Wreck (by Catherine Newman)
After thoroughly enjoying Sandwich, I was eager to return to Catherine Newman’s world with its sequel, Wreck. Readers are reunited with Rocky as she navigates the beautiful chaos of midlife: a long marriage, adult children forging their own paths, an aging widowed father living with the family, and the everyday realities of aging and change.
Newman’s signature blend of sharp humor and raw emotional honesty shines through once again. The novel explores family bonds, health uncertainties, grief, and the fragile beauty of ordinary happiness amid life’s unpredictability.
That said, Wreck landed as just okay for me—noticeably underwhelming compared to the first book. I’m not sure exactly what I was hoping for, but while it wasn’t a train wreck, it didn’t quite hit the same heights. I still appreciated the humorous dialogue and witty sarcasm that make Newman’s writing so enjoyable, and the characters remain likable and deeply relatable.
Helen Laser delivered a solid narration, but I missed Nan McNamara’s voice from Sandwich. There’s something comforting about the same narrator bringing the same characters to life across a series.
Overall, Wreck is a pleasant enough return to this family, but it lacks the emotional punch and sparkle of its predecessor. Fans of character-driven domestic fiction will likely still find things to love—especially the warmth and wit—but it’s not a must-read sequel for me.
You’re welcome to take a look at my review of Sandwich, which is linked below.
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases linked back to Amazon. Every penny earned allows me to blog about books and keeps this site running.
