Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a new-to-me author with me finding What the River Keeps being a pleasure to read. I am now wondering why I had not discovered this wonderful writer sooner. Everything about this masterpiece is superb from the Pacific Northwest where the God of creation is clearly seen, then the unique characters with painful remembered or not who have growth not always easy, but God is with them through each step to the unexpected surprises at the conclusion. A tale with characters who are unforgettable.

"Damaged souls find healing much like the river valley where they live."

WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a complex and ultimately satisfying story of two damaged souls whose meeting sets them both on journeys of healing. Biologist Hildy Nybo leaves her life in Seattle and returns to her family’s fishing retreat in the Elwah Valley of the Pacific Northwest when her mother succumbs to early-onset dementia. She intends to oversee her mother’s care while taking a leading role in the ecological research needed prior to the removal of the two dams on the river, an overly ambitious plan from the get-go if you’ve ever been a caretaker for a loved one suffering from this horrible disease.

Hildy is a wonderful underdog, scarred from a childhood of dealing with unexplainable misperceptions of her daily activities, the constant loss of random everyday objects, and later, the disappearance of her beloved father, the parent who had unconditionally accepted who she was and encouraged her love of nature and building things. The disconnect between what she thought she’d done during the day and what she was told she’d done had led her to some compulsive activities intended to ground her in the day and offer physical proof that what she remembered was true. However, these activities filled her small living spaces with collected objects that her older sister described as hoarding, and isolated Hildy from others, preventing her from building meaningful relationships.

Luke Rimmer is a kind, nurturing man, recovering from his own tragedy. He sees similarities in his healing journey in Hildy and believes he can help, and soon develops deeper feelings for her. His love is not an easy path, as Hildy is so wounded by her past. His patience and faith are put to the test, but it is exactly what he and Hildy need.

The details of Hildy and her team’s research in preparation for the dams coming down were fascinating and, at times, I just wanted to know more about their activities and observations. Their days in the field are both exciting and frustrating due to the uncooperative weather. The vivid descriptions of the natural areas created almost cinematic visuals and had me wanting to see these places for myself.

The storytelling is compelling, and I read this book through in one evening, staying up late for the shocking resolution of the mysteries behind Hildy’s childhood experiences and missing father, with no regrets. I recommend WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS to readers of Christian fiction, domestic drama, and mystery.

No, I just could not get into this book, in spite of several tries. The main character was too strange for me to relate to and I found it annoying. My own experiences of people with hoarding disorders and ASD probably were triggered by this woman and affected my feelings about her and the story in general.

I read 22% and stopped. Maybe it got good; maybe not, but I can't do any more reading here.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are honestly given.

I found this book to be a mixed experience. The story has potential but I struggled to follow it due to the complex and sometimes confusing word choices. It felt me feel lost, making it hard to fully connect with the narrative. Still, the setting and theme were intriguing, which kept me reading.

Before giving my review of the book I have to say that I and not a Christian and that may be a reason why a lot of the book felt foreign to me and a lot of the dialogues felt stilted and weird. This may not be the case for a lot of people though.
The book starts very confusing and not clear of what the story or the main character’s story is, but if you keep reading you’ll get a book full of human emotions and family secrets and interactions, besides the fact that you’ll feel the closeness with nature and the river that jumps out of the pages of this book.
There’s a lot packed in the book, family disfunction, domestic violence that passes thru generations, adultery, murder, child abuse, but also love, companionship, loyalty, friendship and second chances in life.

Okay, I must admit that I am not Christian, but I can typically read around religious parts in books without that affecting out I feel about them. That was nearly impossible within this book. Weird shadows and a reliance upon religion made me frequently go "what?"

Hildy, a biologist who specializes in fish and river habitats, moves back to the Elwha River, where she grew up. Her childhood was plagued by poor memory and constant losing her things, including her loving father, who disappeared on a hike. She gets a job with the Elwha Tribe as the dams are about to be removed, but is also there to help care for her mother, as her mother loses more and more of herself to dementia. One of the cabins near Hildy is turned into a pottery studio, and Hildy and the potter's brother, Luke, hit it off. With troubled pasts, can they come together? How can Hildy not lose herself in the place where she was the most unsure?

Seriously, there was a ton of potential in this book, but the shadows really took away from that! Additionally, I had memory issues and the associated cause called within the first few pages.

Cheryl Grey Bostrom can write, and she does a beautiful job depicting the Olympic Peninsula. Plus, the geography was spot on! I just needed religion to not be a major plot point, because it detracted rather than enhanced.

Thank you to Net Galley, Tyndale House Publishers, and Tyndale Fiction for the ARC. All opinions are my own. I am rating it three stars due to the predictability and not because of the religion because it was classified as Christian.

“‘I held onto God by a string, but I couldn’t feel him.’ He knew about that. Knew God did the holding.”

Thoughts on the following:
Plot: The story felt a little confusing in the beginning. You don’t get any explanation on Hildy’s character or past. It’s not clear if she has a memory condition or if she’s struggling with some sort of trauma. It makes things a little hard to follow, not to mention that her background in biology adds to the complexity of the storyline, and it feels assumed that you know what they’re talking about, which I didn’t always follow.

There were also some paranormal aspects to this story that I didn’t like. I was not expecting it at all, and I pretty much will always skip a book if there’s any paranormal pieces to it, so I would’ve passed on this one if I’d known. So just beware if you’re sensitive to that, too.

Granted, this is a Christian fiction, and as a Christian, I know that there is a constant spiritual battle at play in life. However, the way that portion was written didn’t work for me, and I don’t like to read about it like this.

That being said, as the book went on, I felt myself getting pretty invested in the story and really enjoying where things were going with the characters. Though I didn’t always understand the details of what Hildy was doing in her job, I did like reading about her work.

Characters: Hildy reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant, or even a little of Lucas from The Answer is No. I liked her, but with little explanation of why she was such a recluse, it felt almost a little frustrating the way she’d respond to situations at first. But as the book went on and I got more attached to the characters and invested in the story, I started rooting for her more.

I really liked Luke and his patience for, and belief in, Hildy. His story was heartbreaking, and almost a little too much for me, but seeing how far he’d come and his healing was nice to read about.

The side characters were sweet, as well. The way they loved Hildy and Luke was really special and I appreciate the support both characters had from them.

Writing style: This wasn’t my favorite. The writing was a little confusing, there was a lot of conversations, words, lingo that only a biologist would probably understand. I’m not a biologist. A lot of it went over my head.
It was also confusing when transitions would happen in the story because it wasn’t always clear. One moment two characters would be having a conversation in a car and the next they’d be outside walking around somewhere and the next they’d be back in the car again, but it never said they left the car or got back in at any point. It was like the conversation kept going but the setting kept changing. I didn’t love that.

Length: The length felt fine and appropriate for the story.

Conclusive thoughts: I enjoyed this book, especially the more it went on. Not a favorite, but certainly not a bad story. I think it’ll resonate more with romance lovers, however, this book did show me that I can actually enjoy romance as long as it’s sweet and it’s clean, and I really appreciate that! That’s an exciting thing for me to discover in my reading because I haven’t enjoyed romance in books in a long time.
While the writing wasn’t the best for me, simply because it was confusing at times and jumped around a lot, the story itself was good and well thought out. One thing I will note though is that the paranormal aspects felt unresolved, and didn’t have any clear explanation.

Star rating: 3.25/5 ⭐️

This novel has so many aspects to it without being overwhelming. There is family dysfunction, nature, great loss, some trauma, emotion, rebuilding, mental health issues, mystery, a bit of romance, etc. There is even some suspense. And did I mention that it’s also educational?! There is such a balance and blending that it is effortless to take the journey.

The characters and setting are so clear that there is no confusion at all. There are parts that are mysterious, and maybe even very odd, but all questions are answered. I did suspect some things correctly but I was still surprised by others. I enjoyed every moment immensely. This is a very satisfying novel with all the feels; but, in an organic way. The title has great significance, which I personally appreciate. The ending and epilogue really amplify both the valleys of life AND the beauty, joy, and hope of life. Water (the river) IS life and God describes Himself as such in Scripture. God carries us and gives us life abundantly..

I want to add that I also listened to the audiobook because Caroline Hewitt is one of my favourite narrators. She did a phenomenal job!

In What the River Keeps, Hildy Nybo spends her days sorting through her memories and wondering what’s true. Detailed diaries protect the narrative flow of her days as a successful wildlife biologist, but always beneath the surface lies her confusion:

“All through my growing-up years, I lost things. Forgot where I put them. Not only that—I’d recall an event I absolutely believed was true only to be told otherwise, and when I’d hear what actually occurred, I couldn’t for the life of me find that sequence of events anywhere, anywhere in my memory.”

