This was such a riveting read. A story of family secrets and lost love. It has a little bit of mystery, romance and family drama. I loved the way the story slowly unfolded. The story is told in various timelines thirty years ago and current timeline. Emilia and Paul are celebrating their marriage and are on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. On the second day Paul goes missing.

Narrated by Victoria Villareal, Robb Moreira, Frankie Corzo. These three did such great job bringing the characters in the story to life. I enjoyed the little bits of Spanish included in the story.

I'm glad I picked up this book! This book is a story of present day with flashbacks to 30 years ago when Paul and Emilia were first married. I liked Emilia's story and her two now grown daughters. They all had a bit of growth learning about each other as they began to understand their mother's past! Parts of this take place in Puerto Rico and I enjoyed the bits of Spanish and that aspect! I also loved the role that music had in this story! Thank you RB Media for an audiobook! Both Narrators did a fantastic job and I loved hearing the small amounts of Spanish included in the book and audiobook. I highly recommend this book!

Wow, there’s a lot going on in this story! Thirty years ago, musicians Emilia Oliveras and Paul Winstead were married in Puerto Rico. Forty-eight hours later, Paul vanished from their honeymoon cruise, leaving Emilia devastated—and the prime suspect in his disappearance. So, she ran for her life, leaving behind her love, her dreams, and her identity.

Part family drama, part suspenseful thriller, part mystery, this story kept me engaged until the very end. The narration for this audiobook was really well done- I enjoyed the multiple points of view. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you to NetGalley and to RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC of the audiobook, After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico. I look forward to more from this author!

I don’t know what I expected going into this novel, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I loved the story that spanned decades, the characters, the love, and the redemption. The multiple pov and different timelines through the story created so many layers for me, and I was invested from the very first chapter. I rotated reading and listening to the audio for this one, and both are great options!

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Add this to your Summer reading list my friends. It giving lounging in the sun with a fruit smoothie on a sweltering day vibes. Ok now about the book…

Young and in love, Emilia and Paul are celebrating their honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise… after a stop in Puerto Rico Paul is missing. Emilia is concerned and finds herself as a suspect once Paul’s wealthy family gets involved. With the help of a detective Emilia goes into hiding. 30 years later in Oregon… Emily “Emilia” receives a phone call that gives hope Paul may still be alive. She flees to see the truth and on her tail… her two daughters unaware of the man their mom hopes to find.

This was a page turner! Short, alternating POV chapters and a mystery that grabs your attention and keeps a hold of it throughout this short (288 pg) but thorough novel. While the synopsis sheds light on the main plot of the story, Lauren E. Rico also writes about mother and daughter relationships, gifted musicians and redemption.

I saw this on Aardvark as a January Bookclub pick and haven’t seen it to much on the gram yet! I’m hoping it gets some good buzz!

Thank you Kensington & RBMedia

50 State Challenge/ OREGON

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Beautifully written and thought provoking.

What would a mother do to protect her child?

I loved the multi-timeline of this story. 30 years ago from the honeymoon of Emilia Oliveras and "Now" the life of Emily Oliver are weaved together to tell a tale that boils down to a mother protecting herself and her child from a wealthy family that doesn't accept her. The 'now' timeline also leans on the relationship of sisters Meg and Gracie. Their relationship and how it evolved was fun to read.

Also told from multi-POV, I thought all the narrators did a wonderful job with their parts. It was easy to stay engaged with the story and their pacing and inflections were good.

Would recommend if you love:
-multi-timeline
-multi-POV
-family secrets
-family bonds
-mystery woven throughout both timelines

I was hooked very quickly. Even when I figured out what the main mystery was, there were still a few twists, and it was a cozy listen that I binged.

Thanks NetGalley for my copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the audiobook experience with this story. They went with a multicast production and it really lended to the overall storytelling.
This story is about family, reconnecting, and at its heart forgiveness. It was beautifully written and captivating. The mystery is engaging, but a little unbelievable.
It’s told in multiple points of view which helps to fill in all aspects of the story. Most of the characters are well fleshed out and we get a clear picture of their journey.
I would highly recommend this audiobook!

