What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez? Book Review

When I was in college, I had the idea to write a novel about a girl who goes missing only to be found 10 years later living a different life. I had been inspired by the concept of a "fugue state", as well as the Natalee Hollaway disappearance. 

Well, it appears that Claire Jimenez beat me to it with her novel What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez?, only minus the psychological drama. The novel is about a Staten Island family grieving the loss of a sister and daughter. When she was 13 years old, Ruthy Ramirez just disappeared, and her sisters and parents never found out what happened to her. 

Flash forward 12 years, and Ruthy's sisters think they've found Ruthy. She goes by the name of Ruby and is a contestant on a reality TV show called Catfight. What ensues is a comedic family road trip from New York to Boston in an attempt to bring Ruthy home.

The road trip doesn't happen until the very end of the novel. So what does happen up until then? Each chapter is told from a different character's voice: Jess, the oldest sister, new mom, and nurse; Nina, the youngest sister and recent college graduate who can't find any other job than one in retail; Dolores, the mother who tried to give her children the life she never had; and Ruthy. The story tackles the topics of stereotypes, mother/daughter relationships, family dynamics, and double standards. There will definitely be a lot to talk about if you read this novel with your book club.

I devoured this book! I could not put it down. I enjoyed the hilarity mixed in with the emotional parts. I can't wait for you to read it!

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez? is published by Grand Central and will be available to purchase March 7, 2023. I received a free ARC.