When a dream job near her hometown makes it possible for Hildy to oversee her aging mother’s care, she anticipates a quiet reentry with family and braces herself for the shadows to return. What she was not expecting, however, was a renovation project at her family’s rustic resort—led by a man battling his own shadows, but who seems to be finding the way toward freedom and truth.

Readers who carry the responsibility of caregiving will connect with the challenges Hildy and her family face. Too, Hildy’s ragged path to forgiveness and the restoration of her own story traces a healing and redemptive arc all the way to freedom.

Both Hildy and Luke have experienced loss and immense pain in their past. Despite his grief, Luke has managed to claw out of it to lead a contented life while Hildy remains mostly reclusive and unable to trust others.

As Luke slowly breaks through Hildy’s walls, we also learn about the hideous lies and secrets which have impacted Hildy all their life. It’s not an easy book to read but persevere through it for a sweet ending.

What the River Keeps is a beautifully written story. The characters are just like you and me. They have flaws, fears, cares, challenges and also wonderment and courage. The way the author intertwines all of this makes it hard to put the book down. Highly recommend.

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is fascinating and beautiful. This is the author's third fiction novel set in the PNW, and her writing immerses me in nature.

Most of the characters aren't lovable, but they're real, and I appreciate it! There are extremely tough situations addressed in What the River Keeps, and the characters' relationships (with family, pets and friends who become family) showcase their compassion and personal growth. And I cried.

Mental illness is woven into the story, and it enhances the mystery, as the reader tries to figure out what's true vs. what's imagined. There's also a speculative aspect in the story that I like and am wondering if the author will include this in future writing.

I was led to research a factual aspect of the story and was amazed by these current plans to destroy damns on the Elwha River and how it will affect the (native) people and the land. Now I want to keep an eye on this!

Again, this was a beautiful and fascinating story, and I highly recommend this novel and this author!

"God can wash a person clean, restore hope, but consequences can scar a heart up pretty bad.”

I loved this book!

It was such a compelling book that I binge-read it. We all have scars. It was therapeutic reading about someone who worked through trauma and came out the other side with hope.

I won’t forget Hildy Nybo any time soon. This quirky STEM main character nestled into my heart and wouldn’t leave. I began seeing my days through her eyes. If you enjoy unique characters, ones that take up residence in your mind, and a focus on the worthiness of healing, this book is for you! Hildy is an adjunct professor at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and a US Geological Survey biologist, but she’s convinced that she’s losing her mind. To cope, she’s “developed tricks that help store her days and remember her life”. These initiatives worked well until the fateful day when an event happened that caused everything that grounded her and helped her remember, suddenly vanished.

I loved that I questioned everyone in Hildy’s life. It helped me work out what happened in her past to precipitate her record-keeping. Luke Rimmer was a wonderful character and brought out the best in Hildy. There were times when she frustrated me, but I could understand the anxiety that caused her to make irrational decisions and I gave her room to grow. I was rooting for her to experience freedom and hoped it was with Luke. I’m currently experiencing caring for a relative with dementia, so some of the scenes with Hildy’s mom were heartbreaking.

I’ve added this author to my auto-read list.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It has mystery and romance and is full of emotions. I highly recommend this book
I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“‘There’s Love in that book. It’s a road map out of the dark.’ Out of her anxiety, too?”

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is about a brilliant fish/river naturalist in the PNW who, due to childhood issues, could be considered an unreliable narrator. Hiding her true self from most people, Hildy limps solo through life, until the past comes calling and forces a return home. Will this change destroy her, or will she find the strength and courage to overcome fears of the past? Heart-wrenchingly beautiful! This book will tear you up and make you cry before it rebuilds your faith in humanity and God’s ability to take care of his precious chosen ones.

“They hush me, Daddy. Every fish I see.” At 10, Hildy is overwhelmed by the sense of the amazing, the obvious evidence of a great Creator God when she sees fish. Her father, a warm nurturer, encourages her to look for God in nature. However, her mother, quick to correct Hildy and obviously ashamed of what she deems as “quirkiness,” quickly shuts down Hildy’s searching nature.

Years later, we find Hildy as a brilliant fish biologist and river conservationist, but a person who has very few social skills and very definite oddities, stiff-arming most people.

