New Yorker Marina Maržić is dealing with the break up of her marriage and still getting over a recent miscarriage when her father asks her to come home and help with the family business. She returns to her native Croatian island where she helps her father with the family's struggling cheese factory, Sirana. She is dealing with returning after being a refugee from the former Yugoslavia. With old equipment that is constantly breaking down, making their cheese by hand, thus paying more employees, and competition from his ex-partner, he is almost bankrupt. Marina moves in with her parents on the island of Pag, a place that depends on employment with Sirana, Marina does what she can. She also meets up with a former childhood friend and son of her father's rival and they must learn how to bring the divided island back together.

The Cheesemaker's Daughter was a book that had a lot to it. I liked that we read about the past, the cultural and ethnic tensions in an area that had dealt with years and years of war. The year after the split from Yugoslavia and before joining the European Union was dealt with, but not in a dry way. I was excited to learn more about the area through the descriptions of the setting and the people, as I am going to be visiting Croatia in 2025. Along with the history, we see Marina struggle with her identity. Having been schooled in the US and marrying a US/Croatian, she is divided between the old ways and the new. She is able to use what she learned to bring Sirana into competitions, develop new products, add social media and still stay true to the family's roots. There is also some family issues with her uncle that throws the family for a loop, which was an unexpected twist for me. The book is told from Marina's POV and that works as she is the central character. This is a highly character driven novel, and it is slow at times, but I really liked Marina. It has a strong plot, well developed characters a couple of twists, a bit of romance, family issues and new beginnings. Overall, I enjoyed this story.

The overall storyline about a Croatian woman returning to her homeland, having survived the war in the comforts of America, explored heavy topics like survivalist guilt, identity loss, and trauma, using cheesemaking as a metaphor for reinvention and healing.

While I found the story itself to be interesting, I thought the writing could use some editing. The history sections were heavily written at times and it was almost a distraction from the current storyline. The characters also felt flat and somewhat one-dimensional.

I had higher hopes for this book.

Wow…..this story offers so much and I loved it from beginning to end. Not only do readers/listeners get to discover the intricacies of cheesemaking, but we glimpse into the impact of the Yugoslavian civil war and Croatia’s independence; the heritage of Pag island, the community and family ties; the political and economical climate as Croatia prepares to join the EU. We journey with Marina as she tries to find her identity and healing.

Kristin Vukovic’s writing is beautifully descriptive and rich in detail. I sensed all of it whilst listening to this audiobook - the Croatian food and drink (especially cheese!), the Adriatic coastal winds, the pride the characters have in their island roots and traditions, and the heartache and sorrow experienced by the characters with circumstances including stillbirth and fertility issues, wartime experiences, betrayal and wounded friendships, business and financial struggles, death and grief.

I experienced the Adriatic coastline in Montenegro earlier this year and Croatia was already on my list of places I must visit…..but now even more so after having the pleasure of reading The Cheesemaker’s Daughter!

Thank you to the publisher, Regalo Press, for a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what an engaging story! I love Croatia, so I was so excited to read a book set on the Island of Pag.

It was also so interesting to see the contrasts of old and new. You really feel those emotions as Marina tries to keep her family business alive, all while dealing with her own personal struggles.

While I did like this book, I didn't love it. It took me a little while to get into. It is a very immersive story.

This was a solid read. I think others will like it.

Thank you NetGalley and Regalo Press for the ARC of this book.

2.5 rounded up to 3.

Well, this is the last time I request a book because I think it's about cheese. 💀🤣 What I thought I was going to get was food writing all about the ins and outs of making cheese, but what I got was a lesson in Croatian history. We didn't even get a tiny glimpse into cheese making until about the 65% mark.

That alone wouldn't cause me to give under a 3⭐️, because that was my own fault for expecting something I had no confirmation of. The reasons I did was because the story itself wasn't very interesting, the characters felt flat and there wasn't much storyline for me to care about. Luka was the only character I found interesting and he wasn't a very big presence in the overall story.

