I am always up for a good coming of age story. This was a struggle for me, it kept me interested but at times I had a hard time following parts of it. Quite a sad story on many counts.

A "Read With Jenna" pick, I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book to review. Being the only black person in town, Diamond struggles with her identity and a sense of belonging after her father disappeared seven years past. Living with her white mother, they have a complicated relationship. Then a letter from her father's sister arrives and Diamond begins to make a connection to learn more about her father and his family and her history. going behind her mother's back. In this story we see Diamond grow and evolve into becoming comfortable with herself and celebrating her cultural history. A great coming of age story well told, we see the prejudices and hardships encountered and the courage of Diamond to overcome. Quite thought provoking, I highly recommend it. Many thanks to #netgalley, #swiftriver, #essiechambers, #simonandshuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is one of the best things I've read this year. A beautiful coming of age story that brought me a favorite character in a long time. Watching Diamond look for her place in this world moved me to tears multiple times.

Swift River is a painstakingly written novel about growing up, feeling alien, and dealing with parental loss. In 1987, Diamond is a mixed-race 16-year-old growing up in western Massachusetts. Seven years before, her father disappeared, leaving his shoes and wallet by the river. Diamond’s mother has never been able to move on from the loss of her husband. Though she is devoted to her daughter, she suffers from pain and struggles to keep a job. She dreams of the day when she can cash in her husband’s life insurance policy after he’s officially declared deceased.

In her predominantly white defunct mill town, Diamond, feels like she has never fit in and rarely had friends. Early on, in Driver’s Education class, Shelly befriends her, seeing in Diamond someone she can be herself with. I really adored their friendship. Chambers does such a wonderful job illustrating what friendship is like between teenage girls. It’s not perfect, but they are so loyal to each other.

Early in the novel, Diamond’s long-lost aunt writes to her. Diamond has no contact with her father’s family, who live in Georgia and Canada. Diamond and her aunt correspond, and Diamond also receives letters sent by her great aunt many decades prior. These letters help illustrate the reality for black families in Swift River and how her father was brought up. Thinking about Diamond’s father, makes me ache for his family’s pain and what her father must have gone through during his life.

Though a little bleak at times, Swift River, is such an engrossing novel. The characters are fully formed and so well-written. It depicts how imperfect parental love can be, even when you are born in love and both parents have the very best of intentions. Diamond is so sensitive, empathetic, and astute in her observations about her mother. I truly did not want this story to end. I was rooting so hard for Diamond and her mother.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

It’s 1987 in the town of Swift River. Diamond is a teenager relentlessly bullied by those around her. Being the only black person in town, she definitely stands out. Her father disappeared seven years ago and her mother is determined to have him declared dead so they can collect his life insurance and re-establish themselves. Diamond’s life is about to change when she receives a letter from relatives, relatives that have answers to her Pop’s past, as she starts to find her place in the world, will the lessons from the past change her future? The story started strong, but told in three voices, jumped around and became confusing at times. This story covers some difficult topics, but it was one that I had a difficult time connecting with and the end left me with several unanswered questions. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I feel like I have not stopped talking about this book. A heart-wrenching story showing the entangled lives of multiple generations of the Newberry family. The stream of consciousness vibe really works for this type of story. I wouldn’t be surprised if years down the line, I saw a Classics version of ‘Swift River’. It has the heart and staying power of a literary masterpiece.

Spanning multiple generations, Swift River is a moving story of a family trying to survive in a small New England mill town. My heart broke for teenage Diamond who just wants to learn to drive and dreams of escaping the town that’s been so cruel to both her and her family. I enjoyed the letters from relatives that Diamond didn’t previously know being used to expose the town’s secrets.

I was glad that there was more hope for Diamond at the end of the book. I wish the ending gave more details on what happened next for Diamond. I found the ending to be a little abrupt and vague.

This debut is a powerful coming of age story that involves the loss of a parent, race, and identity.

Thank you to Simon Books for a digital copy.

This book is Essie Chambers debut novel. Swift River is a dual timeline narrative based on the life of Diamond Newberry and two other Newberry women. The tale of Diamond’s life and heritage is delicately woven. The descriptions of Swift River make you feel like you are there!

