Book description
A powerful debut novel that's "hilarious, heartbreaking, and ass-kicking" (Jamie Ford), of a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island who discovers their long-missing sister is potentially alive and cast on a reality TV show, and they set out to bring her home. A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Elle - USA Today - Today.com - Ms. Magazine - Good Housekeeping - Bustle - The Week - Goodreads - Bookriot - Pop Culturely - SheReads - Litreactor - Electric Lit - The Mary Sue - People Espaรฑol - Zibby Mag The Ramirez women of Staten Island orbit around absence. When thirteen-year-old middle child Ruthy disappeared after track practice without a trace, it left the family scarred and scrambling. One night, twelve years later, oldest sister Jessica spots a woman on her TV screen in Catfight, a raunchy reality show. She rushes to tell her younger sister, Nina: This woman's hair is dyed red, and she calls herself Ruby, but the beauty mark under her left eye is instantly recognizable. Could it be Ruthy, after all this time? The years since Ruthy's disappearance haven't been easy on the Ramirez family. It's 2008, and their mother, Dolores, still struggles with the loss, Jessica juggles a newborn baby with her hospital job, and Nina, after four successful years at college, has returned home to medical school rejections and is forced to work in the mall folding tiny bedazzled thongs at the lingerie store. After seeing maybe-Ruthy on their screen, Jessica and Nina hatch a plan to drive to where the show is filmed in search of their long-lost sister. When Dolores catches wind of their scheme, she insists on joining, along with her pot-stirring holy roller best friend, Irene. What follows is a family road trip and reckoning that will force the Ramirez women to finally face the past and look toward a future--with or without Ruthy in it. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is a vivid family portrait, in all its shattered reality, exploring the familial bonds between women and cycles of generational violence, colonialism, race, and silence, replete with snark, resentment, tenderness, and, of course, love.
Moon Cricket
๐ Who needs TV when you have this app? Every moment is a storytelling session! ๐บ๐ง Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and visually appealing.
Drugstore Cowboy
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. ๐ Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores โ pure joy! ๐๐ is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection. ListenBook's attention to detail is commendable. Every aspect of the app is well-crafted. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. Itโs a fun feature.
Ladysmith
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary journeys of the mind.
High Heel Goddess
The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Bookmarks have become my study companion. I can easily revisit important passages in my audiobooks. The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content. The app is perfect for long walks. It keeps me company the whole time.
Snow Cream
ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes! A decent listen overall. The narration was clear, though some character voices sounded similar. The story was interesting but had moments where it dragged slightly. Still, it was a good way to pass the time.
Toy Dogwatch
With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines โ it's pure bliss. I'm addicted to this app โ it's like having a library in my pocket. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
Undergrad Split
The sleep timer is a brilliant addition โ I drift off to sleep with amazing stories. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. Audiobooks made accessible โ this app's ease of use is a true blessing. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. This audiobook kept me company during a long road trip and made the miles disappear! The narrator's engaging performance and the crisp production quality made for an immersive experience. I appreciated how well they balanced drama with clarity - never sacrificing understanding for effect.
LuminaLore
๐ช Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls โ I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. ๐ผ๐ Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now. The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Mechani-Man
With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. This app's simplicity has made me fall in love with books all over again. The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
Disco Potato
Mood-based playlists help me choose books that suit my current state of mind. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files! The app is so well-designed. Itโs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Innocent Ghost
๐ถ Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls โ this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. ๐ต๐ The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Capital F
No more hassle with converting files โ ListenBook supports a wide range of formats for a seamless listening experience. ListenBook's intuitive design and thoughtful features have made my audiobook experience delightful. The app is so well-designed. Itโs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. A serviceable audiobook that met basic expectations. The narration was clear if somewhat unremarkable, and the production quality was standard without any noticeable technical issues. It kept me moderately engaged during workouts but didn't leave a lasting impression.
Energy
Language courses on audiobooks helped me pick up a new language effortlessly. Audiobooks have become my travel companions, and this app is my guide. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful.
Fatsy Bear
This app has turned my daily routine into a source of excitement and joy. I've become a more empathetic listener and reader, thanks to the power of audiobooks. With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver!
Blizzard Vixen
Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Crash Enforcer
This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. ListenBookโs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
NoiseCake
ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. ๐ Embracing reading in the busiest of times โ this app is my everyday escape! ๐๐โโ๏ธ ๐ Rekindling my love for reading โ this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ๐๐ฅ The ability to adjust the tone of the narrator's voice is a creative touch that adds depth to my listening. Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Fire Sass
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app โ it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off! The appโs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. The app is so responsive. It never lags or freezes.
Yellow Menace
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
FLAK Angel
ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend!
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience