I was so excited for this book as I love mafia reads but there isn't a lot about the women behind the mafia. The first half of the book read a lot like a YA/coming of age novel and there was very little mafia for me. I was really hoping for me. It was a quick, interesting read but not exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Krupitsky writes about the close friendship between Antonia and Sofia and their families who are part of the mob. The girls grow up knowing this as it defines everything they do and who they are. But this is foremost a book about relationships between friends, wives and husbands, and families. Krupitsky has a cast of characters she fleshes out beautifully and her writing is like prose.

Thank you NetGalley, and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
This is not your typical Mafia novel. Naomi Krupitsky’s debut takes the reader to Brooklyn and into the lives of best friends Antonia Russo and Sofia Colicchio. They share a neighborhood, Sunday dinners, family gatherings and a life with secrets and boundaries.,
Sofia’s father Joey is the head of the Family. She is a carefree and vibrant spirit. Antonia is the daughter of Carlo, a member of the mob. Considerate and discreet, they are opposites yes, but strong in bond.
Their world is turned upside down when Carlo goes missing after his decision to make a new and better life for himself outside of the Family. Within that space of time a silent, invisible web begins to separate Sofia and Antonia and their mothers Rosa and Lina. The world they knew has shifted and nothing is the same. The pain, despair and loss that envelopes Lina is palpable. The complexities of daily life, the expectations, the triumphs and the failures are beautifully written.
This is so much more than a crime family saga. This is a novel about extraordinary women faced with challenges and the strength that guides them,
Thank you Naomi Krupitsky for this powerful and engrossing read.

This was a fun, quick book! I really enjoyed this one so much.
Mafia stories always intrigue me! But the woman of the Mafia you hardly hear anything about.
I really enjoyed this one!

Liked the description of the book, so decided to give it a try. It was very well written and enjoyed the story. Would recommend.

"Please I Just Need A Little More Time"


This is not another mafia story. The angle focuses on two girls, Sofia and Antonia, the former the daughter of the head of The Family. Close, devoted friends form birth, these best friends are an example of a strong, almost unbreakable bond. They know each other well, their strengths and weaknesses. They are different, however, and have spent their short lifetimes not judging each other (most of the time).

Sofia Colicchio is more of a free spirit, but she is allowed her small transgressions because her father, Joey, is the head of the Family. Antonia thinks on a deeper level and is more observant of others’ travails. Antonia’s father, Carlo, is also part of the “mob,” but when he dared to carve out a different life for himself, he “disappeared.”

I’ve read many mafia family stories but Krupitsky’s positioning reminded me of Elena Ferrante and her saga of two best girlfriends. It is more than those that have and the have-nots. This story is complex because the Sofia and Antonia represent a more modern woman, who can fashion a life for herself or dare to marry a Jewish man or a young Italian whose goal is to climb to the Family’s power ladder.

The author emphasizes the other main characters, also. Rosa, the wife of Joey, and Lina, the widow of Carlo. They, too were the best of friends, until Carlo was gone. Lina’s suffering jarred me and her pain seeped into her daughter’s life, with little remorse. There are many facets to the Family but there is a common theme, similar to the dialogue I’ve seen in the movies. Those in power play a conversational game, they are polite, asking about their families, expecting total respect and one never knows what they did or what killing they are planning. These men play the politeness game; the women are more forthright, some accepting and loyal, some are not.

The story takes place in New York with their territories always vying for power. It is complex but does not compare to the intricacy of Sofia and Antonia’s friendship. There is more than mafia entanglements in this book. Krupitsky did a deft job of post part depression and the depths of character of a Jewish boy caught up in this clique. It is a strong story with profound characterizations. The title The Family lacks originality and does not set it apart from other mafia books. She needed a better book title, I was surprised that she chose a common one. The title could deter readers. However, I recommend the book.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Really enjoyed this novel.A novel of women’s friendships of growing up in Brooklyn.I grew up in Brooklyn love books set there.Add in the mafia connection this was a very enjoyable read for me.#netgalley #putnambooks

The description of this book sounded interesting as I really enjoy historical fiction, but it just did not deliver. The 2 main characters Sofia and Antonia were friends since a very early age, and this story about the "family" moved along slowly.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this, I just was not able to. I think that this author tried so hard with the words, that it just failed. This was written in a style that every sentence just strayed away from the middle line that it became distracting to read.
I wish I t wasn't so, but it is what it is.

I liked the female-centric focus of this novel and the friendships that are formed. However, to me it felt very long-winded in places and while the relationships were interesting, the action seemed slow moving. I think I would have liked the story to more along at a quicker pace.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I expected: a gritty novel about two daughters of the mafia and how this affects their lives

What I got: a historical coming of age story about two friends who experience everything at the same time

Sofia and Antonia are two ordinary girls whose fathers are in the mafia. This story begins with the execution of Antonia’s father as he plans to leave The Family. Unfortunately, that’s the most mob action you’ll get. The most disappointing aspect of this novel is how little the mafia is actually in it. It’s a backdrop: more of a framing device than anything. Instead, the focus is on these two girls who outside of their mafia affiliations are average in every way. The first half of this book almost reads like YA, as we follow Sofia and Antonia through childhood and adolescence. They meet boys at the same time, they get married at the same time, they get pregnant at the same time, and it’s all honestly so dull. It seems like there may be some conflict when Sofia becomes pregnant by a Jewish employee of her father’s but nope, they just make him convert to Catholicism and marry him. By this point I was so desperate for something, anything to happen! I made it a little more than halfway through before deciding to read something a little more interesting. I was disappointed because this was one of my most anticipated reads this year. The writing is gorgeous and that’s probably what made me stick with it for as long as I did. For that, I give it 2 stars instead of 1.