A review by mari1532
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I do not know where I heard about this book. It's possible that I just liked the book blurb and that is why I put it on hold at my local library, but whatever the reason I am so so happy that I did.
Synopsis: This is a story of a family. Shifting between perspectives this story follows the four women of the Ramirez family, Dolores the matriarch, Jessica the oldest, Ruthy the missing child, and Nina the baby. The focus of the story is Dolores, Jessica, and Nina as they continue to grapple with the fallout of Ruthy going missing decades earlier and intermixed in present-day narratives are Ruthy's memories about the last day she was seen by her family. With no answers, each of the women has questions and unresolved feelings about what happened to Ruthy. However, when Jessica sees a woman on her TV that might be Ruthy all of the questions and unspoken conflicts within the family come to a head.
Thoughts: This book was so freaking good. Each of the characters was well-rounded and funny with a distinct personality, but you can clearly see how Jessica, Ruthy, and Nina were raised by Dolores. Jimenez's writing is so beautiful and captivating. Jimenez was able to make me as a reader feel what her characters were feeling in any specific scene while also giving them room to realize that there might be some unlikable aspects of the character's behaviour in that particular moment. The use of humour was also perfect particularly the scenes in the bar.
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Highly recommend!
Synopsis: This is a story of a family. Shifting between perspectives this story follows the four women of the Ramirez family, Dolores the matriarch, Jessica the oldest, Ruthy the missing child, and Nina the baby. The focus of the story is Dolores, Jessica, and Nina as they continue to grapple with the fallout of Ruthy going missing decades earlier and intermixed in present-day narratives are Ruthy's memories about the last day she was seen by her family. With no answers, each of the women has questions and unresolved feelings about what happened to Ruthy. However, when Jessica sees a woman on her TV that might be Ruthy all of the questions and unspoken conflicts within the family come to a head.
Thoughts: This book was so freaking good. Each of the characters was well-rounded and funny with a distinct personality, but you can clearly see how Jessica, Ruthy, and Nina were raised by Dolores. Jimenez's writing is so beautiful and captivating. Jimenez was able to make me as a reader feel what her characters were feeling in any specific scene while also giving them room to realize that there might be some unlikable aspects of the character's behaviour in that particular moment. The use of humour was also perfect particularly the scenes in the bar.
Spoiler
I also appreciated that the ending provided a resolution rather than just leaving things open-endedHighly recommend!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence