Why hadn’t she said to her daughter I love you beyond reason and none of this matters at all and every day that you breathe is a gift?’

Rafaela remembers everything that matters: her beautiful childhood in San Juan, her marriage to Peter, uprooting their children Ruth and Benny to the American Midwest, and losing all sense of her place in the world. So she tells no one when her memory begins to slip.

This novel undid me in all the best possible ways… ‘Speak to Me of Home’ by Jeanine Cummins is set in Puerto Rico and the United States across three generations of women grappling with their identities.

Rich in historical depth, the novel offers sharp insight into society, geography, culture and politics. Cummins weaves together themes of displacement, identity and the ongoing search for belonging with thoughtful nuance. The narrative explores the layered experience of mixed heritage and cultural duality, revealing how generational burdens are passed from mother to daughter and father to son, but that each generation has its unique take on dealing with the demons of the past.

At its heart, this is a story about the messiness of family, the pain of prejudice and the power of love and regret – all told with honesty and emotional resonance. A compelling and thought-provoking read.

Jonathan Ball Publishers

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