Olive Oil and White Bread

By: Georgia Beers

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Boston - What happens to lovers after the happy-ever-after moment? What goes on behind the closed doors of a relationship once the commitment is made? What does romance turn into when the hands of time keep turning? Olive Oil and White Bread is a novel that dares to answer those questions.

Angie Righetti is the daughter of a sprawling but close-knit Italian American family. She's out and they're proud. Jillian Clark's family is the white bread to Angie's olive oil. Stoic and emotionally buttoned up, they don't want to think about Jillian's sexuality. It's 1988 when they move in together, on the brink of starting their careers. Like every couple at the start of their life together, they expect to live happily ever after. And for 23 years life happens: They change jobs, buy a house, get a dog, and deal with money issues and the death of a parent. They fight, love, cry, play, make mistakes, have regrets, and try to be good to each other and to everybody else. Like most of us they tumble into a routine that turns into a rut that leads to distraction and danger.

In 96 Hours, Georgia Beers gave herself the challenge of writing a romance set in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. And she succeeded, coming up with a book that garnered awards and great reviews. She returns with a new challenge - writing a romance that starts, rather than ends, with the happy-ever-after.

©2014 Georgia Beers (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Sweet, romantic and ultimately insightful story

I must admit that during the first chapters of these novel I was a little dissapointed as the story seemed trite and pretty formulaic, which I guess should not come as a total surprise for this genre. But after reading Ms. Beer's 96 hours, I have come to expect good writing and a deeper type of story-line from her.

The novel is divided in chapters that are told in chronological order and follow the relationship of Angie and Jillian, from its beginning when they moved together in 1988 thru the summer of 2011. So in a way, this is the anti-romantic novel that cares to ask the question, what happens when the honeymoon is over and a relationship falls into the day to day routine? Obviously most couples expect go live happy ever after, but we know that's not how things happen in real life.

For the most part of the book the author throws a few tidbits of pop-culture and well as of the politics of the day, to keep you aware of what's going on in the world but this is really keep to a minimum as it mostly follows the two main characters and how their personal lives and their relationship develops.

I should point out that the books goes a little deeper into two landmark events for the LGTB community in the Unites States and these are given special attention, one is the airing of The Ellen Degeneres show, more specifically the episode when Ellen comes out. The second one is the passing of the Marriage Equality Act, by the New York state legislation in June 2011.

I thought that Ms. Beers does a very good job at incorporating these events into the storyline and allows us to experience first hand how they were felt by Angie and Jillian but also by their friends and families. I got very emotional when I read these passages of the book and was particularly moved to see that the author have both straight and gay people celebrate these truly remarkable events.

The relationship story of Angie and Jillian also breaks the mold of your typical lesbian romance as they experience life, its valleys and mountains, ups and downs, but eventually mature and make the necessary sacrifices that are required for any couple, straight of gay, to stay together.

Overall, this is a romantic, witty and insightful read that I enjoyed a lot but I was also able to appreciate how much Ms. Beers have improved as a writer but also as a literary voice representing well the LGTB community.

The Narrator, Abby Craden as usual, does a good job with her narration,

Excellent

Loved it. Takes you through 22 years with all the ups and downs.
Abby Craden is phenomenal as usual. The characters come to life in her expert care.

Laughing, crying, holding my breath

Another compelling love story, this time for the long haul. What happens after the initial lust & bunnymoon (when a new couple meets and goes ‘under ground’ and makes like rabbits for months). This story is real - real with challenges, real with love, real with differences in families, real with real life. Period.
As it spans over several decades and I’m a lesbian in the same age as the characters, I can remember the Ellen parties and Ellen’s coming out episode and how historic it was! Remembering the horror of 9/11. Marriage legalization in the state of New York.
I liked how Georgia Beers titles chapters based on a song from the year the chapter takes place.

So, basically I’m saying this was a lovely book and I had all the emotions. I couldn’t wait to listen to it, and yet, didn’t want it to end. Well done!

Boring

I was hoping this was going to get better after a few chapters but……. it didn’t. The narrator did a great job for what she had to work with. Disappointing read.

Not okay

I somehow knew this was going to go wrong. The main characters got together too soon in the book for it to have a happy ending. And I have no idea if there was a happy ending because I had to stop only about an hour from the end. The second one of them cheated I was done. Cheating on your partner is never okay. And especially not in a romance novel I’m listening to for fun and a way to escape the grind of my own life. If I wanted to feel like crap while involved in a story I could just have real life. It sucks because I have generally like the author but this has made me not want to read any more of her books.

some unexpected turns

An enjoyable storyline with well developed characters. pretty true to life. I'd listen to Abby Craden read a lawnmower manual.

Fantastic

Fantastic story!!! The performance by Abby Craden was a winner like always! if your a fan of either lady it's a MUST listen.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

If you could sum up Olive Oil and White Bread in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining, heartbreaking, uplifting

What was one of the most memorable moments of Olive Oil and White Bread?

Jillian's last moments with her beloved dog.

Have you listened to any of Abby Craden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I've listened to Abby Craden, and now I want her to read me all my stories.

If you could rename Olive Oil and White Bread, what would you call it?

Georgia Beers gave it the perfect title. It worked for me.

Any additional comments?

Fabulous in every way! I'm a new fan of both Author and performer.

A great story

While I usually prefer reading books, it was fun listening to this one while traveling. The narrator was excellent. The story was also excellent. Very nice to follow a couple through the ups and downs of a many year relationship, and it all rang true. You will probably see your own relationship, or others you know, in the story of this relationship.

Really Good Storytelling

I enjoyed the arc of the story and the development of the characters. It's a really good listen with just enough angst.

Georgia Beers excels again!

This is only the second of Georgia Beers books I've "read" but will now be getting through more. Despite the unfortunate narration -I found the performance at times slightly annoying- the story was wonderful (as was 96 hours). This is the only author I can think of who can have me laughing out loud, crying and enjoying intimate scenes with the same intensity in just a few words. Her characters are beautifully observed and the story is a gripping observation of life. Fantastic book.

beautiful life story

this is the most poignant book in this genre I've listened to, extremely moving but turbulent, in 2011 I can imagine, and hope, there were more proposals on one day than ever before, happy ending at the start, a life span any relationship can identify with in some way, and an emotional happy ending, writer and narrator excelled to create a work of art.

Loved it Georgia

Thank you again for an amazing listen to a wonderful story

you 2 make an amazing team to bring the journey to life...

5 stars from me x

Not for me

I’m returning this about 90 mins in because I don’t like the monotonous narration and it’s so surface that it’s making me think I could write a better novel. Just not what I was after.

superb

different type of story but brilliant one, nonetheless.. don't hesitate to read this book

love ❤️

ahh .. totally recommend 👌

Great book. I would love to see it in a movie

I wanted to give it five stars but...

The start and end, and some bits in between were great. But I honestly couldn't get to grips with someone who would work all those hours being unhappy and too tired to even spend time or be intimate with your other half, just to make money that the other half clearly didn't care about. It makes zero sense to me, and honestly made me dislike Angelina quite alot. I'm not advocating cheating in the slightest but I can seriously understand why it happened.

good

It was a non-typical story, i liked it. Abby Craden's narration is still the best

Nice read

enjoyed this book and the narrator was great. Georgia Beers does write a good lesbian book .

Great story

I liked the story and how it progressed through a long term relationship. however I found the narrator annoying . apart from the main characters , she gave most of the other characters ( male and female) a odd gruff voice that sounded like they smoked 50 a day . but apart from that the characters were realistic and flewed , but likeable