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Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer
4 hours, 6 minutes
Tembi Locke, New York Times bestselling author of From Scratch, returns to Sicily for a breathtaking, emotional summer adventure, as she faces the empty nest and an uncharted new chapter in her own life.
Tembi Locke has always been obsessed with family—making them, keeping them, thriving within them. As a child of divorce, a mother through adoption, a widow by cancer and now remarried to form a blended family, she is deeply familiar with change and upheaval. But in the summer of 2023, she felt overwhelmed and uneasy by another major shift: her only child, Zoela, was about to move across the country for college. Tembi needed to be in a place with the power to connect her to the past and prepare her for the future. So, she rented a house by the sea and booked flights to Sicily.
Someday, Now chronicles a sun-drenched summer adventure, as Tembi searches for meaning in places as vast and awe-inspiring as the Tyrrhenian Sea and the mythological home of Persephone and Demeter to those as quiet and personal as her late mother-in-law’s kitchen table. The island is rife with nostalgia and memories for her and Zoela, who grew up visiting her late father’s family in the Sicilian countryside. And when Tembi’s new husband Robert joins them a few days into their trip, she leans into the complicated feelings brought on by this experiment in blending family and reclaiming possibility in middle age.
Combining her own emotional narration with recordings from her time exploring the beautiful island, Tembi invites the listener to journey alongside her in this one-of-a-kind audio experience. Someday, Now is a perfect next listen for fans of From Scratch (now a Netflix series starring Zoe Saldaña), but stands on its own as a captivating and transformative family story and a celebration of love’s ability to reshape us in every season of life.
Tembi Locke, New York Times bestselling author of From Scratch, returns to Sicily for a breathtaking, emotional summer adventure, as she faces the empty nest and an uncharted new chapter in her own life.
Tembi Locke has always been obsessed with family—making them, keeping them, thriving within them. As a child of divorce, a mother through adoption, a widow by cancer and now remarried to form a blended family, she is deeply familiar with change and upheaval. But in the summer of 2023, she felt overwhelmed and uneasy by another major shift: her only child, Zoela, was about to move across the country for college. Tembi needed to be in a place with the power to connect her to the past and prepare her for the future. So, she rented a house by the sea and booked flights to Sicily.
Someday, Now chronicles a sun-drenched summer adventure, as Tembi searches for meaning in places as vast and awe-inspiring as the Tyrrhenian Sea and the mythological home of Persephone and Demeter to those as quiet and personal as her late mother-in-law’s kitchen table. The island is rife with nostalgia and memories for her and Zoela, who grew up visiting her late father’s family in the Sicilian countryside. And when Tembi’s new husband Robert joins them a few days into their trip, she leans into the complicated feelings brought on by this experiment in blending family and reclaiming possibility in middle age.
Combining her own emotional narration with recordings from her time exploring the beautiful island, Tembi invites the listener to journey alongside her in this one-of-a-kind audio experience. Someday, Now is a perfect next listen for fans of From Scratch (now a Netflix series starring Zoe Saldaña), but stands on its own as a captivating and transformative family story and a celebration of love’s ability to reshape us in every season of life.
Audible Audio
First published September 30, 2025
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About the author
Tembi Locke
2 books866 followersTembi Locke is a New York Times best-selling author, TV producer, actor, and screenwriter with a passion for connecting with her audience both on the page and on the screen. In partnership with Hello Sunshine, Tembi served as co-creator and executive producer for the adaptation of her memoir, "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home," for Netflix. The series, "From Scratch," became an instant global hit, spending weeks on Netflix's Top Ten List in over thirty countries around the world and earning six NAACP Image Award nominations and the prestigious Los Angeles Film Italy award. Her aforementioned memoir was also a Reese's Book Club pick and an instant bestseller. Tembi and her producing partner and sister, Attica Locke, are currently under an overall development deal with Universal Television
In addition to her accomplishments as a writer and producer, Tembi is an accomplished actor with over sixty film and television credits. She most recently held a recurring role on Netflix's hit show, "Never Have I Ever." Offscreen, she is a nationally recognized speaker, delivering keynotes on resilience, loss, creativity and the power of storytelling. Her TEDx talk has been viewed by individuals and nonprofits around the world. She launched her podcast, "Lifted," which features dynamic women sharing their stories of what and who have lifted their lives. Through her work Tembi aims to inspire people to embrace resilience, love, and the power of community.
In addition to her accomplishments as a writer and producer, Tembi is an accomplished actor with over sixty film and television credits. She most recently held a recurring role on Netflix's hit show, "Never Have I Ever." Offscreen, she is a nationally recognized speaker, delivering keynotes on resilience, loss, creativity and the power of storytelling. Her TEDx talk has been viewed by individuals and nonprofits around the world. She launched her podcast, "Lifted," which features dynamic women sharing their stories of what and who have lifted their lives. Through her work Tembi aims to inspire people to embrace resilience, love, and the power of community.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 28, 2025
the setup…
It’s the summer of 2023 and Tembi Locke is facing another major family life change that is making her fearful and uneasy. Daughter Zoela, her only child, will start college on the east coast in the fall and Tembi needs some fortification to face her empty nest. She’s married to Robert and decides it’s time for the three of them to make the sojourn to Sicily. It will be the first for him, joining them later in the place that was the sacred space for Tembi, Zoela and first husband Saro.
the heart of the story…
I found Tembi brave and insightful to anticipate not only what she was going to feel when Zoela left the nest but its importance for her whole blended family. She was launching her daughter into that place where she’d be experiencing life without the safety net of her family and it was time to truly blend Robert into the Sicilian roots of their family.
the narration…
I was overwhelmed with emotion as I listened to Tembi describe every aspect of their summer in Sicily, with accompanying sounds from her personal recordings. She made me feel everything.
the bottom line…
This was an immersive experience like no other. I was awash with the beauty of the island and its unique culture and Tembi’s heartfelt experience of it…the past, present and impending future. I didn’t read From Scratch but watched the Netflix adaptation and am still haunted by it. This brought closure not only for Tembi…but for me. It’s the loveliest memoir I’ve ever experienced. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
It’s the summer of 2023 and Tembi Locke is facing another major family life change that is making her fearful and uneasy. Daughter Zoela, her only child, will start college on the east coast in the fall and Tembi needs some fortification to face her empty nest. She’s married to Robert and decides it’s time for the three of them to make the sojourn to Sicily. It will be the first for him, joining them later in the place that was the sacred space for Tembi, Zoela and first husband Saro.
the heart of the story…
I found Tembi brave and insightful to anticipate not only what she was going to feel when Zoela left the nest but its importance for her whole blended family. She was launching her daughter into that place where she’d be experiencing life without the safety net of her family and it was time to truly blend Robert into the Sicilian roots of their family.
the narration…
I was overwhelmed with emotion as I listened to Tembi describe every aspect of their summer in Sicily, with accompanying sounds from her personal recordings. She made me feel everything.
the bottom line…
This was an immersive experience like no other. I was awash with the beauty of the island and its unique culture and Tembi’s heartfelt experience of it…the past, present and impending future. I didn’t read From Scratch but watched the Netflix adaptation and am still haunted by it. This brought closure not only for Tembi…but for me. It’s the loveliest memoir I’ve ever experienced. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 3, 2025
It makes me so happy and hopeful that she found a man who loves and respects her and her past the way Robert does. She is such an inspiration for how to look at life and appreciate family.
August 16, 2025
This was even more beautiful to me than this author’s first memoir. As a mother, I loved hearing about the special trip Tembi took with her daughter after all that they had gone through. I’m not sure if this book is also being published in physical format, but the audio was amazing to listen to. Not only is it narrated by the author herself (always my preference for memoirs), but she brought a recorder on her trip and included those sounds within the audiobook. Highly recommend to fans of memoirs looking for a short and sweet reminder of how strong familial love can be!
August 12, 2025
From bestselling author of From Scratch, Tembi Locke returns to Sicily for a summer adventure as she faces a new chapter in her life. Someday Now, published solely as an audiobook and narrated by the author takes us on Tembi’s journey as she navigates a new season of her life: her daughter leaving for college, becoming an empty nester and becoming a new version of herself. Listening to Someday Now inspired me to start watching From Scratch, the Netflix miniseries based on her memoir to gain a better context. Wow! The synergy of simultaneously listening to her present while watching her past unfold on the screen was powerful! I appreciated and resonated with her journey so much more. Locke’s voice is like honey and I loved how she weaves in what she calls “ambient and textured sounds” to the audiobook which really added a sense of intimacy and originality to Someday Now. So much of Sicily paralleled her stage of life and aided in her process of self-discovery, growth and healing. Not many novels focus on middle age and navigating that season of your life, so it was refreshing to see this theme explored. Authentic, original and eloquently narrated! Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for sending this for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date is Sep 23, 2025.
August 13, 2025
enjoyed! short and sweet book about motherhood, life after loss, creating family
October 13, 2025
Vulnerable and eloquent, Tembi Locke transports me once again to Sicily and I’m eager for the journey! There were so many moments and images I wanted to capture and the soundscapes made me feel as though I were there. It made me want to record sounds in my own life as a kind of audio diary.
Read
June 20, 2025So enjoyed getting caught up with tembi’s journey. From scratch was a fav book of the year for me. So appreciated this new memoir
November 25, 2025
2.5 rounded up. First the positive. Tembi Locke has a beautiful voice her narration is excellent on the audiobook. The negative, this book represents so much of what I dislike about L.A. Gen X women having brunch, bemoaning their children leaving for college or affluent people worrying about their financial future as they plan their trip to Switzerland and Sicily for a collegemoon a mother daughter trip before college. Maybe this is about timing I couldn't help but feel this was a little tone deaf in a time that so many people are struggling.
October 19, 2025
Beautifully written true story—felt like I was in Sicily with the author. Family togetherness, love, disappointments, new love, changes, all wrapped perfectly together.
September 7, 2025
I was looking forward to this memoir since I loved Tembi Locke's first memoir. As a mother who has sent children to college and as a person who has suffered personal loss, there was much I could connect to when listening to this memoir. The moments where Tembi reflected on how she would feel when her daughter was halfway across the country, the times when she thought about how she wouldn't just be able to talk with her or see her whenever she wanted, the moments where Tembi reflected on being Sicily without her later husband and mother-in-law, and in introducing her new husband to her late husband's family were all moments that I could relate to.
But there were also things about this memoir that I did not love. I really liked the idea of including the sounds of Sicily and the sounds of her memoir in this audio version, and in the introduction, Tembi talks about why she did this. I was looking forward to that and thought I would hear sounds of the street, etc. But the times when audio was included were often stilted and did not add anything to the story. Sometimes it would be snippets of the conversation that Tembi had just described, and that was unnecessary to understand or appreciate the story. There were also times in the telling where she spent too much reflecting and thinking about how it all was going to go - yes, some of these were difficult moments, but they didn't - in my opinion - need so much bellyaching. Just get to it and see how it goes, and maybe spend more time reflecting on how it went well afterwards instead of worrying about it beforehand.
Those things aside, though, I did enjoy the book and really loved that the author read it herself. I thank Simon and Schuster Audio and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
But there were also things about this memoir that I did not love. I really liked the idea of including the sounds of Sicily and the sounds of her memoir in this audio version, and in the introduction, Tembi talks about why she did this. I was looking forward to that and thought I would hear sounds of the street, etc. But the times when audio was included were often stilted and did not add anything to the story. Sometimes it would be snippets of the conversation that Tembi had just described, and that was unnecessary to understand or appreciate the story. There were also times in the telling where she spent too much reflecting and thinking about how it all was going to go - yes, some of these were difficult moments, but they didn't - in my opinion - need so much bellyaching. Just get to it and see how it goes, and maybe spend more time reflecting on how it went well afterwards instead of worrying about it beforehand.
Those things aside, though, I did enjoy the book and really loved that the author read it herself. I thank Simon and Schuster Audio and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
Tembi Locke is such an amazing writer! I was obsessed with From Scratch (the book and the Netflix series), and it’s a story I still think about often. While From Scratch was one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve read, I went into Someday, Now so excited to see what else Locke would share about her life and it did not disappoint.
This memoir is reflective, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring as Tembi explores themes of family, resilience, and possibility, all against the rich backdrop of Sicily. Her descriptions instantly transported me to the island. Now I’m itching to book a trip myself! She has a way of making you feel both seen in your own struggles and hopeful for what’s to come.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ARC. Publication Day is expected September 23, 2025, and this is one you’ll want to add to your TBR. Also, I'm not sure if this is being released as a physical book but highly recommend it as audio as there are clips she recorded from her everyday life/travels that weave themselves into the story perfectly.
My Thoughts: Moving, lyrical, and layered with love. I truly admire how Locke weaves personal experience with universal truths. If you loved From Scratch, you’ll want to pick this one up the moment it’s released.
This memoir is reflective, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring as Tembi explores themes of family, resilience, and possibility, all against the rich backdrop of Sicily. Her descriptions instantly transported me to the island. Now I’m itching to book a trip myself! She has a way of making you feel both seen in your own struggles and hopeful for what’s to come.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ARC. Publication Day is expected September 23, 2025, and this is one you’ll want to add to your TBR. Also, I'm not sure if this is being released as a physical book but highly recommend it as audio as there are clips she recorded from her everyday life/travels that weave themselves into the story perfectly.
My Thoughts: Moving, lyrical, and layered with love. I truly admire how Locke weaves personal experience with universal truths. If you loved From Scratch, you’ll want to pick this one up the moment it’s released.
September 4, 2025
I loved FROM SCRATCH. It's one of my favorite memoirs. I was hoping this one was be just as good, but I guess my expectations were set too high. Tembi Locke is a really good writer. Her reflections about her experiences and the layers to her emotions is really insightful. This memoir was good and I liked it, I just didn't love it.
The best thing about this audiobook was that it included recordings of Tembi and the experiences she discussed. I thought that was really cool!
I received a complimentary audiobook from libro.fm.
The best thing about this audiobook was that it included recordings of Tembi and the experiences she discussed. I thought that was really cool!
I received a complimentary audiobook from libro.fm.
January 4, 2026
Loved hearing the narration and sounds of/from Sicily!
August 5, 2025
Let me start by saying if you haven't read
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
(Locke's memoir and debut), put this one down and go read that first. You'll laugh and cry and cry and then immediately want more. If you're still here, I'm thrilled to say that Someday, Now is exactly the follow-up we wanted and the one that Locke deserves. It is sweet, funny, and relatable, and it reminded me why I loved From Scratch so much.
Someday, Now is an audio original and exclusive, meaning Locke only plans to publish it in audio form. I was a bit skeptical at first, and it's my first audio exclusive, but Locke's beautiful narration and the heartwarming sound effects (recorded by Locke as the story unfolded) made this a memorable introduction to the genre.
While From Scratch focused on Locke's past, Someday, Now focuses on her present and future and her attempt to savor every moment of love and connection with her daughter, Zoela, and her new husband, Robert, before Zoela goes off to college. From Scratch told the story of Locke's attempt to find herself again after loss via her in-laws in Sicily, and Someday, Now has her visiting that family again to both spend time with Zoela and introduce them to Robert.
In Locke's trademark fashion, she takes us on the journey with her in a way that had me crying one moment and laughing the next. Her observations of the Sicilian countryside and the mixed emotions of the people she loves pulled me into the story, and I felt like I was sitting at the restaurant with her and her family. From food and laughter to grief and heartache, Locke's continued story was one on which I was happy to be — if anyone deserves another shot at a happy ending, it's Locke, and I'm so happy I got to see a glimpse into her life after loss. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Someday, Now is an audio original and exclusive, meaning Locke only plans to publish it in audio form. I was a bit skeptical at first, and it's my first audio exclusive, but Locke's beautiful narration and the heartwarming sound effects (recorded by Locke as the story unfolded) made this a memorable introduction to the genre.
While From Scratch focused on Locke's past, Someday, Now focuses on her present and future and her attempt to savor every moment of love and connection with her daughter, Zoela, and her new husband, Robert, before Zoela goes off to college. From Scratch told the story of Locke's attempt to find herself again after loss via her in-laws in Sicily, and Someday, Now has her visiting that family again to both spend time with Zoela and introduce them to Robert.
In Locke's trademark fashion, she takes us on the journey with her in a way that had me crying one moment and laughing the next. Her observations of the Sicilian countryside and the mixed emotions of the people she loves pulled me into the story, and I felt like I was sitting at the restaurant with her and her family. From food and laughter to grief and heartache, Locke's continued story was one on which I was happy to be — if anyone deserves another shot at a happy ending, it's Locke, and I'm so happy I got to see a glimpse into her life after loss. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2025
I was absolutely thrilled to discover that Tembi Locke had written a follow-up memoir. I adored From Scratch—both the book and the beautifully adapted Netflix series she co-created with her sister—so I couldn’t wait to listen to Someday, Now, especially knowing it was narrated by Tembi herself.
This memoir finds Tembi at another crossroads in life: the summer of 2023, just before her only daughter, Zoela, left home for university across the country. Newly remarried to Robert, she’s honest and candid about navigating the joys and complexities of blending families, while also facing the bittersweet reality of an empty nest. To find her footing, she returns to Sicily—the homeland of her late husband’s family—seeking both grounding and renewal.
What makes the audiobook so extraordinary is how immersive it feels. Tembi weaves in real sounds and moments from her time on the island, allowing listeners to experience Sicily alongside her. You can almost hear the sea, feel the warmth of the sun, and sense the echoes of family and memory in every chapter. It’s more than a story—it’s an experience that captures the beauty of place, the weight of transition, and the resilience of love.
Tembi’s words are deeply personal, yet they radiate a positivity and hope that feels universal. Her reflections on change, loss, and possibility in middle age are both inspiring and comforting. Much like From Scratch, this memoir left me moved, uplifted, and grateful for the reminder that love has the power to reshape us at every stage of life.
Final Thoughts:
I truly hope Someday, Now is given the chance to be adapted for the screen as well—it deserves to be shared even more widely.
Thank you to the Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
This memoir finds Tembi at another crossroads in life: the summer of 2023, just before her only daughter, Zoela, left home for university across the country. Newly remarried to Robert, she’s honest and candid about navigating the joys and complexities of blending families, while also facing the bittersweet reality of an empty nest. To find her footing, she returns to Sicily—the homeland of her late husband’s family—seeking both grounding and renewal.
What makes the audiobook so extraordinary is how immersive it feels. Tembi weaves in real sounds and moments from her time on the island, allowing listeners to experience Sicily alongside her. You can almost hear the sea, feel the warmth of the sun, and sense the echoes of family and memory in every chapter. It’s more than a story—it’s an experience that captures the beauty of place, the weight of transition, and the resilience of love.
Tembi’s words are deeply personal, yet they radiate a positivity and hope that feels universal. Her reflections on change, loss, and possibility in middle age are both inspiring and comforting. Much like From Scratch, this memoir left me moved, uplifted, and grateful for the reminder that love has the power to reshape us at every stage of life.
Final Thoughts:
I truly hope Someday, Now is given the chance to be adapted for the screen as well—it deserves to be shared even more widely.
Thank you to the Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
June 29, 2025
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Memoir
Format: 🎧
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Length: 4hrs/6mins
Tembi Locke writes and narrates this beautiful and heartwarming journey on life after the death of be beloved husband Saro and death of her mother-in-law. Someday, Now picks up seven years later, as Tembi returns Sicily with her daughter Zoela, a place for both of them that is filled so many memories of happy times and sad times; joining them is her husband, Robert . This memoir is one filled with Tembi examining her life with a husband of four year, a last summer before Zoela leaves for college and becoming an empty nester. It is an intimate look of love of family, love loss, love found, grief and the spirit and confidence of moving forward.
