thank you to granger and his team for gifting me an early copy of this book.
i've been a fan of grangers for 8 years, but even if i hadn't i think that this book would still hit just as hard, if not harder. granger truly has a way with words. the way he writes, his storytelling is truly unmatched, and i can't wait to see what other releases he has.
this is a devastating book on grief, loss, perseverance, and finding hope at the end of a very dark tunnel. i recommend this book to just about anyone. we have all struggled through some sort of devastating loss, or we will soon. i truly could not put it down and read it in three hours. this book will help so many people find Christ. to see someone who has been through so much continuously say that there is purpose in pain is truly a remarkable thing.
granger starts the book off on the day is son, river passed away. he slowly takes you through that day and the days afterwards. it's a true resemblance of the grief process, and how as much as you try to have control in your life, you don't. when tragedy strikes those disciplines won't help you, there's only one who will.

I was able to get an early copy of this book and finished it in two days, which is unusual for me. You will need tissues when reading this book because it is raw, emotional and he does not leave anything out about what he and his family went through. The book is about losing his 3 year old River in a drowning accident in 2019. Granger also talks about his and his wife Ambers journey of having another child which includes IVF and a miscarriage. This book is for everyone to read if you are struggling with a loss, struggling with your faith or both.

Real. Raw. Heart wrenching.
A book you will not want to to put down!
You will need tissues nearby to read this.

If you have ever heard Granger speak, whether it be a Smiths' video, podcast, concert, or service; you can hear his voice telling his (this) story.
While the book is about Granger and his family, losing River, their son and brother; this book is about so much more!

It's about finding God in the darkest of times. Learning how to live with grief and not subduing to it. Learning how to move forward when your world is falling apart around you. To think before you act or speak. Always be kind, because you may not know the whole story, just what everybody has made up to please themselves.
You may not have gone through exactly what somebody else went through, but your story and your feelings still matter.
Healing isn't easy; you must fight through it, weather the storm, and not run away from it. You are not able to row your own boat down the river.
"Grief is like a river; neither the crest nor the trough last forever."
"Pain is not permanent, and it's not purposeless."
"Tomorrow is not guaranteed; live as presently and as purposefully as possible."
"Soak in the moments because they won't last forever."

I didn't think I could love this family anymore, but here I am, crying and praising God for their testimony. This will get you in the feels, but it shows you exactly how God will use the worst situations and bring glory to it. I believe everyone needs to read this book.

Vulnerable. Real. Honest.

I am very honored to have read this heart wrenching story. The book in itself is very well written, you can feel the pain and heartbreak. Granger is such an inspiration and the fact he was able to share the difficult struggles with the world is very admirable. The message throughout this terrible tragedy gives me hope and a more God focused human being. So inspiring and helpful to those who have been through life's hurdles.

This is the first book of the year I have read cover to cover in one sitting. From beginning to end, I was wiping away tears of sadness, hope, and joy. It’s a beautiful story of tragedy, grief and suffering followed by the restoration and redeeming love only found through God. It’s powerful, encouraging, and moving. Like A River will grip your heart from the very first page and keep you hanging on until the very end. It’s so raw and vulnerable, you’ll find yourself in these very pages—feeling every emotion as you walk the journey of healing with Granger.

I had the honor and privilege to read an advance copy of Like a River as part of the book launch team!

I started following Granger and The Smith’s in the fall of 2020. I was on my own grief journey and looking for answers when I found their YouTube channel. I started at the beginning of their story and binge watched, on my sleepless nights, them navigate life after unimaginable loss.

Granger put his heart and soul into writing this book. I knew I didn’t know the whole story from watching them on YouTube, but I was amazed how much I really didn’t know. It really lends validity to the statement, “you never know what’s going on in someone’s life.”

Granger’s talent for evoking emotion through his song-writing is on a whole new level throughout this book. It’s possible I experienced the entire range of human emotion while reading. It felt as though I was there with him for all of his highs and lows. It was almost like we were two friends sitting around a campfire sharing our biggest vulnerabilities with each other.

If you have lost someone, or lost a job, or lost a relationship, and you’re looking for answers, or you’re confused about where to go next, Like a River may just be that next step for you.

This touched me on a level I never expected, and I’ve now read it twice. Each time I’ve read it, something new spoken to me. God has spoken to me through Granger. It’s the best book I’ve read on my own grief journey, and I’m so thankful and appreciative Granger and Amber put their story out there to share a lifeline for those of us who may feel lost in the sea of grief.

Granger Smith shares his testimony and his grief journey in this easy to read and fast paced book. I found this book hard to put down and read a pre-release copy that I received in two days. I recommend you read it!

The book is quite moving as it details his son, River, drowning and passing away and Granger's journey after his son's death. Through it all you can see God's movement to help Granger feel God's love.