Diamond is a biracial 16 years old using lady trying to figure out who she is while living in the small town of Swift River. Swift River has a big history of racial prejudices and is not multiracial. Diamond lives with her mother Anne, who is white. Her father went missing 7 years ago. They are living poverty and Anne, who struggles with drug addictions, wants to declare her father dead. Diamond receives a letter from her fathers relative and tries to understand her heritage and self better.

I really enjoyed this story. Diamond is an extremely lovable character that you can’t help but like. Her perception of the past and present is unique. She is resilient and dedicated to improving her life and seems to do so with a positive outlook. I highly recommend picking this up for a quick read!

This is a coming-of-age novel about Diamond Newberry who lives in a small town in New England, Her father disappeared seven years ago and is presumed dead. Since her father's disappearance, Diamond's loving, yet unstable (white) mother struggles to handle life. They live in a dilapidated old house where utilities are turned off and on. Hitchhiking is often the only method of transportation, and there is often little, if any food in the house. Diamond is friendless, overweight and, since her father's disappearance, the only black resident of the town. Diamond's Aunt contacts her and through a series of letters, she learns about her father's family history. We also learn about horrific racism black people dealt with in the North.
I found the book compelling and well written. But I struggled with many unanswered things - was the father really dead? Why didn't Diamond's parents move? Why would the mother want to remain in New England? Ultimately, I felt the story was from the teenage Diamond's viewpoint and she wouldn't have known the answers to these questions either. I will recommend Swift River to my book club - lots of discussion protentional. I rated it 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

his coming-of-age narrative follows Diamond Newberry as she grapples with the loss of her father. Seven years prior, her Pop went missing by the side of the river, and his absence drastically changed her life. Not that her family was picture perfect before—they were the only biracial family in the small town of Swift River, but it mostly worked. Without Pop, Diamond’s mother Anna spirals into pills and booze and endless jobs in attempt to keep the lights on.

Diamond, a clever girl with a beautiful singing voice, turns to food to deal with her past trauma. She eats to comfort herself, and seems to have no friends other than Shelley who is the only one to talk to her at drivers ed. Shelley, no stranger to family drama herself, helps Diamond to realize her family problems do not determine her self-worth. Along, with letters from her father’s cousin and her great aunt, Diamond begins to understand that Swift River and it’s narrow-minded inhabitants will not define her now or in the future.

Though the plot can be a little hard to follow jumping between two time periods with the family letters thrown in, Diamond’s journey to figuring out her identity, is both painful and poignant. Her race, class, gender, self esteem and family dynamics all play a role in shaping the young woman that she is and the future she craves. This is a character driven novel for sure, if fast paced is your jam, you might be bored by Diamond’s story, but I found it honest and moving.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and of course the author Essie Chambers for the advanced copy of the book. Swift River is out now! All opinions are my own.

At its core, Swift River is a coming-of-age story of a biracial girl, Diamond, grappling with generations of familial dysfunction, abject poverty, racism, and multiple levels of abuse. Diamond and her mother are stuck in an all-White failing factory town that has racist roots – at one point, all the Black residents (save one) were burned out unjustly. Diamond Is the product of one of these displaced Black descendants (Rob) who returns decades later and eventually marries a local girl (Annabelle). The book is a series of present-day happenings and flashbacks: Diamond's early memories before her father’s strange disappearance and the struggles endured in the seven years since, and letters from Rob’s relatives that shed light on the events that lead to their forced exodus.

There are many layers of trauma within the pages and brilliance in how the author introduces its varying types and degrees. Diamond struggles but endures with little to no coping skills resulting in childhood obesity, low self-esteem, and voluntary social distancing (among other issues). While her mother can only offer her love and cursory “pep talks” she clearly fails her daughter (and herself) with lackluster parenting skills. She is powerless to confront the racism and discrimination thrown at her daughter; however, when an opportunity presents itself, she refuses to migrate to a different, more diverse environment thereby placing her needs (and comfort) before her daughter’s.

I must respect the author’s work, but I wish we hadn’t spent so much time in Diamond’s youth. The summarized ending gave us enough to know that Diamond seemingly made peace and is well; however, it was rushed and glossed over. I still had unanswered questions and wondered about a few of the key supporting characters whose fates were mere one-liners; however, I went along with it just to end the story.

Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Diamond and her mom live in Swift River, a town abandoned by all Blacks decades ago. Her pop disappeared on its shores 7 years ago. This is a year in the life of Diamond, an overweight, 16 yr old, biracial young lady who is the only Black gal in town. She goes through 1987 trying to figure things out, like why her pop disappeared, why her mom is like she is, and maybe a little about her own history. She's given a smidgen of hope a few times, but all of that hope relies on other people delivering. She's learning to drive, which is a learning experience in and of itself, and she gleans a lot of knowledge from this and letters from an aunt she's never met.
This book really doesn't have a beginning and an ending, just a chunk of Diamond's life with some deep moments. There is a racial tension in the history of her pop's side of the family, as well as some weirdness because her mom is white and her dad is black, which was odd in 1987. I enjoyed the writing style, but this one leaves too much for you to discern on your own.

"Swift River" by Essie Chambers is a gripping family saga set in the declining town of Swift River in 1987, focusing on Diamond Newberry's journey of self-discovery amidst family secrets and the legacy of prejudice.

Chambers' debut novel navigates the complex bond between mothers and daughters, unveiling layers of history and resilience within the Newberry family. Diamond, the protagonist, grapples with issues of race, identity, and loss, especially concerning her missing father, Pop.

For readers seeking a poignant exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the lasting impact of history, "Swift River" promises a compelling and heartfelt journey.

New England, 1987. Diamond is a sophomore in high school dealing with all the typical high school drama plus some..

After her father disappeared nearly 7 years ago, she’s been the only Black person in her small town. Her mother never recovered from losing him. Everyone seems to think her weight is something they can comment on. And they’re poor.

When the 7th anniversary of her dad’s disappearance comes, her mom can finally receive his death certificate and try to claim his life insurance money. They’ve lived with little income for so long that this money will really help them.

Diamond wants more than that. She wants to get her license so that they no longer have to walk or hitch rides anytime they leave the house. She wants to leave Swift River. She wants to be around more people of color.

Her Aunt Lena has recently gotten into contact with her. Before that Diamond had no relationships with her dad’s family. She’s happy to learn more about them.

When her Auntie tells her why they left Swift River generations ago, Diamond learns the racist history of her hometown as a sundown town. It was something she always felt, but being raised by her white mother, never knew how to put it into words.

Told from the POV of Diamond present day, her great Aunt Clara and her Auntie Lena, Diamond starts to gather a better understanding of her surroundings.

Chambers leaves some mystery around Diamond’s father and it pushes the reader to really try to understand how incomplete a family is after a loved one just vanishes.

I was interested in Diamond’s mom and her thinking. She must have been struggling with some mental health issues but it made me sad for Diamond how much she had to grow up to support her mom and their co-dependent relationship.

All in all, I was definitely into the story but felt like there were some story lines that could have benefited from a little more explanation.

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and author for this e-arc!

It's summer 1987, and in the New England town of Swift River, sixteen-year-old Diamond Newberry is troubled as usual. Ever since Diamond's father, Robert Newberry, disappeared seven years ago, she's the only Black person in town. Diamond is lonely and overweight, and she observes, "I am so fat I can't ride my bike anymore, so I let it get stolen on purpose....The bruises and stinging raspberries all over my body from weekly falls are constant reminders that the bike doesn't want me anymore."

Diamond lives with her mother, a White woman named Annabelle (Anna), who's very loving, but inept and addicted to prescription pills. Since Anna's husband Robert has been gone for seven years, she hopes to get a death certificate, for the insurance money. Anna has a police report saying Robert's shoes, wallet, and keys were found beside the fast moving Swift River, but Anna hasn't filled out the proper papers, doesn't have witness statements, hasn't put a death notice in the papers, etc. So Anna has to go back and get her ducks in a row.

It's not clear whether Robert is dead or alive, but he vanished after being accused of theft, and after the police had taken to constantly driving by the house. Many people have reported seeing Robert here or there, but Diamond puts it down to racism - to White people being unable to distinguish one Black man from another.

Diamond and her Ma live in a dilapidated house with Robert's battered car still in the yard, but Anna doesn't drive and she and Diamond have to hitchhike or walk everywhere - including the Goodwill store where they buy their clothes. Diamond has dreams though, and admits, "By the time I turn seventeen I want: a birthday party with German chocolate cake and friends, new clothes with the store smell still in them, [and] shoes that fit. I imagine leaving this place, leaving Ma. That thought hurts too much and I pinch it down to nothing." Still, Diamond is saving money from her part-time cleaning job at the Tee Pee Motel, and she's secretly signed up for Driver's Ed - to get her driver's license.

