This multigeneration novel follows 3 generations of women - Rafaela (the grandmother), Ruth (the mother) and Daisy (the daughter).
Rafaela lives a privileged life in Puerto Rico, until a scandal rips her life apart. This leads her to finding her husband, Peter. Their marriage produces two children - Benny and Ruth.
Peter and Rafaela move to St.Louis in the 1980s, much to the chagrin of Benny. However, Ruth tries her hardest to fit in, and lets go of everything she learned in Puerto Rico (language, habits and most memories) to assimilate.
Years later, Ruth's daughter Daisy is eager to return to Puerto Rico much against her mother's wishes.
Unfortunately, when a hurricane hits the island Daisy is critically injured. And with this, Rafaela and Ruth must come to terms with the choices they have made during their lives.

So, I actually gave this a 3.8 because in the beginning. Ruth and Rafaela made me so angry because it felt like they were trying to erase being Hispanic and it felt like they wanted to be white. I appreciated the ending and the twist.

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins (book cover is in image) describes how three generations of Puerto Rican women struggled with finding their identity and place living in two worlds. This is a great depiction of the unique diaspora Puerto Ricans experience, being born as an American and never being accepted as Americans, and also being Puerto Rican, and never being seen as truly Puerto Rican by those born and raised on the island. Puerto Rican myself, I can identify with some of the struggles depicted in this book.

The narration by Almarie Guerra was expertly done giving a unique voice to each character. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoyed Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez, When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, or Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas. This is an amazing addition to the Puerto Rican diaspora cannon. Being

Thank you, Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. and Macmillan Audio, for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars
Book and Audio Release Date: May 13 2025

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My first book by this author and all I can say is why did I wait so long? Speak to Me of Home is a multigenerational story of lost identity, lost love, found identity and found love... especially love of yourself and your life. If that sounds confusing, it might feel that way for a bit but the author brings everything together so beautifully, that you can't help but enjoy the journey for exactly what it is-a journey of self discovery. The story is told in several points of view and through several different timelines, moving back and forth that weirdly feels absolutely right as opposed to discombobulated. I felt alive with the beautiful island while in Puerto Rico and filled with darkness and a bit of rage while in the States for different reasons but I believe this story requires us to FEEL! We learn to "feel color as joy" in more ways than one. This story was a testament to the strength of family.

Jeanine Cummins has a way with language. There were some passages in this book that were simply gorgeous. Example: "Their marriage had become a battleground of minimal effort, littered with the corpses of their better selves." Short, but so powerful. There is not a writer in existence who would not give their eye teeth to write like this.
This book was also one where I had to wait a little while before I could write a review. The book needed to percolate in my head before I could elaborate my thoughts and so, I increased my rating from four stars to 4.5 (rounded up).
This novel spans a period of time, from 1968 until the present. Rafaela marries Peter, a white man, and they relocate to the midwest. Rafaela is isolated in St. Louis, which, of course impacts her marriage. She and Peter have a daughter, Ruth, who is, for lack of a better word, Americanized and lets go of her Puerto Rican heritage. Her daughter, Daisy, rebels against this and instead of taking the traditional route to college and a career, Daisy goes to Puerto Rico to live. This is against the backdrop of the real life hurricanes that have been in the news. Then, at the end, something happens to Daisy that brings all of the generations of women together.
The beautiful writing and the characterization gripped me. The reason for 4.5 and not 5 stars has more to do with the novel being a little confusing because of the back and forth between different time periods and the event at the end which just felt a tad forced and like a device to bring everything together as opposed to more naturally occurring. That said, it was a great read. I listened to the audiobook for the first half and read the text for the second half. I think, for me, while the narration was fine, it was easier for me to keep track of what was going on when I read the text.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Henry Holt & Co. and MacMillan Audio for providing me with a the advanced readers' copy and audio of this text in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a beautifully written story of a multigenerational family of women, identity, agency and home.

I did struggle a bit with the non-linear timeline, but I loved the character development and emotion.

This one has definitely lingered. Recommend.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Beautifully written, epic love story. But the love story is not about a romantic love as much it is a love story about family, home, where you come from, and where you’re going. The family is key to the storyline, from the beginning through the middle, all the way to the end. Home is where you belong, and the people that journey through your life with you are the people you belong with. Through good times and bad, this incredible Puerto Rican/American family fights to be together and to hold each other up. I adored the story, the thematic brilliance and this magnificent love story.

My book of the year for 2023 was “The Outside Boy” by Jeanine Cummins. There is a high probability that my 2025 book of the year will be by the same author. I absolutely loved every page of this book. It is the story of 3 generations of women, spanning from the 1960s to current day, taking place in both Puerto Rico and the United States. It bounces between each woman’s story, at different times of their lives, yet is easy to follow. There is family drama, romance, parent/child relationships, sibling relationships, cultural issues, racism, and other “hot topics” all braided into one book. And it is just so beautifully written. I can’t think of one piece I didn’t enjoy. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holt for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

I love a non-linear story, and generational family sagas are my favorites. I was excited to receive an early digital copy of SPEAK TO ME OF HOME from publisher Henry Holt & Co. because Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt was absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep up with all the characters and timelines in this one, and it was a struggle to finish.

I actually had to keep notes to make sure I understood what was going on in SPEAK TO ME OF HOME. Now, sometimes a book is worth the trouble, but I’m sorry to say that wasn’t the case this time.

What I did like: the way Cummins explores the meaning of home, family, and identity. This is a story of three generations of women, and one family’s move from Puerto Rico to Missouri. I wanted to enjoy this story, but ultimately none of the characters were able to sustain my attention.

I’m sorry this one wasn’t for me!

This was a beautifully written, deep story, about the meaning of home, belonging , family but also very emotional, and hard at times to read, especially on the generational trauma and family dynamics. Although very emotional but the different timelines and the writing style made it easier to absorb the story.

Thank you, Henry Holt and Co. and Netgalley, for the free ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 33%
I really wanted to like this book - I LOVED American Dirt, but I really struggled to get into the story. I don't know if it was the multiple plot lines or what, but it felt repetitive and nothing like her previous writing.

Review: Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins
This novel really struck an emotional chord with me. I was drawn in by the layered familial dynamics and the way it explored generational relationships—especially between mothers and daughters. I loved how the story wove together different timelines and perspectives, highlighting how much of our family history can remain hidden or misunderstood.
Jeanine Cummins' writing style was beautifully immersive and heartfelt. I found myself really invested in the characters and their emotional journeys, even if I can’t remember all their names. The storytelling felt authentic and personal, and I would absolutely read more from her.
The only thing that didn’t quite land for me was the twist near the end. It felt like it disrupted the emotional rhythm of the book and didn’t add much to the story—it actually left me feeling a little let down.
That said, this is still a beautifully written and moving novel about identity, heritage, and learning to understand the people who came before us. A touching and thoughtful read.

This is the story of grandmother Rafaela, mother Ruth and daughter Daisy and begins in Puerto Rico in 1968 at Rafaela's wedding to American Peter Brennan Jr. The story is told in a nonlinear timeline and jumps from Puerto Rico to several different locations in the US at different timelines and ends back in Puerto Rico in 2023. I enjoyed this family saga very much and all the different events that took place and surprises that came with some of these events. This book is very well-written and has a lot of history of Puerto Rico in it which I was not aware of. There are numerous characters in this story and I needed to take notes to keep things straight.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC of this very enjoyable book that is a page turner.

Speak To Me of Home is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the meaning of home. The story feels both intimate and universal. I have no idea if Jeanine Cummins shares a background or story with any of her characters, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Her storytelling and world building is flawless—it seems that the characters sprout organically out of their surroundings. I loved it, and the characters and ideas continued to swirl in my mind long after I finished reading.

Highly recommended..

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Outstanding story of family - both lost and found, love, place, home and how we create the stories we tell ourselves. Love the setting in Puerto Rico to learn of culture, food and place. Jeanine Cummins tells an amazing story, and so glad to have had the opportunity to read this one!

Several stories told throughout the generations. I could get into Daisy’s storyline, but struggled with the other two a bit more.

<u><b>Speak to Me of Home</b></u>
Jeanine Cummins
Release Date: May 13, 2025

ARC courtesy of Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley.

<i>Speak to Me of Home</i>, the latest novel by Jeanine Cummins, author of bestseller<i>American Dirt</i>is a family saga told across the points of view of three generations: Rafaela, her daughter Ruth, and granddaughter Daisy. It is the story of migration and displacement, of belonging, and of what is “home.” The narrative is complex and emotional, although it had a tendency to become predictable, conforming to immigrant tropes. Nonetheless, it is a rich and thought provoking novel of the immigrant experience, particularly relevant in the current political climate, when “home” becomes a carpet that can abruptly be yanked from under the feet of the vocal few.

4 stars

Thank you so much for this advance reading copy. Cummins is an immensely talented author and I enjoyed her prose and descriptions of Puerto Rico. I also love this bright, eye catching cover. I think I expected this to be a more edge of your seat type of book after reading American Dirt. It has a pulse pounding start as we follow Daisy’s accident in the storm, but the bulk of the novel is more of a slower paced family drama, which doesn’t always appeal to me as a reader. I wanted more time in the present timeline with Daisy.

4.0 ⭐️

SPEAK TO ME OF HOME looks at the commonalities of three generations of women who struggle with identity and their “home.” Rafaela is the matriarch, born in Puerto Rico and moved to the Midwest with her husband. Ruth is the daughter, who moved away from Puerto Rico as a young girl, and then there’s Rafaela’s granddaughter Daisy, who feels called to Puerto Rico. At the opening of the novel, Daisy is hurt in an accident while in Puerto Rico after getting the results of her DNA test.

This novel gives the reader a lot to think about. I think I was expecting a bit more plot. At times, the novel meandered more than I expected and felt more character-driven than the author’s previous novel AMERICAN DIRT.

The cast of men takes a backseat in this novel, and I kept mixing the men up. If you’re like me, you might want to write some notes on how the men are related to these women. I saw another reviewer say the family tree was helpful, but my copy didn’t have a family tree.

This intergenerational saga with strong ties to Puerto Rico has resounding themes of family and identity with a strong sense of place, and Cummins’ writing was stellar.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes May 13, 2025.

This is the second book that I have read by Jeanine cummins. Set from the 1968s to 2023, it is a story of a family with three women trying to find family and home. Highly recommend!

Speak to Me of Home is an absorbing generational family drama complete with love, strife, passion, deception, determination and yes, different definitions of home. The characters come to life in Jeanine Cummins’ story of the Puerto Ricans blended with Irish and American spouses as they each try to find their way to that longed for home.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the opportunity to read this ARC.