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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2023
Format:  Paperback, audiobook, and ebook
Print length ‏ : ‎ 370 pages
Genre:  Hispanic American Literature Fiction

HOW I GOT THIS BOOK

This was the audiobook pick for April. I picked it from Libby and took a minute to choose the next book. I can be very picky when it comes to narrators, and I tend to listen to two or three audiobooks before picking one. This was my choice; I borrowed it from Libby.

MY PERSONAL OPINION OF “FAMILIA”

I went into this book blind, as I usually do, but I wanted something with a Hispanic flair, so this was my choice. The story develops around Gaby, an aspiring writer who, by coincidence, does a DNA test as part of a project founded by the magazine she works for. In the results, she is match 50% with Isabela. Isabela is living in Puerto Rico and have over 25 years looking for her long-lost sister.

As they reunite in Puerto Rico in order to search for the true story of what happened to Isabela’s sister, and with the growing feeling that she, herself, may be the baby that caused so much commotion in the island so many years ago, they search for the truth and for themselves.

The story brings together several characters, all with their own secrets to keep and consciences to clear. Gaby and Isabela grew together as the truth came to them.

This was an amazing story, full of love, intrigue, sadness, fear, and hope. I enjoyed it from the first chapter to the last, and the end gave me the hope the book intended to spark in me.

This was a 5-star read.

PREMISE OF THE BOOK AS FOUND IN AMAZON / GOODREADS:

As the fact checker for a popular magazine, Gabby DiMarco believes in absolute, verifiable Truths—until they throw the facts of her own life into question. The genealogy test she took as research for an article has yielded a baffling result: Gabby has a sister—one who’s been desperately trying to find her. Except, as Gabby’s beloved parents would confirm if they were still alive, that’s impossible.

Isabella Ruiz can still picture the face of her baby sister, who disappeared from the streets of San Juan twenty-five years ago. Isabella, an artist, has fought hard for the stable home and loving marriage she has today—yet the longing to find Marianna has never left. At last, she’s found a match, and Gabby has agreed to come to Puerto Rico.

But Gabby, as defensive and cautious as Isabella is impulsive, offers no happy reunion. She insists there’s been a mistake. And Isabella realizes that even if this woman is her sister, she may not want to be.
With nothing—or perhaps so much—in common, Gabby and Isabella set out to find the truth, though it means risking everything they’ve known for an uncertain future—and a past that harbors yet more surprises . . .

MY RATING: 5.0

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK

“If you live back there—back in the past—you’ll never get over the things that have happened to you. And if you live in the future—always imagining the perfect sister, or job, or family—you’ll never appreciate everything that’s right in front of you.”v

“My husband isn’t a loud man. And he’s not the kind of guy who loses his temper or his patience easily. So, for him to come to this place is very unusual for him—and very disconcerting for me.”

“I experience anger, frustration, embarrassment, amusement, relief, gratitude, and awe. And it’s exhausting. Because being around Isabella is like being on a roller coaster—terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lauren Rico has earned a reputation as one of the top Classical music broadcasters in the country—introducing listeners to the stories of the great composers. But there came the point when she wanted to start writing some stories of her own, and in less than a decade, she’s turned a hobby into several award-winning romance novels. By expanding into the world of Women’s Fiction, Lauren hopes to create relatable characters and compelling storylines that will keep readers up all night turning pages. When she’s not talking on the radio or tethered to her laptop, Lauren enjoys a quiet but crazy life in a lovely but messy home on Long Island with her husband and rescue pup, Sandy.

Bibliography:

• After the Ocean
• Reverie
• Rhapsody
• Requiem