Thank you so much to NetGalley and RBMedia for an audiobook ARC of The Cheesemaker’s Daughter in exchange for an honest review. I had heard so many good things about this book, so I was immediately intrigued and had super high hopes. The story was interesting and there was a lot of heart and emotion, with lots of family drama as well; however, it just didn’t quite live up to my ecxpectations. However, the narrator was amazing, and I definitely found myself enjoying the portions of the book more focused on the actual cheese making and rival cheese makers drama. I wish that the story would have had a bit more of that and a little less of Marina grappling with the state of her life.

The story begins on a rainy day in June. Marina is returning to her childhood home after difficult times with her husband Marco in New York. Back home, Marina's family is facing challenges of their own. There has been betrayal and financial hardship. Marina's father, Nikola, is struggling to keep their family cheese factory going.

Marina has some difficult decisions to make. Where does she want to find herself in the future? Back in New York with her cheating husband? Pursing a new relationship with an old love? Or somewhere else entirely?

I will admit I was interested in this book primarily because I really like cheese. I did get some fascinating descriptions of different cheese making processes along with the story, as well as vivid depictions of the landscapes around the isle of Pag, with interesting croatian history peppered in. There were some things that were a little predictable, but I enjoyed the journey overall. Now I need to find myself some cheese!

A woman leaves her New York City home as her marriage falls apart to return to her Croatian birthplace and the cheese making farm owned by her family. It took me a while to warm up to this book and to the characters, but I was glad I stayed with it as it became a lovely story about home and healing

4.5 stars

Set is 2013 just before Croatia enters the EU, this is the story of Marina, a Croatian woman living in NYC. She's called back home by her father to help with their struggling cheese business.

In her debut novel, Vukovic presents us with a story as bleak and stark as the Croatian coast where it's set. Marina is struggling after a 2nd trimester miscarriage and her husband's infidelity. The family's cheesemaking business is in bad shape, and her father is ill.

But as harsh as the situation and setting is, the people of the area are also strong and hard working. And as difficult as it is for her, Marina brings a fresh energy to the business. This is a story of her healing and finding herself, as those around her desperately need that strength and vision. This is not a romance (thank goodness she ignores the temptation of her married ex-boyfriend), but a strong example of women's and {barely} historical fiction. I'd like to caution readers that it is sometimes a difficult read, but very much worth it in the end. And the glimpse into Croatian culture and cheesemaking was a welcome bonus.