I will say, the small amount that was shown about the cheese making process was gold and I loved it! Is there a book all about making cheese? 🙂

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Although I enjoyed reading this book about a woman returning to her family home on the Croatian island of Pag, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but that is probably my own fault. For one thing, I thought it was a translation, so was disappointed to find it wasn’t, though it is written by an American author with strong family connections to Pag. The more I think about it, the more I enjoyed The Cheesemaker’s Daughter. At first I was expecting it to have the lightness and magic of Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, with more cheese. I’ve also recently read Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees, which has some similar elements: an island divided by war, stripped of most of its trees, with one special tree with a special role; in this book an olive tree, in Shafak’s book a fig tree. In Shafak’s book, I was carried along by the uncovering of the mystery behind a family’s recent history, with a strong element of a Romeo and Juliet romance of star-crossed lovers. In fact, there were aspects of this in The Cheesemaker’s Daughter, with the will they, won’t they renewal of Marina’s relationship with her teenage lover, Luka.

But this book is an altogether more serious book with Marina bowed down with indecision about the direction her life should take. After losing a child, her relationship with her Croatian-American husband has ground to a standstill. At first, she sees this visit to the island to help out the family business as merely an interlude in her life. But the longer she stays, the more she realises that she never completely fit in as a refugee in America, however much she adapted. The pull of a career in New York is very strong, though. Will she stay in her birthplace? Can she ever fit in there again?

Sadly, I felt the story dragged; it could have been edited more tightly. For instance, there are two separate instances of Marina putting on her makeup. The second time, it’s used as the introduction of how many colours of lipstick there are in American drugstores. There is also rather a lot of repetition in the descriptions of the process of cheesemaking, of the farmers pouring their milk into the tank, of workers cutting the curds and shaping them into wheels of cheese. Having said which, I did enjoy reading about the cheese making, the visits to the cheese competitions and the innovations that are made. I was also interested in the history of Yugoslavia and its later divisions that was gradually drip fed into the story rather than given as an information dump, making it easier to follow. It was also integrated well, showing its effect on individuals and businesses, as well as the effects of joining the EU.

However, I felt there was no spark that set the writing alight; it’s pedestrian. As I said, I thought this was a translation, so put it down to that at first. As it was written by an American. it seems even more peculiar that it is sometimes oddly phrased. Where I would expect the phrase ‘made her blood boil’, for instance, it is worded ‘it made her boil’, though later the phrase is used correctly. ‘Patches of hearty shrubs’ is not English, nor ‘it was Franko’s first time to London’. That makes my blood boil!

Book: The Cheesemaker’s Daughter
Author: Kristin Vukovic
Genre: Fiction, Drama, Food & Wine
Places Featured: Pag, Croatia
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded up)
Review: Marina, an immigrant in New York City, is struggling to figure out her life and her marriage when she heads back to her home island of Pag, Croatia, to help her family's struggling cheese factory. The rivalry with another cheese factory (run by a former employee and the father of Marina’s former crush) doesn’t help the situation. As the future of the factory is questioned, so is her own future and the two become intertwined as Marina works with her family to figure it all out in the only way they know how–with hard work and together.

The story can be slow at times (it took me awhile to get into it and there are sometimes topics that become repetitive), but I learned so much about Croatia and the world of cheesemaking, and I couldn't help but end up cheering for Marina and the Sirana factory. I was glad to have found a book set in Croatia, too, as it’s not a country often represented and this book takes you right into the small-town culture of Croatian island life.

Reviews posted on Instagram (@travelbooksandmovies) and some posted on blog (www.travelbooksandmovies.com)

voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🧀👩🏼‍🌾
Wow! This book was amazing, from its first page to the last. I read all of the 310 pages in a day, and I was hooked! The book had a lot of elements from the Yugoslavia Civil War to the problems with Sirana Cheesemaking factory to Marina picking up the pieces of her life back. I enjoyed everything and I'm glad that Marina found her footing.
👩🏼‍🌾🧀
I learned a lot in this book about the Civil War and the processes of making cheese. The uphill battle of making Sirana factory a successful one kept me at the edge of the seat because I just kept wondering if I'd thus would be the last for them. Thankfully, they were able to be needful and I'm glad of the changes and the necessary updates
🧀👩🏼‍🌾
I loved Marina's growth too, and I liked that there was no romance in the book. It was purely women's fiction. She went through a lot with her shitty husband and fertility issues. But, I was annoyed at her relationship with Luka. Thankfully, she let it go without any further ado. Marina was truly amazing in breathing new life to the factory and also re-discovering herself. I learned a lot learning about how she found it difficult to be 'her' because of how she was Croatian, but she lived in America for most of her life. It's the story of all immigrants
👩🏼‍🌾🧀
This book was amazing, I liked it, and I'm sure you would too.
🧀👩🏼‍🌾

This book was ok but could have been amazing. The setting and characters had such potential but I felt that we didn’t get immersed enough into the place and the relationships.
We are all in the protagonist mind and it’s thoughts instead of showing we are told by her. I wished for more development of her relationship with her mom and friend who disappeared from the end of the story. Also The cheating storylines didn’t work for me.

