Sara Starting Over

by Dee Ernst

Sarafina Castellano has lost it all — her popular restaurant, her famous boyfriend, and her beloved father. At odds with her disapproving brothers, she has found a new place to call home, a quiet southern town called Hills of Andrew.

Starting over means a new job and new people, especially a new man who may want more than she is willing to give. As she tentatively moves forward, there comes a call from home; a favorite niece whose needs threaten to disrupt her fragile peace.

As she slowly finds her way back to family, friendship and love, can she also re-ignite passion for cooking, which was not only her livelihood for most of her life, but fed her soul and spirit?

A heartwarming journey that reaches into the past and pulls into the future, Sara Starting Over explores the joys — and perils — of daring to build anew.

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Dee Ernst was born and raised in New Jersey, which explains a great deal about her attitude towards life. She loved reading at a very early age, and by the time she was ten she had decided to become a writer. It took a bit longer than she expected.

She went off to college, moved around a bit, had a job or two, a husband or two, and a daughter or two. It was the birth of her second daughter at the age of forty that got her thinking about what to do with the rest of her life. That was when she decided to give writing a real shot.

Dee loved chick-lit and romantic comedy, but hated the twenty-something heroines who couldn’t figure out how to go and get what they wanted. She began to write about women like herself — older, confident, and with a wealth of life experience to draw upon. She got an agent but no sales, and took the plunge into self-publishing in 2010.

In 2012, Better Off Without Him became an Amazon bestseller. She signed with Montlake Publishing, which went on to re-release Better Off Without Him and launch A Slight Change of Plan in 2013.

Since then she has written across several genres (cozy mystery, YA/fantasy, women's fiction) gone from full-length novels to short stories, and has written for Lake Union Publishing. She self-publishes under the 235 Alexander Street logo.

She is still in New Jersey, where she writes full-time. She lives with husband #2, daughter #2, a few cats and a needy cocker spaniel. She loves sunsets, long walks on the beach, and a really cold martini.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amount of women’s fiction books I read is small. Usually, there must be something that catches my attention for me to read it. I won’t lie, I went back and forth with taking this book multiple times. Something was intriguing about the story but I just wasn’t sure. In the end, I did ask for a copy where it sat for three more days until I finally began reading. And I am so glad I asked for a copy of this book.
Sarafina Castellano is the owner and chief of a trattoria called La Cucina. She was in a relationship with a famous athlete. She had the perfect life. All of that came crashing down around her in a week. For months after, Sara tried to get her life back until she was called home to take care of her dying father. The book opens with Sara seeing that her ex is now married to a hot up-and-coming tennis star who is also twenty years younger than him. Her father has passed and she is running away from her past. She doesn’t want permanence, just a place to law low, and lick her wounds before she runs again. She ends up in a small town called Hills of Andrew in Virginia, a picturesque town with not much to lend itself to and notoriety for being a town whose residents have lived there for generations. They don’t look kindly to newcomers and they don’t take kindly to changes in their way of living.
Oddly enough, Sara manages to fit right in. Her landlady demands Sara fulfill her part of the rental agreement that was fixing up the inside of the house. She got a job at the local library. Her nearest neighbors are Jack and Harry Lockwood, brothers whose family were well known in the community. Jack is one of the town’s most eligible bachelors. He is painfully introverted and shy but they both work past that and find that there is a connection between them.
While there is romance in this story, several in fact, the heart of the story is Sara. The only daughter and eldest child in an Italian family, Sara spends the first half of her life learning how to cook her with her grandmother and her aunts and being called upon to take care of her two younger brothers. This is something that threads through the entire story. The story navigates the complexities of familial relationships and the healing potential, especially for Sara, which comes with confronting and understanding past wounds. She’s not completely healed, but she’s getting there. Hills of Andrew wasn’t where Sara expected to end up, but it was where she needed to be to find herself.
Another thing I loved about this was this is a woman over fifty, with over fifty problems. Ernst skillfully explores the emotional landscape of a mature woman navigating a new chapter in her life, emphasizing the resilience and strength that can be found in starting over. The story is authentic in its feel and it captivates the reader to believe in the possibilities of second chances, no matter one’s age.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lynda McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about family dynamics, emotional trauma and finding yourself again in midlife. It is the kind of book you can curl up on the sofa with a cuppa or glass of wine and get lost in for an hour or two. I was rooting for the main character Sara as she slowly starts to move on and build a life for herself. I would have loved an epilogue however to show the characters a few months or years on from where they left off . This is just my preference however and does not in any way detract from the book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional and wonderful book. Not a quick wild ride but a slow burn and heartwarming book, with an abrupt ending. I really hope there’s another book. I ended loving Sara and Molly is a favorite character of mine.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maryjanezigzag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I really like how Dee Ernst tells a story. Her characters are fully realized, her settings are vivid, her plots & twists believable. Sara is an awesome older FMC whose identity is very much tied up in her food and that is super tied up in a whole pile of grief and loss. Watching her rebuild herself in a new place with new people ( and a few from her past) was really good. There's lots of detail about cooking food, setting up house in a new place and I'm here for it.

Minor quibbles ( they are mine only & very minor!) Ernst pushes away from the table too early in my opinion: I get the whole "leave 'em wanting more" but I think we could've spent a bit more time with these folks in Hills of Andrew as the ending was a little abrupt. A subplot kind of nosed too far ahead of Sara's story as well and left some ends flapping. Also - if you're going to have two characters antagonize the FMC, I have to see one of them get it right on the chin. Big time. My fiction has to deliver what real life does not - bad guys get punished.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea]

SARA, A COOK, HAS HAD A TUFF LIFE. IMAGINE A LIFE WHERE WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO STAY AT HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY. THERE IS NO THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR INTENDED LIFE BUT TO SERVE. WHAT ABOUT THEIR OWN DESIRES AND WANTS, A LIFE WHERE THEY CAN FIND A JOB, AND HAVE A BOYFRIEND. BUT, NOT FOR SARA SHE ARGUED WITH 2 BROS, DAD GAVE NO RESPECT.

SHE EVENTUALLY GOT HER OWN ITALIAN RESTUARANT. But, as luck would have it there was a fire.

So without a career, angry at her family, no boyfriend, she left. She moved into a small town, Hills of Andrew. A small home overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

She met a friend, Maribeth, who saw she needed to get a life. She recommended employment opportunities. Her Land lord Bess Robinson recommended getting a pet.

Slowly she started shopping for her apartment and began meeting folks.

But, while she was a chef, she couldn't overcome thoughts when cooking.

Will this be her downfall, never to be a chef again?

During all this, her favorite neice got thrown out of her house. Sara's friend called about the predicament of Carla. Sara on the way to recovery wonders should she take her in? Life is tuff enough.

She met the brothers down the street who own a barking dog.

The story moves on as expected, when you come from nothing but striving to recover. Sara meets someone and gets a job and some friends.

It was fast reading the descriptive downfall followed by the upstart of a new life.

That being said it s always good to find a book that ends well. Enjoy!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with Sarafina (Sara) in an emotional crisis from loss across multiple spheres of her life, including her family connections, business ownership, the love of her life, and her passion for cooking. Sara leaves behind her identity and mourns the loss of her support system, leading her escape to a small town where she knows no one.

The genre is women's fiction, written in the first person, an apt point of view for this story as you meet the various characters with whom Sara interacts. Her personal history informs her perspective of the people who welcome her and those who don't. The dark places of her past affect her receptiveness to friendship, disdain for the closed-minded, and combat with her authoritarian brother.

Sara begins to grow roots in this small town where she is an enigma to residents, and the feeling is mutual. Everyone knows your business, a seismic shift from her life in New York City where privacy is the tacit code of behavior. But she learns to accept the lack of privacy as she develops reverence for the close personal ties possible in this environment.

