The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian is told in alternating perspectives and dual timelines. Becca is a young mother trying to survive during the Great Depression and Nell is seeking to learn more about her family history in the 1970s.

The story goes back and forth between Becca and Nell as they each navigate their individual experiences. Along the way we are introduced to a variety of different characters, some of which don't seem to ever fully develop. I was really invested in each storyline individually, but the ending was rushed and wrapped up too neatly. I needed more puzzle pieces to fall into place along the way and not have everything get solved very conveniently in the final 15 pages. Those just aren’t my favorite type of ending.

The story was well written and had good elements, but they just didn't come together as I had hoped they would. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an early digital copy through Netgalley.

I only made it about halfway through this book. It was ok, just much slower paced than what I enjoy typically.

A debut novel for this author. The novel takes place in alternating time frames relating the stories of sisters Nell and Evie and their mother in 1971 North Carolina and Becca’s story in 1932 Mississippi. Nell starts trying to uncover her mother’s past, it takes her to a ghost town, a river house in Natchez Under-the Hill district, to a nightclub where her mum went from being a check-in girl to a singer and lastly Clay Mountain in North Carolina. Evie lives in Lillett and not far from Hazel, she’s married to Rob and has twin teenage sons and doesn’t remember anything prior to living with her mum Hazel and her sister Nell. The characters are believable and the situations understandable for the times. This moving novel brought the depression-era South vividly to life. Times were very hard, and for a young widow, with a small child, they were even harder. With overall themes of loss, sacrifice, regret, and chosen family the book would have a large audience to be able to be received. I can see this as a good book club book as there are several ways to discuss different issues. Thanks to BookBrowse and Sourcebooks Landmark, the author and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Over on my booktube channel (Hannah's Books), I shared this book in my description of exciting books forthcoming in April. Link to the particular discussion: https://youtu.be/3iLFZz7j1bs?si=K03UB8cizIodKA_G&t=52

Such a beautiful story to connect to the people and the past that help us navigate life. I loved watching it all unfold. Mustian did it again with a book that is suspenseful but speaks to your heart all at once.

This is a complicated mystery with a dual timeline, toggling back and forth between the 1930s and 1971, and dealing with Nell and Evie and their fractured childhood with their mother Hazel. The story concerns how Evie came into the family. There are lots of characters and honestly, the book was difficult to follow. The tone and atmosphere were lovely, and I wish I could have enjoyed the story more.

This one was 3.5 stars rounded up for me, but I know other readers loved it, so your mileage may vary.

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This atmospheric Southern story vividly depicts the Mississippi Delta and its people. Kelly Mustian creates well-developed, complex characters with compelling backstories, keeping readers engaged throughout.

The narrative follows sisters Nell and Evie, who discover that their mother, Hazel, is not Evie’s biological mother. For nearly thirty years, Nell kept this secret. The dual timelines feature Nell, forty-two in 1971, uncovering past truths, and Becca, a struggling mother in the 1930s Depression.

Themes of secrets, heartache, betrayal, and family relationships are explored. I enjoyed Mustian's debut, *The Girls in the Stilt House*, and found this book equally captivating.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

I struggled reading this book. I wasn't invested in the characters or the story for that matter. I slogged through it hoping both I and the book would come to terms. That did not happen. The press release (and I quote) "long-awaited novel both atmospheric and lyrical", Well it wasn't atmospheric or lyrical. Just plain boring! I had read "The Girls in the Stilt House" yet this book didn't measure up to the first. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two narratives, one in the 1930s and the other in the early 1970s, link and merge in this satisfying Southern novel of family and found family set primarily in Natchez, Mississippi.

In 1931, Becca marries Ben, and they give birth to Evie. But it is the Depression, and Ben must travel farther and farther to find work. After an extended period of not hearing from Ben and money becoming scarcer, Becca responds to a letter of reconciliation to Ben from her wealthy mother-in-law, Mildred. She doesn’t know why the rift between Mildred and her son, but she has no choice but to seek her help in finding Ben.

In 1971, Nell and her sister Evie have been unable to uncover the secrets their mother, Hazel, carries. As young children, Nell and Evie accidently discovered Evie’s birth certificate naming Becca Chambers as her birth mother. Nell only recalls a two-year-old Evie being dropped off at their door in the night when Nell was five. Now an adult, Nell discovers a glamorous photo of Hazel and a mysterious man in a nightclub, apparently from the 1930s. This sets her on a quest to uncover past secrets that her tight-lipped mother refuses to reveal.

Through many twists and turns, the story unfolds while moving between the two time periods. The hardships of Becca trying to raise Evie and the struggles of Hazel raising Nell highlight the destitution and determination of working-class women raising children alone during the Depression. Nell’s quest to find answers brings about some convenient coincidences, but none to the novel’s detriment. Mildred is a character to despise as her self-serving manipulations destroy so many others. This is a page turner because it becomes imperative we discover why and how Becca and Evie become separated, and Evie becomes a part of Nell’s family.
--The Historical Novels Review, May 2025

3.5 / Full of family secrets and atmospheric southern vibes, this story follows two timelines- one in the 1930s and one in the 1970s. In the early timeline, Becca is a young mother in a desperate situation doing her best to raise her daughter and make a life for the two of them. In the 70s, Nell is trying to uncover family secrets about her mother and sister after finding some documents and pictures that hint at a family history different from what she’s been told.

I liked the southern writing and atmospheric storytelling. Overall, I thought the back and forth between timelines was a bit jarring at times and the themes down the stretch were cheesy. Fans of sweet southern lit will likely find a lot to enjoy here! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc.

3.75 ⭐️
This was an enjoyable atmospheric story. The story was unique as well strong female characters. Sacrifice and resolve. Survival and love. Dual timelines. 1930s and 1970s.

I struggled with the writing flow which is why it couldn’t be higher rating. It was still an interesting book.

Thanks to both the author and publisher for an advanced copy.

This story was captivating, right from the very first chapter. Sometimes dual timelines can feel choppy, but the author unfolds this emotional story with just the right timing and pace. I stayed up late to finish reading and see how the pieces fell into place. I also really enjoyed the atmospheric setting. Mustian describes the Mississippi River delta in rich detail, and the landscape feels integral to Becca and Nell's stories.

I highly recommend reading this, and the author's debut novel, The Girls in the Stilt House. I think fans of Kristin Hannah and Lisa Wingate's engrossing historical fiction novels will enjoy Mustian's books, too.

The story is written in dual timelines. We learn about Becca, a young widow struggling to survive and raise her daughter during the 1930s Great Depression. Then we shift to the 1970s and hear about Nell who is determined to suss out some of the secrets hiding within her family. On a visit home to the North Carolina mountains, to see her mother and her sister, Evie, she discovers more and more clues but still no answers. Her mother refuses to talk about her past and it is only through snooping that Nell discovers a box of her mother's keepsakes, which raise even more questions. Evie is no help; she only knows she has always lived in Clay Mountain, North Carolina. Nell, on the other hand, remembers a dark rainy night, a man bringing a small child to their house and leaving.

The story, told in alternating chapters, fills us in with the rest of the story. There are a lot of characters, and it was a bit difficult to connect all the characters to the story being told. Overall, a very worthwhile read, and a good look at what women went through in the 1930s to try and keep family together.

This was a very well done historical fiction. I loved the back and forth and thought it was a smooth transition and well done. This was my first historical fiction that also felt very much like a thriller and it may be my new favorite genre. The only criticism I would have is with the amount of characters to keep track of and that it can be confusing and overwhelming at times. Otherwise, I would recommend this read! I gave this a 4.5 stars but chose to go down in my rating because it wasn't quite a 5 for me.

With beautiful storytelling told in a dual timeline between the 1970s and the 1930s, you can’t help but live in the world which Mustian paints with words. “The River Knows your Name” is a testament to the love of a mother and the strength it takes to protect the ones you love.

The love the two young mothers have for their daughters will melt your heart even as you ache when a situation forever alters their lives leaving ripples affecting the lives of others in their wake. As Nell, an adult in the 1970s, works to uncover the answers to the secrets her mom has kept hidden all these years, you’ll worry that any answers will bring more mystery and heartache or will be too difficult to bear. How much does the past shape who we are? Can the secrets buried there bring hope and healing to the present?

Just as the Mississippi winds its way through the south, this story will wind its way around your heart as you slowly peel the layers of the mystery and story behind the pasts of Nell, Evie, Becca, and Hazel.

Mustian’s writing is complex, compelling, richly layered, and nuanced which was even further brought to life in the audiobook. I alternated between audio and ebook, though have to confess I mostly listened to Lisa Larsen expertly narrate the book. While this is the first of Kelly Mustian’s books that I have read, I’ll be reaching for her others very soon. A must read.