The thoughtful, emotional story of Marina, a woman who returns to Pag, Croatia after her life fell apart, That's the trope-y intro to a more layer novel that addresses grief, Croatian history, and, of all things, cheese. It's a gentle, well written novel that doesn't shriek drama when it could. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

WARNING: it's yet another stop of the unpopular opinion train!!

I honestly wasn't expecting this to happen. On paper, The Cheesemaker's Daughter sounded like an excellent fit. I love stories with an international setting and I LOVE cheese, so I thought that I had hit the jackpot with this story set in Croatia and focusing on a cheese factory. Sadly, it just wasn't ment to be in the end... While I did very much appreciate those elements, the rest of the story simply wasn't a good fit for me. Why? I'll try to explain below.

I'm suspecting the main issue here is a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. It's not that The Cheesemaker's Daughter was a bad read necessarily, but it was without doubt not a good fit for me and I confess that I struggled considerably to make it to the final page. I'm never a fan of a lot of family drama in my stories, and you definitely get an abundance of that in The Cheesemaker's Daughter. On top of this, the story also includes one of my major pet peeves: cheating. To make things worse, it's not just in the background, but actually actively happening and applies to more than one character. Lusting after a married man, even if he was once your first love, is just all kinds of wrong (and makes me instantly dislike any character this applies to).

I was also surprised by just how negative this story in general is. There is an abundance of focus on toxic relationships, parental pressure, sexism, infertility, miscarriage, death and other heavy topics, and especially the toxic environment of Marina's home got both extremely repetitive and simply unpleasant to read about. I felt like the story lacked more balance, or at least some lighter moments to give you a little breather... As it is, the story is mainly just depressing. Trigger warnings are definitely in place for those struggling with infertility, because I was surprised to find that there is a LOT of focus on this topic.

There were things I did enjoy as I mentioned before. I loved the Croatian setting and I definitely learned a bit more about both the history of this country and its customs along the way. There is quite some focus on the war and its aftermath, and as a result it does add to the overall depressing atmosphere... What I absolutely loved though was the focus on cheese and the inner workings of the cheese factory, and it definitely made me crave my own portion of cheese along the way. I don't think I've had sheep milk cheese before (only goat and llama), but I would definitely love to try!

There was also something about the writing style and word choice that didn't work for me, although I can't put my finger on the why. This is probably part of the reason why I struggled so much to read this story... And I confess that I started skimreading long before the halfway mark. This also had to do with the unlikeable characters and overdose of family drama though, which I hardly ever tolerate if it's too present. As I said before, The Cheesemaker's Daughter was clearly simply not my cup of tea. I seem to be in the minority though, so definitely don't give up on my account if you like the sound of this story. The Croatian setting is very atmospheric and really comes alive through the descriptions!

Marina has lived in the United States for half her life, but when her father asks for help—a first—she drops everything to return to Croatia to help her parents save their struggling cheese factory. Croatia is and isn't as she remembers it; it's been years since Marina was home long enough to sink into the rhythms of Croatian island life, and cheesemaking has never been her future. But now she must decide: stay, or go? What parts of her past and present are destined to stay or become her past, and what parts are destined to become her future?

I've read very little about Croatia—very little fiction set in contemporary southeastern (or eastern, or central) Europe, for that matter; that's less by choice and more because I've found it difficult to find the contemporary, non-noir, non-war fiction I'm after. And on that count, "The Cheesemaker's Daughter" delivers. Marina's life on Pag is quiet, but it's full—family and old friends and ghosts from her past; tradition sitting alongside modern conveniences (and inconveniences). Plot-wise, this is strong work; Croation relationships and work struggles and personal struggles layer on top of each other, and it's not clear until the end how most things will work out—there are many directions the story could take and still feel realistic.