For those of you that loved From Scratch as much as I did, book or show .. I highly recommend this heartfelt follow-up to Tembi journey.
Thank you, Tembi Locke, Simon &Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This audiobook is due to be released on September 30, 2025.
Genre: Memoir
Format: 🎧
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Length: 4hrs/6mins
Tembi Locke writes and narrates this beautiful and heartwarming journey on life after the death of be beloved husband Saro and death of her mother-in-law. Someday, Now picks up seven years later, as Tembi returns Sicily with her daughter Zoela, a place for both of them that is filled so many memories of happy times and sad times; joining them is her husband, Robert . This memoir is one filled with Tembi examining her life with a husband of four year, a last summer before Zoela leaves for college and becoming an empty nester. It is an intimate look of love of family, love loss, love found, grief and the spirit and confidence of moving forward.
For those of you that loved From Scratch as much as I did, book or show .. I highly recommend this heartfelt follow-up to Tembi journey.
Thank you, Tembi Locke, Simon &Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This audiobook is due to be released on September 30, 2025.
September 18, 2025
This was such a lovely snack of a novel, sharing beautiful scenery, sumptuous descriptions of Sicilian cuisine, and an intimate snapshot of the love a mother has for her daughter as she navigates big changes and finds herself sandwiched between so many different phases of life. In Someday, Now, Tembi Locke returns to Sicily during a pivotal summer as she faces the bittersweet reality of her daughter leaving for college and embraces the uncertainties of middle age. Against the backdrop of the island’s beauty and family memories, she explores love, loss, and the possibilities of new beginnings with honesty and heart.
I absolutely devoured From Scratch, so I assumed I’d like this one too, and I wasn’t wrong. My only wish is that it was longer so I could have stayed in these beautifully told moments for just a bit more time. This is an audio-only release, read by the author herself, and she does such a gorgeous job bringing the story to life with emotion, connecting us through her words and her heart. It’s a perfect listen for mature women who have gone through similar experiences of sending kids away to college while also dealing with the loss of parents. At only four hours, this was a quick but lovely immersion into a story that’s easy to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the gift of this audiobook In exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely devoured From Scratch, so I assumed I’d like this one too, and I wasn’t wrong. My only wish is that it was longer so I could have stayed in these beautifully told moments for just a bit more time. This is an audio-only release, read by the author herself, and she does such a gorgeous job bringing the story to life with emotion, connecting us through her words and her heart. It’s a perfect listen for mature women who have gone through similar experiences of sending kids away to college while also dealing with the loss of parents. At only four hours, this was a quick but lovely immersion into a story that’s easy to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the gift of this audiobook In exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
If you read (or watched) From Scratch, consider Someday, Now the continuation of Tembi Locke’s story. A gentle, reflective return to the life she rebuilt after loss. A lot has changed since her husband’s death. Tembi is now remarried, eight years into widowhood, and her daughter Zoela is grown and preparing to head off to college. This book captures one particularly meaningful summer: a return to Sicily with her new blended family.
It’s a summer of transition — the last before Tembi becomes an empty nester, and a chance for everyone to create new memories in the same place that shaped Tembi’s life so profoundly. It’s also an emotional introduction for her new husband, to the world of her old love. Through food, family, and place, he begins to understand the depth of the life she lived before him, and how Sicily continues to hold her heart.
The audiobook truly elevated this experience. With real recorded sounds from her summer: conversations, kitchen clatter, the warmth of family gatherings; it felt intimate and immersive, like being invited into their home.
Someday, Now is a tender portrait of finding joy again without erasing the past, of blending families, and of honoring every version of yourself. A warm, beautiful reminder that love continues to expand, even after great loss.
It’s a summer of transition — the last before Tembi becomes an empty nester, and a chance for everyone to create new memories in the same place that shaped Tembi’s life so profoundly. It’s also an emotional introduction for her new husband, to the world of her old love. Through food, family, and place, he begins to understand the depth of the life she lived before him, and how Sicily continues to hold her heart.
The audiobook truly elevated this experience. With real recorded sounds from her summer: conversations, kitchen clatter, the warmth of family gatherings; it felt intimate and immersive, like being invited into their home.
Someday, Now is a tender portrait of finding joy again without erasing the past, of blending families, and of honoring every version of yourself. A warm, beautiful reminder that love continues to expand, even after great loss.
July 24, 2025
A beautifully narrated memoir that can heal & rejuvenate your soul!
Thanks @simon.audio & @librofm for granting access to this ALC!
Synopsis-
Tembi Locke is the renowned author of the memoir From Scratch & screenwriter for its Netflix adaptation. Now staring at an empty nest & a new chapter of her life, Tembi wants to go her happy place Sicily, her deceased husband's birthplace & native to regroup & prepare herself. Family has always been her priority & she wants nothing more to spend quality time with her daughter Zoela while sunbathing in the Sicilian summer. Robert, Tembi's new husband is to join a few days later & she's determined to navigate this unchartered territory of her unconventional family coming together.