This one had a haunting, lyrical quality that made it compelling in parts, especially with its Southern Gothic undertones and dual-timeline storytelling. I liked how the mystery unraveled slowly through Nell's perspective, paired with Becca’s Depression-era storyline—it added depth and atmosphere, and the thread of sisterhood was strong throughout.

That said, the pacing dragged for me at times. The buildup was slow, and while the writing was beautiful, it sometimes leaned too heavily into description and memory, which made it harder to stay engaged. I also found some of the plot turns a little predictable, even though the emotional moments still landed.

Overall, it’s a quiet, reflective novel with an intriguing premise and rich setting, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. Recommend it for readers who enjoy multi-generational mysteries and Southern family sagas with slow-burn revelations.

The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian is a phenomenal read and a book I won’t soon forget! It’s a story that consists of a dual timeline, one taking place in the 1930’s and the other in the 1970’s. It centers around 4 main characters, 2 mothers and 2 daughters. It depicts what it was like back in the days of the depression and the sacrifices that were made just to get by. It’s a story of one mothers love and another mothers sacrifices for a child that isn’t even her own. It’s a very emotional read and I had the utmost respect for both of these mothers for doing what they thought was necessary for the safety and well-being of their daughters. Because of so many secrets, the girls were raised as sisters but after finding a hidden document in a paperback book, they learn that that isn’t the case. Nell, the oldest of the 2 daughters vaguely remembers bits and pieces from their past and because of this she decides it’s her mission to find out the truth. This is a story that captured my full attention and it’s a book I would recommend to all readers who enjoy women’s fiction, southern fiction and historical fiction. I’d like to thank Kate Riley, Marketing and Publicity Assistant @ Sourcebooks Landmark for the invite to read an early copy and NetGalley for the arc. This is a book I highly recommend and hope to get a physical copy of to add to my home library of favorites. I’m giving this book a well deserved 5 star rating!

Sacrifice and resolve are embodied by the different strong female characters in this story. Becca, a struggling mother in the depression alternates POV, with Nell in 1971 searching for truth about her mother and her sister. Both the story and the characters are interesting. My only quibble concerns my confusion between the characters during the first third of the book. An enjoyable story. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read, atmospheric, haunting, emotional and so much more. This dual story and timelines this book took me on a journey "From a windswept ghost town long forgotten, to a river house in notorious Natchez Under-the-Hill, to a moody nightclub stage". This is a book that is written in a way that you feel you are there, with characters you fell you know.

Well written and such an easy read yet it had the depth and intrigue of a good story. I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Themes: family secrets, depression, stolen child
📖 Read if you like: The Four Winds, Surviving Savannah, Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain

To the rivers that hold a world’s worth of memories. This is a haunting story of memory in a novel that is somewhere between historical fiction and mystery. While reading I had an unsettling feeling of fear knowing that a most beloved child was stolen, but how she ended up in her new family remains a mystery. In a family full of secrets, it is hard to know who the villain could be. It was slow paced, but the story really drew me in with a lyrical quality of writing and a heartbreaking outcome.

From riverside ghost towns to brothels, post war nightclubs to the Mississippi this is a dual timeline story of loss, hardship and perseverance. In 1971, a forty-two year old Nell can’t let go of the vague memories of childhood she has. Memories which her cagey mother Hazel refuses to acknowledge, let alone discuss. This is on top of a long held secret that Nell’s sister Evie has a different mother, a stranger named Becca Chambers. A childhood promise hidden in the pages of Jane Eyre, but one that Nell can no longer ignore. As she searches to unravel an eerie past shrouded in secrecy, she must confront an uncomfortable possibility that her mother is not quite who she seems to be.

This hunt is told in tandem with a young Becca in the 1930s. This young mother and new widow must navigate the trials of living independently in a depression era landscape where jobs are nearly impossible to find and a woman is ripe to be taken advantage of.

This is my first novel by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. It was beautifully written with complex characters and ended in a graceful way I was not expecting. The lines of blame and betrayal blurred under the true meaning of family and love. Each of the female characters struggles with their own vulnerabilities and truths, and I liked how real and raw they were. It was on the slower side in terms of pace, but it was easy to follow and not overly complicated. I found myself wanting an ending on vindication and healing, which I got, but not in the way I suspected. This story of redemption and resilience had some unexpected twists with a mystery that wove in and out with a messy family discovering how they can navigate their new relationships alongside the truth.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.