A review by lottevanderpaelt
Familia by Lauren E. Rico

emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Familia by Lauren E. Rico tells the story of Gaby and Isabella, two women looking for the truth about their pasts. Isabella has been trying to find out what happened 25 years prior, when her baby sister got abducted. When Gaby gets matched as Isabella's sister through a DNA test, she flies over to Puerto Rico, determined that a mistake was made, in hopes of writing an article about the that company provided the tests. But what truly happened on the island 25 years ago? Are Gaby and Isabella sisters, And if so, how did the seven-month-old get from the broken home in Puerto Rico to the perfect family in America?

I thought Familia was great! The writing style was beautiful, especially the elaborate metaphors describing the character's feelings. The plot was well-thought-out, although a bit predictable at some points. Maybe it's because I'm a seasoned mystery reader, but I could see some twists coming before they were written out. That's the only "negative" thing I can say about this book though. The characters felt human and the situations realistic. The story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. There were multiple POV's and timelines, but I was never confused about what timeline or character we were reading about because they always make sure to let you know clearly at the start of each chapter. The story even brought me to tears a few times. Definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Rico and Rico's team for providing me with an ARC.
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