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The Cheesemaker's Daughter
When Marina’s father summons her to their Croatian island from New York—and away from her evaporating marriage—to help him save his failing cheese factory, she must face her rocky past and an uncertain future.
How do you begin again when the past threatens to drown you?
In the throes of an unraveling marriage, New Yorker Marina Maržić returns to her native Croatian island where she helps her father with his struggling cheese factory, Sirana. Forced to confront her divided Croatian-American identity and her past as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, Marina moves in with her parents on Pag and starts a new life working at Sirana. As she gradually settles back into a place that was once home, her life becomes inextricably intertwined with their island’s cheese. When her past with the son of a rival cheesemaker stokes further unrest on their divided island, she must find a way to save Sirana—and in the process, learn to belong on her own terms.
Exploring underlying cultural and ethnic tensions in a complex region mired in centuries of war and turmoil, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter takes us through the year before Croatia joins the European Union. On the dramatic moonscape island of Pag, we are transported to strikingly barren vistas, medieval towns, and the mesmerizing Adriatic Sea, providing a rare window into a tight-knit community with strong family ties in a corner of the world where divisions are both real and imagined. Asking questions central to identity and the meaning of home, this richly drawn story reckons with how we survive inherited and personal traumas, and what it means to heal and reinvent oneself in the face of life’s challenges.
How do you begin again when the past threatens to drown you?
In the throes of an unraveling marriage, New Yorker Marina Maržić returns to her native Croatian island where she helps her father with his struggling cheese factory, Sirana. Forced to confront her divided Croatian-American identity and her past as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, Marina moves in with her parents on Pag and starts a new life working at Sirana. As she gradually settles back into a place that was once home, her life becomes inextricably intertwined with their island’s cheese. When her past with the son of a rival cheesemaker stokes further unrest on their divided island, she must find a way to save Sirana—and in the process, learn to belong on her own terms.
Exploring underlying cultural and ethnic tensions in a complex region mired in centuries of war and turmoil, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter takes us through the year before Croatia joins the European Union. On the dramatic moonscape island of Pag, we are transported to strikingly barren vistas, medieval towns, and the mesmerizing Adriatic Sea, providing a rare window into a tight-knit community with strong family ties in a corner of the world where divisions are both real and imagined. Asking questions central to identity and the meaning of home, this richly drawn story reckons with how we survive inherited and personal traumas, and what it means to heal and reinvent oneself in the face of life’s challenges.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2024
47 people are currently reading
4345 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Vukovic
4 books37 followers Kristin Vuković has written for the New York Times, BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure, Coastal Living, Virtuoso, The Magazine, Hemispheres, the Daily Beast, AFAR, Connecticut Review, and Public Books, among others. An early excerpt of her novel was longlisted for the Cosmonauts Avenue Inaugural Fiction Prize. She was named a “40 Under 40” honoree by the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation, and received a Zlatna Penkala (Golden Pen) award for her writing about Croatia. Kristin holds a BA in literature and writing and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University, and was Editor-in-Chief of Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art. She grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and currently resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
August 12, 2024
Marina has lived in the United States for half her life, but when her father asks for help—a first—she drops everything to return to Croatia to help her parents save their struggling cheese factory. Croatia is and isn't as she remembers it; it's been years since Marina was home long enough to sink into the rhythms of Croatian island life, and cheesemaking has never been her future. But now she must decide: stay, or go? What parts of her past and present are destined to stay or become her past, and what parts are destined to become her future?
I've read very little about Croatia—very little fiction set in contemporary southeastern (or eastern, or central) Europe, for that matter; that's less by choice and more because I've found it difficult to find the contemporary, non-noir, non-war fiction I'm after. And on that count, The Cheesemaker's Daughter delivers. Marina's life on Pag is quiet, but it's full—family and old friends and ghosts from her past; tradition sitting alongside modern conveniences (and inconveniences). Plot-wise, this is strong work; Croatian relationships and work struggles and personal struggles layer on top of each other, and it's not clear until the end how most things will work out—there are many directions the story could take and still feel realistic.
Writing-wise, I think this could have used an intense round of line editing. The word knew appears 99 times in the book and the word felt 180 times, and although obviously not all of those are directly about Marina (the POV character), the majority are, and I don't want to be told what she knows and feels; I want to experience those things with her. It left me a bit disconnected from Marina and thus from the book even as I kept reading to find out how things would go.
It's a fairly quiet book, all things considered—in a good way, but one for those who don't mind books that unfold in their own sweet time. I'd be interested to read more in similar settings.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I've read very little about Croatia—very little fiction set in contemporary southeastern (or eastern, or central) Europe, for that matter; that's less by choice and more because I've found it difficult to find the contemporary, non-noir, non-war fiction I'm after. And on that count, The Cheesemaker's Daughter delivers. Marina's life on Pag is quiet, but it's full—family and old friends and ghosts from her past; tradition sitting alongside modern conveniences (and inconveniences). Plot-wise, this is strong work; Croatian relationships and work struggles and personal struggles layer on top of each other, and it's not clear until the end how most things will work out—there are many directions the story could take and still feel realistic.
Writing-wise, I think this could have used an intense round of line editing. The word knew appears 99 times in the book and the word felt 180 times, and although obviously not all of those are directly about Marina (the POV character), the majority are, and I don't want to be told what she knows and feels; I want to experience those things with her. It left me a bit disconnected from Marina and thus from the book even as I kept reading to find out how things would go.
It's a fairly quiet book, all things considered—in a good way, but one for those who don't mind books that unfold in their own sweet time. I'd be interested to read more in similar settings.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
September 19, 2024
Artists and arts administrators from various fields (my particular field being theatre) have been asking ourselves the following question more and more often in the last couple of decades: Who gets to tell a story? Numerous articles on the subject have been published in esteemed publications, college courses have been added to curriculums, the idea has been discussed in blog posts, reddit comments, art pieces’ critiques.
Kristin Vukovic, with her Croatian origins and Literature and Writing Degree from Columbia University, seemed like someone who had earned themselves the right to take on the role of the rightful storyteller in the case of The Cheesemaker’s Daughter and write about the history, culture and niceties of Croatia and the island of Pag.
Unfortunately, after having finished the book, it is clear that Vukovic completely ignored the fact that she is writing about a real place, where real people live and work, and still very well remember what life was like in 2012 and 2013, which is not such a distant history.