Review-
The whole Audiobook is a soothing & lilting experience that teleports us to the Sicilian countryside. With Tembi's calm & comforting voice, we are treated to the real time recordings of their time there - with excerpts of their voices, background noise/chatter, the sound of the waves, bleating goats & wind rustling - all helping us to visualize every scene so vividly as if we were there too.
Spending the summer at this magical place, Tembi is not only seeking answers during this challenging period, but also trying to process the upheaval of her past, the grief & loss, the journey of her motherhood, their connection to Sicily & the hole now getting created in her life.
Tembi explores the idea of a different family configuration, the new possibilities & avenues of life while also working on new ways of bonding with her daughter & coping while she's away.
I found that Tembi's thoughts, suggestions & ideas were greatly relevant to all our lives too & I loved her approach to embracing difficult seasons of life, learning to deal with change, living life to the fullest & finding herself through the process.
The stunning island of Sicily is now calling me with both it's picturesque hands & thanks to Tembi, I too want to experience this transformative, restorative & mystical place once home to Persephone & Demeter.
Thanks @simon.audio & @librofm for granting access to this ALC!
Synopsis-
Tembi Locke is the renowned author of the memoir From Scratch & screenwriter for its Netflix adaptation. Now staring at an empty nest & a new chapter of her life, Tembi wants to go her happy place Sicily, her deceased husband's birthplace & native to regroup & prepare herself. Family has always been her priority & she wants nothing more to spend quality time with her daughter Zoela while sunbathing in the Sicilian summer. Robert, Tembi's new husband is to join a few days later & she's determined to navigate this unchartered territory of her unconventional family coming together.
Review-
The whole Audiobook is a soothing & lilting experience that teleports us to the Sicilian countryside. With Tembi's calm & comforting voice, we are treated to the real time recordings of their time there - with excerpts of their voices, background noise/chatter, the sound of the waves, bleating goats & wind rustling - all helping us to visualize every scene so vividly as if we were there too.
Spending the summer at this magical place, Tembi is not only seeking answers during this challenging period, but also trying to process the upheaval of her past, the grief & loss, the journey of her motherhood, their connection to Sicily & the hole now getting created in her life.
Tembi explores the idea of a different family configuration, the new possibilities & avenues of life while also working on new ways of bonding with her daughter & coping while she's away.
I found that Tembi's thoughts, suggestions & ideas were greatly relevant to all our lives too & I loved her approach to embracing difficult seasons of life, learning to deal with change, living life to the fullest & finding herself through the process.
The stunning island of Sicily is now calling me with both it's picturesque hands & thanks to Tembi, I too want to experience this transformative, restorative & mystical place once home to Persephone & Demeter.
July 15, 2025
3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this touching and heartfelt memoir by Tembi Locke. Someday, Now beautifully captures the emotional journey of a mother preparing to send her daughter off to college while simultaneously reflecting on their shared history. It’s a tender exploration of love, change, and the courage it takes to let go.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the vivid imagery of Sicily—Locke’s descriptions were lush and evocative, and they made me all the more excited for our own trip there in September. The way she ties the landscape and culture into her personal healing made those scenes especially memorable.
One aspect I didn’t love was the use of unexpected sound effects in the audiobook version. At times, they felt out of place and even a bit jarring—almost as if they belonged in a children’s book. They disrupted the flow for me and pulled me out of the emotion of the story.
Still, overall, this memoir was a meaningful and moving listen. Tembi Locke shares her heart with honesty and grace, and her story is one that lingers long after the final chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio | Simon & Schuster Audio Originals for my advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the vivid imagery of Sicily—Locke’s descriptions were lush and evocative, and they made me all the more excited for our own trip there in September. The way she ties the landscape and culture into her personal healing made those scenes especially memorable.
One aspect I didn’t love was the use of unexpected sound effects in the audiobook version. At times, they felt out of place and even a bit jarring—almost as if they belonged in a children’s book. They disrupted the flow for me and pulled me out of the emotion of the story.
Still, overall, this memoir was a meaningful and moving listen. Tembi Locke shares her heart with honesty and grace, and her story is one that lingers long after the final chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio | Simon & Schuster Audio Originals for my advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
September 28, 2025
5 ⭐️ alert! Thanks so much for this audiobook exclusive memoir Simon & Schuster via the Libro influencer program! I loved Tembi Locke’s first memoir “From Scratch” and this is a fantastic and moving follow up to her story.
“From Scratch” is all about Tembi and husband Saro’s beautiful cross cultural love story and the loss of his life, all while trying to still raise their daughter and honor his family/culture. (I HIGHLY recommend listening to “From Scratch” before this, as the story and growth would be incomplete without the full scope.) “Someday Now” is about Tembi’s daughter going off to college and empty nest syndrome, set against an atmospheric summer in Europe on a grand Mother Daughter trip. It is also about folding Tembi’s second husband into their Sicilian story and bridging the gaps in legacy and family.
This is an audiobook exclusive and Locke narrates it beautifully. She also includes audio from their European trip and some dialogue, which was very moving. What a stunning story about finding love again and family.