As Sara's life blossoms, she continues to have conflicted feelings about many aspects of her life. That is the element of the book that most held my interest. Life is complicated, and issues are not swept away in unison once you get a job, make friends or fall in love. For example, Sara loves her niece, Carla, but when Sara ambivalently takes Carla into her home, Sara acknowledges that the life she was building around "me" has shifted to "we":

We. She said we. I was still struggling with the idea of this young woman living in my house, moving freely in and out of my day-to-day life, but she had already decided. We.

I also enjoyed the author's humor:

Oh, honey, nobody needs a man. But they're nice to keep around, you know. For killing spiders and such.

Cooking is integral to the story, and the descriptive passages are delightful:

The cassoulet was delicious: chicken falling off the bone, the sausage lightly spiced but full of garlic, the beans with just a hint of resistance as you first bit in, then melting away to a silky richness.

I recommend this book because it demonstrates steps forward and backward, sincere dialogue, and honesty about the jagged footpaths you encounter when starting over.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Also posted on Reedsy/Discovery and my blog

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dee Ernst's books and she's done it again with Sara Starting Over. There are no fireworks or dramatic storylines, just a hopeful story about a woman in her 50's who has suffered some big personal losses but picks herself up, makes a complete change of pace, and writes herself a brand new and sparkling chapter in the story of her life.

Sarafina is a well-established NYC chef reeling from some big blows. Her beloved Italian restaurant closed after a fire in the upstairs apartment. She emptied her savings trying to help her employees, then was told the building owner wouldn't allow her restaurant to reopen. Her 10 year relationship with a famous sports agent imploded when he found "the love of his life" and dumped her. Finally, she moved home to take care of her dying father. Now that he's gone, she's devastated on all levels, when, almost on a whim, she rents a somewhat rundown cottage for a year on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay with amazing views of the water. Initially knowing no one, and unable to even contemplate cooking again, within a very short time she finds herself with a job at the local library, two adorable kittens, a growing circle of acquaintances and friends, and a potential spark of attraction to her next door neighbor, a lifelong bachelor who runs the local theater. All of these changes slowly lead her back toward her kitchen and toward rediscovering the joy she once found in her passion for cooking.

I loved that this isn't some idealized view of small town living. There are warts that come with living in a community not necessarily open to change, but although they are not glossed over, they are also not dwelled upon and the tone is overall hopeful and forward looking. This is exactly the kind of romance that I love to read, a woman discovering not only a new love, but finding her way back to her own self. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Michael Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dee Ernst delivers a tender, richly emotional story in Sara Starting Over a novel that explores the power of reinvention, the pull of family, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again when everything familiar falls away.

Sarafina Castellano is a protagonist who feels heartbreakingly real: layered, flawed, and deeply relatable. After losing her restaurant, her high profile relationship, and her beloved father, Sara doesn't just leave New Jersey she leaves behind everything she thought defined her. But it’s in the quiet town of Hills of Andrew that she begins to piece herself back together. With Ernst’s signature warmth and wit, we watch Sara navigate new relationships, a hesitant return to cooking, and a life she never imagined for herself.

This isn’t just a story about grief or starting over it’s about the slow rediscovery of joy. It’s about trusting yourself after loss, and the gentle, sometimes messy process of reconnecting with your purpose.

If you love character driven fiction with heart, Sara Starting Over is for you. Ernst’s writing is emotionally resonant, filled with small moments that speak volumes a conversation, a shared meal, a memory that lingers. The supporting characters, from a potential new love interest to her fiercely loved niece, add depth and vibrancy to Sara’s journey.

A must read for fans of women’s fiction, second chances, and stories that champion growth, family, and food. You’ll leave this book not only rooting for Sara but also rethinking what it means to rebuild from the inside out.