The number of cultural and historical inconsistencies and inaccuracies in this book is baffling and makes it unreadable to anyone who knows anything about Croatia and Pag. It would take a few pages to list all of them, and explain how they don’t make any sense, so I will focus on my “favorite” one: Marina’s brother Franko is 32 years old in 2012 which would make him 11 years old in 1991. Having mentioned a few times that Franko was a part of the Croatian Civil War suggests that Croatia was utilizing child soldiers in its fight for independence which is shocking and 100% inaccurate. It is sad and damaging that one of the posted reviews on Goodreads mentions that the reader “loved the Croatian setting and definitely learned a bit more about the history of this country”. Vukovic describes life in Pag like the story is set in the early 1970s or before. Her descriptions of the process of doing laundry at her parents’ house, New Years Eve celebration, and the apartment that her grandma is offering to tourists in the summer are laughable. There are many more that one can’t even laugh at.
The story is full of impossible situations and characters. Almost all characters are unlikeable and very difficult to root for, which includes Marina. There is a lot of unnecessary cruelty, far-fetched drama, and unimpressive-want-to-be-pitiful sentences and thoughts that make this book seem like a source for a soap opera screenplay.
And then there is the worst part: I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by Sophie Amoss. It is utterly unbelievable that such a horrible job was done with pronunciation of Croatian names and words when there are so many (free) resources available online meant to help actors with acquiring various accents and ensuring proper pronunciation. Vukovic proudly states that she speaks Croatian - has she not listened to her own book before allowing it to get published that way?? It is understandable that pašticada doesn’t really roll of the tongue, but if Celine’s name was always properly pronounced, and she was given a cute little French accent, it makes it unforgivable that the same couldn’t be done for the main character’s last name - Maržić, her mother’s name Dragica, last names Badurina and Gotovina, and many others. The craziest part is that they even mispronounce the word sir (cheese) - the thing that this whole book is about!
Kristin Vukovic chose to completely forgo any research (knowing that Caffe Zec was replaced by the Albanian ice cream shop is not enough!) and deeply violated the self given right to tell this story. Cultural appropriation may be a bit strong of an accusation here but one can’t disregard that she reduced one entire culture to a cliche to paint this picture of venerable patriarchy, depression and preposterous Yugonostalgia.
For all those reasons I’m giving this book a 1 star.
Kristin Vukovic, with her Croatian origins and Literature and Writing Degree from Columbia University, seemed like someone who had earned themselves the right to take on the role of the rightful storyteller in the case of The Cheesemaker’s Daughter and write about the history, culture and niceties of Croatia and the island of Pag.
Unfortunately, after having finished the book, it is clear that Vukovic completely ignored the fact that she is writing about a real place, where real people live and work, and still very well remember what life was like in 2012 and 2013, which is not such a distant history.
The number of cultural and historical inconsistencies and inaccuracies in this book is baffling and makes it unreadable to anyone who knows anything about Croatia and Pag. It would take a few pages to list all of them, and explain how they don’t make any sense, so I will focus on my “favorite” one: Marina’s brother Franko is 32 years old in 2012 which would make him 11 years old in 1991. Having mentioned a few times that Franko was a part of the Croatian Civil War suggests that Croatia was utilizing child soldiers in its fight for independence which is shocking and 100% inaccurate. It is sad and damaging that one of the posted reviews on Goodreads mentions that the reader “loved the Croatian setting and definitely learned a bit more about the history of this country”. Vukovic describes life in Pag like the story is set in the early 1970s or before. Her descriptions of the process of doing laundry at her parents’ house, New Years Eve celebration, and the apartment that her grandma is offering to tourists in the summer are laughable. There are many more that one can’t even laugh at.
The story is full of impossible situations and characters. Almost all characters are unlikeable and very difficult to root for, which includes Marina. There is a lot of unnecessary cruelty, far-fetched drama, and unimpressive-want-to-be-pitiful sentences and thoughts that make this book seem like a source for a soap opera screenplay.
And then there is the worst part: I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by Sophie Amoss. It is utterly unbelievable that such a horrible job was done with pronunciation of Croatian names and words when there are so many (free) resources available online meant to help actors with acquiring various accents and ensuring proper pronunciation. Vukovic proudly states that she speaks Croatian - has she not listened to her own book before allowing it to get published that way?? It is understandable that pašticada doesn’t really roll of the tongue, but if Celine’s name was always properly pronounced, and she was given a cute little French accent, it makes it unforgivable that the same couldn’t be done for the main character’s last name - Maržić, her mother’s name Dragica, last names Badurina and Gotovina, and many others. The craziest part is that they even mispronounce the word sir (cheese) - the thing that this whole book is about!
Kristin Vukovic chose to completely forgo any research (knowing that Caffe Zec was replaced by the Albanian ice cream shop is not enough!) and deeply violated the self given right to tell this story. Cultural appropriation may be a bit strong of an accusation here but one can’t disregard that she reduced one entire culture to a cliche to paint this picture of venerable patriarchy, depression and preposterous Yugonostalgia.
For all those reasons I’m giving this book a 1 star.
April 29, 2025
The Cheesemaker's Daughter
took me to a place I've rarely read about in fiction or non-fiction - there was a travel feel to it sometimes that was exactly what I needed - whisking me off to Croatia, Serbia, and Paris. oh! and the Basque country, too!
Marina returns to her home in Croatia after having lived in America. Her marriage to Marco has fallen apart, she's barely up and about from a devastating miscarriage, and her father's call for help at their family cheesemaking farm/business comes at a fortuitous time. She finds herself at one of those proverbial forks in the road. She's not sure she's ready for one more thing to fail.
There are well-placed doses of a little romance, reunions of past friendships and rivalries and community competitions, along with local and regional histories, and a lot of cheese talk that take a reader to new places and ideas. As a result a reader may become cheese-inspired (with the household's next shopping list bearing 3 new cheesy types on it, creating the need for educative discussion with shoppers so tasked. Thanks, KV!).
*A sincere thank you to Kristin Vukovic, Regalo Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheCheesemakersDaughter #NetGalley 25|52:51c
Marina returns to her home in Croatia after having lived in America. Her marriage to Marco has fallen apart, she's barely up and about from a devastating miscarriage, and her father's call for help at their family cheesemaking farm/business comes at a fortuitous time. She finds herself at one of those proverbial forks in the road. She's not sure she's ready for one more thing to fail.