✨Content Warnings: Grief, Cancer, Death of a Parent
✨Themes: Family, Grief, Empty Nesting
✨You May Like This If You Enjoyed:
-The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)
-The Rules Do Not Apply (Ariel Levy)
“From Scratch” is all about Tembi and husband Saro’s beautiful cross cultural love story and the loss of his life, all while trying to still raise their daughter and honor his family/culture. (I HIGHLY recommend listening to “From Scratch” before this, as the story and growth would be incomplete without the full scope.) “Someday Now” is about Tembi’s daughter going off to college and empty nest syndrome, set against an atmospheric summer in Europe on a grand Mother Daughter trip. It is also about folding Tembi’s second husband into their Sicilian story and bridging the gaps in legacy and family.
This is an audiobook exclusive and Locke narrates it beautifully. She also includes audio from their European trip and some dialogue, which was very moving. What a stunning story about finding love again and family.
✨Content Warnings: Grief, Cancer, Death of a Parent
✨Themes: Family, Grief, Empty Nesting
✨You May Like This If You Enjoyed:
-The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)
-The Rules Do Not Apply (Ariel Levy)
Read
July 16, 2025I enjoyed From Scratch and love a memoir, so I was happy to receive an ALC of Tembi Locke’s latest memoir: Someday, Now. This book follows the author’s experience and emotions as she and her daughter Zoela visit Sicily (where her late husband grew up) the summer before Zoela begins college, this time alongside her new husband Robert.
We get a bit of a back-and-forth narrative between her early relationship with Robert mixed with the trip to Sicily, but for me I never felt like the story found its footing.
The author does a beautiful job narrating the book, but the addition of sounds of the city and travel plus snippets of actual conversations and tours really brought down the production value for me - these elements felt too much like a graphic audiobook for me (which I don’t enjoy) and made the listening experience feel chaotic and disjointed.
I thought this was fine but nothing remarkable, but imagine it would work for many people, especially if you can relate to some of her experiences navigating blending a family after loss.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!
We get a bit of a back-and-forth narrative between her early relationship with Robert mixed with the trip to Sicily, but for me I never felt like the story found its footing.
The author does a beautiful job narrating the book, but the addition of sounds of the city and travel plus snippets of actual conversations and tours really brought down the production value for me - these elements felt too much like a graphic audiobook for me (which I don’t enjoy) and made the listening experience feel chaotic and disjointed.
I thought this was fine but nothing remarkable, but imagine it would work for many people, especially if you can relate to some of her experiences navigating blending a family after loss.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!
September 22, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and Simon + Schuster Audio for the audiobook version of Someday, Now.
Having read Tembi Locke’s From Scratch, I was especially interested in this story, where Locke describes the joys, struggles, twists and turns that come with living. Her daughter is preparing to leave home to attend college. Drawing from the past while looking towards the future, Locke spends a summer in Italy – a place she is familiar with, as her first husband was a native of the country, where they spent much time during their married years before his death.
Locke uses this time to reflect on places and things that had meaning to her past, while reflecting on her current family situation, which includes a blending of families, as she has married for a second time. Traveling with her daughter and the emotions it brings brought a particular joy and emotion to listen to. It was very nice to learn about some of the things that have happened in her life after From Scratch was published. I was happy to hear of this life update.
Having read Tembi Locke’s From Scratch, I was especially interested in this story, where Locke describes the joys, struggles, twists and turns that come with living. Her daughter is preparing to leave home to attend college. Drawing from the past while looking towards the future, Locke spends a summer in Italy – a place she is familiar with, as her first husband was a native of the country, where they spent much time during their married years before his death.
Locke uses this time to reflect on places and things that had meaning to her past, while reflecting on her current family situation, which includes a blending of families, as she has married for a second time. Traveling with her daughter and the emotions it brings brought a particular joy and emotion to listen to. It was very nice to learn about some of the things that have happened in her life after From Scratch was published. I was happy to hear of this life update.
June 12, 2025
Someday, Now by Tembi Locke
📖 Read by the author | Out September 30, 2025
Genre: Memoir | Family, Possibility & One Sicilian Summer 🇮🇹
Tembi Locke has done it again. From Scratch is one of my all-time favorite memoirs—raw, beautiful, and unforgettable. Someday, Now feels like a return home. Listening to Tembi narrate her own story brings an intimacy that’s powerful and deeply moving. Her voice carries every nuance of love, loss, resilience, and hope.
This is a memoir about reclaiming possibility, redefining family, and embracing the seasons of life—set once again against the soulful backdrop of Sicily. It’s heartfelt, life-affirming, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
💬 If you loved From Scratch, this one will feel like a warm, emotional hug.
🎧 Thank you to @librofm, @simonaudio, @simonschusterca, and the incredible Tembi Locke for my ALC.
📖 Read by the author | Out September 30, 2025
Genre: Memoir | Family, Possibility & One Sicilian Summer 🇮🇹
Tembi Locke has done it again. From Scratch is one of my all-time favorite memoirs—raw, beautiful, and unforgettable. Someday, Now feels like a return home. Listening to Tembi narrate her own story brings an intimacy that’s powerful and deeply moving. Her voice carries every nuance of love, loss, resilience, and hope.
