to give Rachel a hug and laugh together as we plunge into the cold Cape Cod waters.

I have strong opinions about this novel however I'll let my star rating stand as my voice. Thank you NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this novel.