"After the Hurricane" by Leah Franqui is a poignant and insightful novel that explores themes of identity, family, and resilience. Set against the backdrop of post-hurricane Puerto Rico, the story follows the lives of several characters as they navigate the challenges and changes brought about by the disaster. Franqui's writing is both lyrical and grounded, capturing the complexities of her characters' emotions and relationships with depth and empathy. The novel shines in its portrayal of Puerto Rican culture and the impact of the hurricane on both the landscape and the people. Franqui’s ability to intertwine personal struggles with broader social issues makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read. Overall, "After the Hurricane" is a beautifully crafted novel that offers both an intimate and expansive look at the effects of disaster on human lives.

It's been a few years since Elena has seen her father. A few years ago, he showed up at her apartment in New York City and told her he was moving back to Puerto Rico. Since then she has heard from him through a series of emails and texts she sometimes returns. When Hurricane Maria hits the island, everyone is devastated. When Elena gets a call from her mother that her father is missing, she takes it upon herself to go to Puerto Rico to find her father. What she discovers is that she doesn't know her family at all. Her father has never mentioned his past, and her mother has helped him to keep his secrets. She also doesn't know the island of Puerto Rico even though her family owns a home there. Elena will discover a lot about herself, her past, her father and the island of Puerto Rico.

This was a beautifully written narrative about loss and lies. Elena wants to find her father in more ways than one. She needs to find him physically and find out who he is as a man, husband, and father. There is so much of his past that he has kept from her. Will she be able to find her father alive and be able to ask him the questions she's dying to have answers to, or will it be too late?

"After the Hurricane" by Leah Franqui is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and redemption set against the backdrop of post-Hurricane Sandy New York City. Franqui skillfully crafts a diverse cast of characters, each grappling with their own demons and insecurities, yet ultimately finding solace and connection in one another. From the resilient protagonist Tara, to the enigmatic widow Bria, and the charming but troubled Shawn, the characters in "After the Hurricane" are multi-dimensional and relatable, drawing readers into their lives and struggles.

The atmospheric setting of post-Hurricane Sandy New York City serves as a vivid backdrop for the novel's exploration of resilience and community. Franqui's writing style is lyrical and evocative, capturing the raw emotions and complexities of human relationships with grace and sensitivity. The plot of "After the Hurricane" unfolds with a gentle yet compelling pace, as the characters navigate the aftermath of the storm and confront the ghosts of their pasts. While the intrigue may not be as high-stakes as in other novels, the emotional depth and authenticity of the characters' journeys make for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Overall, "After the Hurricane" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page. Franqui's exploration of grief, resilience, and the power of human connection is both timely and timeless, offering a message of hope and healing in the face of adversity. Fans of literary fiction and heartfelt storytelling will find much to love in "After the Hurricane."

This book was definitely a love letter to Puerto Rico and its people, which shone through in the writing. It’s clear how much passion the author has for the island and her heritage.

This was a slow-paced character study that dragged on at times for me, especially during some of the chapters where Elena was searching for her father. I found myself getting bored at times. I found the chapters that focused on Santiago’s backstory to be a lot more compelling overall. I’d recommend this if you like character driven stories about complicated family relationships

Elena Vega's life may outwardly seem easy, growing up as the only child of two successful professionals, attending a private school, and later, NYU. However, her twenties have been marked by aimlessness and a lack of meaningful connections. Something has always felt amiss in her life—the absence of her father, the brilliant yet deeply troubled Santiago Vega.

Santiago's journey began in rural Puerto Rico, where he arrived as a young child. His harsh and unpredictable father returned to the island, leaving Santiago to be raised by his mentally unwell mother and formidable grandmother. Despite the challenges, Santiago excelled academically, earning scholarships to attend Stanford and later Yale Law School. Along the way, he married Elena's mother, becoming the embodiment of success in their migrant family—the symbol of the one who escaped adversity and achieved prosperity. However, Santiago carries the burden of his own past—a history marred by trauma, bipolar disorder, and alcoholism. Over the years, he distanced himself from Elena and retreated to San Juan, where he grapples with his inner demons in solitude.