In the midst of this angst, Diamond gets a package from her Auntie Lena, whom she's never met. The package contains some keepsakes and a letter in which Auntie Lena says she's a nurse based in Atlanta, but is currently living in Woodville, Georgia. There she manages Newberry Fine Fabrics, the family business established way back in 1915, when the Newberrys migrated from Swift River to Woodville. Diamond and Auntie Lena embark on a correspondence, and Diamond learns a lot about her history and her relatives. Auntie Lena says she and Diamond's father Robert grew up in Woodville together until the boy was seven-years-old. At that time, Robert's father took him up to Swift River, to be raised by Aunt Clara. When Robert grew up he met Anna in Swift River, and they fell in love, got married, and had Diamond.

The story shifts around between three time periods: 1987, 1915, and 1980.

1987
In 1987, Diamond is living with her doting mother whom she both loves and from whom she wants to escape. In short, Diamond wants to live in a place with people who look like her. Diamond also dreams of going to college and being a botanist. Diamond becomes friends with a Driver's Ed classmate named Shelly, who's 'a loose girl' with a good heart. Diamond and Shelly's interactions with the driving teacher, Mr. Jimmy, are quirky and - for Shelly - inappropriate.

1915
In 1915, toxic discrimination leads to an exodus of all Black people from Swift River, in an incident called 'The Leaving.' The ONLY Black person who remains in Swift River is Aunt Clara, an apprentice to the local doctor, who says he'll help her go to medical school at Howard University. Aunt Clara's voice and story are heard in letters she sends to her sister (Auntie Lena's mother) in Georgia.

1980
In 1980, nine-year-old Diamond and her parents take a trip south and have some trouble in town. Later that year, Robert disappears.

In the course of the story we learn about the historic racism in Swift River, which in 1915, was a 'sundown town.' At that time, Swift River had signs all over town reading, "N....., don't let the sun go down on you in Swift River." Things are less toxic in 1987, though Diamond is uncomfortable being the only Black person in Swift River. I was surprised that Robert and Anna, an interracial couple, (apparently) didn't experience overt discrimination on that score. Diamond IS called a name by a classmate in elementary school, which causes a small brouhaha.

The story has humor and heart, one of the high points being Diamond's family, who love one another, but have a hard time getting by in difficult circumstances. For one thing, Ma and Pop disagree about visiting relatives in Georgia. It's good to see Diamond mature over the course of the story, and take charge of her life.

Swift River was Jenna Bush Hager's June, 2024 'Book Club Pick.' Hager noted, "Swift River is a story filled with secrets: community secrets and family secrets. It is a book that made me cry and then filled me with enormous hope."

I enjoyed this well-written, enlightening book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Essie Chambers, and Simon and Shuster for a copy of the book.

This is an amazing novel about a biracial young woman stranded in a northern New England mill town by events in her own past and the events of the people in the town. Diamond’s voice is both wry and tragic as she narrates the story of her life so far, the story of her parents, and the extended family in a faraway state. Alternating voices of the women in that family fill out the bigger picture of why things happened the way they did. Diamond desperately needs these courageous aunts and ancestors to get her through the dark days ahead.
The writing is extraordinary. I opened the book to write the review and felt right back into reading the story.
Highly recommended if you love #ownvoices, women’s fiction, and literary fiction.

I was excited about the premise of this book and happy that it was chosen for Jenna's book club. I hope that it finds it's audience, but it is not me. I didn't connect with the writing and I know that the character being overweight was written with sensitivity, but I just didn't like it.

A 16yr old has come to a place in her life where she must make decisions that will influence the rest of her life, yet she has no history on which to base her decisions. Diamond Newberry stands out in her small community based on her differences when all she wants is to be invisible. Essie Chambers gives an excellent story of a young woman who will learn that she is more than she thought and has a family group she never knew. As her past fills in the blanks of her present, she will face her future head on.

Swift River is a powerful coming of age novel focusing on family class, and the need for friendship and connection. How does the past impact our lives? Diamond is a character I soon won't forget. She grows both emotionally and spiritually and you'll root for her throughout the novel.

This was a 3.5 for me. Chambers excels at writing emotions. A story told from three different time periods/perspectives it sheds a light on the experience of being the only black in a town, about growing up in poverty, about the feeling of otherness ones body can bring upon you. Although not a lot happens physically in reality a tremendous amount happens internally. Well written.