After the Ocean – by Lauren Rico
Lauren Rico, author of the Whisky Sister series, Familia, and the Reverie series, has weaved an intriguing story of one woman’s painful hidden past that suddenly returns with a cryptic phone call. Thirty years earlier Emilia Oliveras married the man of her dreams, just to have the fairytale end abruptly in Puerto Rico with his mysterious disappearance from their honeymoon cruise. Presumed dead, her new husband Paul, although gone from her life, never left her heart. Immediately following the call, she abruptly leaves her two grown girls, with their own much unresolved issues, to go back and search for the truth. Yet, unknown to Emilia, her daughters Meg and Gracie- after a revealing yet perplexing conversation with their father- follow her on their own search for understanding of the mystery surrounding their mother’s past and true identity.
Although it’s not a sequel or prequel, readers of Rico’s previous story Familia, will recognize some of the same characters brought back as the two stories become intertwined. Her eloquent crafting of this emotional story which spans the past and present, is a wonderful blend of suspense, mystery, and complex intergenerational family dynamics.
After the Ocean is a must read! Will the truth emerge, and will mother and daughters survive the deceptions and painful truths of their past? As their paths converge in the beautiful backdrop of Puerto Rico the trio will be forced to face difficult truths. Will their paths separate once again, or will they be able to acknowledge and forgive mistakes and see each other anew?
“A multigenerational history of secrets, betrayals, and regrets underpins this ambitious and heartfelt exploration of the complexities of familial bonds. Lauren Rico’s absorbing story touches upon social injustices and moral ambiguities, but at its heart, ‘After the Ocean’ is a poignant reminder that healing cannot begin without truth and forgiveness.” -Jamie Beck, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
“From the first page to the last, ‘After the Ocean’ had me in its grip. At its core, the book is a mystery, but it’s so much more, weaving a vivid tale of love, power, family, secrets, and the power of music. I was completely swept away by the characters and their emotional journeys. It’s a beautiful, believable, and yet utterly shocking tale. Brava, Lauren Rico—this is storytelling at its stellar finest!” – Ellen Meister, author of Take My Husband and Divorce Towers
