I loved the idea of this story and getting the DNA results to find family and solve a mystery and along the way learn even more about her culture. I did find there to be too many different povs for my liking. It was still enjoyable because I love a flawed character and seeing their growth which I did find to be well done. The writing itself was engaging and beautiful. I would definitely recommend to someone if they like this vein of fiction.

I liked this one.

Full Review: Thank you to the author Lauren E. Rico, publishers Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of FAMILIA. Thank you to Libby for an audiobook copy. Read by multiple narrators. All views are mine.

"...You're talking about my parents–"  "They were not your parents!" She hisses in a voice that stops me cold. "They were your kidnappers!" (2:42:29)

FAMILIA is one of those books for me that is equal parts good and bad, and lands solidly in "I like it" territory. The premise is exciting and also a creative use of true crime elements. A young journalist travels to Puerto Rico in pursuit of the point at which her cold case true crime story and her dark family history intersect. Is she a long-lost baby, kidnapped from her true family? The mystery created by the premise is strong enough to carry the whole novel and compelling enough to move a great many POV characters.

But I was far from riveted. Certain stylistic choices prevented me from fully connecting with this story. I found the form needlessly complex for the simplicity of the plot and premise. Still a worthwhile read!

I recommend this one to fans of true crime, mysteries, and even memoirs, long lost family stories, and stories written by Puerto Rican writers or set in Puerto Rico.

What the hell am I even considering here? I'd have to believe that the people I loved most in this world kidnapped me and raised me as their own. But I can't. Because to believe that, would mean my whole life was a lie. And that I do not believe. (3:19:58)

Reading Notes:

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous. Not purple, but lyrical nonetheless.

2. I read a few reviews that said this book doesn't honor the beauty of Puerto Rico. I'm not trying to refute what they say; I believe these readers would know better than me. But there is a scene at the beginning of the book between Gabby and an old man on a plane. The man practically represents the author's respect and love for what is good about her chosen setting. This wouldn't be enough, however; I'll be back with an edit.

3. I love the little things about Gabby's feeling like a fish out of water. The bit about "getting her hots wrong" was an lol moment for me!

4. I love the tiny touch of magical realism at the very end.

5. I love the audiobook narrator,  Frankie Corzo, and I plan on listening to many more of her book performances.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This book is difficult to follow because there is so much transition. The setting changes often, as well as alternating POVs and time frames.

2. This character is a walking contradiction. She *doesn't* think she's related to the other fmc. And yet: Suddenly, I want to cry. "Dammit! I've known this woman for 90 minutes and I've already got emotional whiplash! It's just– I'm so excited," I admit quietly. Mateo, she's right here. Right in front of me after so many years! I just want to grab her and hold her and cry and do all that girly shit that sisters do." And let's not forget the subtle toxic masculinity, with her ascription of "girly shit."

3. This book is hard on people who can't or don't give birth. She was a failure. Unable to do the one thing she was built to do–reproduce. (2:56:03) First, bodies are "built" to do countless things other than be pregnant. Also, I am not a fan of books that suggest, through theme, plot, or character, that fetuses and infants are more important than the adults who carry and birth them.

4. At 26% of the narrative, the author introduces a brand new character POV named Lucy. She gives no suggestion about who this character is and how she connects to the larger narrative. No rule says a writer can't introduce a new character late in the narrative, but I don't think these latecomers should get their own POV. It creates a confusing kind of suspense that will cause your less fangirl-y readers to close the book without finishing.

5. The author opted to provide the backstory using alternating timelines rather than flashback and narrative. I think this was a poor stylistic choice, if only for the fact it weighed down the narrative with several additional POVs. The more of these a narrative has, the harder it is to follow. Especially when new POVs are introduced at different points of the text. Books don't have to be this much work to read, and shouldn't be, unless that is their purpose. It takes skill to manage one's story clearly and simply.

6. Holy wow, this is a really long denouement. But plot threads get tied up tight, if you're into that.

Rating: 👩‍👦👩‍👩‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 /5 familias
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 7 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley; Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🔪 true crime or mystery
👤 memoir
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 women's new friendships
💇‍♀️ women's coming of age
🇵🇷 Puerto Rican authors, characters, settings

I am slowly going over this book because other books needed quicker attention. I've heard some interesting things and I am looking forward to further exploring this work and engaging in discussions.

This was an interesting story of two sisters and how they ended up in two completely different lives. I loved the setting of Puerto Rico and the way the author brought the island to life. The mystery wasn’t the most surprising, but was enjoyable enough.

I initially requested this book because of the beautiful cover and being hispanic I thought it would be enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was a big miss for me.

Suchhhhh a great book. Read it in two days and couldn’t stop! It reminded me of how Black Cake unraveled and all the layers were so unexpected and satisfying. Loved how the mystery ended and the beautiful lesson about who family is, and how people come together to support each other (chosen and biological families). Such a captivating novel

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover and the title. I love a good story about family!

This is a story about two women being brought together by an amateur DNA test.

Gabby is an aspiring writer working as a fact checker for an American magazine and after her parents die is feeling alone in the world. Until she discovers through a genealogy test she took for research for an article that she has a sister.

Isabella is an artist in Puerto Rico who has been searching for her little sister, Marianna, who went missing when she was a baby.

Gabby travels to Puerto Rico not convinced she has a sister that her parents never told her about and is in complete denial, as to accept this fact brings into question her whole existence up to now.

This was a moving read about the two sisters meeting. There are some twists along the way that kept me going. I didn’t love this but it’s an easy and entertaining read. I kept thinking of the Bold and the Beautiful…there’s some love interests along the way, which I’m not sure were necessary.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ebook in return for an honest review.

3⭐️

I received a digital ARC of the book and the audiobook in exchange for an honest review and boy will this review be honest.

The Puerto Rica representation was horrible. The author has a vague notion of life in the island, but she makes glaring mistakes regarding our culture. It doesn't help that the audiobook's narrator doesn't seem to know how to read Spanish: Guánica clearly has an accent on the a... I thought the author might not have included the accent on the book, but I remembered I also had a digital ARC of the book itself and it. did have the accent, so this one is solely on the narrator.. I regret finishing this one because it annoyed me to the very end.

Lauren Rico’s Familia tells the complex story of two sisters who discover each other through a DNA test and the solving of a 20-year-old mystery that spans two countries, two families, and many colorful characters. One of the sisters was kidnapped when she was young! This topic was very timely given the continual increase in popularity for genealogy for finding family and close cold cases. Since I have never been there, I really enjoyed reading about all the beauty of Puerto Rico. Seeing how the sisters evolved both on their own and as a sibling unit made me continue to turn the pages much faster than other books I have read lately. I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR.

This is an entertaining, well-written, fast-paced contemporary women's fiction novel. It has engaging, sympathetic female protagonists, vividly described settings, a beautiful bond between sisters, a mystery, a few twists, a touch of humor, some emotional moments, and a gratifying conclusion.

I read Familia when in New York during the holidays. I found it to be a well written quick paced read about a woman in search of family. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read that isn't just fluff.

This book started strong but the flashbacks kept me from gaining momentum while reading it. The element of suspense was diminshed once the book started going to the past. I thought at first that it was just for the prologue, just to give something for the readers to look clues for while resolving the mystery of what happened to baby Mariana. But as the story progress, it felt too dragging. I was looking forward to know more about the characters but there is an utter lack of characterization in this book, despite giving the two main characters their own POVs.

What a spectacular book, I was enthralled from the beginning.

I love when books explore complex familial relationships. I love the mystery aspect and how the plot unfolds to truly uncover what really matters to the characters, family. Absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend it to others. Especially if you love stories full of mysteries, uncertainties, reconciliation, and hope.

Gabby took a DNA test and discovered a match in Isabella, who might be her sister. However, she doesn't believe it at first since her parents never had any other children. Gabby wants to be a journalist for the publication she fact checks for and decides to travel to Puerto Rico to learn more about the connection. Isabella has not been able to stop thinking about her little sister who went missing as a baby and has constantly been trying to find her. Gabby and Isabella's relationship starts off rocky as neither are on the same page and are both looking for something else in the other, but as they travel around Puerto Rico and delve into what happened with the missing baby, they work on bridging the many years of separation. Overall, a gripping story of one sister who didn't know she was adopted and another who spent her entire life stuck after her baby sister's disappearance and what they do when they reunite. Even though they people involved in the disappearance said they did it for the baby's sake, it was disconcerting that they never told Isabella the truth, to allow her to come to terms with it and move on in her life.