I loved Junie and her hubby Otis who love the family and serve the family business selflessly. While they love unconditionally without judgement, Otis does tell Hildy, “‘You want to get free a those chains a yours? All that anxiety?’ Here we go again. ‘You know I do.’ ‘Then—‘ ’Stop, Otis. You’ve told me fifty times.’ Maybe not fifty, but while Fourth of July campers had settled into the resort’s quiet hours, he’d repeated himself so often she could hear him in her sleep: ‘Do some diggin’. Find the lie.’”

Against incredible odds, when Hildy meets new cabin renter Miranda’s brother, Luke, a gradual rapport develops between the two. Luke’s had losses in the past, but he has learned to turn them over to God, so he can have the strength to move on. Hildy and Luke dance around a relationship, with Hildy’s issues rising up like a monolith dam to separate them. Luke wants to face Hildy’s stunting emotional issues with her- will she allow him that close? Will Hildy be able to accept that someone could love her wholeheartedly, and how will surprising revelations from her past affect or stall her growth?

Bostrom creates Hildy, a character so full of anxiety and fear for her own sanity, that I thought she’d be hard to relate to. Instead, I learned to love her deeply. I wonder how many other people may be out in our world, limping by on their self-made crutches when God wants to heal the source of the problem.
One of my top books of 2025!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Tyndale Publishers. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“That locust verse I promised to send you, different version: ‘I will give you back what you lost.’” - Luke

“Some lies get handed down, become strongholds kids are raised with.” - Luke

“That cabin’s a big old stove, darlin’, with stories still cookin’ inside…I trust those memories will make sense to you once they’re baked. Some will even be beautiful.”- Junie

“I’ve spent the better part of my life hiding the fact that I’m crazy, Luke. Crazy. If people knew what goes on in my head, I’d lose what little credibility I have.”

Lyrical writing with a plot that kept me guessing. Lots of twists and mysteries and a complicated romance. An enjoyable read!

This is my second book from this author, and she writes in such a compelling and emotional way you can’t help but fall in love with her stories.
A beautiful story about forgiveness, the power of love, and second chances that captured my heart.

"What the River Keeps" by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a hauntingly beautiful story full of emotion. The main character Hildy Nybo questions her sanity and memory. She is a brilliant biologist who keeps to herself and has filled her home with things that help her remember each day. She moves home to take care of her mother who suffers from dementia and to see the Elwah River in Washington restored, close to how it was before the two dams were put up almost a century before. When Hildy meets her neighbor's brother, Luke Rimmer things start to change for her.

This story is very emotional and deals a lot with family trauma and drama. It is a story that will break your heart and put it back together through the words on the pages. It really makes a person think about how a person's formative life can shape them as an adult. The scenery described in this book as well as the real life restoration of the river are a really interesting backdrop.

Just the overall imagery and storytelling is beautiful in this book. This is a Christian faith filled book that deals with overcoming sinful desires and learning to move past the things that try and hold us back. There is love, redemption and a hope that can only be found in Christ in this story. I finished this book over a week ago and it continues to stick with me long past the last page.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

What the River Keeps is another wonderful character driven novel by Cheryl Grey Bostrom.I loved her previous books and enjoy the wonderful pictures she shares in her newsletter of the beautiful Pacific North West.This book will keep you engaged through its layers of emotion.There is mystery and romance!You will love Hildy and be pulling for her as she deals with emotions from childhood experiences.You will long remember this story!Thank you Net Galley and Tyndall House Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC,

Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the author eloquently and vividly describes the landscape. She depicts a fragile, vulnerable heroine, biologist Hildy Nybo, who shows strength even though she questions her sanity. The past haunts her, but she finds purpose in wildlife and the reclamation that will come once the dam is torn down on the Elwha River. Luke Rimmer, a still grieving widower, is helping his sister with her pottery shop in the cabin next to Hildy. As they grow together, Luke shows infinite patience when Hildy tries to reconcile her past with her present. “A chess game, this relationship,”
This was a slow-build romance with complcated family dynamics. The author presented clear Biblical truths with realistic situations. “God can wash a person clean, restore hope, but consequences can scar a heart up pretty bad.”
This was an expertly crafted story with a lot to ponder, a suspenseful thread and a satisfying ending.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale on behalf of the author via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*