The book revolves around the disappearance of 13 year-old, Ruthy. She had never returned home from school. For 12 years, her family has been searching for any clues regarding her disappearance. One day while watching TV, her sisters Jessica and Nina were watching a reality show. They spotted a girl that looked exactly like a 25 year-old, Ruthy. Ruby had the same color hair, same birthmark, and the same personality. They decide to go on a road trip along with their mother Dolores, and her annoying friend Irene, to the set of the show to see Ruthy/Ruby. What they didn't expect from the road trip is that they would be forced to face their pasts and unresolved feelings.

I would have given it a higher rating, but the consistent jumping from POV to POV got confusing at times.

** Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC **

I was really happy that I was approved on this book and I did enjoy reading it. In my opinion, there were some parts did made me giggled but after reading it, it did made me wondered about the what ifs. Overall, I thought this book was pretty good.

Turn to the back of any novel, and you will find the acknowledgements page. Here is the author’s gratitude to those who have shaped the book along the way – writing groups, first readers, agents, editors. Here, too, is the author’s thanks to those who have made them the person they have become, with the last words usually considered the place of highest honor. Consider then how Vanderbilt alum Claire Jiménez closes the acknowledgements of her debut novel What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez: “And to my sisters for kicking my ass and keeping me honest. Thank you for making me laugh. This book is for you.” [228]

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez opens with a similar sort of acknowledgement, a brief sketch of the Ramirez family – Puerto Rican and proud of their Staten Island home. The youngest, Nina, describes them, starting from teenaged Eddie and Dolores getting married in 1981 with eldest Jessica already on the way. “Two years later draw Ruthy in pencil, lightly, because you’re going to need to erase her in a couple of minutes,” [ix] Nina quips, a jarringly light comment in the face of “the hole in the middle of the timeline” – the day 13-year-old Ruthy never comes home after track practice.

This introduction provides some of the consequences of that tragedy: the death of Eddie, the health crisis of Dolores. But it glosses over the impact on the sisters, leaving those details to unfold over the course of the book. The chapters are mostly given to Nina and Jessica, weaving the present day with their memories of the events surrounding Ruthy’s disappearance. Though multiple narrators is a fairly common technique, here it proves a clever choice from Jiménez, giving the narrative the same fire and pace as a heated exchange between siblings. Interrupting their banter are occasional chapters from Ruthy herself, written in the third-person while gradually meting out the details of the day she went missing. Also present is Dolores, with her sections written as an extended conversation with God, albeit one laced with profanity and snark.

For years now, Jessica has been taking care of Dolores, with Nina pursuing a degree in biology and keeping her distance. After graduating with no medical school prospects, Nina returns home to face her family with all its drama and obligations. When the two sisters think they see Ruthy on a trashy reality TV program (called Catfight), Nina is skeptical, but Jessica’s certainty wears her down, and before long, they are making plans to go find Ruthy.

On one level, this book is a fast-paced, engrossing mystery. Readers will be pulled along, anxious to find out if the woman on the TV is, in fact, the long-lost Ruthy. But the title doesn’t have a question mark. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is less a question itself and more the answer to a different question, one that probes the complexities of sisterhood and identity.

Spurred by their desire to find their sister, Nina and Jessica get sucked in by the Catfight show, an exploitative program where young women move into a shared house with the expectation that they will fight. When they do, the loser is sent packing, kicked out of the house and off the show. Though these women choose to be on the show, the limitations of their agency is clear as their bodies are objectified, their identities are flattened, and their anger is nothing more than spectacle. Nina knows all this and asks, “Whose design was it to choreograph such violence between these women, who was really in charge, and why could I not stop watching?” [125]

Under the snappy dialogue and ferocity of the Ramirez women’s search for Ruthy, there is the certainty of all the things that haunt them and women like them: discrimination, lack of opportunity, societal expectations, abuse. Like women everywhere, Nina and Jessica are angry and have no real place to put that anger, so more often than not, they direct it at each other, just like the girls on Catfight. When Nina and Jessica cheer at the girl on the screen getting dragged across the floor by her extensions, it is “Because,” Nina explains, “we were angry, angry that Ruthy’d been gone, angry for what might have or might not have happened to her, or to our mother, or to our father or to us – if in reality Ruthy had decided to stay or if she had not been taken.” [217]

When they finally confront the cast of Catfight, readers will understand the depth of sisterhood – the way it can embolden and break us, build us up or tear us down. It is our sisters who make us who we are. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez has happened to all of us, in different ways across every generation, and the magic of Jiménez’s tremendous debut is that it never preaches, never stands on a righteous soapbox, but the message is clear, down to the last word of the acknowledgements.

"What Happened with Ruthy Ramírez" felt like stepping into a tornado of emotions, cultural identity, and family ties. The book explores themes such as grief, loss, and inter-generational trauma while emphasizing the importance of family bonds.