A quintessential example of, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. I love going into books blind, meaning I look at the cover, think ‘I’ve read and enjoyed a book with a cover like that before’, and proceed to read that book. More often than not, I am pleasantly surprised by what I read. I saw this cover and thought ‘this looks like a combination of True to Me and Something in the Water’. I could not tell if it was going to be the feel-good, found-family, slight-romance of the former, or the gripping, family-drama, mystery/thriller of the latter. The truth is, this book was a little bit of both. It was a heartwarming family tale of a woman who has kept secrets from her family, and how revealing those secrets bridges the divide between them. There is quite a bit of mystery, but it’s not scary like a thriller.

Everything was unveiled in a way that kept me hooked. I may have even laughed out loud and shed a tear. The chapters were short and to the point, yet the writing was still very detailed and descriptive. Usually, with multi-POV books, I am bored by some of the POVs and excited for others. This book wasn’t like that. Every POV was interesting to me.

The audiobook narrators also did a fantastic job!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for sharing with me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this! It was definitely more of a family drama and mystery (which was perfectly fine by me - I love a family drama 😂) but the story itself was very captivating and kept my attention the entire time. There were a lot of characters which sometimes made it hard to follow what was going on, but by the end it all came together nicely; my favorite character was definitely Gracie.

All in all a very solid read and an absolutely wonderful audiobook!

This book was a nice surprise. Family secrets, mystery, as well as a heartwarming story. Told in alternating POV chapters, which kept me totally engaged. It was a quick listen and the narration was done very well. I can sometimes drift off if the narration is not good, but this kept me on track the whole story. I would definitely pick this up if you like mystery with family drama. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 stars

At the beginning it felt like there were a couple errors made in the dates of 30 years ago and today. I had to go back and actually read the summary of the book to better understand what was going on.

Once I figured that out, the author did a good job of developing the characters up until the point in time when Paul is found alive. At that point, it felt like she rushed through to the ending. The fact that Blaine had such a quick change of heart, his parents never found out his part and died just seemed such a let down after the buildup.

Although I was happy with the ending and how they allowed Emily to reunite with her mother, I really do believe she could have taken some more time to develop that part of the story.

Also I was disappointed with the male narrator when he was reading the investigator's part's. He could have added much more of a spanish accent.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio copy of “After the Ocean” for a review.

I went into this with no expectations and limited knowledge of the premise. It is a solid family drama/mystery. There weren’t any crazy twists, which I appreciated because the story felt well planned and executed.

I liked having multiple narrators since there were a lot of characters and jumps in time that were easy to track with different voices.

After The Ocean
By: Lauren E. Rico

One of the most accurate quotes on marriage is, “When you marry someone, you also marry their family.” Even if you plan to distant yourself from the in-laws and the newly acquired family, you are now bound to them by your nuptial agreement you have entered into.
So choose wisely.

Paul meets Emilia and they fall madly in love. But inevitably the day comes when you have to introduce one to the family; a step not easily avoided when you come from a prominent wealthy family. Emilia does not have the right kind of pedigree that is suited for the Winstead family. She is tossed aside and dismissed. But true love can’t be denied and Paul and Emilia have done the unthinkable and eloped. While on their honeymoon Paul vanishes and Emilia is now the prime suspect.

When you have married a very powerful and wealthy family, there is no escaping their wrath. Emilia is forced into a life that she never dreamed of living while leaving her former life unfinished. Family secrets have been rooted and tangled in this novel where starting over isn’t just relocating, but a complete transformation into a new identity and reinvention of oneself for survival. Family secrets and generational trauma weave its toxicity throughout this novel and will have you pondering the ties that bind.

What I liked: There are great themes such as reinvention of one’s identity, new found family, and generational trauma and healing. The author did a phenomenal job at highlighting the importance of forgiveness of family secrets.

