Sandwich by Catherine Newman

After reading many books about the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII, I turned to Catherine Newman’s humorous new book Sandwich for a change of pace. It is a fun summer story about a family’s annual weeklong summer vacation in a rental house on Cape Cod. This story will resonate with those fortunate enough to rent the same vacation house year after year.

Rachel (aka Rocky) and her husband Nick, and their two kids, Willa and Jamie, have rented a house in Sandwich, Massachusetts, for two decades. Willa and Jamie are now in their early twenties and no longer live at home with their parents. This year, Jamie’s girlfriend Maya joins the family. When they all arrive on Saturday and look around the house, Willa says, “It is weird that I’m kind of offended when they replace stuff? Like they didn’t even consult us.” Anecdotes like this one are scattered throughout the story.

Rocky, the narrator, is sentimental about the passing of time and emotional about her growing kids. She anticipates this week with exuberant joy as she reflects on the family moments and milestones of summers past. While grappling with her declining middle-aged body and mind, Rocky is literally sandwiched between her almost grown-up kids and her aging parents. On Wednesday, when Rocky’s parents arrive at the beach, Rocky says, “They are so adorable, these white-haired people—that I cry a little when I see them.”

Neurotic and emotional, Rocky is laugh-out-loud funny as she talks about melancholy, marriage, and menopause. Her husband Nick is a loyal partner and foil. And over the week, long held secrets wash onto the family’s shore.

The story does not provide insight into how Rocky became who she became. So, when the second half shifts to pregnancy, abortion, and the Holocaust, the dialogue feels a bit disjointed and incomplete. Despite that, the book deftly touches on the passing of time, aging parents, adult children, and the evolution of family relationships. There are moving moments and hysterical reflections. Sandwich is a great summer read. 4/5