I enjoyed the pace of this book - medium-paced with a mysterious tone to the book. I had previously read Lauren Rico's novel "Familia" and found this to be very similar, in a comforting and lovable way.

In After the Ocean we meet Emilia when her husband Paul goes missing on their honeymoon cruise. Never to be seen again. He comes from a wealthy family that immediately casts her as a suspect and gold digger. Knowing well how they operate, with the help of a young detective, Miguel, Emilia goes into hiding from the people that may come after her. Thirty years later, Emilia receives a cryptic message from Miguel - Paul may very well be alive.

This book completely grabbed me with its mystery, timeline, short chapters, and love story. There was intrigue and secrecy that made this novel very entertaining. Family tragedy and layers and layers of secrets. It was basically a giant telenovela and I really loved that! The pacing was excellent and it worked super well to create an emotional conclusion. It was poignant yet heartwarming, and the Puerto Rican setting added a great atmosphere.

Thank you to RB Media for the audiobook copy to review. Narrated by Victoria Villareal, Robb Moreira, and Frankie Corzo. It was a great performance all together, but I most enjoyed the accent changes by Robb Moreira, they were superb! 4.5⭐️

My favorite thriller books have multiple POVs and flash backs so After the Ocean did not disappoint. This unsolved case definitely had me feeling all the feels and from The very the beginning wondering what the heck happened to Paul. I really enjoyed that everything came full circle. As well as the sister dynamic between Meg and Gracie. Definitely one of those messages that reminds you everything happens for a reason no matter how messed up it seemed at the time.

What an emotional roller coaster. Loved it! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

Emilia notifies the cruise ship staff where her husband, Paul, fails to show up. They won’t listen to her until she gets his rich family involved. Then she has to be smuggled off the ship because the family plans to pin a murder on her. Years later she gets a call about Paul and rushes back to Puerto Rico. I feel like this book is lacking, yet it’s a complete story. I enjoyed it

Wow, this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster! 🎢 The lengths families go to for love and protection are beautifully portrayed, and the minor characters added so much richness to Emilia's story. The Puerto Rican setting was a stunning contrast to Oregon, making the narrative even more engaging. Plus, the exploration of music as a driving force in the characters' lives was simply brilliant! 🎤 Definitely looking forward to more from this author!

Having loved Lauren's first book, I knew that I would probably love this one. This story of redemption set in Puerto Rico touches upon social injustices and moral ambiguities at its finest. Highly recommend!

I loved Familia, so I was excited to receive an advanced copy of Lauren E. Rico's newest novel, After the Ocean. It hits on similar notes in terms of its focus on a decades old family secret and the younger generation determining what really happened. The story was set in the same universe as Familia, so it was neat to hear about a plot point in that novel and the same detective.

The story has a dual timeline, thirty years prior and present-day. Emilia and Paul are classical musicians in their early twenties and have just married. They are on their honeymoon, a cruise that has stopped in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Emilia has been very ill with a stomach bug and when she finally awakens, her husband has disappeared without a trace. Paul’s wealthy family believes Emilia to be undeserving and after his money, so she worries they will blame him for his disappearance. She is soon taken into custody on the ship accused of killing him despite there being no evidence that a crime has even been committed.

In the present day, we meet Emilia’s ambitious daughter, Gracie, a lawyer in her late twenties. Gracie’s personal life is tumultuous and she needs a break from her fiancé. She goes to her parents’ home for a break, where she reunites with her younger sister, Meg, who is seemingly living the life Gracie was meant for before an accident left her unable to play piano. While there, Emilia receives a cryptic phone call and drops everything to travel to Puerto Rico, leaving her family in the dark. Concerned, Gracie and Meg follow her and learn there is a lot they don’t know about their mother and her past. The story is fast-moving, with a lot happening from page to page. I loved the drama of the story and family relationships. Rico writes in such an inviting way.

I read the ebook, but received the audiobook and sampled the narrators. The narrators are fantastic! I always love Frankie Corzo. This book would be great as an audiobook listen.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.