Writing-wise, I think this could have used an intense round of line editing. The word "knew" appears 99 times in the book and the word "felt" 180 times, and although obviously not all of those are directly about Marina (the POV character), the majority are, and I don't want to be told what she knows and feels; I want to experience those things with her. It left me a bit disconnected from Marina and thus from the book even as I kept reading to find out how things would go.

It's a fairly quiet book, all things considered—in a good way, but one for those who don't mind books that unfold in their own sweet time. I'd be interested to read more in similar settings.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

The Cheesemaker's Daughter by Kristin Vuković is a poignant, moving, unique and simply wonderful Historical Fiction about making and living with choices, changing what we can and accepting what we can't and what it means to be family. Set on the ruggedly beautiful island of Pag with its harsh sweltering summers and bura wind, the first words gripped me and kept me riveted until the last. Croatia is a very special place...my bias may be deep as I live in Croatia much of the time but man, do the foods, culture, traditions, mentality, glorious festivals and family ring true. I smiled in agreement and recognized my heart on every page.

Marina leaves her husband, heartache and New York behind and returns to the Croatia she knew as a teen. Croatia is on the cusp of joining the EU and the 1990s war sentiments linger. Her family's artisan cheese factory, Sirana, is impacted by larger businesses moving in. Marina helps as much as she can, even agreeing to take on a worker with fresh ideas. Modern equipment isn't affordable so something must be done to rescue the business and cause it to flourish as it once did. Attending world cheese festivals is critical, even if it means rivalry. Meanwhile, Marina's family experiences drama and challenges, realistically portrayed.

Though I read every book set in Croatia I can find, this one took my breath away and felt the most authentic including language, expressions and vivid physical descriptions. As a Canadian living in Croatia, so many emotions are relatable and this book settled into my soul, just as Croatia has. Attending cheese, truffle, fish, watermelon, pasta, chestnut and potato festivals (and so many more) is one of my favourite things in the world to do. They are depicted accurately here. The snippets about klapa music, wonky-shaped vegetables (like Croatia, they are blemished and bumpy but perfect in their imperfections), propuh drafts, Bajadera chocolates, fantastic food, wild herbs, seasonality and resilient old olive trees add authenticity and capture the slower pace of life. Like the gnarled olive trees, Croats are resilient and have a rich connection with nature. Pag and Istra truffle cheeses remain my favourites anywhere.

If you seek to learn more about artisan cheesemaking, especially in Croatia, do not miss this book. But this is so much more than that. Learning about cultural differences, traditions and ways of life is eye opening...and may reveal something about yourself, too. I adored this book.

My sincere thank you to Regalo Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this phenomenal novel. I look forward to the author's next book with great excitement!

Marina's father sends her to the United States to avoid the war where she pursues a marketing degree. In the mean time she marries and miscarries and her marriage crumbles. Marina returns home and tries to work remotely.

Pretty sure that this is the first book I've read where Croatia is the setting. Author Kristin Vukovic does an amazing job describing the landscape, especially around the island of Pag. I'm so glad that she used a real location for this novel; that I could at least google and get a better idea of the setting. It sounds incredibly beautiful; so much so that I (probably won't) but definitely WANT to visit.

I also loved learning about cheesemaking (and in particular cheese from sheep milk). Very fascinating.

There were a couple twists that kept The Cheesemaker's Daughter interesting. I really enjoyed this book and finished in two days. I believe that this is Kristin Vukovic's first novel. Great job!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Regalo Press for approving my request to read The Cheesemaker's Daughter in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended! Aug 6, 2024 publication date. Approx 272 pages.

In the throes of an unraveling marriage, New Yorker Marina Maržić returns to her native Croatian island where she helps her father with his struggling cheese factory, Sirana. Forced to confront her divided Croatian-American identity and her past as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, Marina moves in with her parents on Pag and starts a new life working at Sirana. As she gradually settles back into a place that was once home, her life becomes inextricably intertwined with their island’s cheese. When her past with the son of a rival cheesemaker stokes further unrest on their divided island, she must find a way to save Sirana—and in the process, learn to belong on her own terms.

This was a fascinating look into Croatia and cheesemaking. For me, it was wonderful. I think the layers of social and familial problems made for a compelling novel. It was a little slow in parts, especially if you're not particularly interested in the minutia of their trade, but I thought it was very interesting! I've always been interested in the Balkans, the people, and the beautiful Croatian islands, so this was totally up my alley!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Firstly, I loved the setting of this book. I hadn't previously read a book that was set in Croatia and I really enjoyed that. The descriptions of the setting were really nice and I could picture myself there.I also loved how emotional this story was. I thought that it was a great depiction of guilt and trauma and the realistic and craggy atmosphere really added to the story. I loved Marina's character arc.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this story!