There are well-placed doses of a little romance, reunions of past friendships and rivalries and community competitions, along with local and regional histories, and a lot of cheese talk that take a reader to new places and ideas. As a result a reader may become cheese-inspired (with the household's next shopping list bearing 3 new cheesy types on it, creating the need for educative discussion with shoppers so tasked. Thanks, KV!).
*A sincere thank you to Kristin Vukovic, Regalo Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheCheesemakersDaughter #NetGalley 25|52:51c
July 3, 2025
The Cheesemaker’s Daughter is the first novel by American author, Kristin Vukovic. The audio version is narrated by Sophie Amoss, whose depressing drone does the novel no favours. After a miscarriage, the discovery of her husband, Makro’s infidelity, and stagnating in an unfulfilling marketing job, Marina Marzic returns from NYC to her family home in Pag Town, Croatia. Her father’s sheep’s milk cheese factory, Sirana is in trouble so her return can focus on helping to save the business.
Very much part of a patriarchal society, Nikola Marzic has never considered that his daughter might be interested in taking over the business, and his pride gets in the way of asking for help. Over the months Marina stays in Pag, before she finally gets to contribute meaningfully, the story careens through plenty of dramas: the critical mother who thinks Marina should try harder in her marriage; the younger brother destined to inherit the business despite caring only about football; the disloyal employee who set up his own cheese factory and triggered a family feud.
A poor result at the World Cheese Awards in London is exacerbated when their close rival, Josip Jankovic wins their section, and the trip adds to Marina’s dismay when she encounters Luka Jankovic, her first love, now married with a daughter, and realises that the mutual attraction is still as strong as ever. Luka seems not to be bothered by marriage vows, but on their small island, rumours spread quickly.
The overriding theme of this novel seems to be betrayal: a disloyal employee, a visiting expert, a mercenary brother/uncle, an unfaithful husband, shepherds who water down their milk; to that, Marina adds her own body, manifest in infertility. There’s quite a bit of greed, several toxic relationships, and some political machinations going on too.
While a few of them have wise words: “Sometimes you need to fall apart to become who you’re supposed to be”; and when she wonders about what might have been “We will never know our unlived lives, Marina”, not many of them are very likeable people. What saves it from a lower rating is the interesting information about cheese-making, and the descriptions of the Croatian landscape.
Another reviewer has pointed out what the uninformed reader may not notice: errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and the same goes for mispronunciations in the audio version. There is quite a bit of repetition, which might have been eliminated with better editing. Disappointing.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and RB Media
Very much part of a patriarchal society, Nikola Marzic has never considered that his daughter might be interested in taking over the business, and his pride gets in the way of asking for help. Over the months Marina stays in Pag, before she finally gets to contribute meaningfully, the story careens through plenty of dramas: the critical mother who thinks Marina should try harder in her marriage; the younger brother destined to inherit the business despite caring only about football; the disloyal employee who set up his own cheese factory and triggered a family feud.
A poor result at the World Cheese Awards in London is exacerbated when their close rival, Josip Jankovic wins their section, and the trip adds to Marina’s dismay when she encounters Luka Jankovic, her first love, now married with a daughter, and realises that the mutual attraction is still as strong as ever. Luka seems not to be bothered by marriage vows, but on their small island, rumours spread quickly.
The overriding theme of this novel seems to be betrayal: a disloyal employee, a visiting expert, a mercenary brother/uncle, an unfaithful husband, shepherds who water down their milk; to that, Marina adds her own body, manifest in infertility. There’s quite a bit of greed, several toxic relationships, and some political machinations going on too.
While a few of them have wise words: “Sometimes you need to fall apart to become who you’re supposed to be”; and when she wonders about what might have been “We will never know our unlived lives, Marina”, not many of them are very likeable people. What saves it from a lower rating is the interesting information about cheese-making, and the descriptions of the Croatian landscape.
Another reviewer has pointed out what the uninformed reader may not notice: errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and the same goes for mispronunciations in the audio version. There is quite a bit of repetition, which might have been eliminated with better editing. Disappointing.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and RB Media
April 2, 2024
The Cheesemaker’s Daughter by Kristin Vuković is a contemporary fiction novel featuring Marina, who travels back to her home country of Croatia to help with the family business of cheese making. The business is in financial trouble, Mariana tries to find solutions and how to compete with a local, rival cheese maker. She is estranged from her husband in New York after his extramarital affair and her stillborn birth. She also is struggling with not being Croatian enough after living in America for a good part of her life. The backdrop of Croatia is lovely, you will definitely feel the wind of the Adriatic Sea as you read this book. The food sounds amazingly good, especially the cheese.
I would recommend this book for readers who want to learn more about Croatia and its’ history. This novel has so many layers with family drama, a personal journey through miscarriage and divorce, and finding your place in the world. Cheese making takes center stage and I learned a lot about the process and ingredients. I would love to try the Grandmother Cheese that Mariana makes!
Thank you Regalo Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I would recommend this book for readers who want to learn more about Croatia and its’ history. This novel has so many layers with family drama, a personal journey through miscarriage and divorce, and finding your place in the world. Cheese making takes center stage and I learned a lot about the process and ingredients. I would love to try the Grandmother Cheese that Mariana makes!
Thank you Regalo Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
July 26, 2024
Finished reading: July 25th 2024
"The past came, quick and urgent, like seawater rushing through cracks. She swallowed mouthfuls, unaware that, like saltwater, it would just make her thirstier."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Regalo Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
WARNING: it's yet another stop of the unpopular opinion train!!
September 24, 2024
terrifically depressing my god. not at all what i expected. learned some cheesemaking and some Croatian joining-the-eu-ten-years-ago history but holy crap was this just a neverending sad fest. crap brother family feud health problems losing the family business backstabbing losing trust surprise twist health problems. blech it wasnt maudlin bc it took itself appropriately seriously and wasnt woe is me, but jesus if i dont want to never pick up a book again….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2024
I thought early on I had gotten myself into a Hallmark Christmas tree farm situation (which isn't my cup of tea), but this book is a much more complex story. Not only does it present a beautiful depiction of Croatian small business/family culture (complete with mouthwatering descriptions of cheese), but it also incorporates thoughtful discussions of divorce, pregnancy loss, and infertility. There is some dialogue that fumbles; the story covers the themes of progress and female contributions to business leadership in a wonderful organic way without needing the explicit help. Also, I was troubled by the fact that the MC was so friendly with someone trying to start an affair with her while currently devastated by her husband's affair. That adds a layer of complexity, but I never felt like the hypocrisy was acknowledged. Those things aside, I loved the writing style and characterization and definitely think it's worth a read.