I really liked Granger's writing style and the way he incorporated how a river moves into his story. This book is good for those who have dealt with grief in the past or are currently dealing with grief now. It's also good for those seeking to know God -whether you are a "Dog-tag Christian" like Granger says he was or a non-believer wanting to know more about God.

#likeariverbook

I haven’t been a Granger fan since his beginnings, but I recently discovered him as he began to morph into more than a great musician. He is that, undoubtedly, but this book opens the door to an intimate look into his darkest circumstances and hours and declares how he is coming through it all.
Loss is something we all face inevitably, and navigating that can take its toll on us, but this book points to the answer found in God as our source and guide. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate this book, it is written so well that you are immersed into every line and cannot put it down.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially to someone grieving or searching for answers.

I just read this book by platinum award winning country music singer, Granger Smith after signing up for his pre-launch review team.

It was deeply moving to read his story and how God used the drowning death of his son and deep depression to bring him to Himself and give him a new calling.

If you have suffered devastating loss, this book will help you! Please order it and let it bless you.

I will start with I was chosen as a pre-release reviewer of the book. As a long-time fan of his music and social follower for the last few years, I knew what it was about. I cried, I laughed and felt every other emotion, it seemed. From tragedy to survival and then rejoicing this book has it all, whether you have suffered a loss or not, this book is well worth the read. #NetGalley #LikeaRiver

Like a River is a must read. It's encouraging and beneficial for everyone no matter what you've been through or are currently going through. This book is about Granger's story and becoming a mature Christian vs. a cultural Christian and how he got there, how all of us can get there. Powerful, real life story that gives hope and encouragement during tragedy. Our story is already written and we flow Like a River.

In Like A River, Granger Smith has written his first autobiography about his life and how he discovered a true relationship with Christ. This is also the first time he has shared some of the details regarding the event and what occurred afterwards. He begins the book by revealing the true story about how everything changed for his family on a hot Texas day in June. Granger was helping his seven-year-old daughter London, practice her handstand outside in the backyard. He was busy watching some of her new moves that she had recently learned. Lincoln, 5 and River, 3 was having a water gun fight, brother against brother. His career was at an all time high. He was topping Billboard charts, getting radio play, was headlighting his own tour, attending award shows, and was actually supposed to be going to the CMT Music awards the very next day. He recalls feeling like he should soak up this moment and to always remember that it wouldn’t last forever. Everything fell apart when his worst nightmare happened. He shared how his son, River was wild and he loved to always be on the move and finding the next adventure. Granger recalls seeing his son face down in the locked pool. He ran down to him and tried to save him by performing CPR. He explained how he was lifeless and cold and like a ragdoll. He described seeing his wife’s face for the first time and how she had a sheer terror look. River had no brain activity and they had to take him off life support and let him go. His wife made the choice to suggest that they donate his organs to help others. He recalls seeing his other siblings making a sign that state, “Welcome home, River” because they believed that he would be coming home and he didn’t. They had to slowly break the news to them and they had to grieve as a family. Granger shared his grief and pain and how this changed them all. He thought the heartache and pain would never end from losing his son. He remined readers that loss is a matter of when not if. We will all experience it at some point in our lives. He shared two critical truths with readers and these are, “pain is not permanent and pain is not pointless.”


He looked at rivers and how they all flow downstream. Rivers are filled with twist and turns. They may get polluted, get occupied with debris, but they still keep moving forward. It used to compare us to rivers and he reminds us that we will experience storms and turbulence. But no matter what we may face there is always a way downstream. I really thought he did a wonderful job in relating everything to a river and how life is like a river and this truly eye opening for readers.


I was deeply touched by Granger Smith’s story and you could literally feel the slideshow of the event being replayed daily in his life. He can feel the chaotic and the ripping of all the emotions you would feel if you lost a child. I have always been a fan of Granger Smith’s music for a few years now. I never could have imagine loving an artist more, then after reading a man open up about the deepest part of their soul with others. I truly loved this book and it was so moving to see him dealing with his lost and searching and rediscovering God. He had to still learn to swim upstream even when he had to go through the pain of losing his son. I also connected with his struggles with feeling like there is no hope and he felt lost without his son. I liked how he enclosed scriptures throughout the book and his journey into getting back to his faith is incredible. The only thing I would say I’m disappointed with is his decision to stop doing music and moving into full time ministry, which I get but I also enjoyed hearing his new songs come to live. This wasn’t stated in the book but he announced that recently. But I do think, he will make a wonderful preacher that his message and Christ’s message will resonate with readers. I also loved how he include two special sections about his faith and an infant swim rescue guide. Both of these features are inspiring and will change lives physically and spiritual and you might even save a life.




"I received this book free from the Granger Smith and the publisher, Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”