Burnham’s phrases beautifully evoked the many complicated emotions related to growing up, sisterhood, friendship, and the immigrant experience. It felt like home.

I enjoyed this novel about two American born sisters - Elise, a recent college graduate and Sophie, a high school student, whose mother, illegally in the U.S., was deported back to Brazil after being arrested for long overstaying her work visa.

How the sisters. American citizens, manage alone on Nantucket Island, their home, while waiting for their mother to apply for and acquire a green card from Brazil is the crux of this novel, a story of one illegal immigrant and her children.

Heart warming as well as revealing, the book looks at the children, especially the older child Elise, who is more affected by the change in their family situation than her younger sister. That the girls have to live their own lives on their own in the U.S. and their mother adjust to her own life back in her country, Brazil, leaves the reader a little sadder.

A wonderfully written and executed book on a timely and relevant topic.

As a lover of books set in Nantucket, Wait gave a totally different perspective of the island. In Wait, Elise returns home after graduating college to find that her younger sister, Sophie, is alone and their mother has been deported. Through the course of the summer we learn more about the sisters, their mother's struggles in Brazil, and summer people vs. residents of Nantucket. Beautifully written- I could not put it down and Wait got me out of a book rut!

This book was interesting and has a good storyline. Two sisters reunite for the first time in years in their childhood home in Nantucket and soon they realize their mother was deported to Brazil. I loved the theme of family and the fractured relationships they have with each other, and especially of the growth and bonding that inevitably occurs. The friendships also are difficult ones, and I often felt frustrated with many of the characters. A bit of a slow and difficult read, but lots of great promise and captivating themes.

#wait #netgalley #bookreview

wait is an appropriate title for this book. there is a lot of waiting. It wasn't really what I was expecting.

Elise and Sophie, sisters accustomed to their mom's occasional absences, face a harsh reality when Elise returns from college to find their mom deported to Brazil after weeks away. Left to fend for themselves, they cling to hope that their mom will return.

However, the book doesn't progress much beyond this premise. It simply follows the girls as they navigate work, home, and staying with a friend. The stakes remain low most of the time and the characters never develop through the book. There's is just no real adventure, suspense, or even romance.

Sorry but cannot recommend this one.

This was a solid read and even at the characters' worst, I still felt empathy for them. I loved that the book was split into three parts, it made for an easy read.

Wait is a perfect title for this book since that's what Elise and Sophie do while her mother is deported to Brazil and they're in the process of bringing her back. Elise, who just graduated from college comes back to her hometown island in Nantucket where her mother and sister Sophie live. This book is about how the two sisters struggle to survive without her mother, who worked very hard as an immigrant to support her two daughters and now that she was deported to her home country Brazil doesn't know what to do with herself. Shortly after she is gone, Elise and Sophie are evicted from their home, luckily Sheba, Elise's college best friend, has a vacation home on the island and takes the sisters in while they get back on their feet. This book talks a lot about resilience, the mistakes one makes when they're young and to always keep going. I liked the writing and the narrative of a real problem of the locals living on a tourist island that is being rapidly gentrified and the broken immigration system.

The premise was one which I was excited about. The description oversold the book, in my opinion. I couldn't get into it and stopped at chapter 6.

Appropriate given the title, I was sort of waiting for something at the end that was never coming. That's a little bit of the point maybe. I hated several people in this. More than several maybe? Okay, almost all. I liked the sisters and their relationship. Free advanced copy courtest of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 5/21

I wanted to love this one, but it’s just a bit boring for me. The writing is fine, the characters all have their place, even the plot has variations and somewhere to go, but we’re just not getting there..!

this is just a look at two sisters' single summer, and i wish it told me more or had more of an ending or wasn't omniscient in perspective which i hate, but i love sisters and i love summer and i love new england and this scratched all of those itches.

Wait is a simplistic, moderately-paced novel about the lives of two sisters following their mother’s sudden and unexpected deportation. Following Gilda’s unjust deportation, I enjoyed watching Elise and Sophie reconnect in sisterhood and all the ways in which they show love and protection to each other. Their relationship and the happiness they desire for each other is inspiring, and it was interesting to see Sheba’s character development through the loneliness and selfish envy she feels as a result of the sisters’ bond. However, I found that the plot point of Gilda’s deportation and the sisters’ subsequent survival quickly became monotonous. I struggled to get into Elise and Sophie’s heads and often found myself wondering how they could go on as if nothing traumatic happened. I did not enjoy reading a repetitive daily routine of wake, work, swim in a pool, drink, sleep, rinse and repeat and wished for more of an emotional and intellectual conversation surrounding immigration justice in the United States. Further, the seemingly random and unnecessary inclusions of romantic prospects and sexual scenes left me confused, and the ending unfortunately felt equally as random and unrealistic (though I appreciated the glimmering strands of hope and looking towards the future).

