While the general narrative was enjoyable, I just felt this this book didn’t really go anywhere, it was just a bit too nothingy and I felt like I was just waiting for something to happen other than family arguments and discussions but nothing much really did. It was easy read though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A really enjoyed this booked and totally immersed myself in Rocky and her family from her adult children through to her ageing parents. Its a story of family love and a few secrets along the way. Rocky is a menopausal woman who reflects on herself both physically and mentally, a husband who seems to struggle to understand or even engage with his wife at times, grown up children who are still children at heart , and elderly parents who have all the wisdom of life and just enjoy being on holiday with all the family. Each generation of the family bring something different to the mix.

It takes place on Cape Cod and having been there, I can totally relate to the laid back beach holiday in the wonderfully shabby chic house that has been there for many generations. A lovely easy, gentle book to read.

Sandwiched between her elderly parents and her young adult children, Rocky is struggling with the mid life challenges of relationships and menopause. The family gather for their annual holiday and Rocky is overwhelmed with memories, both nostalgic and traumatic. Catherine Newman evokes the days of family holidays with small children, and of the bittersweet memories that follow.

A funny feel good read that kept me going, I read this in one sitting as struggled to put down. Highly recommended

I saw this book EVERYWHERE so was desperate to read it. oh boy it SO didn't disappoint. It was beautifully written and whilst I wanted to keep reading it, I really didnt want it to end.

I really loved this book. I could really relate with the main character and everything she was going through.

I enjoyed the humour in the book and really enjoyed the dynamics between the family members. I loved how the mother kept the story going by remembering different times they had stayed at the house over the years

I would recommend this book.

I didn't enjoy Newman's first book hugely but I did like her writing style and I am glad I tried this second book as it was far more my cup of tea,

While covering a lot of controversial topics as well as ones very relevant to a person of my age (in the sandwich generation) the book was very funny and also just a little bit of a fantasy/wish fulfilment dream book, which at times veered a little close to uncanny valley

I loved this funny, sad, uplifting and deeply felt novel. I raced to read it and was sad when I had to turn out the light - exactly the kind of book to take on holiday. Read it now!

Rating: 3.5

There were a lot of aspects I enjoyed about this novel; the Cape Cod setting, the dry humour, the exploration of women’s health. Similarly to ‘We All Want Impossible
Things’ it was very easy to become entrenched in the novel and I flew through it.
Sadly, I did find Rocky to be quite unlikeable and could not really warm to her character; as the novel is from her POV this was a shame. However, I really enjoy Catherine Newman’s writing and will definitely read whatever she puts out next.

I loved Catherine Newman's debut novel, 'We All Want Impossible Things', about grief and loss, specifically losing a friend to a terminal illness. Her second novel 'Sandwich' is, on the surface, a much sunnier novel, set over the course of a week's holiday on Cape Cod, but nonetheless deals with various forms of loss experienced by the narrator, Rocky, who is holidaying with her husband Nick, her grown-up kids Willa and Jamie (and Jamie's girlfriend Maya), and her elderly parents.

I initially found Rocky's narrative voice a little smug in her descriptions of all her cherished holiday rituals and her frequent 'what am I like?' embarrassing personal admissions which are nonetheless designed to present her as lovably clueless. This is a family who are very privileged in lots of respects, and they know it. This is tempered by some self-awareness from Rocky ("There are other people in the world besides us! I forget that sometimes" is a particularly telling admission) but I still found her gushing style a bit grating at times.

However, as the novel progresses we learn more about the different types of loss Rocky has experienced, from discovering the truth about her great-grandparents' deaths during the Holocaust to looking back on the challenges of early motherhood, and the mixture of pride and pain she feels as her own children grow up and become independent. There are some very moving passages, along with some amusing Nora Ephron-style descriptions of the indignities of growing older.

