Wait
A Novel
by Gabriella Burnham

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a beautifully written book about siblings. It was a tender, sweet, and sometimes funny book. I even shed a tear or two ,

Sisters…a missing mother…Nantucket…the recipe for a story of intrigue. Family issues…caring for others…this talented author has written a page turner. Experiencing issues that no one should go through…imagine having a mother sent away…spend an afternoon with this cast of characters…difficult issues keep the reader wondering. thanks Netgalley.

A wonderful coming of age novel interwoven with the complex tensions of racism and classism Elise faces in returning to Nantucket. I read this in one sitting!

When Sophie calls her older sister, Elise, to say that their mother is missing, Elise rushes back to Nantucket Island to discover that their mother has been deported back to Brazil. The sisters were both born in America, however, their mother was never granted citizenship as she missed her hearing due to medical issues. After twenty years of living and working in America, their mother still is not safe from deportation.

The book encompasses immigration and wealth inequities equally and true to life. We are given glimpses into the imperfect ways that immigrants are treated and the socioeconomic injustices at play.

This book gives good insight into a broken system while highlighting how those left behind can survive. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a great coming of age story. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is also posted on Goodreads.

A poignant coming of age story for two sisters, Elise and Sophie. When their mom is unexpectedly deported after living in the US for over twenty years, the girls are left picking up the pieces. Elise has just graduated college, and Sophie has just graduated school. They remain in Nantucket, growing and learning together while their mom is half the world away in Brazil.

Gilda, their mother, worked hard to provide for the girls and give them a good life. Now in the wake of her deportation, Elise and Sophie must reconcile their childhood and try to push forward. They are lucky to be sheltered with Elise's wealthy friend from college, Sheba, who lets them live in their Nantucket mansion. As the girls, and their mother, reconfigure their life, they discover themselves and find a new beginning.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me- I like stories about people who have immigrated to the US, coming of age stories, and books about nature. This book had all three. The family of the Brazilian mother and two daughters seemed very realistic to me- the struggles with survival and immigration services difficult to process but every day realities for many people. Despite the hardships the family lived in the wonderful, scenic natural area of Nantucket and it was fun to hear the descriptions of the birds and their nesting habits, and stories of the girls playing on the beach when younger.
I particularly liked the character of Elise as she struggles to determine her future direction and to understand her relationships with Sheba and Rahul.
This is a highly recommended read and the ARC was provided by the publisher, author and NetGalley in exchange for a review

Beautiful setting so well written a story of family of relationships.I enjoyed this story from beginning to end sorry to read the last page.#netgalley #randomhouse.

Awesome writing. Loved the relationship between the two sisters. The scenery was great. Interesting story. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Being set in Nantucket was a start for me on this one, but the story was so much more than that. This one left me thinking about families, lives we lead/leave, and what comes next. The characters in this book had to grow in the process of learning the truth. It was a very interesting read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.

This is a coming of age novel for a young woman who has lived life to date somewhat naively, sheltered under the protection of a very wealthy friend. As with any coming of age novel, the costs of what she has enjoyed is something she needs to face before truly growing.

Elise's mother is deported to Brazil on the eve of her college graduation. Her younger sister is unable to hold the household together and she travels home quickly to reconcile with the childhood friends she left behind. There is a lot of familiar emotions and events related to outgrowing your childhood but Elise needs to also deal with structural racism and the classism highlighted by the ultra wealthy that share her Nantucket home.

I loved learning about Elise with Elise and you will too. A perfect novel for any young woman seeking themselves or any of us that remember those first growing pains. #Wait #GarbriellaBurnham .#Randomhouse

Elise is dancing the night away the eve before her college graduation. The culmination of a lot of hard work and sacrifice. She is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her mother and sister from Nantucket Island, when her sister calls with the news that their mother is missing.
Elise immediately leaves for the island only to discover their mother has been deported back to Brazil.


Plans for the future are put on hold, as the girls do whatever they must to reunite with their mother.


A beautiful story of families, young women, immigration, and community.


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC.


NetGalley/ RHPG/Random House May 21, 2024

What happens when a mother with two daughters lives in one of the wealthiest places in America, Nantucket Island, and she being an illegal immigrant, gets deported leaving her two daughters in America? Gilda is sent back to Brazil where she strengthens her family ties only to leave her children in America behind. This book is a conundrum, beautifully written, it is a heartbreaking story that can be one which plays out across the country. The girls grow up very fast and find where their allegiances are. They move into one of the wealthy family homes, financed by the success of Play-Doh! It's a quick read and heart felt. Read this and empathize with people who might be in that position.