Sandwich is the second adult novel by bestselling author Catherine Newman.
The story follows Rachel, also known as Rocky, and her family during their annual vacation to Cape Cod. The novel explores themes of family, love, aging, and the complexities of relationships.
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Book Blurb
For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.
This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.
It’s one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.
Sandwich Book Review
I just adore how Catherine Newman writes and how she captures human emotion so perfectly. Much like in We All Want Impossible Things, I found myself laughing one moment and welling up the next. I love her ability to balance humour with deep emotional moments.
I could really relate to Rocky, especially the fierce, all-consuming love for her children and the bittersweet feelings that come as they grow older. The story is told from Rocky’s perspective, with flashbacks adding depth, and Newman’s beautiful prose makes it all feel nostalgic and real.
Rocky is a complex character – flawed, secretive, neurotic and not always likeable. Her struggles with menopause and mood swings made her feel incredibly real. She is often overwhelmed by memories, both happy and painful, which contributes to her melancholic and angry moments. Her husband, in contrast, comes across as an absolute saint!
The novel isn’t fast-paced and doesn’t have a lot of dramatic events as it spans a week in the characters’ lives during their holiday. It’s very much a character-driven story, which I actually really enjoyed.
The ending was especially poignant, leaving me with a lump in my throat. It perfectly summed up what it’s like to be “sandwiched” (hence the title) between children who are growing up and becoming less dependent on you, and parents who are getting older and more reliant on you.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading whatever Catherine Newman writes next.