What I disliked: I felt there was some disconnection throughout this book. I kept getting the feeling that the author was trying to add some elements of different genres to this story and it didn’t really work for me. It felt as if she wasn’t sure what direction to go. I also wasn’t keen on the different time lines and multiple character viewpoints because the characters were not as well developed as I would have liked and the some of the timeline stories were not as engaging and developed as I would have liked them to be. This story read as a YA story. I wasn’t convinced by most of it and there was so much underdeveloped characters and plot that I just like it was missing a lot. While a quick easy read it was lacking depth and development. The author did have a beautiful theme to this story and I did enjoy some of the writing so I would be interested in reading future books by her.

This was my introduction to this author. I’ve already added a few more to my TBR list. This was a well thought out emotional story of family, love, loss, secrets, lies, betrayals, some amazing people, some truly despicable ones and more. Emilia and Paul are in love. The soul deep, you’re the only one I want to grow old with a bone deep kind of love. He is her miracle given her family history. Paul is amazing, so much more so than the rest of his twisted tyrannical judgmental family. He sees her as his port in the storm. When they are betrayed and separated for many many years, their love for each other still exists. It kept me rapt the entire time. Love truly does prevail. All that aside, and yes I know this is a book and​ was thrilled they found their way back to each other, I'd ​have like some accountability for the brother.

I love the Puerto Rican representation. The dual timelines (30 years before and now) worked well in this story. While the writing was easy, the storyline kept me interested. The story beings 30 years prior where Emilia is on a honeymoon cruise with her new husband, Paul, when he disappears without a trace. Fast forward to today, Emilia has two grown daughters who are both going through their own personal journeys when Emilia receives a phone call that will change all of their lives. This was a family drama with a family secret that runs deep in their veins. I loved the mystery aspects, and the characters were fun. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators really enhanced the story. Overall, it was an easy read, but quite enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
When it all comes together . . . Just wow.
Phenomenal book. Multiple timelines and POV’s that all meld into an amazing story about love and family. I finished this in less than a day and I just couldn’t stop listening. The writing was great and all of the narrators were phenomenal. Really great book.

5-Stars!

This story was stunningly beautiful and deeply moving—it made me cry, and I’m not even a huge crier when it comes to books. The plot masterfully blends mystery, family drama, and emotional depth, keeping you hooked from the very beginning.

The medium pace was perfect, allowing the story’s layers to unfold naturally while maintaining a steady momentum. The vivid setting and the raw emotional journeys of the characters brought every moment to life. Their struggles, secrets, and paths to forgiveness felt authentic and deeply resonant.

This book is an unforgettable exploration of love, redemption, and resilience. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended!

Thank you, NetGalley and RBMedia, for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

This deeply heartfelt novel explores the emotional depths of intergenerational trauma, the bonds of family, and the enduring power of forgiveness. Thirty years after Emilia Oliveras’ husband mysteriously vanished during their idyllic Caribbean honeymoon, her carefully rebuilt life is thrown into turmoil by a phone call suggesting he might still be alive. What follows is not only a search for truth but a profoundly moving journey of healing and self-discovery for Emilia and her two estranged daughters, Meg and Gracie.

Lauren E. Rico skillfully weaves themes of loss, identity, and redemption, portraying each character’s pain and longing with raw, emotional honesty. The strained relationships between Emilia and her daughters resonate with authenticity, as misunderstandings and past mistakes slowly unravel to reveal the love that binds them. The lush, evocative setting of Puerto Rico adds a layer of beauty and hope to the story, underscoring the novel’s emotional impact.

This is a story that lingers, reminding readers of the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico is a compelling and beautifully written novel. The engaging writing style drew me in, making it difficult to put the book down. Rico masterfully portrays the intricate and fierce bonds among mothers and sisters, in a way that feels both authentic and moving.

The story revolves around family secrets, but what sets it apart is the purpose behind these secrets. They are not merely tools for suspense but are deeply rooted in the characters' desire to protect their loved ones. This added depth makes After the Ocean much more than a typical thriller or mystery. It is thought-provoking and explores the nuances of family dynamics.

As a first-time reader of Lauren E. Rico’s work, I am thoroughly impressed. Her ability to weave a narrative that is both engaging and emotionally rich has left me eager to explore more of her writing. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book.