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC!

How would you react to the news your mom is missing? You find out the night before your college graduation. Elise returns to Nantucket to help her sister; Sophie tries and find their mom. They soon learn the truth that she has been deported back to Brazil. Wait follows the siters as they try to find a way to bring their mom back. I gave this book 3 stars as it was a little muddled. Thank you, Net Galley and One World-Random House Publishing, for the ARC. I am leaving this review on my own and is my own opinion. #wait, #gabriellaburnham, #netgalley, #randomhouse

Two sisters have lived with their single Brazilian Mother in Narraganset all their lives. The elder, Elise, has just graduated from Chapel Hill. The younger, Sophia, has just completed high school. Their Mother has disappeared and when she finally calls they learn ICE has returned her to Brazil. This is the story of that summer, their struggles, their successes, their friendships and follies and their growth. Initially I really didn’t get sufficiently interested in them to get involved with them but after finding myself reading just a bit more time after time I admitted to being captivated . Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an ARC for an honest review.

Wait is a lovely character study read. It delves into the lives of two young sisters, Elise and Sophie, living on Nantucket Island whose mother has been deported by ICE to her native Brazil. They are islanders and their lives contrast sharply from the summer people which include Elise's best friend from college, Sheba, and her wealthy mothers.
The contrast in lifestyles was what I experienced as the true focus of the story and as such there was little direction in the plot. It is more about the evolution of characters and getting to know each girl through their lives during one summer together. The book is not a thrilling or dramatic story, although there are seem to be potentials for that at points in the story. Readers wanting more development of the plot will be disappointed.
Personally, I really enjoy an occasional book that just reveals people more than events. It's like peeking into someone's world and getting to know them just by how they live their life. The author does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life in describing how they think and act. The prose of the book is also quite beautiful, as is the descriptions of the island and nature found there.
If you are searching for a dramatic or captivating read, this may not work for you. If, like me, you enjoy a character focused story about believably real people and getting a glimpse into their heads, I would absolutely recommend Wait.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Wait: A Novel” by Gabriella Burnham is a poignant and thought-provoking tale that delves into the complexities of family, identity, and belonging. Set against the backdrop of Nantucket Island, the story unfolds through the eyes of Elise, who is abruptly pulled back into her past when her mother disappears, leaving her to reconnect with her teenage sister, Sophie.

The narrative is a tapestry woven with threads of socioeconomics, psychology, and the stark realities of immigration. Burnham masterfully portrays the stark contrast between the working-class life Elise grew up in and the affluent world of her college friend, Sheba. The deportation of their mother, Gilda, to Brazil after two decades as a tax-paying resident of the United States, serves as a catalyst for the sisters to reevaluate their lives and the bonds that tie them to their motherland and to each other.

Burnham’s prose is both beautiful and haunting, capturing the essence of Nantucket with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to the sandy shores and the tumultuous emotional landscape of the characters. The novel is a story about the physical wait for Gilda’s return, and also about the emotional wait for reconciliation, understanding, and acceptance.

The book is a commendable accomplishment, tackling serious issues with grace and empathy. It’s a reminder of the invisible lines that divide us and the undeniable connections which draw us together.

For readers who appreciate a narrative that challenges and enlightens, “Wait” is a must-read. It’s a story that speaks to the soul, asking us to consider the depth of our relationships and the lengths we would go to preserve the place we call home.

Burnham has indeed crafted a novel that is as much about the journey as it is about the destination—a journey that is well worth the wait.

Wait by Gabriella Burnham was an excellent novel. I appreciated the setting and the author's use of detail to make you feel there!

‘Wait’ is my first book by author Gabriella Burnham. Enjoyable story based on Nantucket Island highlighting just how tough life can be sometimes. I will definitely try another book by Ms. Burnham.

Wait is a soft, lyrical novel that follows Elise as she graduates college only to find her mother has been deported back to Brazil. Elise and her sister Sophie must figure out how to keep moving forward without their parent and their home.

It took me a little while to get into the writing style, but it ended up growing on me. The supporting cast gets some development, but Elise herself feels not as fleshed out as the rest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!