September 24, 2024
New Yorker Marina Maržić is dealing with the break up of her marriage and still getting over a recent miscarriage when her father asks her to come home and help with the family business. She returns to her native Croatian island where she helps her father with the family's struggling cheese factory, Sirana. She is dealing with returning after being a refugee from the former Yugoslavia. With old equipment that is constantly breaking down, making their cheese by hand, thus paying more employees, and competition from his ex-partner, he is almost bankrupt. Marina moves in with her parents on the island of Pag, a place that depends on employment with Sirana, Marina does what she can. She also meets up with a former childhood friend and son of her father's rival and they must learn how to bring the divided island back together.
The Cheesemaker's Daughter was a book that had a lot to it. I liked that we read about the past, the cultural and ethnic tensions in an area that had dealt with years and years of war. The year after the split from Yugoslavia and before joining the European Union was dealt with, but not in a dry way. I was excited to learn more about the area through the descriptions of the setting and the people, as I am going to be visiting Croatia in 2025. Along with the history, we see Marina struggle with her identity. Having been schooled in the US and marrying a US/Croatian, she is divided between the old ways and the new. She is able to use what she learned to bring Sirana into competitions, develop new products, add social media and still stay true to the family's roots. There is also some family issues with her uncle that throws the family for a loop, which was an unexpected twist for me. The book is told from Marina's POV and that works as she is the central character. This is a highly character driven novel, and it is slow at times, but I really liked Marina. It has a strong plot, well developed characters a couple of twists, a bit of romance, family issues and new beginnings. Overall, I enjoyed this story, doing a read/listen over a couple of days. Sophie Amoss is a narrator I have not listened to before, and I enjoyed her voice. She gave a good performance with accents, voices and expression that allowed each character to be recognizable.
The Cheesemaker's Daughter was a book that had a lot to it. I liked that we read about the past, the cultural and ethnic tensions in an area that had dealt with years and years of war. The year after the split from Yugoslavia and before joining the European Union was dealt with, but not in a dry way. I was excited to learn more about the area through the descriptions of the setting and the people, as I am going to be visiting Croatia in 2025. Along with the history, we see Marina struggle with her identity. Having been schooled in the US and marrying a US/Croatian, she is divided between the old ways and the new. She is able to use what she learned to bring Sirana into competitions, develop new products, add social media and still stay true to the family's roots. There is also some family issues with her uncle that throws the family for a loop, which was an unexpected twist for me. The book is told from Marina's POV and that works as she is the central character. This is a highly character driven novel, and it is slow at times, but I really liked Marina. It has a strong plot, well developed characters a couple of twists, a bit of romance, family issues and new beginnings. Overall, I enjoyed this story, doing a read/listen over a couple of days. Sophie Amoss is a narrator I have not listened to before, and I enjoyed her voice. She gave a good performance with accents, voices and expression that allowed each character to be recognizable.
August 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to The Cheesemaker's Daughter by Kristin Vukovic in exchange for my honest feedback.
The story begins on a rainy day in June. Marina is returning to her childhood home after difficult times with her husband Marco in New York. Back home, Marina's family is facing challenges of their own. There has been betrayal and financial hardship. Marina's father, Nikola, is struggling to keep their family cheese factory going.
Marina has some difficult decisions to make. Where does she want to find herself in the future? Back in New York with her cheating husband? Pursing a new relationship with an old love? Or somewhere else entirely?
I will admit I was interested in this book primarily because I really like cheese. I did get some fascinating descriptions of different cheese making processes along with the story, as well as vivid depictions of the landscapes around the isle of Pag, with interesting croatian history peppered in. There were some things that were a little predictable, but I enjoyed the journey overall. Now I need to find myself some cheese!
The story begins on a rainy day in June. Marina is returning to her childhood home after difficult times with her husband Marco in New York. Back home, Marina's family is facing challenges of their own. There has been betrayal and financial hardship. Marina's father, Nikola, is struggling to keep their family cheese factory going.
Marina has some difficult decisions to make. Where does she want to find herself in the future? Back in New York with her cheating husband? Pursing a new relationship with an old love? Or somewhere else entirely?
I will admit I was interested in this book primarily because I really like cheese. I did get some fascinating descriptions of different cheese making processes along with the story, as well as vivid depictions of the landscapes around the isle of Pag, with interesting croatian history peppered in. There were some things that were a little predictable, but I enjoyed the journey overall. Now I need to find myself some cheese!
August 22, 2025
2.5 stars!! We read this cause of the Croatia trip and it was fun to listen to in the car on the Dalmatian coast but like this was a bit annoying. Like she repeated herself a bunch, it was a heavy handed and was just long. But a beautiful story about cheese and love I guess
August 25, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Although I enjoyed reading this book about a woman returning to her family home on the Croatian island of Pag, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but that is probably my own fault. For one thing, I thought it was a translation, so was disappointed to find it wasn’t, though it is written by an American author with strong family connections to Pag. The more I think about it, the more I enjoyed The Cheesemaker’s Daughter. At first I was expecting it to have the lightness and magic of Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, with more cheese. I’ve also recently read Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees, which has some similar elements: an island divided by war, stripped of most of its trees, with one special tree with a special role; in this book an olive tree, in Shafak’s book a fig tree. In Shafak’s book, I was carried along by the uncovering of the mystery behind a family’s recent history, with a strong element of a Romeo and Juliet romance of star-crossed lovers. In fact, there were aspects of this in The Cheesemaker’s Daughter, with the will they, won’t they renewal of Marina’s relationship with her teenage lover, Luka.
But this book is an altogether more serious book with Marina bowed down with indecision about the direction her life should take. After losing a child, her relationship with her Croatian-American husband has ground to a standstill. At first, she sees this visit to the island to help out the family business as merely an interlude in her life. But the longer she stays, the more she realises that she never completely fit in as a refugee in America, however much she adapted. The pull of a career in New York is very strong, though. Will she stay in her birthplace? Can she ever fit in there again?
