The Godfather's Daughter: An Unlikely Story of Love, Healing, and Redemption

by Rita Gigante, Natasha Stoynoff

Her father, notorious Mafia boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, was the leader of the Genovese crime clan and the head of all five New York crime families for decades. But until Rita was sixteen, she was kept in the dark about his underworld activities. She unknowingly hung out at mob headquarters and witnessed her dad's whispered meetings around the dinner table, but only knew what she was told by her mother and siblings about his odd Dad's sick. Keep your mouth shut. Don't talk about the family.

Living with the family secret--and other shocking betrayals she was to uncover, then instructed to conceal--plunged Rita into emotional and physical turmoil for years. And then there was the blockbuster secret she herself kept hidden As the youngest girl in an old-fashioned, devout Catholic family, how could she confess to the unforgiving Godfather that she was a lesbian? They were all going to hell, she figured... unless she could find a way to embrace the truth and find redemption.

In The Godfather's Daughter , Rita details her spiritual journey as she unravels the mysteries of her family and herself, and learns what it means to live in the truth she finds. It's a real-life father-daughter tale of betrayal and faith, violence and love--and how a young woman escaped from a spiraling darkness to reach the light.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2023

About the author

Rita Gigante has dedicated her adult life to healing people spiritually, emotionally, and physically. She has a degree in exercise physiology and is a licensed massage therapist and Reiki master. In 2010 she formed the Collective Healing Network, a group of healers that conducts monthly sessions in New York and New Jersey. Rita also has a private practice outside of New York City, where she uses healing methods including energy therapy, intuitive healing, spiritual counseling, sound therapy, and angel readings.

Reviews

[Sarah Dirty Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that Rita herself narrates this book makes it even better. Her accent, her details, you can see it all play out in real life. I’ve always loved all things mafia related, but had always heard the stories from the mobsters POV. This is new, comes from a daughter. Tells of the challenges, and the heartache that comes from it. She into detail of what happened when she came out to her very catholic parents. Such a great read. If I could meet Rita, I sure would.

[Heather Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected amazing book. I came across the author on Instagram. In one of her posts, she said she wrote a book. When I read the summary, it looked very interesting. I read the book and the writing is really good! The story is unique and the topics are fascinating. I highly recommend this book and I was sad when it was over!