As a Caribbean-born Latina living abroad, this story resonated with me in ways I didn't expect. The author's use of Spanglish added richness to the storytelling, and I loved how the cultural traditions and syncretism were written.

There were so many moments that made me smile. Like the old lady's use of the endearing term of affection, "mi amor," on a stranger. Or the symbolic glass of water to ward off evil. When the mother ended a fight by serving food (even when no one was hungry), I laughed out loud because it was so fricking relatable!

However, besides the warmth and humour, Jiménez tackles heavier topics such as prejudice, racism, and discrimination. I was particularly impressed with how she portrayed the micro-aggressions faced by minorities - it really hit the nail on the head.

Yet, it's the portrayal of familial silence and denial, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like sexual assault, that truly hits home. Jiménez navigates these difficult conversations with grace, highlighting the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of unspoken trauma.

I understand why some readers reacted negatively to certain parts of the book. I have a similar cultural background, and some chapters were difficult to read. Especially those portraying how hitting children and silencing abuse can be culturally normalized.

Overall, it is a powerful and thought-provoking read. I do recommend it, but please, be mindful of your mental health and check the trigger warnings first.

CW: SA, physical and psychological violence, LOTS of swearing, descriptions of bodily functions

This was a pretty decent read. I found it to be hilarious because of the multiple perspectives but the premise of the book is unfortunate because a missing child is something families hardly get over. I didn’t mind the language because it reflected the character and their environment. It felt natural for me.

This novel was so moving and funny. Its examination of the complexities of sisterhood was so honest. I can’t wait to read more by Claire Jimenez.

We follow two sisters as they try to piece together what happened to their sister Ruthie when she went missing at only 13 years old. I started out really enjoying the story but along the middle, i felt like it dragged too long and only for that, 3.5 stars

I wanted to love this a lot but it felt very YA for me which is not my favourite, and given that the sisters were grown I didn’t expect that going in. Thanks to the publisher for the eARC!

I was really excited for this one. Ugh, I read 20% of it and could not get into it even though I kept trying. The story line was there, but I think it was happening too slowly. All of what happened up until 20% could have developed much quicker. And up until 20% not much other character development had happened so it seemed like there weren't other sub plots happening to keep the story going.

WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTHY RAMIREZ follows the lives of the Ramirez women after the disappearance of teenage middle child, Ruthy. When watching reality TV one day, they spot someone who appears to be their vanished sister and begin a new search in earnest.

Jimenez does a very well-drawn character study of people in grief and the different ways they cope and internalize. The mom and each sister felt like such real people, and you could feel their pain and attempt to keep moving forward in life despite having lost a family member. The characterization stood out to me most in this novel.

I also appreciated that we had moments from Ruthy's point of view. She deserved to have her own voice, and I'm glad the author gave space for that.

I see what the author was trying to do by putting in the segments about the reality TV show, but those detracted from the story for me. They made important points about how America is both obsessed with and vilifies women of color, but it felt like a separate story.

Overall this was a really solid debut, and I'll definitely be checking out the author's future works.

I enjoyed the first third of this book and then it just did not deliver on any of the setups that I was hoping. I did like the ending and how you do find out what happened to Ruthy Ramirez and I do love a sad book ending.

"What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez" is a poignant debut that takes readers on an emotional journey through the fractured lives of a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island. The narrative revolves around the discovery that their long-lost sister, Ruthy, might be alive and participating in a reality TV show.

The novel skillfully explores the complexities of familial bonds, touching on themes of generational violence, colonialism, race, and silence. The characters, vividly depicted with snark, resentment, tenderness, and love, contribute to a rich family portrait that feels raw and authentic.

This story is more than a family drama; it's a vivid exploration of the human experience, where love and loss intersect in unexpected ways. The narrative is a testament to the enduring strength of family ties and the resilience required to face the shattered reality of their lives.

I heard about What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez on an NPR interview and immediately came over to NetGalley to request an early copy. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review, I truly enjoyed this story.

At age 13, Ruthy Ramirez goes missing. Everyone searches for her but she isn't found.
Life goes on.

Ten years later, her sisters Jessica and Nina catch a glimpse of Ruthy on a tv reality show, Cat Fight. They are certain it's her -- same hair, same laugh, same beauty mark under her eye. They try to keep this knowledge from their mom, they don't want to upset her more. But a mom always knows, right? She finds out about this secret the two of them have been keeping, and together they travel to another city to bring Ruthy home.


What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is a story about familial love, tragedy and resilience. Their story made me emotional. I am so very grateful to say that in many ways I can't relate to the Ramirez family. But their problems were so real and I know that there are readers who can relate (both for good and bad reasons). I hope those that do can use this story to help heal.