Sadly, I felt the story dragged; it could have been edited more tightly. For instance, there are two separate instances of Marina putting on her makeup. The second time, it’s used as
the introduction of how many colours of lipstick there are in American drugstores. There is also rather a lot of repetition in the descriptions of the process of cheesemaking, of the farmers pouring their milk into the tank, of workers cutting the curds and shaping them into wheels of cheese. Having said which, I did enjoy reading about the cheese making, the visits to the cheese competitions and the innovations that are made. I was also interested in the history of Yugoslavia and its later divisions that was gradually drip fed into the story rather than given as an information dump, making it easier to follow. It was also integrated well, showing its effect on individuals and businesses, as well as the effects of joining the EU.
However, I felt there was no spark that set the writing alight; it’s pedestrian. As I said, I thought this was a translation, so put it down to that at first. As it was written by an American. it seems even more peculiar that it is sometimes oddly phrased. Where I would expect the phrase ‘made her blood boil’, for instance, it is worded ‘it made her boil’, though later the phrase is used correctly. ‘Patches of hearty shrubs’ is not English, nor ‘it was Franko’s first time to London’. That makes my blood boil!
Although I enjoyed reading this book about a woman returning to her family home on the Croatian island of Pag, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but that is probably my own fault. For one thing, I thought it was a translation, so was disappointed to find it wasn’t, though it is written by an American author with strong family connections to Pag. The more I think about it, the more I enjoyed The Cheesemaker’s Daughter. At first I was expecting it to have the lightness and magic of Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, with more cheese. I’ve also recently read Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees, which has some similar elements: an island divided by war, stripped of most of its trees, with one special tree with a special role; in this book an olive tree, in Shafak’s book a fig tree. In Shafak’s book, I was carried along by the uncovering of the mystery behind a family’s recent history, with a strong element of a Romeo and Juliet romance of star-crossed lovers. In fact, there were aspects of this in The Cheesemaker’s Daughter, with the will they, won’t they renewal of Marina’s relationship with her teenage lover, Luka.
But this book is an altogether more serious book with Marina bowed down with indecision about the direction her life should take. After losing a child, her relationship with her Croatian-American husband has ground to a standstill. At first, she sees this visit to the island to help out the family business as merely an interlude in her life. But the longer she stays, the more she realises that she never completely fit in as a refugee in America, however much she adapted. The pull of a career in New York is very strong, though. Will she stay in her birthplace? Can she ever fit in there again?
Sadly, I felt the story dragged; it could have been edited more tightly. For instance, there are two separate instances of Marina putting on her makeup. The second time, it’s used as
the introduction of how many colours of lipstick there are in American drugstores. There is also rather a lot of repetition in the descriptions of the process of cheesemaking, of the farmers pouring their milk into the tank, of workers cutting the curds and shaping them into wheels of cheese. Having said which, I did enjoy reading about the cheese making, the visits to the cheese competitions and the innovations that are made. I was also interested in the history of Yugoslavia and its later divisions that was gradually drip fed into the story rather than given as an information dump, making it easier to follow. It was also integrated well, showing its effect on individuals and businesses, as well as the effects of joining the EU.
However, I felt there was no spark that set the writing alight; it’s pedestrian. As I said, I thought this was a translation, so put it down to that at first. As it was written by an American. it seems even more peculiar that it is sometimes oddly phrased. Where I would expect the phrase ‘made her blood boil’, for instance, it is worded ‘it made her boil’, though later the phrase is used correctly. ‘Patches of hearty shrubs’ is not English, nor ‘it was Franko’s first time to London’. That makes my blood boil!
April 8, 2025
The Cheesemaker's Daughter is a charming story about Marina, a woman split between hear identity as an American or as Croatian woman who left her home early on for a better life that didn't quite work out. Marina rediscovers herself when she returns home to Croatia and strives to save her family's failing cheese factory.
The timeline jumps around quite and bit and throws you for a loop even though the story takes place within just one year. Things tracked well enough, but it took a bit to determine just how much time had past. There are moments where you'd think something is hinted at andmeant to happen that just never come to fruition.
While the story itself is nice, it's lacking in some extra depth to make things flow smoothly and bring the characters more to life.
The timeline jumps around quite and bit and throws you for a loop even though the story takes place within just one year. Things tracked well enough, but it took a bit to determine just how much time had past. There are moments where you'd think something is hinted at andmeant to happen that just never come to fruition.
While the story itself is nice, it's lacking in some extra depth to make things flow smoothly and bring the characters more to life.
July 3, 2025
The Cheesemaker’s Daughter is the first novel by American author, Kristin Vukovic. The audio version is narrated by Sophie Amoss, whose depressing drone does the novel no favours. After a miscarriage, the discovery of her husband, Makro’s infidelity, and stagnating in an unfulfilling marketing job, Marina Marzic returns from NYC to her family home in Pag Town, Croatia. Her father’s sheep’s milk cheese factory, Sirana is in trouble so her return can focus on helping to save the business.
Very much part of a patriarchal society, Nikola Marzic has never considered that his daughter might be interested in taking over the business, and his pride gets in the way of asking for help. Over the months Marina stays in Pag, before she finally gets to contribute meaningfully, the story careens through plenty of dramas: the critical mother who thinks Marina should try harder in her marriage; the younger brother destined to inherit the business despite caring only about football; the disloyal employee who set up his own cheese factory and triggered a family feud.
A poor result at the World Cheese Awards in London is exacerbated when their close rival, Josip Jankovic wins their section, and the trip adds to Marina’s dismay when she encounters Luka Jankovic, her first love, now married with a daughter, and realises that the mutual attraction is still as strong as ever. Luka seems not to be bothered by marriage vows, but on their small island, rumours spread quickly.
The overriding theme of this novel seems to be betrayal: a disloyal employee, a visiting expert, a mercenary brother/uncle, an unfaithful husband, shepherds who water down their milk; to that, Marina adds her own body, manifest in infertility. There’s quite a bit of greed, several toxic relationships, and some political machinations going on too.
While a few of them have wise words: “Sometimes you need to fall apart to become who you’re supposed to be”; and when she wonders about what might have been “We will never know our unlived lives, Marina”, not many of them are very likeable people. What saves it from a lower rating is the interesting information about cheese-making, and the descriptions of the Croatian landscape.
Another reviewer has pointed out what the uninformed reader may not notice: errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and the same goes for mispronunciations in the audio version. There is quite a bit of repetition, which might have been eliminated with better editing. Disappointing.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Regalo Press
Very much part of a patriarchal society, Nikola Marzic has never considered that his daughter might be interested in taking over the business, and his pride gets in the way of asking for help. Over the months Marina stays in Pag, before she finally gets to contribute meaningfully, the story careens through plenty of dramas: the critical mother who thinks Marina should try harder in her marriage; the younger brother destined to inherit the business despite caring only about football; the disloyal employee who set up his own cheese factory and triggered a family feud.
A poor result at the World Cheese Awards in London is exacerbated when their close rival, Josip Jankovic wins their section, and the trip adds to Marina’s dismay when she encounters Luka Jankovic, her first love, now married with a daughter, and realises that the mutual attraction is still as strong as ever. Luka seems not to be bothered by marriage vows, but on their small island, rumours spread quickly.
The overriding theme of this novel seems to be betrayal: a disloyal employee, a visiting expert, a mercenary brother/uncle, an unfaithful husband, shepherds who water down their milk; to that, Marina adds her own body, manifest in infertility. There’s quite a bit of greed, several toxic relationships, and some political machinations going on too.
While a few of them have wise words: “Sometimes you need to fall apart to become who you’re supposed to be”; and when she wonders about what might have been “We will never know our unlived lives, Marina”, not many of them are very likeable people. What saves it from a lower rating is the interesting information about cheese-making, and the descriptions of the Croatian landscape.
Another reviewer has pointed out what the uninformed reader may not notice: errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and the same goes for mispronunciations in the audio version. There is quite a bit of repetition, which might have been eliminated with better editing. Disappointing.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Regalo Press
June 24, 2025
A complex drama detailing the cultural and personal identity crisis of a 30 year old Croatian-American woman, named Marina. She is called back to Croatia to help with the family business of cheese making. The book is deals with cultural identity, family, traditions, relationships, loss.
April 4, 2024
The Cheesemaker’s Daughter by Kristin Vukovic is a touching story about identity, loss, tradition, and forging your own path in life set on a gorgeous Croatian island.
Marina Marzic returns to Pag, the Croatian island where she was born, to help revive her father’s struggling cheesemaking factory, Sirana. After spending most of her life in New York where her father sent her during Croatia’s war of independence, Marina is forced to confront her past- her past identity, memories, and pain from a country still suffering from the effects of its war and about to join the European Union. It is this dichotomy, of past meets present meets the future that Marina struggles with throughout the story. She sees her own life mirrored around her, in both the ancient traditions of the island and in the cheesemaking process, where she, like the island and her father’s factory, are being forced to reckon with change, betrayal, and identity. Returning to Pag as neither fully Croatian nor American, with a failed marriage, devastating health crisis, and a broken heart, Marina will learn how to rescue and revive Sirana, and herself in this moving story.
I found this story to be very emotional and relatable in so many ways. Like Marina, and the author, I too share a personal connection to Croatia, that holds a somewhat mythical and complicated place in my heart. The descriptions of Croatia- its rocky scenery, coastal charm, and dazzling sea were not the typical touristy descriptions, but rather, more realistic and true to its natural raw beauty that reflected the characteristics and personalities of the people and culture. There was a survivalist tone to the atmosphere, a toughness and hearty feel that captured the true essence of the Adriatic people. The characters in this story felt authentic and the whole story almost read like a memoir where every little detail of each person, place, and thing felt realistic.
The overall storyline about a Croatian woman returning to her homeland, having survived the war in the comforts of America, explored heavy topics like survivalist guilt, identity loss, and trauma, using cheesemaking as a metaphor for reinvention and healing. I found the topic of cheese fascinating and I enjoyed reading about characters who were forced to innovate their ways into stability, success, and the future. The story was sad, but it had a hopeful ending, and in true Croatian fashion, the author did not sugar coat anything, yet still handled difficult topics with care.
The story was layered, not unlike the many steps involved in making artisanal cheese, and anyone who has ever felt displaced, whether physically or emotionally would find a connection to this book. The juxtaposition between the past and future, love and hate, forgiveness and betrayal were examined in this story, with delicious cheese and a majestic island supporting the heart and soul of this family saga.
I am so glad I read The Cheesemaker’s Daughter by Kristin Vukovic…I’ve been waiting to read a story like this for a long time.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Marina Marzic returns to Pag, the Croatian island where she was born, to help revive her father’s struggling cheesemaking factory, Sirana. After spending most of her life in New York where her father sent her during Croatia’s war of independence, Marina is forced to confront her past- her past identity, memories, and pain from a country still suffering from the effects of its war and about to join the European Union. It is this dichotomy, of past meets present meets the future that Marina struggles with throughout the story. She sees her own life mirrored around her, in both the ancient traditions of the island and in the cheesemaking process, where she, like the island and her father’s factory, are being forced to reckon with change, betrayal, and identity. Returning to Pag as neither fully Croatian nor American, with a failed marriage, devastating health crisis, and a broken heart, Marina will learn how to rescue and revive Sirana, and herself in this moving story.
I found this story to be very emotional and relatable in so many ways. Like Marina, and the author, I too share a personal connection to Croatia, that holds a somewhat mythical and complicated place in my heart. The descriptions of Croatia- its rocky scenery, coastal charm, and dazzling sea were not the typical touristy descriptions, but rather, more realistic and true to its natural raw beauty that reflected the characteristics and personalities of the people and culture. There was a survivalist tone to the atmosphere, a toughness and hearty feel that captured the true essence of the Adriatic people. The characters in this story felt authentic and the whole story almost read like a memoir where every little detail of each person, place, and thing felt realistic.
The overall storyline about a Croatian woman returning to her homeland, having survived the war in the comforts of America, explored heavy topics like survivalist guilt, identity loss, and trauma, using cheesemaking as a metaphor for reinvention and healing. I found the topic of cheese fascinating and I enjoyed reading about characters who were forced to innovate their ways into stability, success, and the future. The story was sad, but it had a hopeful ending, and in true Croatian fashion, the author did not sugar coat anything, yet still handled difficult topics with care.
The story was layered, not unlike the many steps involved in making artisanal cheese, and anyone who has ever felt displaced, whether physically or emotionally would find a connection to this book. The juxtaposition between the past and future, love and hate, forgiveness and betrayal were examined in this story, with delicious cheese and a majestic island supporting the heart and soul of this family saga.
I am so glad I read The Cheesemaker’s Daughter by Kristin Vukovic…I’ve been waiting to read a story like this for a long time.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2024
BOOK: THE CHEESEMAKER'S DAUGHTER
AUTHOR: KRISTIN VUKOVIC
PUB DATE: 06 AUG 2024
👩🏼🌾🧀
REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🧀👩🏼🌾
Wow! This book was amazing, from its first page to the last. I read all of the 310 pages in a day, and I was hooked! The book had a lot of elements from the Yugoslavia Civil War to the problems with Sirana Cheesemaking factory to Marina picking up the pieces of her life back. I enjoyed everything and I'm glad that Marina found her footing.
