Cammy Sitting Shiva - a young woman examines her life after the loss of a loved one.

Cammy Adler is struggling. At twenty-nine, her dream of becoming a writer has yet to take shape. The closest she's come to it has been securing temporary jobs, such as copywriting for various companies. Despite living in a basement, at least she has made it to New York City, away from her childhood home in northern New Jersey. When she receives a call from her family's rabbi, she learns that her beloved father Cy has passed away. Although her relationship with her mother, Beth, is strained, she quickly returns across the Hudson River to support her as they prepare for the funeral and the seven-day mourning period - known as shiva. Being back home intensifies Cammy's feelings of failure. The last thing she wants to do is sit shiva. She'd rather smoke weed than sit at home eating kugel and brisket, talking to her annoying Aunt Miriam. Cammy reconnects with friends from her past, including her best friend Fran and Nick, her high school crush. While Cammy feels like a disappointment, her behavior during the shiva further strains her relationship with her mother. 

In Cammy Sitting Shiva, Cary Gitter has written a touching and often humorous story of a young woman seeking to find herself after a profound loss. Cammy's actions during this solemn period of mourning border on the unforgivable, yet everyone grieves differently. She has hit rock bottom, and for her sake, as well as her mother's, Cammy is someone we want to see make it through this difficult period. While the book focuses on a Jewish family and its traditions, the experience of losing a loved one is universal, as is the feeling of being lost in life and feeling like you've let everyone down, especially yourself. This is a hopeful story of redemption that will make you want to call your family. 

Many thanks to Alcove Press for the advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: August 26, 2025.

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