Sidework

by Sasha Wol-Soon Hom

Sasha Hom's Sidework is a lyric, page-turning novella about a homeless Korean adoptee and mother of four. During her busy Sunday shift waiting tables, her customers— rock stars, locals, and the Grim Reaper himself— bring her face to face with larger issues of motherhood, suicide, environmental degradation, death, and belonging. In this thought-provoking and often humorous debut from award-winning author Sasha Hom, herself a Korean adoptee and mother of four, the protagonist loses her home when the intentional community/commune where she and her family used to live— off-grid, in a canvas tent on three hundred acres— is sold. Sidework takes place during a Sunday breakfast shift as the homeless hero waits tables at a popular 'Cash Only' diner tucked in the Redwoods, frequented by growers, rock stars, Dreamers, tycoons, and tourists alike. But with each order she takes, each interaction serves only to bring her closer to her ghosts. Unnamed and unknown, from far-off continents, they ask her what it means to be a good mother. Hom's debut marries the mystic and mythic with the mundane while taking on issues of immigration, colonization, climate change, homophobia, motherhood and adoption.

Genres: Fiction

166 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Jotham Burrello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Structurally inventive and poetically voiced, Hom’s narrator is a homeless waitress and mother of four struggling to survive a hectic breakfast shift in fire-ravaged California. In his blurb for the novella, Alexander Chee captures it best: it’s a “lyric examination of a life lived on the edges of other people’s happiness.” She’s a kind, hardworking woman — a waitress who, like the “ass-shaker,” is wonderful and deserving of a home.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gift to read this book on bus rides through Spain. To be reminded of the vividness of life everywhere from an immense talent and a forever cohort friend

[meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

how did she make $3k #girlboss

[Harley Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love you Sasha. This book was as beautiful as you are.

A wonderful book that made me feel so many emotions. Highly reccomend.