After the Ocean

"Praise for Familia “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 “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 ""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 ""A masterfully woven tale of mystery, reconciliation, and familial love."" —Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author ""Familia is an absolute delight. I couldn't stop turning the pages—I needed to know what the both the past and the future held for these sisters and how they would put together the pieces of the events that separated them to make their family whole again."" —KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Chicken Sisters (A Reese's Book Club Pick) “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) ""Familia is a compelling and emotional narrative that explores a past wrapped in secrets, the bonds of sisterhood, and what it means to be family. With twists that unfold in every chapter, Lauren E. Rico crafts a compulsive story with engaging characters that hooked me from the start. Gabby and Isabella will stay with you long after you finish the last page. This is a must read! —Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post & Amazon Charts Bestselling Author “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 “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 “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 “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"