***mini spoiler
Near the end of the book I thought we will never know for sure what happened to Ruthy, and I was ok with that. As much as I wanted an answer to the question I thought that leaving it open to the reader worked.
But then we learn the truth and it broke my heart. It made me sad for these characters but also because it made me acknowledge that all of the horrible things that occurred through out this story happen everyday.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. There are things I liked about this book. The title itself, What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez draws the reader in simply wanting to know more about the story. We learn that 13 year old Ruthy Ramirez disappeared and years later, her sisters are sure they have found her on a reality TV show called Catfight. The author reveals their Staten Island, Puerto Rican culture through the dialog that takes place among the mom, daughters and community. While some reviewers have complained about the overuse of the word “fuck,” I think it helps us “hear” the way they communicate with each other. No one wants to seem too soft or emotional or weak. We see that in many ways throughout the story.
What I don’t like about the story is that there are pieces that are left underdeveloped. We don’t know enough about what happened to the dad. We don’t know enough about Ruthy’s relationship with her family. We aren’t given time to care much about Ruthy except for what anyone would feel about a missing young person.
Jimenez does a great job of building our expectations and curiosity as the story builds. I won’t spoil anything from there. I did keep turning the pages and wanted to know what was going to happen. I can’t say I would recommend this, however.

The Ramirez women, residing on Staten Island, revolve around a void—the absence of thirteen-year-old Ruthy, the middle child, who vanished without a trace after track practice, leaving the family scarred and in disarray. Twelve years later, a revelation on a raunchy reality show, Catfight, catches the attention of the oldest sister, Jessica. The woman on screen, with dyed red hair and the unmistakable beauty mark under her left eye, goes by the name Ruby. Could it possibly be Ruthy, reemerging after all these years?

The narrative delves deeply into the exploration of grief, capturing the profound impact on multiple generations of Puerto Rican women who mourn Ruthy's disappearance. Despite maintaining a glimmer of hope for her return, the relentless grief takes a toll on the Ramirez women, affecting them both emotionally and physically. The portrayal of the Ramirez women is captivating—fiery, flawed, and marked by the tragedy that has shattered their lives. These characters feel authentic, reminiscent of real women with whom one could connect and empathize. The witty banter among friends and siblings adds a dynamic layer, although at times, it may verge on being overwhelming. Furthermore, the incorporation of Puerto Rican culture into the narrative adds an enriching dimension, providing readers with a glimpse into a vibrant cultural backdrop.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a touching story about two Puerto Rican sisters living on Staten Island who think they've found their third sister who went missing years before. There's lots of dysfunctional family drama and the ending packs one hell of a punch.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Over a decade after 13-year-old Ruthy Ramirez never returns home after track practice, her oldest sister, Jessica, discovers Ruthy on TV in a tasteless reality show called “Catfight.” It could simply be someone who looks just like the missing Ramirez sister, but from Ruthy’s laugh to the beauty mark under her eye, Jessica is sure the woman on TV — who goes by Ruby — is Ruthy. Utilizing multiple viewpoints, Jiménez deftly tells a story of one Puerto Rican family’s tragic history and how grief can manifest itself differently. But “What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez” is in no way a heavy read. Jiménez’s snark writing makes for a quick and amusing novel while commenting on the representation of women of color in media. “The book’s humor alongside Jiménez’s willingness to include everything from pop culture to intergenerational trauma is the reason this book is a page-turner,” a starred Kirkus Reviews reads. “Jiménez brings bravery to the page, and it’s her strong storytelling and humor that make this an outstanding debut.”

Quick read with some interesting mother/daughter/sibling dynamics. I ultimately found this unsatisfying because I wanted more resolution, but if you're in it for the family dynamics you'd enjoy more!

The Ramirezes were rocked by the disappearance of middle daughter Ruthy 15 years ago. When older sister Jessica spots a young woman on a reality TV show who she thinks is Ruthy, she convinces her youngest sister Nina to join her on a trip to confront her. But when her mother — and her mother’s nosy best friend—insist on coming along too, it turns into a strange family road trip that forces them to reconcile their past with their future.

This is a beautiful story about the lingering heartbreak after brown and Black girls go missing. Claire Jiménez perfectly balances the crushing grief of Ruthy's disappearance with a delightful sense of humor. I love how each of the characters in the Ramirez family fit together and play off of each other. A nuanced and powerful story I won't forget.

“What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez” is a novel by Claire Jiménez. The book tells the story of Ruthy Ramirez, a thirteen-year-old girl who disappeared after track practice one day and was never seen again. The novel is set in a Pentecostal Puerto Rican community in Staten Island and is told from the alternating perspectives of Ruthy’s younger and older sisters, Nina and Jessica; her mother, Dolores; and Ruthy herself. More than a decade after Ruthy’s disappearance, Jessica is convinced she’s seen her on a reality TV series called Catfight. Jessica and Nina begin binge-watching the show, analyzing every detail about the woman onscreen, comparing her with their memories of Ruthy and their expectations of whether a near-homeless raging alcoholic is the woman Ruthy could have grown up to become. They try to keep this secret from their diabetic mother, but their plan unravels when Dolores figures out that they’re not heading off to a retreat for young Christian women but are instead driving to Boston, where the show is filmed.