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, 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.
Reviews
Lambda Literary Review of Olive Oil & White Bread
“This is a story filled with poignant, heartbreaking moments, punctuated by small vignettes of light and happiness. Which will finally become the norm in these women’s lives remains to be seen. Only if they open their eyes and hearts to really begin to understand what their real problems are can they make the adjustments necessary to save their relationship.”