Don’t miss this heartfelt novel. Sara Starting Over will stir your soul, warm your heart, and maybe even inspire you to take a fresh leap of your own.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara has fallen into a deep depression. She has lost her treasured restaurant she spent her life building, her father passed away and her ex just married a beautiful woman half his age. Alone with nothing to do and no-one to care for Sara travels in her beat up old car until she finds a suitable landing space, preferably one where she can be isolated and wallow in peace. She stumbles upon Hills of Andrew, a quaint southern town with a storybook main street and the quiet ambiance she is searching for. Renting an adorable house with a gorgeous view, Sara slowly settles in. She finds a job at the town library and her world and fragile heart opens up in ways she never imagined. At middle age Sara did not think new friendships and the flutters of love were even a possibilty. Icing on the cake, though she is terrified of getting hurt again, Sara is surprisingly intrigued by a handsome neighbor who runs the local theater. This is a really easy, quiet, sweet story about starting over in every way. Sometimes you have to take risk to start anew, but it is well worth it. Thumbs up for me!

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Sara, a woman who had been a chef, restaurant owner who worked in food for most of her life. She lost her restaurant due to a fire and her boyfriend as well and financially hit rock bottom because of restaurant not being able to open.

She packed herself and left in her old vehicle and headed south from NY city. She headed south and landed in the Chesapeake Bay, in a very small town with a lot of unique but mostly lovable people in Hills of Andrew.

Story goes on with Sara's every day life which brings new challenges for her to face and meet and Jack, who is older as Sara is and more then a friendship develops between them. Sara also faces daily challenges with food as everyone associates her with food, as she was a chef.

Sara's 2 favorite family members, Aunt Celeste and niece Carla, make an appearance together toward the end of the story. Adding a nice touch.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of traumatic events causes Sarafina to feel as though her life has fallen apart and she leaves familiar surroundings for an undecided destination, driving aimlessly south until she arrives in the quaint southern town of Hills of Andrew in Virginia.
Sara’s new landlady finally ‘forces’ her to make her home habitable and this gives her the impetus to put down some reluctant and determinedly temporary roots…
Ms Dee describes an older woman who gradually not only rediscovers her zest for life (with the help of two kittens!), but also uncovers new talents and an ability to form relationships on her own terms. Likewise, It is the story of Jack, a reserved older man who has avoided close friendships, finally overcoming his social discomfort with Sara’s empathy and encouragement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming story full of well-crafted and sometimes quirky characters set in Hills of Andrew, a small southern town. While the protagonist struggles with grief after sustaining three major losses in close succession, the overall tone is one of hope with new possibilities for fulfilling relationships by taking risks.

If you like foodie novels with realistic heroines and second chance themes, you will enjoy this book. The feel-good ending was a satisfying conclusion to a quick and entertaining read.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Jolene MacFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not normally read contemporary fiction. I usually like mysteries and fantasy books of almost any kind. This particular book, because of it's title and the author's TikToks, I thought I would give it a go. I too am starting over at a "certain age". I needed a feel-good story where the herione goes through some "real" challenges after a tremendous loss and come out the other side. If not whole, at least being able to go on. Of course, finding a little romance later in life is not bad either. Everyone has to deal with some kind of family drama, trauma, misunderstandings, etc. This story made me laugh out loud, cry a little here and there and just smile at the end. Give it a go as it will be worth the read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sara Starting Over follows the prevalent theme in many of Dee Ernst's novels...... women in their 50's and older beginning a new life after losses. Sara Castellano, the main character, has lost her live in boyfriend, her restaurant, her mother, when she was a young girl, and most recently, her father. She moves to small southern town, the Hills of Andrew. There, she meets a variety of new people and attempts to reinvent her life. Along this new path, she meets interesting people with their own insecurities and is able to come to terms with her losses and grief to find a different kind of happiness. I found the book to be uplifting, the characters were well developed, but at time the story dragged. All in all, I recommend reading Sara Starts Over. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author tells a good story. Sara is starting over after losing her restaurant due to a fire, losing her boyfriend of 10 years to a younger woman, and losing her father to cancer. She leaves NJ to find herself and ends up in Virginia, by the Chesapeake Bay in a small town called Hills of Andrew. After of few weeks in town, and not having done much, her landlady comes for a visit and tasks Sara with getting the house painted, going to the library to apply for a job, and suggests getting a pet which Bess later handles. Sara takes Bess's advise and so begins her life in Hills of Andrew and how she finds herself again. Interesting Italian family dynamics presented in this book.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a long time fan of Dee Ernst and was thrilled to be able to early read Sara Starting Over. It's a story that immediately sucked me in and a book I did not want to put down.
Sarafina - or as she prefers - Sara leaves New York city after suffering so many disappointments. She settles in a small town where she meets a close knit community. Sara is able to find peace, contentment and friendship. Most of all she finds herself again.
I highly recommend this book especially for those who enjoy a seasoned heroine.
My thanks to #NetGalley for giving me a chance to early read Sara Starting Over for a fair and honest review.
Five stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my 3rd Dee Ernst book her main character is the same in each book, tired 50 year old that thinks she is done with romance, so someone recommends a makeup over and she chops her hair off to short curl leaving it gray, no makeup needed. It's ridiculous. This book was interesting because of the NJ part and food, but the relationship with Jack, was dragging on I had about 10 pages left and had no interest.

She has the travel and food part and city interesting but the tired old women get a second chance is nothing new and they are all the same.

It was an OK read

[rosalinda.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sara Starting Over" is a heartwarming story about Sarafina Castellano's journey to rebuild her life after losing everything. Set in a small town, it's a tale of resilience, love, and new beginnings. The book beautifully portrays Sarafina's path, especially her rediscovery of her love for cooking. With relatable characters and a touching storyline, it's an inspiring read for anyone facing tough times.

[Gea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting over for most of us is a difficult challenge, but if you have almost lost everything important in your life, it becomes a life-altering time. And this is how Sara is trying to lose herself in a totally new place after losing her boyfriend, father, restaurant business and her passion for cooking. But it is possible to find a way forward and reconnect with aspects of the past to make a new future. Heartwarming!

[Jay Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I’m new to Dee Ernst and I very much enjoyed how this story was told. Sara was immediately likeable, and while we started a bit slow and didn’t get into the nitty gritty of her past, I was so invested in her getting to know her new surroundings. The plot was believable, but not boring, and the slow burn of romance throughout the book (not only for Sara!) was so heartwarming.

[Jane Sloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book. I so enjoy Dee Ernst's writing. This is the third book of hers that I have read, and they are all well-written, enjoyable reads. The protagonists are compelling women I'd like as friends. I highly recommend this book!

[Maria Lokken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Characters - Comfort Read

I’m a big Dee Ernst fan. She writes wonderful characters that leap off the page. The female protagonist takes a journey back to herself, and I was with her every step of the way. A most enjoyable read.

[Christina Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I’ve missed you Dee!

You never seem to disappoint. I love the humor and the feel of real characters. They are like the people I’ve known throughout my life. I don’t know how you do it Dee, but please keep on doing it! Bravo to Sara Starting Over!!

[Mara Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very enjoyable, the characters are rich and interesting. As always, it is a pleasure reading Dee Ernst books.

[elise woelfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't want it to end

Just loved this book. Characters so well drawn and the small town and it's people felt so real. I'm now a Dee Ernst fan.

[Denise Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! It is a novel about rebuilding your life, learning to be part of a community, and helping family and friends through the difficulties of their own lives. Truly loving and not just existing.

[Sara Pineda Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slice of life: it feels like you are rebuilding your life alongside Sara. The style of writing is easy for me to read

Content Warning: sex scene

[carole stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Dee Ernst delight!

As usual, Dee Ernst hits another home run! Sara Starting Over is a wonderful story of second chances and fresh beginnings!