Praise for Lauren E. Rico
"A multigenerational history of secrets, betrayals, and regrets underpins this ambitious and heartfelt exploration of the complexities of familial bonds. Lauren Rico's absorbing story touches upon social injustices and moral ambiguities, but at its heart, After the Ocean is a poignant reminder that healing cannot begin without truth and forgiveness." —Jamie Beck, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author
“A vivid tale of love, power, family, secrets, and the power of music. I was completely swept away by the characters and their emotional journeys. It’s a beautiful, believable, and yet utterly shocking tale. Brava, Lauren Rico—this is storytelling at its stellar finest!” —Ellen Meister, author of Take My Husband and Divorce Towers on After the Storm
“A moving story about the bonds of sisterhood and unraveling the mysteries of your past. I truly enjoyed going on this journey with Isabella and Gabby. A wonderful debut!” —Annette Chavez Macias, bestselling author of Big Chicas Don’t Cry on Familia
“Rico's novel is a love letter to her heritage [that] enables an immersive experience as the would-be sisters follow elusive leads and bypass previous dead ends. Rico cleverly balances a diverse supporting cast, both unreliable and persuasive. Even as Rico highlights connections by blood, she repeatedly reminds readers, ‘It's not about who we share our DNA with so much as who we share our heart with.’” —Shelf Awareness on Familia
"Rico dazzles with a surprising story of the pleasures and pitfalls of amateur genealogy. Rico perfectly portrays the possible sisters’ fraught relationship through a series of surprising twists and turns. This skillful tale enchants." —Publishers Weekly on Familia
"A masterfully woven tale of mystery, reconciliation, and familial love." —Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author on Familia
“A page-turning story of family lost and found, wrapped in the tangled threads of an engaging mystery, and sprinkled with just a bit of Sazón, I loved everything about this modern yet timeless book.” —Ann Dávila Cardinal, author of The Storyteller’s Death (And International Latino Book Awards Winning Author) on Familia
“Familia has it all: An old crime, unsuspecting victims, a genetic mystery that will explode a family, the enormous tenderness of desperate parents. By page 30, I would have walked on coals to finish reading this story." —Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean on Familia
“Familia is a novel of robust joy. The story spills off the page in a rush of emotion that makes you feel like you've been on the journey of a lifetime. Simply marvelous!” —Amy T. Matthews, author of Someone Else’s Bucket List on Familia
“Rico combines sharp, thoughtful observation with an engaging plot in her women’s-fiction debut. Readers will be invested in Gabby and Isabella’s story, and the alternating chapters, which tell the story of Marianna’s abduction from the perspective of the people who were involved, add a layer of suspense. It’s an irresistible blend of family drama and mystery, ideal for fans of Julia Alvarez and Diane Chamberlain.” —Booklist on Familia
“Familia is a heartwarming story with autobiographical memories of the author’s childhood visits to a tiny fishing village on the southwest coast, a place where neighbors became extended family.” —WSHU’s Baum on Books on Familia