👩🏼🌾🧀
I learned a lot in this book about the Civil War and the processes of making cheese. The uphill battle of making Sirana factory a successful one kept me at the edge of the seat because I just kept wondering if I'd thus would be the last for them. Thankfully, they were able to be needful and I'm glad of the changes and the necessary updates
🧀👩🏼🌾
I loved Marina's growth too, and I liked that there was no romance in the book. It was purely women's fiction. She went through a lot with her shitty husband and fertility issues. But, I was annoyed at her relationship with Luka. Thankfully, she let it go without any further ado. Marina was truly amazing in breathing new life to the factory and also re-discovering herself. I learned a lot learning about how she found it difficult to be 'her' because of how she was Croatian, but lived in America for most of her life. It's the story of all immigrants
👩🏼🌾🧀
This book was amazing, I liked it, any I'm sure you would too.
🧀👩🏼🌾
AUTHOR: KRISTIN VUKOVIC
PUB DATE: 06 AUG 2024
👩🏼🌾🧀
REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🧀👩🏼🌾
Wow! This book was amazing, from its first page to the last. I read all of the 310 pages in a day, and I was hooked! The book had a lot of elements from the Yugoslavia Civil War to the problems with Sirana Cheesemaking factory to Marina picking up the pieces of her life back. I enjoyed everything and I'm glad that Marina found her footing.
👩🏼🌾🧀
I learned a lot in this book about the Civil War and the processes of making cheese. The uphill battle of making Sirana factory a successful one kept me at the edge of the seat because I just kept wondering if I'd thus would be the last for them. Thankfully, they were able to be needful and I'm glad of the changes and the necessary updates
🧀👩🏼🌾
I loved Marina's growth too, and I liked that there was no romance in the book. It was purely women's fiction. She went through a lot with her shitty husband and fertility issues. But, I was annoyed at her relationship with Luka. Thankfully, she let it go without any further ado. Marina was truly amazing in breathing new life to the factory and also re-discovering herself. I learned a lot learning about how she found it difficult to be 'her' because of how she was Croatian, but lived in America for most of her life. It's the story of all immigrants
👩🏼🌾🧀
This book was amazing, I liked it, any I'm sure you would too.
🧀👩🏼🌾
September 5, 2024
I borrowed this book from my local library.
I checked out this book after seeing a review in the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Cheese is my special interest, and I have only found a few cheeses from Croatia. I was interested in learning more about the area and its cheese. Of course, this was a literary fiction piece with a lot of interpersonal drama, so the cheese wasn't at the forefront. The set-up is that Marina returns to her hometown on Pag Island after living her adulthood in America, having come over for college right as her homeland's war ended in the 1990s. While she's returned home for holidays over the years, this time, things are different. Her marriage is fractured, and her family's cheese factory is struggling. She stays on, unsure of her direction in life, but well aware that her family needs her.
Some of the relationship stuff made me roll my eyes. I was afraid Marina was going to make some really stupid mistakes. However things annoyed me, I stuck with it out of concern for the cheese factory. Really, the book was fascinating in several regards. I learned a lot about the history of the area through a more intimate viewpoint. The way Pag is described is incredible, too--it made me want to see the island for myself. In the end, I was pleased that the plot wasn't fully predictable, but delivered a few surprises.
I checked out this book after seeing a review in the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Cheese is my special interest, and I have only found a few cheeses from Croatia. I was interested in learning more about the area and its cheese. Of course, this was a literary fiction piece with a lot of interpersonal drama, so the cheese wasn't at the forefront. The set-up is that Marina returns to her hometown on Pag Island after living her adulthood in America, having come over for college right as her homeland's war ended in the 1990s. While she's returned home for holidays over the years, this time, things are different. Her marriage is fractured, and her family's cheese factory is struggling. She stays on, unsure of her direction in life, but well aware that her family needs her.
Some of the relationship stuff made me roll my eyes. I was afraid Marina was going to make some really stupid mistakes. However things annoyed me, I stuck with it out of concern for the cheese factory. Really, the book was fascinating in several regards. I learned a lot about the history of the area through a more intimate viewpoint. The way Pag is described is incredible, too--it made me want to see the island for myself. In the end, I was pleased that the plot wasn't fully predictable, but delivered a few surprises.
September 5, 2024
This book had me hooked from the beginning. It's a gripping tale with all of the elements of a great book. There is family drama, personal struggles, the past, effects of war, and financial struggles. The tension in this book was perfect. There was tension coming from many different angles and settling on the main character. The struggles she goes through after returning to the island are hard, but necessary struggles in the journey to find her place in the world again. This was an incredible roller coaster ride of emotions and I never knew which way we would turn next. I wasn't expecting twists, but this definitely isn't as straightforward a story as one might imagine. A well crafted book with writing that sucks you in. The narrator of the audio book does well at bringing it to life and portraying the many emotions.
September 10, 2024
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book going into it. I went into it blindly. I thought the cover was so cute and I loved the title. I fell in love with the story. I can say that much. I'm glad I found the book honestly.
Note: More to come later.
Note: More to come later.
September 20, 2024
I loved this one! So many good similes to give a picture. I enjoyed the setting which is on the island of Pag, Croatia. I liked hearing about the history of what was once Yugoslavia. My good friend’s family was fromYugoslavia and she called her dad “tata” too
I loved reading about cheese making. I enjoyed Marina’s growth and strength and the way she overcame
I loved reading about cheese making. I enjoyed Marina’s growth and strength and the way she overcame
October 2, 2024
Enjoyed this one very much.
October 4, 2024
Slow going got tired of woe is me for first 200 pages. End was good.
March 15, 2024
With great thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Kristin Vukovic. Knowing practically nothing of the story or author beforehand - I will admit that I went for this book because I really, really love cheese. However, the book went deeper than expected, and provided a compelling story of Marina, a woman pulled between her life in America and her home of Pag where Sirana, the family cheese factory is struggling. You root for this strong character who is dealing with heavy personal, marital, and family issues on top of the cheese business. While reading you also get a taste of history of the region. And, true to the title and what drew me in in the first place, there is much discussion of the cheese world (how do i get a ticket to the World Cheese Awards!?).