Being a proud Puerto Rican, I was thrilled to dive into this book, eager to see how my homeland would be portrayed in a novel. I've seen some
people criticize that Puerto Rico is unfairly depicted as a haven for criminals and dangerous areas, but my response is simple– every place has its flaws, and perfection is nowhere to be found. However, what they fail to mention is how the author mentions the beauty of Puerto Rico and the resilience of its people, the wonders awaiting those who visit. While the narrative doesn't delve into this, it was heartwarming to encounter familiar places in PR in the story.

At its core, this story is about the unbreakable bonds of family that withstand the test of time. It weaves together drama, crime-solving, and inner strength into a captivating tale that's both emotional and moving. Facing demons, the power of perseverance, faith, and people uniting for the greater good are some of the themes that resonate throughout.

I don't why I kept putting off this book, because once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. The writing is compelling, taking the reader on a roller-coaster of emotions– from happiness to frustration, bittersweetness, anxiety, and excitement. The narrative is compelling, switching between points of view and timelines. Surprisingly, the alternating use of first and third person didn't bother me; it actually served to distinguish the present from events 25 years ago. Piece by piece, the puzzle unfolds, portraying flawed characters making choices they believe are for the best.

Despite the captivating story, some things confused me. The mom changing her name after marriage, which isn't common practice in Puerto Rico, and the small typos like "Jesucrista" and "platanos maduras" instead of "Jesucristo" and "platanos maduros" (known as "amarillos" in PR) were noticeable. The timing also threw me off a bit, referencing Hurricane Maria 25 years in the past, when it actually occurred in 2017.

(Spoilers in this paragraph)
The sisters never finding out the full truth is something that left me with mixed feelings. While I understand the pact made by those involved, the buildup of the girls uncovering the truth only to be deceived once more by people they trust was a bit disappointing. Unexpected twists in the end, like Alberto being Santiago's brother and Lucy's secret letters to Alberto, added surprising layers. I did manage to guess that Detective Raña was Coquí.

In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. The author's desire for readers to "remember to appreciate the culture and history we inherit through our DNA" resonates with me deeply and will linger with me long after putting the book down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This story of love, sisterhood, family, and heritage found through some of the strangest and unlikely circumstances was enchanting. The writing was engaging and the characters of Isabella and Gabby were beautifully written. I appreciated the alternating perspectives across the sisters, which gave me greater insight into each of their frames of mind as the story progressed and they encounter a truly diverse and fascinating cast of characters. I loved this book and will be looking out for other novels from Rico in the future!

Beautifully crafted story about family, loss, discovery and making meaning out of broken pieces - artful masterpiece!

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read Familia by Lauren E. Rico.
I was hooked from the start of this one! The story follows two women, Isabella and Gabby, who are brought together as the result of a DNA test. One woman is convinced they are long-lost sisters. The other has her doubts, but agrees to pursue the possibility to help further her writing career.
There's a mystery element to this story as the two women set off to find answers about their family's past, and a compelling cast of characters we meet along the way. The chapters jump between characters, mostly between Isabella and Gabby, but also between other key players of their story. Just when the ending felt wrapped up, more and more twists were revealed. This was a heartwarming, thrilling, kept-me-up-past-my-bedtime read that I loved! So much so, that I immediately bought a physical copy for my shelves.

I was approved for both the e-book and audio, but couldn't get the NetGalley Shelf App to play the audio version, so I only read the e-book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was hooked from the beginning. Told from multiple perspectives, I loved the way the sisters worked to solve the mystery of their family and their story.

😍loved

🤟generational, family love, self-discovery

4.5⭐️ Couldn’t put this one down. Great story. Interesting characters and an excellent twist. Highly recommend.