Kristin Vukovic wastes no words in her storytelling. The portrayal of her characters were so vividly real, I found myself wanting to dive into the book to shake Dragana to her senses, give her a piece of my mind, and maybe bang some pots and shelves to prove my point. Kicking Franko's ass was also on the list. I gritted my teeth in frustration at Nikola, sympathised with Marina, and cheered when she was finally recognised and lauded for her sheer, hard work. I will henceforth, appreciate every cheese that goes into my mouth.

The Cheesemaker's Daughter is a beautifully-written story of family, loss, and the journey to find one's self. The book is set in Croatia, and the descriptions of the country are stunning. It was incredible to learn more about Croatia's challenging history and the cheese-making process.

Thank you to NetGalley and Regalo Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. The Cheesemaker's Daughter releases on August 6, 2024.

The Cheesemaker's Daughter by Kristin Vukovic is a touching story about identity, loss, tradition, and forging your own path in life set on a gorgeous Croatian island.

Marina Marzic returns to Pag, the Croatian island where she was born, to help revive her father's struggling cheesemaking factory, Sirana. After spending most of her life in New York where her father sent her during Croatia's war of independence, Marina is forced to confront her past- her past identity, memories, and pain from a country still suffering from the effects of its war and about to join the European Union. It is this dichotomy, of past meets present meets the future that Marina struggles with throughout the story. She sees her own life mirrored around her, in both the ancient traditions of the island and in the cheesemaking process where she, like the island and her father's factory, are being forced to reckon with change, betrayal, and identity. Returning to Pag as neither fully Croatian nor American, with a failed marriage, devastating health crisis, and a broken heart, Marina will learn how to rescue and revive Sirana, and herself in this moving story.

I found this story to be very emotional and relatable in so many ways. Like Marina, and the author, I too share a personal connection to Croatia, that holds a somewhat mythical and complicated place in my heart. The descriptions of Croatia- its rocky scenery, coastal charm, and dazzling sea were not the typical touristy descriptions, but rather, more realistic and true to its natural raw beauty that reflected the characteristics and personalities of the people and culture. There was a survivalist tone to the atmosphere, a toughness and hearty feel that captured the true essence of the Adriatic people. The characters in this story felt authentic and the whole story almost read like a memoir where every little detail of each person, place, and thing felt realistic.

The overall storyline about a Croatian woman returning to her homeland, having survived the war in the comforts of America, explored heavy topics like survivalist guilt, identity loss, and trauma, using cheesemaking as a metaphor for reinvention and healing. I found the topic of cheese fascinating and I enjoyed reading about characters who were forced to innovate their ways into stability, success, and the future. The story was sad, but it had a hopeful ending, and in true Croatian fashion, the author did not sugar coat anything, yet still handled difficult topics with care.

The story was layered, not unlike the many steps involved in making artisanal cheese, and anyone who has ever felt displaced, whether physically or emotionally would find a connection to this book. The juxtaposition between the past and future, love and hate, forgiveness and betrayal were examined in this story, with delicious cheese and a majestic island supporting the heart and soul of this family saga.

I am so glad I read The Cheesemaker's Daughter by Kristin Vukovic...I've been waiting to read a story like this for a long time.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Cheesemaker’s Daughter by Kristin Vuković is a contemporary fiction novel featuring Marina, who travels back to her home country of Croatia to help with the family business of cheese making. The business is in financial trouble, Mariana tries to find solutions and how to compete with a local, rival cheese maker. She is estranged from her husband in New York after his extramarital affair and her stillborn birth. She also is struggling with not being Croatian enough after living in America for a good part of her life. The backdrop of Croatia is lovely, you will definitely feel the wind of the Adriatic Sea as you read this book. The food sounds amazingly good, especially the cheese.

I would recommend this book for readers who want to learn more about Croatia and its’ history. This novel has so many layers with family drama, a personal journey through miscarriage and divorce, and finding your place in the world. Cheese making takes center stage and I learned a lot about the process and ingredients. I would love to try the Grandmother Cheese that Mariana makes!

Thank you Regalo Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.