Review: Someday, Now by Tembi Locke – A Moving Memoir of Family, Sicily, and New Beginnings

Someday, Now is a heartfelt memoir set in Sicily that beautifully captures the challenges of change, the joy of family, and the hope found in new beginnings.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions presented here are my own.

Summary:

In Someday, Now, Tembi Locke reflects on a transformative summer in Sicily as she navigates the emotional transition of her only daughter leaving for college. A lifelong seeker of connection and belonging—shaped by experiences as a child of divorce, adoptive mother, widow, and now wife in a blended family—Tembi finds herself drawn to the sea and the memories of her late husband’s homeland. Through personal reflection, mythological inspiration, and rich recordings from her travels, she explores grief, motherhood, and midlife reinvention while embracing the complexities of love, change, and blended family. This heartfelt audio memoir offers a companionable and evocative journey, perfect for fans of From Scratch.

My Thoughts:

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.