Okay, my review is influenced by other Boricua readers and reviewers who are friends and I agree with all their sentiments. For an author who is part Puerto Rican, why did I feel the need to check and make sure it wasn't secretly a white author lacking research in her story? This book is exactly the reason why even marginalized authors need to research topics their books are about because we are human and prone to ignorance, stereotyping, and biases. I was genuinely excited for this book but this is not it.

This book was beautifully written with fantastic twists and turns. I enjoyed every minute listening to the audiobook.

The narrators have life to a fantastic book. A must read/listen.

Familia by Lauren Rico
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“People do to you what you let them do to you.”
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Oh my goodness. It is February, and I already have a contender for favorite book of the year. 🥰🥰🥰
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This is a story of family. Gaby takes a DNA test with all her coworkers for a work project. As an only child, she is hoping to find some distant cousins to connect with. But what she gets is a report saying she is biological sisters with a woman named Isabella.
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I loved Gaby.
I loved Isabella.
I loved this journey they went on to put together what happened to everyone on one fateful day when a baby girl went missing.
The back story was incredible and I kept gasping out loud when new pieces of the story came to light.

And I wept. I cried SO MUCH reading this story. I fell in love with all these people, and I had so many feelings. I felt all the things.

I would also like to say that I was able to get the audio from Netgalley and the audio is FANTASTIC. The three narrators did such justice to the characters and I felt like I was sitting right next to them for this whole journey. My kids were laughing at me and rolling their eyes because I kept talking back to the people in the book while listening. 🙈 I got invested in this story from chapter one.

If you love messy family dramas then do yourself a favor and read Familia. If you love audiobooks I HIGHLY recommend the audio, it is so good. If you have struggled with audio but really want it to work for you then I HIGHLY suggest you try Familia.
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5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am SO GLAD that I picked this one up from Book of the Month! I am already excited to reread it.

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.

The narrators were so good and allowed me to be immersed in the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the audiobook.

I enjoyed the book, the shocking news to find you have a sister and the mystery as to the circumstances involved were engaging. The book did seem a bit slow, but I am glad to have seen it through to the end.

As someone who is not a member of the communities represented in this book I cannot speak to how the representation was handled - which is why it is so important to listen to OwnVoices readers and reviewers. Due to the current material I cannot in good faith recommend this book. I very much enjoyed the premise and feel that with edits this could not only be an enjoyable read but a book that could uplift instead of punch down.

Thank you RB Media for the advanced copy. Frankie Corzo, Robb Moreira & Victoria Villarreal did a fantastic job and I would definitely pick up a audiobook narriated by them in the future.

This is the case that a book simply is not for me. I had heard this literary book has some creepy horror elements but as I read further I came to understand that I had been given wrong information. I just did not find the story very interesting and struggle to get immersed in the story. I can be very hit or miss with literary fiction so I don't want to judge the book too harshly.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

First I will comment on the narrators- they are fantastic and both some of my favorites. Definitely captured the characters voices.

Spoiler: 🚨 🚨

Unfortunately I cannot AT ALL stand when books imply an infertile woman stole a baby. It IMMEDIATELY turns me off.

An innocent DNA test unravels family secrets as one sister searches for her missing sister. The bond of sisters runs deep in this dynamic drama as a past family tragedy is revealed. As the characters tell their story through each chapter one becomes familiar with the story they tell. A mystery solved with an ending I did not foresee. In the end, it is the sacrifices one makes for their family that rings through—a compelling mystery with dynamic characters and a rich plot. As an audiobook, it did not disappoint. Rico did a beautiful job and I look forward to reading more of her work. A must-read if you enjoy a good mystery.

I always find it so impressive when an author who has primarily written in one genre does very well in another. Familia exemplifies the strength of community between Puerto Ricans and dives into the complex emotions of separated families. This book is not without flaws but is a wonderful effort by the author into literary fiction. Would love to see more deep research being done for her next book in this genre. The narrator is excellent.

3.5 stars rounded up.

“What if your most basic beliefs about your life were suddenly revealed to be a lie?”