#TheCheesemakersDaughter #NetGalley
#TheCheesemakersDaughter #NetGalley
July 22, 2025
really enjoyed. sad and yet heartwarming story
September 10, 2024
An adorable redemption story. As someone who also experienced pregnancy loss- this book hit all my emotions. I could empathize so much with the main character and the trouble she was having. I greatly enjoyed seeing her find herself again and really figure out what she wanted out of life. It was tragic and beautiful all at the same time.
September 28, 2024
This book was interesting but took a long to finish. I would get bored and set it down for awhile
August 16, 2024
Croatia? Troubled family business? Daughter breaking traditional roles? Sounds like a book I’d love.
Just struggled with the telling of the story. I didn’t get the internal sense of anyone. Things happened and we were told about them. Nothing really unfolded. All of a sudden a trip happens, a decision is made.
I did love learning more about Croatia.
Just struggled with the telling of the story. I didn’t get the internal sense of anyone. Things happened and we were told about them. Nothing really unfolded. All of a sudden a trip happens, a decision is made.
I did love learning more about Croatia.
December 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. The small town Croatian experience seems to be quite authentic from what I know of Croatia. And the passion in making cheese goes so far beyond simply doing what your family has always done. Great character interactions and storylines, and great info about cheese making!
My partner is half Croatian and I've chatted to his mum quite a bit about Croatia since then, not realizing how much Croatian history I learned from this book too. A great read!
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
My partner is half Croatian and I've chatted to his mum quite a bit about Croatia since then, not realizing how much Croatian history I learned from this book too. A great read!
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
March 25, 2025
What does it mean to return home? For many it’s an opportunity to re-connect with family and friends and reminisce about the good times shared. For some however, returning home isn’t always a happy prospect. It’s important to consider why do people even leave home to begin with? There can be a lot of emotional trauma tied behind the memories of the people and land you once shared, hence the desire to run away and never come back. Running away from the trauma doesn’t get rid of it however, it just distances it from you. Sometimes the braver choice is to return home and face that trauma head on in hopes of healing and rediscovery. That idea is the core concept behind my latest read, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter.
Written by Kristin Vukovic and published in August 2024, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter is a contemporary drama story based around a one woman’s struggle to recognize her place in the world. Marina Maržić is a Croatian immigrant who lived a lot of her adult life in America after her father sent her out there to escape the Yugoslav Wars. Her father’s profession is that of a cheesemaker, their business Sirana is based out on a small coastal island of Pag and has recently hit hard times financially. Using the family situation as an excuse to escape her dying marriage, Marina flies back home and finds herself facing a lot of unhealed wounds between family and friends she must attempt to heal while trying to help her father get their cheese making business back on track.
The core themes of this book’s narrative are very well established. I’ve read a lot of contemporary family drama’s relating to trauma and toxic relationships, but it’s the format of which this book projects these themes which makes it feel unique in comparison. The dilemma behind bringing prosperity back to her father’s cheesemaking business feels like the central conduit for the narrative and Vukovic does a grand job making it feel like a legitimate window into that world as apposed to a cheap foundation. I swear I’ve learned more about cheesemaking reading this book than I ever knew prior. I love how fleshed out Marina is as a character also, her internal processing and perspectives on the situations and relationships she’s struggling with make her feel like a genuine character and it’s wonderful to see her reflect and grow like a genuine person over the course of the narrative.
Thematically, this book was way more grounded than I ever expected it to be. Reading the synopsis, you would be mistaken for thinking this was just a family drama with a quirky twist to it. In actuality, the book tackles a lot of serious and compelling concepts like war, familial trauma, broken relationships and miscarriages. It can be heavy stuff but Vukovic is able to represent this stuff cohesively and respectfully which is a truly commendable feat. For such a small page count, the book is also remarkably paced when you consider all the plot arcs and concepts it has to juggle. Nothing in this book feels all that short-handed as it’s given an appropriate level of exposure throughout the course of its story.
I happily recommend The Cheesemaker’s Daughter; it takes what is a fairly common genre of storytelling and conveys it in a format which feels genuinely different without compromising on its core quality. Its emotional core can feel quite heavy so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not in the right headspace to handle these concepts, but if you are I genuinely feel you’ll come away from reading this book as satisfied as I was.
Written by Kristin Vukovic and published in August 2024, The Cheesemaker’s Daughter is a contemporary drama story based around a one woman’s struggle to recognize her place in the world. Marina Maržić is a Croatian immigrant who lived a lot of her adult life in America after her father sent her out there to escape the Yugoslav Wars. Her father’s profession is that of a cheesemaker, their business Sirana is based out on a small coastal island of Pag and has recently hit hard times financially. Using the family situation as an excuse to escape her dying marriage, Marina flies back home and finds herself facing a lot of unhealed wounds between family and friends she must attempt to heal while trying to help her father get their cheese making business back on track.
The core themes of this book’s narrative are very well established. I’ve read a lot of contemporary family drama’s relating to trauma and toxic relationships, but it’s the format of which this book projects these themes which makes it feel unique in comparison. The dilemma behind bringing prosperity back to her father’s cheesemaking business feels like the central conduit for the narrative and Vukovic does a grand job making it feel like a legitimate window into that world as apposed to a cheap foundation. I swear I’ve learned more about cheesemaking reading this book than I ever knew prior. I love how fleshed out Marina is as a character also, her internal processing and perspectives on the situations and relationships she’s struggling with make her feel like a genuine character and it’s wonderful to see her reflect and grow like a genuine person over the course of the narrative.
Thematically, this book was way more grounded than I ever expected it to be. Reading the synopsis, you would be mistaken for thinking this was just a family drama with a quirky twist to it. In actuality, the book tackles a lot of serious and compelling concepts like war, familial trauma, broken relationships and miscarriages. It can be heavy stuff but Vukovic is able to represent this stuff cohesively and respectfully which is a truly commendable feat. For such a small page count, the book is also remarkably paced when you consider all the plot arcs and concepts it has to juggle. Nothing in this book feels all that short-handed as it’s given an appropriate level of exposure throughout the course of its story.
I happily recommend The Cheesemaker’s Daughter; it takes what is a fairly common genre of storytelling and conveys it in a format which feels genuinely different without compromising on its core quality. Its emotional core can feel quite heavy so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not in the right headspace to handle these concepts, but if you are I genuinely feel you’ll come away from reading this book as satisfied as I was.
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