Then, the devastating Hurricane Maria sweeps through, and Santiago inexplicably disappears. Desperate to uncover the truth about her once-beloved father, Elena decides to return to Puerto Rico. Though she cherished the island during her childhood, it has been years since she set foot there. Her journey takes her through the storm-ravaged landscape as she seeks answers about Santiago's fate. Elena must navigate the complexities of her father's identity, crisscrossing the island and delving into the depths of his family history. In the process, she connects with relatives she has never met, each holding a piece of the puzzle that could unravel the mystery of Santiago's disappearance.

The heart of this novel lies a mystery that is incredibly engaging. Elena, the central character, embarks on a quest to find her father in the wake of Hurricane Maria, even though he had been absent from her life long before that catastrophe. The hurricane serves as a catalyst, compelling her to seek him out, despite her never having done so before.

The author masterfully reveals information about the novel's characters. As we get to know them gradually, each revelation can shift our perspective on them. Despite these shifts, the characters remain authentic and internally consistent.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story dragged for me, as much as I enjoyed it - I think the book was a little overly long for what the story called for. That said, Elena is a wonderfully written character with so much depth and heart, and overall, this is a fantastic family drama.

After The Hurricane is the story of a young woman and her troubled relationship with her father. When Hurricane Maria hits and her father goes missing, she heads to Puerto Rico to track him down.

One of the things that I appreciated about this book is the way it discusses mental health. Santiago is struggling with not only his mental health issues, but also the memories of how his mother was treated for her mental state. The thing is, while Santiago is struggling, he is also succeeding. He goes to Yale law school. He’s a successful attorney. His progress isn’t all linear. It’s up and down, but I just really appreciated that it wasn’t all down. He wasn’t a stereotype of mental illness, but like an actual real person.

I did also appreciate Elena’s struggle with coming to terms with who her father is. She hopes for a real relationship with him, but she comes to accept that it may never look the way she wants it to.

I did feel like the story was maybe a bit overlong. At a few points it dragged a bit or went into a little more detail than I thought it needed. It wasn’t a major issue, but it did make the pacing a little bit uneven.

I appreciated that this touched on the colonization of Borinquén, the misnaming of the country, and the wiping out of the Taino culture. I actually wish it had been included even more.

All in all, I thought this was a good look at a struggling family and at the after affects of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico. It’s sad and difficult, but covers some very important topics.

TW: Mental Health issues, missing family member, abuse, bullying, homophobia, death, colonization, racism

Thank you to Netgalley, Leah Franqui, and William Morrow for the e-book. This in no way affects the objectivity of this review.

This was a gripping read. At times, definitely too close to home. I enjoy this story and have recommended it to all Boricua readers I have come accross.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and William Morrow for the gifted e-book! #gifted

Check triggers**

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, deep meaningful stories, Puerto Rico setting, mental disorder representation

This is such a beautifully told story. A lot of it is details, Elena's thoughts, and Santiago's thoughts. It bounces around between them with no rhyme or reason. It's easy to follow. The plot pulls you in. The atmosphere is haunting and beautiful. I really enjoyed the characters. I love the deep dives into mental health. I highly recommend it!

I enjoyed this third novel by Leah Franqui. Elena was a very strong character. Her emotions about her father were very real and you knew what she was going through.

The author leads us through a beautiful journal of a young woman and an island who are seeking their identity. As a daughter of Puerto Rican parents I was so happy to read this story by a new to me author. I was happy to read this book and if brought back so many memories of when my dad was lost to us for over 14 days due to the ravage of Hurricaine Maria. During that time of not knowing what was going on with him I dove into the history of the island and the laws that governed they way they were able to accept donations from other countries. As Elena searched for her father by reaching out to unknown family members, I too found myself reaching out to family that I had only vague knowledge of. I learned so much from Elena and her cousin's blogs. I don't know what kind of ending I was hoping for and I was not disappointed as much as I thought I would be with the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book. Although it took me a long time to read this book, all opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of After the Hurricane by Leah Franquil.
After the Hurricane is the story of a woman going to Puerto Rico to find her missing father. Along the way, she learns about her heritage and her father. This is a well written story, but at a slow pace. It was a good read, but not a compelling read.

