In Claire Jiménez’s debut novel, Nina Ramirez has just returned home to Staten Island after graduating from college. Rejected by medical school and working at a lingerie store in the mall, she’s floundering. Plus, wherever she goes, she’s reminded of her older sister, Ruthy, who disappeared over a decade ago at 13 years old and was never found. But then something strange happens: Nina’s oldest sister Jessica is watching reality TV, and she spots a contestant who looks exactly like Ruthy. So Nina and Jessica—and their mother Dolores—set off to go find out if it’s really her. The journey they take is at turns delightful and devastating, coalescing into a portrait of a fractured family coming together in search of the girl they’ve never given up on. —Annabel Gutterman
Buy Now: What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez on Bookshop | Amazon
Looking for more book recommendations? Sign up for Worth Your Time
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
