Why Rats, Roaches, and Missionaries Is the Book You Need to Read This Year

 

Rafe is not your typical hero. He's older, worn down, and carrying wounds—literal and emotional—that make him feel achingly real. He's a man who has given up on happiness, who expects the worst, and who has built walls so high he doesn't remember what it's like to let anyone in.

And then he meets Laura.

Their love story is tender, messy, and deeply human. It's not a fairytale romance—it's two broken people learning to trust again, to let themselves be vulnerable, to choose hope over fear.

The supporting cast is absolutely wonderful. Tommy is the kind of friend everyone deserves—loyal, honest, and always ready with a drink and a bad joke. Juanita is a revelation—tough, tender, and utterly unforgettable. Tomas is the young soul who reminds everyone why they started this adventure in the first place.

Together, they form a family that feels real. They argue, they tease, they risk their lives for each other. You don't just read about them—you want to be part of their crew.

Coumbe doesn't shy away from the ugliness of the world. The kidnappings are not a plot device—they are a real, urgent problem. The novel's exploration of sex trafficking is handled with care and gravity, never exploitative but never looking away.

It makes the stakes feel very real. You're not just reading to find out what happens—you're reading because you genuinely care about these women and the people trying to save them.

I've never sailed the Sea of Cortez, but after reading this book, I feel like I have. Coumbe's writing is so immersive you can feel the heat, taste the salt, and hear the creak of the rigging.

The sea is both beautiful and dangerous, a place where joy and terror sit side by side. It's the perfect setting for a story about escape, redemption, and the unpredictable nature of life.

Rats, Roaches, and Missionaries is a story about so many things—adventure, love, friendship, and justice—but at its core, it's about hope. It's about refusing to give up, even when the odds are stacked against you. It's about choosing to care, even when caring has hurt you before.

It reminded me that the people we meet along the way—the ones we least expect—can change everything.

If you're looking for a thrilling, heartfelt, beautifully written novel, give Rats, Roaches, and Missionaries a chance. It's the kind of book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.

I can't wait to see what Raffael Coumbe writes next. But for now, I'll be over here, missing Rafe and his crew, wishing I was on a boat somewhere in the Sea of Cortez.