Sandwich: A Novel

by Catherine Newman

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Pushed and pulled between her parents and her children, a woman faces her past and her future in a story about the ins and outs and joys of life. Think Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois or anything by Laurie Colwin.

Look for Wreck, the new novel by Catherine Newman—a deeply moving story of laughter and heart, about marriage, family, and what happens when life doesn’t go as planned—Coming October 2025. 

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Sandwich is joy in book form. I laughed continuously, except for the parts that made me cry. Catherine Newman does a miraculous job reminding us of all the wonder there is to be found in life."—Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake

“If you like my novels, you will love love love this . . . . I stand in awe, it’s just perfect.”—Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Swan Song

“A total delight.”—Kate Christensen

From the beloved author of We All Want Impossible Things, a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063345171
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Catherine Newman is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoirs Catastrophic Happiness and Waiting for Birdy, the middle-grade novel One Mixed-Up Night, the kids’ craft book Stitch Camp, the best-selling how-to books for kids How to Be a Person and What Can I Say?, and the novels We All Want Impossible Things, Sandwich, and Wreck (forthcoming from HarperCollins). Her books have been translated into a dozen languages. She has been a regular contributor to the New York Times, Real Simple, O, The Oprah Magazine, Cup of Jo, and many other publications. She writes Crone Sandwich on Substack and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

“Like We All Want Impossible Things, Newman’s new novel is borne along by her humor . . . . the story is ultimately about harnessing the power of love and family bonds to overcome sadness and loss.” - Amherst Bulletin
“Newman is the kind of writer who could write 200 pages about paint drying and keep the reader entranced throughout . . . . A lovely and disciplined novel that accomplishes something remarkable: It’s a book about the beach that is too good to be considered a beach read.” - The Hippo
“This clever novel . . . . paints a vivid picture of family life and proves that middle-aged characters can be funny, sympathetic and fascinating. It is a beautifully written, moving novel that touches on the complexity of female sexuality and fertility and explores how every pregnancy leaves an indelible mark.” - The Observer
“An optimistic menopause novel . . . . Sandwich has a line about something being 'a wolf in clown’s clothing,' which is an apt description for this book . . . a funny, readable story about love and family and agreeable clam shack dinners, but in between, it digs up the bloody parts of being a woman and mother . . . . Rocky is me and my sisters and every one of my friends—alternately joyful, forgetful, and enraged.” - LIBER
“A beach novel to pass on to your best friends, no matter what the season.” - Oprah Magazine, "Best Books of 2024”
“This book has the best description of sandy toes and salty swimsuits I have ever read . . . . It will remind you of the warm and fuzzy feelings you get watching kids romp on the beach combined with the bittersweet reminder of swiftly passing time.” - Good Morning America
"I loved this little beautiful book. You could put it in your beach bag and read it in one sitting. I did . . . . The ultimate beach read." - Jenna Bush Hager
“It’s a real beauty.” - Glennon Doyle, We Can Do Hard Things podcast
“I adore Catherine Newman's warm voice and quirky writing style. Her characters are always full of heart, funny, and vulnerable in ways that will make you feel seen and heard. I still can’t stop thinking about her last book, We All Want Impossible Things (she somehow made hospice care hilarious?!), and I ripped through her latest, Sandwich, in about a day . . . . Pour yourself a crisp glass of wine, dip your toes in the sand, and enjoy the ride." - Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editors' Picks
“What makes Sandwich different from where other novels may go with this set-up is that love and family are the anchors. There is drama, but it is quieter . . . . That is the strength of this novel. That, and the lovely portrayal of traditions that go back years and have thus become cherished. Newman's writing is so on point about this that anyone who has gone to a beloved spot many times will recognize their own trips.” - Daily Kos
"A beautiful story about family . . . . Newman addresses topics like motherhood, love, aging, grief, regret and more in such a realistic way.” - Woman's World
“This novel is universally, unanimously loved. How could it not be, with Catherine Newman’s hilarious and heartfelt writing driving its success? She’s skilled at elevating the mundane, weaving insightful intricacies into the truths of our home and family lives. Newman’s writing is witty and sparkles with wisdom, and she’s able to balance both levity and depth. Ultimately, I came to the last page with a renewed appreciation for the beautiful chaos that weaves itself all throughout life.” - Today's Chronic

From the Publisher

★ 2024-03-23
During an annual beach vacation, a mother confronts her past and learns to move forward.

Her family’s annual trip to Cape Cod is always the highlight of Rocky’s year—even more so now that her children are grown and she cherishes what little time she gets with them. Rocky is deep in the throes of menopause, picking fights with her loving husband and occasionally throwing off her clothes during a hot flash, much to the chagrin of her family. She’s also dealing with her parents, who are crammed into the same small summer house (with one toilet that only occasionally spews sewage everywhere) and who are aging at an alarmingly rapid rate. Rocky’s life is full of change, from her body to her identity—she frequently flashes back to the vacations of years past, when her children were tiny. Although she’s grateful for the family she has, she mourns what she’s lost. Newman (author of the equally wonderful We All Want Impossible Things, 2022) imbues Rocky’s internal struggles with importance and gravity, all while showcasing her very funny observations about life and parenting. She examines motherhood with a raw honesty that few others manage—she remembers the hard parts, the depths of despair, panic, and anxiety that can happen with young children, and she also recounts the joy in a way that never feels saccharine. She has a gift for exploring the real, messy contradictions in human emotions. As Rocky puts it, “This may be the only reason we were put on this earth. To say to each other, I know how you feel.”

A moving, hilarious reminder that parenthood, just like life, means constant change.

Kirkus Reviews