All My Relations

Rhea Aquillo's debut novel follows Veronique Adriatico's life on Long Island, New York. All My Relations is the coming of age story of Veronique, who is presented with a number of experiences that cause her to question who she is, where she comes from and the importance of family in her life. From her father, Veronique inherits courage, intelligence and a deep love of family; from her mother, a flair for the dramatic and a unique way of looking at the world. She also inherits a question that remains buried for many years after her birth. That question is first asked by a mysterious man at a fire ceremony when Veronique is seven. In her journey for the answer to that question, she encounters addiction, incest, and sexual abuse as they affect the lives of people she loves. Despite the seriousness of the topics addressed, the story never dwells on these issues as dark obsessions. Instead the core experience of this book is a celebration of life. All My Relations is a story of love, loss and crossed boundaries. Life challenges Veronique to a staring contest, and she doesn't blink.