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A review by bookedupandbusy
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez
3.0
3.5
A Puerto Rican family in Staten Island, New York discovers their long‑missing sister is potentially alive and cast on a ‘Bad Girls Club’ type reality TV show, and they set out to bring her home.
I really enjoyed this book. The premise is fresh and I loved the suspense throughout. It’s punchy and to the point. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that was both hilarious and heartbreaking! It’s a very touching story so have tissues ready for that last chapter.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Ruthy’s mother, Dolores, and two sisters, Nina and Jessica. Ruthy is a secondary character (she only has about two chapters) as her mother and siblings detail their lives pre, during and after Ruthy’s disappearance.
The main theme of the story is hope. Seeing Ruthy on the reality TV show was a distraction from their trauma filled lives and there was a great display of their fighting spirits to find Ruthy.
Be aware that every page (I am not exaggerating) contains foul language, cussing and insulting someone, especially the extracts describing the reality TV show called ‘Catfight’, but it was written in an elegant way, I call it classy ratchetness. I was turning the pages fast, it was binge worthy just like a reality show and I loved it!
My biggest takeaway from this book is the strength of the Afro-Latina women. They are quite aggressive characters who constantly have to stand up for themselves, however they are independent and never lost hope in finding their sister/daughter.
A Puerto Rican family in Staten Island, New York discovers their long‑missing sister is potentially alive and cast on a ‘Bad Girls Club’ type reality TV show, and they set out to bring her home.
I really enjoyed this book. The premise is fresh and I loved the suspense throughout. It’s punchy and to the point. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that was both hilarious and heartbreaking! It’s a very touching story so have tissues ready for that last chapter.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Ruthy’s mother, Dolores, and two sisters, Nina and Jessica. Ruthy is a secondary character (she only has about two chapters) as her mother and siblings detail their lives pre, during and after Ruthy’s disappearance.
The main theme of the story is hope. Seeing Ruthy on the reality TV show was a distraction from their trauma filled lives and there was a great display of their fighting spirits to find Ruthy.
Be aware that every page (I am not exaggerating) contains foul language, cussing and insulting someone, especially the extracts describing the reality TV show called ‘Catfight’, but it was written in an elegant way, I call it classy ratchetness. I was turning the pages fast, it was binge worthy just like a reality show and I loved it!
My biggest takeaway from this book is the strength of the Afro-Latina women. They are quite aggressive characters who constantly have to stand up for themselves, however they are independent and never lost hope in finding their sister/daughter.