This is a memoir about reclaiming possibility, redefining family, and embracing the seasons of life—set once again against the soulful backdrop of Sicily. It’s heartfelt, life-affirming, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
💬 If you loved From Scratch, this one will feel like a warm, emotional hug.
🎧 Thank you to @librofm, @simonaudio, @simonschusterca, and the incredible Tembi Locke for my ALC.
January 16, 2026
I’ve always been curious about Tembi’s journey after “From Scratch.” I absolutely adored the book,it was such a beautiful story.
This audiobook continues Tembi’s story as she deals with widowhood and now remarries. Her relationship with her daughter, Zoela, was truly heartwarming.
Listening to the audiobook was a delight, especially since the author narrated it. Her voice perfectly suited the book, and I also appreciated how she included real life sounds, like the ones she recorded during her trip to Sicily. I highly recommend this immersive audiobook; it kept me engaged and didn’t drag on. It was well written and incredibly heartwarming. Tembi’s vulnerability and honesty made the audiobook so enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
This audiobook continues Tembi’s story as she deals with widowhood and now remarries. Her relationship with her daughter, Zoela, was truly heartwarming.
Listening to the audiobook was a delight, especially since the author narrated it. Her voice perfectly suited the book, and I also appreciated how she included real life sounds, like the ones she recorded during her trip to Sicily. I highly recommend this immersive audiobook; it kept me engaged and didn’t drag on. It was well written and incredibly heartwarming. Tembi’s vulnerability and honesty made the audiobook so enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 11, 2025
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review **
This heartfelt audiobook continues Locke’s exploration of love, loss, and renewal, this time focusing on the years after the events in From Scratch. I loved how the audiobook format made her storytelling feel intimate, as if she were confiding in you directly. Each section feels like a conversation about resilience, purpose, and choosing joy again. The pacing is unhurried, giving space for reflection without losing momentum. It’s a moving, hopeful listen that lingers long after the final track.
This heartfelt audiobook continues Locke’s exploration of love, loss, and renewal, this time focusing on the years after the events in From Scratch. I loved how the audiobook format made her storytelling feel intimate, as if she were confiding in you directly. Each section feels like a conversation about resilience, purpose, and choosing joy again. The pacing is unhurried, giving space for reflection without losing momentum. It’s a moving, hopeful listen that lingers long after the final track.
September 23, 2025
Admittedly, I had no knowledge of Tembi Locke prior to picking this up and found out afterwards that there was an earlier book, From Scratch, so that might have impacted my thoughts on the book.
Locke is a great writer, and in telling her story, you did feel as though you were sitting with a friend having a glass of wine. She takes you on the journey with her and in Someday, Now, she is entering the new time in her life where her daughter is heading off to college.
Overall, a nice read.
This was published 23/9/2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
Locke is a great writer, and in telling her story, you did feel as though you were sitting with a friend having a glass of wine. She takes you on the journey with her and in Someday, Now, she is entering the new time in her life where her daughter is heading off to college.
Overall, a nice read.
This was published 23/9/2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
October 4, 2025
What a beautifully emotional story about family, transition and grief. Tembi recalls the details of her family trip to Sicily the summer before her daughter left for college. I absolutely love how Sicily was made to be its own character, and honestly the main character. And the soundscapes! This added so much to the story. It helped me visualize and really feel fully immersed in the story. I have been in awe of Tembi Locke’s writing, but listening to her narration was the perfect touch. She has such a calming voice.
Definitely read this when you’re in the mood for emotion, nostalgia, and the warmth of family!
Definitely read this when you’re in the mood for emotion, nostalgia, and the warmth of family!
Read
January 11, 2026(I do not rate memoirs.)
I have had Locke's first, well-known memoir on my TBR for some time now. While you can read this quite short follow up without reading From Scratch, reading that book would likely enhance the reading experience of this one. Locke's insightful prose flows beautifully. Reading about this short chapter in her life definitely bumped up the earlier memoir on my TBR. The only thing that detracted a little from my experience was the inclusion on the audiobook of ambient sounds that Locke recorded. They did not make sense to me but I understand her stated purpose for including them.
I have had Locke's first, well-known memoir on my TBR for some time now. While you can read this quite short follow up without reading From Scratch, reading that book would likely enhance the reading experience of this one. Locke's insightful prose flows beautifully. Reading about this short chapter in her life definitely bumped up the earlier memoir on my TBR. The only thing that detracted a little from my experience was the inclusion on the audiobook of ambient sounds that Locke recorded. They did not make sense to me but I understand her stated purpose for including them.
August 28, 2025
I have a feeling this rating is a "its not you, it's me" kinda thing. I got this as an ALC and was excited because I loved From Scratch. This one did not make me feel anything. It was overly sentimental and didn't feel like a reclamation in any way. Yes, hearing about Sicily and food is fun, but the overall message felt very woe-is-me about something as simple as a daughter going off to college. But I'm not a mother, so I don't know. Again, I feel like maybe this just wasn't the book for me, or the timing is off as I'm sitting in my own grief.
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