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A review by andrea_gagne
Familia by Lauren E. Rico
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was such a unique and interesting concept, and I'm really glad I picked it up.
Familia explores questions around the meaning of family, what story our DNA tells, identity, and what shapes who we are. It tugs at the loose threads of who we think we are -- and explores what happens if they start to unravel.
Gabby DiMarco grew up as a single child of Italian American parents, and now works as a fact checker at a magazine in New York. But when a story about DNA testing prompts the magazine staff to do their own genealogy testing, she's hit with an unexpected result - and a potential sister. Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, Isabella Ruiz has been searching for her lost sister for 25 years, and she's sure her search is over. When a highly skeptical Gabby flies to Puerto Rico to try and track down the truth, she and Isabella must work together to uncover what happened all those years ago.
The mystery of this story really drew me in, and I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happened. I was also so compelled by the evolution of Gabby and Isabella's relationship, and they got me feeling emotional at times! And I admit, I did get a bit emotional at times (especially around the end).
The writing largely worked for me. The narrative voice feels less like you're in the character's mind and more like they're telling the story to you -- kind of like a narrator's voiceover in a movie. The writing style wasn't the most embellished, but it did keep the pacing moving ahead smoothly.
I did find Gabby to be a little immature for my taste. She has a bit of a "teenager insisting they're an adult" vibe.
Overall, I'm very glad I picked this up and I look forward to more by Lauren E. Rico.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC to read and review.
Familia explores questions around the meaning of family, what story our DNA tells, identity, and what shapes who we are. It tugs at the loose threads of who we think we are -- and explores what happens if they start to unravel.
Gabby DiMarco grew up as a single child of Italian American parents, and now works as a fact checker at a magazine in New York. But when a story about DNA testing prompts the magazine staff to do their own genealogy testing, she's hit with an unexpected result - and a potential sister. Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, Isabella Ruiz has been searching for her lost sister for 25 years, and she's sure her search is over. When a highly skeptical Gabby flies to Puerto Rico to try and track down the truth, she and Isabella must work together to uncover what happened all those years ago.
The mystery of this story really drew me in, and I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happened. I was also so compelled by the evolution of Gabby and Isabella's relationship, and they got me feeling emotional at times! And I admit, I did get a bit emotional at times (especially around the end).
The writing largely worked for me. The narrative voice feels less like you're in the character's mind and more like they're telling the story to you -- kind of like a narrator's voiceover in a movie. The writing style wasn't the most embellished, but it did keep the pacing moving ahead smoothly.
I did find Gabby to be a little immature for my taste. She has a bit of a "teenager insisting they're an adult" vibe.
Overall, I'm very glad I picked this up and I look forward to more by Lauren E. Rico.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC to read and review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Rape