DNF. I was interested in the mental health rep, but I had trouble connecting with the characters, perhaps because of how the stories were interwoven. Reminded me a bit of Black Cake, but not as elegantly done. Would still love to read more from Leah Franqui in the future as I think she has a real knack for weaving sentences together. I just couldn't get through this one.

Although they've been apart for years, Elana's mother has tasked her to find her father, who ended up missing after Hurricane Maria. So she travels to Puerto Rico to search for him, and will end up meeting some family members as well interesting people along the way.

One good thing about this book is the rep of mental health. As well as the history of the island and some of their traditions. to me it was an interesting read, and I will be reading more books from this author.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions

Beautiful writing and a story of finding self while searching for another.
Many thanks to William Morrow and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

as someone who grew up in South Florida, and doesn't live there anymore, I am always here for hurricane stories for whatever reason. While I enjoyed the dysfunctional family aspect of AFTER THE HURRICANE, it did fall flat for me and I just didn't connect as I wanted to with the characters or storyline.

This was interesting but just not for me. I understood the story line and process but I just thought it was too much and kinda long. I think part of it is that i am not fully educated on the Puerto Rican culture of what their beliefs are. I truly wanted to like this since it had a mystery aspect but I couldn’t get into it.

Leah Franqui is a remarkably versatile writer with an ability to give life to a variety of settings and cultures. When I see she has a book coming out, it's on my radar. Big time.

After the Hurricane is no exception. The setting in Puerto Rico is one she hasn't written about before, but the detail of her observations and her feel for interactive styles among the characters are spot-on.

There's a mystery at the heart of this novel that makes it hard to put down. The central character, Elena, is searching for her father in the aftermath of hurricane Maria—though he's been absent from her life since long before that disaster. But the Hurricane gives her reasons to seek him out, despite never having done so before.

Franqui doles out revelations about the novel's characters carefully. We get to know them slowly, and a new piece of information can shift one's perspective of them. But even with the shifts, the characters are convincing with their own internal coherence.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

I wondered how much of this story is a nod to Leah Franqui’s own life. The heritage and family she described in this story resembled her own background and in acknowledgments and author’s note, she confirmed my suspicions. Now I wonder how much of it is real? Did she only give characters her background or did she consider Elena as her reflection? Questions, questions, questions…

Elena’s father disappeared after the hurricane hit Puerto Rico. People knew he survived but then he was gone. Elena’s mother, even though she divorced the father some time ago, was still worried about him. So she sent Elena off to figure out what happened her father. Only problem was Elena knew everything about her mother’s side but nothing on father’s side. She went to Puerto Rico with no starting point other than the house her parents renovated some time ago.

She followed every lead to figure her unknown family while trying to figure out where her father went. Eventually she found something but was the something what she hoped to find or needed to let go. It was a great self discovery and soul searching story. I like it when search for something tangible turns into discovery of intangible things. Franqui delivered again.

After the Hurricane is another beautifully written book by Leah Franqui. This time, she takes us into the lives of a father and daughter, Santiago and Elena. She's 30 years old, working in NYC but not living a satisfied or complete life. Her relationship with her father has always been a complicated one, hampered by his somewhat functional alcoholism and mental health issues.
The opening scene with Elena and Santiago at lunch was so poignant. Santiago disappears after that point, back to Puerto Rico, and their relationship after that point becomes almost non-existent. Elena was accepting of that, until Hurricane Maria hits the island and nobody can find her father.
At the urging of her mother, Elena goes to Puerto Rico to make sure Santiago is alive. Along the way, she learns about her father and her family history, and attempts to make sense of it all.
The book is beautifully written and captures the mystique of Puerto Rico and the deep challenges often evoked with dysfunctional family relationships and history. There are times when I wanted to shake the characters to wake up, and times I wanted to hug them in caring and sympathy. The family relationships were complex and a family tree would have been useful!
I've loved all of Ms. Franqui's books and look forward to reading whatever she writes next!
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read After the Hurricane in exchange for an honest review.