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carolinemwatson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child death, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
amydunning's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
angelkisses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tragicomedy at it's finest. I'm surprised this is Jimenez's debut novel because it is expertly crafted. all the praise for it mentions how Jiménez deftly weaves together dark and heavy subjects with light hearted hilarity and family dramatics & they're correct! It is difficult to combine two moods that contrast to this degree but Jimenez proves it is possible! I'm excited to dive into their short stories at some point in the future because I imagine her snappy voice suits the medium very well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Pedophilia
mariaslibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Child abuse
lindsayerin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Murder, Classism, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Vomit
raphynette's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Racism, and Child abuse
deidrelj's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was ready to move this book but it didn’t happen. The premise is promising but the delivery is bumbled. The narration by Ruthy’s family is colorful and entertaining but often not pulled together to follow the storyline. It felt like a short story with unnecessary filler and the afterword by the author revealed that to be the case exactly. This was almost a DNF for me and in hindsight, I think I would have preferred that, leaving the promise of the story unfinished rather than unsatisfactory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Child death and Murder
ooohgoshtara's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a good read. It’s the story of Ruthy Ramirez a 13-year-old Puerto Rican girl who never makes it home after track practice and the impact her disappearance has on her family. Many years later one of her sisters is watching tv and thinks she sees Ruthy on a trashy reality tv show called ‘Catfight’. This leads Ruthy’s mom and sisters to embark on a journey to bring Ruthy home.
A very much character driven story told from multiple POV’s. The POV’s of Ruthy’s mother, her two sisters and Ruthy herself. This story is heartbreaking yet has perfectly timed humor. A powerful exploration of family, death, grief, childhood, and generational trauma. It also highlights the way that missing Brown and Black girls and women are often ignored. I have seen some comments about their being too much profanity, but I didn’t notice. I guess I took it as how actual people would talk. The characters, the plot all came across as real and authentic to me.
The story also touches on childhood sexual abuse, racism, discrimination, and death.
#RuthyRamirez #NetGalley #ClaireJimenez
A very much character driven story told from multiple POV’s. The POV’s of Ruthy’s mother, her two sisters and Ruthy herself. This story is heartbreaking yet has perfectly timed humor. A powerful exploration of family, death, grief, childhood, and generational trauma. It also highlights the way that missing Brown and Black girls and women are often ignored. I have seen some comments about their being too much profanity, but I didn’t notice. I guess I took it as how actual people would talk. The characters, the plot all came across as real and authentic to me.
The story also touches on childhood sexual abuse, racism, discrimination, and death.
#RuthyRamirez #NetGalley #ClaireJimenez
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Racism
kwurtzel3's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Murder
spinesinaline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-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
Such a compelling read, many CWs for sexual assault, pedophilia, physical abuse. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC!
This is not only the story of the Ramirez’s search for their missing sister but of the violence and harassment that each woman in the family has faced and beyond that, of the wider societal issue of violence against women, especially women of colour. It’s a sad and upsetting read, but also one of the incredible love of this family, their fights and making up, and their hilarious humour.
There was some questionable fatphobic portrayal so a heads up for that. The comments that focused on one character’s weight and diets in relation to their grief felt unnecessary to the story.
I really enjoyed this story while also feeling the visceral grief of this family and other women who’ve been in this position. A great read to start off my year.
This is not only the story of the Ramirez’s search for their missing sister but of the violence and harassment that each woman in the family has faced and beyond that, of the wider societal issue of violence against women, especially women of colour. It’s a sad and upsetting read, but also one of the incredible love of this family, their fights and making up, and their hilarious humour.
There was some questionable fatphobic portrayal so a heads up for that. The comments that focused on one character’s weight and diets in relation to their grief felt unnecessary to the story.
I really enjoyed this story while also feeling the visceral grief of this family and other women who’ve been in this position. A great read to start off my year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Cursing, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia
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