This was a very intriguing book surrounding a genetic mystery and the bonds of sisterhood. I was engaged the entire time and thought the author did a fantastic job utilizing multiple POVs to explore the ideas of family and identity. My only minor critique would be the ending, which felt a little too contrived.

Additionally, the audiobook was wonderful and featured three superb narrators. I appreciated that they utilized a third, male narrator for the flashback scenes. It really helped me distinguish which time frame was taking place when listening to the story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and RB Media for the ALC! I truly enjoyed listening to this one and look forward to Lauren Rico’s next novel!

Gabby DiMarco works for a popular magazine as a fact checker and an aspiring writer. She took a genealogy test as part of research for an article and thought that they made a mistake when she is told she has a long-lost sister in Puerto Rico. As part of her fact checking, she heads down to Puerto Rico to find out more about this supposed sister. The storyline went from present day to the past so things were revealed little by little to the reader. The storyline was engaging, and the writing style was easy to read. I loved the journey that Gabby and Isabella went on to see if the DNA was accurate. The family drama that is described in this book is top notch as Gabby tries to find out the truth about her family. I really enjoyed the concept and thought that Rico did a wonderful job portraying it. This was a story about loss, perseverance and finding your identity.

Get ready to bask in the bold beauty of San Juan and dive into the drama of long-lost sisters with Familia. This contemporary gem, with mystery elements that'll keep you guessing, is like a breath of fresh ocean air on a hot summer day.

At first glance, I thought this book would be a dive into literary waters. It did not. Instead, the story unwinds with a deliciously addictive charm that's perfect for a day at the beach- very contemporary.

As Gabby and Isabella navigate the twists and turns of their newfound sisterhood, I found myself listening to the audio, craving more of their banter and the surprising revelations that kept popping up like seashells on the shore.

At first, I found the conclusion unsatisfying, we were, after all searching for the truth. As time passes I appreciate the nuanced end. I think this will be a perfect beach read for summer 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🌟Audio Book Review🌟

🎧📚 Familia by Lauren E. Rico

Gabby DiMarco's life is turned upside down when a genealogy test reveals a sister she never knew she had. With her entire life now in question, Gabby must recon with a new truth about herself, and find out how to move forward.

Familia is a beautifully crafted story about finding oneself and one's history in the least likely of places. It asks the questions of what makes a family, what makes a person, and can the wrong actions be done for the right reasons?

Lauren E. Rico's writing is absolutely masterful and was beautifully unchanged by the narration of Frankie Corzo, Rob Moreira, and Victoria Villarreal.

Familia was published on January 23, 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for this ALC.

I was attracted to this book for so many reasons. Novels that ask what you might do if you were placed in specific situations always intrigue me. What if your most basic beliefs about your life were suddenly revealed to be a lie?

In Familia by Lauren E. Rico, two women are brought together by a genealogy test and a life long question that defines family for the.

Gabby DiMarco is a fact checker for a popular magazine. Researching an article on genealogy and desperately wanting to showcase her own writing skills, she takes a genealogy test and discovers she has a sister that has been trying to find her.

Isabella Ruiz can still picture the face of her baby sister who disappeared from San Juan twenty five years ago. Isabella is an artist and has worked her for her stable life and loving home, yet the longing to find her baby sister has never left. She has now found a match in Gabby and with Gabby being willing to come to Puerto Rico, she believes the mystery will be solved. But Gabby is reluctant to believe. The ladies have very little in common, different personalities - but together they risk it all to find the truth that can set them apart or bring them closer than ever.

I especially enjoyed listening to the audiobook as the narrators - Frankie Corzo, Robb Moreira, and Victoria Villarreal captured my attention and truly brought the character to life for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen and review.

This book released in late January 2024 and you can find it at your local bookseller today.

Thank you so much NetGalley and RB Media for my advanced copy and the chance to review it honestly.

Two women are brought together by a genealogy test and a haunting question that shakes their understanding of what family is and who they truly are.

I received Familia as an ALC through NetGalley and I listened to it quickly. I went into this book blindly and I am happy I did. I loved this book so much and I got a story I was not expecting based on the cover alone. It was emotional and made me feel so much. I loved the strong female characters and the plot twist I didn’t see coming. The narrator’s really did an excellent job telling this story. It was an easy five star read for me, I even went out and got myself a physical copy to keep forever. I highly recommend you give this book a read!

Happy reading!

This is one unforgettable juicy family saga with a side of cold case investigation and an extra serving of genetic mystery, all toped off with a wonderful audiobook interpretation by a
Frankie Corzo, Robb Morera, and Victoria Villareal. This one is perfect for fans of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson and any by Elizabeth Acevedo.

A tender tale of family born and found. I love the sisterhood dynamics and find the writing immersive. My only concern is the “adoption” has an underlying message of white savior and I question who the audience the author had in mind when ample evidence exists of how white adoption’s harmful effects on a marginalized child’s psyche

This audiobook started strong and hooked me from the start. The author's letter at the beginning of the book was heartfelt and got me excited to dive in. The story of Baby Mariana's disappearance is very intriguing. The timeline weaves back and forth between "That Day" and "Today". As you work through the story, the author reveals more and more about what happened to Mariana from various perspectives of those who were involved.

Unfortunately, the second half felt like a different book to me. The story started to feel a bit repetitive, and the writing style shifted into something more aligned to a lighthearted romance style of writing. It was strange.

Overall, it ended up being a 3.5-star read for me. It had the potential to be higher, but I feel like the author missed some great opportunities in her execution. I'm rounding up my rating for the narration. All three narrators were excellent. Their tones were smooth and pleasant to the ear. I will be looking for more of their work to listen to.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Lauren E. Rico, Kensington Publishing, and RB Media
Author: Lauren E. Rico
Print: 320p; Audiobook: 11h, 3m
Narrators: Frankie Corzo, Robb Moreira, Victoria Villarreal
File Under: Contemporary Fiction; Mystery
Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4

What if your most basic beliefs about your life were suddenly revealed to be a lie? In this compelling, emotional novel, two young women are brought together by a genealogy test and a haunting question that shakes their understanding of what family is and who they truly are . . .

As someone slightly obsessed with genealogy and unknown familial connections, I had big (possibly outsized) expectations for Familia. The first half didn’t disappoint—the thankless job that led to the potential discovery of an unknown sister and an upheaval of an entire childhood? Sign me up. Unfortunately, there were some missed opportunities here and there and some interactions/relationships that didn’t make sense.

Familia is told from multiple (and I mean multiple) points of view. The author did a fine job of keeping the numerous characters from becoming hard to keep up with, but I did have to backtrack a few times when characters jumped from different periods. Rico is a wonderful writer, but I do think areas could have benefited from more development. Namely, the fact that she was raised Italian and should feel more rattled that she was denied knowledge of her lineage. There were some hints at that, but it wasn’t a theme that was explored as in-depth as I would have expected. Puerto Rico was given more of a one-dimensional feel and warranted more. There was mention of storm damage, street art (could have used more of this, particularly considering the epilogue), and the tourism industry, but where was the rest? The music, the warmth (of both the people and the weather), and the cuisine? Save for one slightly over-the-top mofongo moment, there just wasn’t enough mention of Puerto Rican cuisine to satisfy.

The relationship between Gabby and Isabella was solid. They behaved like sisters with the closeness and the arguing even when not convinced that they were related at all. It was the relationship of Gabby with Max that felt bizarre to me. Aside from mentioning that he was good-looking, there were zero redeeming qualities in this person that made her attraction to, and allegiance to him make sense. His main personality traits seem to be rude and spineless. Gabby’s hesitancy to break away from a person who in reality was just an employer seemed out of character for someone who would drop everything to investigate a DNA test result on a whim.

The plot itself was well-crafted with some surprises along the way. There were plenty of twists and turns including a few that I didn’t see coming that kept me invested. For those who like a tidy end, the multiple storylines came together cohesively by the end with a satisfying resolution. I do think though that Familia suffered from a lack of depth when it comes to immersing the reader in the surroundings and culture (perhaps heavy-handed editing?). Regardless, I enjoyed the writing style in Familia and the theme of family bonds and look forward to what Rico may tackle next.