Random Family

Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx

By: Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

Narrated by: Roxana Ortega

Length: 20 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

This New York Times best-seller intimately depicts urban life in a gripping book that slips behind cold statistics and sensationalism to reveal the true sagas lurking behind the headlines of gangsta glamour.

In her extraordinary best seller, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc immerses listeners in the intricacies of the ghetto, revealing the true sagas lurking behind the headlines of gangsta glamour, gold-drenched drug dealers, and street-corner society. Focusing on two romances - Jessica's dizzying infatuation with a hugely successful young heroin dealer, Boy George; and Coco's first love with Jessica's little brother, Cesar - Random Family is the story of young people trying to outrun their destinies. Jessica and Boy George ride the wild adventure between riches and ruin while Coco and Cesar stick closer to the street, all four caught in a precarious dance between survival and death. Friends get murdered; the DEA and FBI investigate Boy George; Cesar becomes a fugitive; Jessica and Coco endure homelessness, betrayal, the heartbreaking separation of prison, and, throughout it all, the insidious damage of poverty.

Charting the tumultuous cycle of the generations - as girls become mothers, boys become criminals, and hope struggles against deprivation - LeBlanc slips behind the cold statistics and sensationalism and comes back with a riveting, haunting, and true story.

©2016 Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (P)2016 Random House Audio

Speechless

This book has been one the most amazing audibles I have come across. I haven’t been trying to find it for years and finally was able to get ahold of it through audible. Coco was my absolute favorite character. She reminded me of so many women in my life. Truly a beautiful told story of the hardships that many people who live on poverty and how the influence of your surrounds and family can shape your life.

The narrator ruined this book.

This book might actually be good if it wasn't for this narrator. The entire time I spent listening to this my mind kept wandering off into a million directions because the voice is so flat and fluctuates so little that the narrator could make any story, good or bad, boring.
I can't listen to it. I stopped it after 2 chapters because the narrator just ruined it. I keep wishing I was reading it instead of listening to this flat boring voice.

Wow.

So well-written and eye-opening. You feel as though you are there, experiencing everything with the random family members. I never wanted to stop listening and don't quite know what to do now that I've finished it. I wish all of the book subjects the best and truly appreciate them sharing their lives with us.

Loved It

A good read.A book to learn from.Boy George was a great man who went to to the street life who found himself with a life term in prison.He will always be the star amongst the moons.Boy Georve,Jessica,Coco,and Cesar,their stories touch my heart.I wish them all well.

Powerful

Wow. This one packs a punch.

It has taken me the better part of a year to read / listen to this book. Adrian Nicole LeBlanc is an incredible journalist and has told this story— of George, Jessica, Cesar, and Coco —so well. Their struggles are real and exhausting and painful, but such an important story to tell. This is some incisive and insightful journalism.

REAL

I really enjoyed this book. It was great exposure to the cultural experience alive in America with Americans. Thank you to all who allowed us into their lives.

Must read

This is a powerful story of the vicious cycle of poverty in the Bronx. Growing up here and not too far from where the story begins, makes the characters and their circumstances familiar, relatable, and heartbreaking. A must read, no matter your zip code.

outstanding

love it
narrator was perfect
it felt like I was there my favorite is Ms Scutari

my longest favorite story!! must read

I loved this book. I always look for long books to listen to at work and they usually don't last in my interest. this one was the one and only exception it's long but the stories are intriguing every second of it I was not bored at all. I thank the author for all her knowledge , research and time that she put into this phenomenal story.

Loved this

This book was so amazing. I wish I could see how everyone turned out. I probably listened to the whole thing in 3 days.