One Friday in Napa Published by She Writes Press on August 29, 2023 Pages: 248
Find the Author: Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram
Goodreads
Vene feels like she and her mother have always been at odds--since she was a child, the first word she used to describe Olivia was "cold." When news of her mother's imminent death comes, Vene returns to her family's home in Napa to see if their strained relationship can be mended, only to find Olivia as harsh as ever and their reconciliation seemingly unreachable.
But when Vene stumbles upon Olivia's old cookbook, she discovers a passion within her mother she didn't know existed. The clipped tone and quick judgments of her dying mother don't match the young woman whose voice she finds between the pages--one that tells a story of romance, longing, duty, and aching heartbreak. Curiosity consumes Vene, and she embarks on an intimate journey to learn about the Olivia she never got to meet--before it's too late.
A captivating story told in alternating perspectives a half-century apart, One Friday in Napa explores the pains and joys of devotion as two women learn the price of loyalty, the power of secrets, and the meaning of sacrifice.
Review:
One Friday In Napa is a novel that struck a chord with me as I saw myself in the main character Vene, who has come home to try and say goodbye to her Mother. Why are daughter and mom relationships sometimes the most difficult ones? I had a rough time with my Mother, and when she passed, suddenly, I felt sad, ashamed, and wondered why it was so difficult. Vene has kept her distance from her Mother due to her dislike of her husband, and she never felt they were close. When she comes home, she discovers a cookbook with all these notes and discovers her Mother was different long ago. The secrets are vast, and I was in tears by the novel’s end.
@shewritespress check out my review for One Friday In Napa by Jennifer Hamm. A beach read for all daughters trying to do their best by their mothers. #newreview #august2023release Share on X
