Cindy's Reviews > Sandwich

Catherine Newman’s Sandwich is a delightful blend of wit and tenderness, family and change. This story follows Rocky on an annual Cape Cod vacation with her husband Nick and their adult kids, Willa and Jaime. In a witty tone, Rocky takes us through their daily itinerary of their beach outings, tram rides, septic tank mishaps, open conversations, and sandwich making. Her narrative is filled with humor, particularly in her commentary on menopause. Rocky's perspective is a refreshing take on the middle years of life, with witty insights and relatable struggles of raising children. Her dynamic with Nick, even when they bicker, is filled with flirtatious banter.

Newman’s writing reminds me of Nora Ephron’s humor, especially in I Feel Bad About My Neck, with some chapters similar to the reflective tone of Ann Patchett's Tom Lake. The humor is spot on, with moments that had me laughing out loud, particularly during Rocky’s rants about the injustices of menopause. One memorable quote that stood out was Rocky’s outburst about the pressures women face:

"Women have to do all the hard things and take care of everybody and pay attention to everything all the time and be soft and open and f*ckable! It’s so infuriating!”

Nick’s calm and collected responses are a perfect counterbalance to Rocky’s fiery and neurotic nature. Willa also has a wonderful sense of humor, and Rocky’s parents who join later are funny without even trying. Grandpa goes for a dip, and says “do not take photographs of me and put them on google.”

The novel has tender moments too, from heartfelt conversations with “woke” Willa, unexpected events, including secrets being discovered and health scares. Rocky often reflects to the earlier years when their children were young and mourns the loss of time, grateful for the time she spends with them now.

Sandwich is a small book with a big heart, and I found it incredibly relatable as a new empty nester in my middle adult years. Newman is a new author for me and commend her ability to blend humor with genuine emotion and sentimentality in a fantastic setting. This is a great summer read and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a heartfelt, funny, and relatable novel.