There is not a huge amount of plot in this story, though a few narrative strands introduce some jeopardy midway through the novel. Overall, it is more focused on reflection than action, and I'm sure the honesty with which Rocky describes her experiences will resonate with many readers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

Found this an enjoyable read. Family dynamics on holiday, marriage and relationships and love are all explored. Thank you to the publisher and Net galley for the opportunity to read this. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely loved this book! Being a woman entering menopause I had to laugh out loud in quite a few places could totally relate
Really enjoyed it

This is a entertaining read which was very funny at times. It’s the story about a family who go to Cape Cod every year. Secrets are revealed. Rocky is the narrator and the mother, she is menopausal. husband Nic doesn’t seem to know what’s going on half the time. the grandparents made me smile trying to come to terms with technology. The novel focuses on family, motherhood , marriage and love.

I found this a very entertaining read which was very funny at times. It’s the story of a family who go to Cape Cod every year and this year is no exception. Secrets are revealed and feelings are at the forefront. Rocky is the narrator and the mother, she is menopausal and being a similar age I found her outbursts very funny at times. Her husband Nic who doesn’t seem to know what’s going on half the time.is a great character. I love the conversations about sandwiches which sound delicious.
My favourites are the grandparents , they made me smile trying to come to terms with technology. It’s a short novel which focuses on family, motherhood , marriage and love.

Sandwich is a story of family in all its facets; how family dynamics evolve and shift over time is lovingly documented in this novel as Rachel (aka Rocky), her husband and two kids reunite to take their annual week-long trip to Cape Cod together, with grandparents and girlfriends in tow.

Told through Rachel’s first person narrative, the story details her experience of motherhood, marriage and family life with recurring flashbacks working to emphasise the nostalgia in her narrative. Themes revolving around the female experience like menopause and pregnancy loss are also explored with tact and heart.

A chaos of emotions run through each chapter: yearning, loss, love, anger, fear, regret, resentment, contentment… In moments, I found Rachel quite irritating and overdramatic however these flaws worked effectively to portray a real sense of unapologetic honesty in her character.

The writing was wonderfully earnest and immersive to the point that Rachel’s experiences became universal. Despite not being the target demographic, there was a relatability to this story that I feel would be the same for every reader, whether you see yourself as the parent or the child.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book is very lit fic and very character focused which I really enjoy in my reading experience.
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Overall, I enjoyed this story which has themes of family, motherhood, and love. It explores a variety of relationships. Every topic is written in a concise and digestible way.
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All of the characters felt realistic and well written, some I related to more than others but I think that was more down to my own life experiences. I gave this a 3.5 as there was just something that wasn't quite for me that I cannot really put my finger on (maybe the writing style?), but for what it is, I think it is done very well.

I fell in love with Catherine Newman's previous book, We All Want Different Things, so I was thrilled to read her latest offering.
The writing is just as exceptional as that book, so I think it's safe to say that is just what we can now expect from this author.
I also loved the characters, connecting with them right from the start of the book. The plot was a little slower pace at times0, but the other 2 elements make up for it.
I'll read anything Newman writes in the future!

An accomplished author whose previous novel is a favourite of mine so I was prepared to sit down and thoroughly enjoy a good read. The first few chapters were great and I was waiting for it to get more interesting……but then nothing…it just trundled on and on. I can’t say I was overly disappointed but I wasn’t thrilled or impressed. As an insight into a menopausal woman in a classic sandwich household situation I felt that she has very little to complain about, her children are grown ups and her parents aren’t dependant on her. A situation that many might envy rather than sympathise with. So, an ok story with characters who didn’t annoy too much but didn’t evoke sympathy too much either, well written but not enough for me to feel that I had spent a worthwhile time reading.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Sandwich captures the challenges of a women dealing with menopausal symptoms, marital strains, aging parents, and motherhood with poignant and relatable moments.

I really enjoyed this book. Not a lot happens in terms of plot (and I think I was waiting for something to happen for most of the book) but the writing is engaging and witty enough that you don't mind when you realise that's what you are getting. It's also very funny.