What the River Keeps paints a beautiful picture of the power of persevering love to bring healing to those who have given up on themselves. When Luke meets Hildy, he’s dealing with the devastation of losing his family, but his heart tells him it’s time to move on. Hildy is convinced her past will control her future. Can Luke help her escape the lies that hold her captive? Cheryl Gray Bostrom provides us with another insightful story, and once again, her research adds a depth of substance not usually found in novels of this genre.

When I took a sneak peek at the prologue just to dip my toes in, I knew I was going to love this literary masterpiece. Right from the start, the character depth is undeniable.
I loved CGB's two previous books so there's a little apprehension starting this 3rd work because... what if it disappoints? I mean, even a prologue can be misleading.
Y'all. This book does not disappoint.
A few chapters in, my husband asked me what the book is about. Honestly, I couldn't tell him. It's about God songs and fish. How do you tell someone that without sounding crazy?
Oh, it's also about being crazy. And about a river being set free. It's about a daughter being set free. It's about all of us. Being set free. And being a little crazy.
It's about generations.
I read this entire book with my whole heart- hoping, praying, that it hit the mark. It did. It hit every mark I could have hoped for it to hit. I lived in this book while I read it. I didn't want to leave.
Upon completion, I started it anew to read it again with eyes that already knew the end. The beautiful, heart wrenching, wonderful, difficult end. That's all the spoiler I'm willing to give.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale Fiction for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
There is much to like about this book: the unusual setting and topic, the quirky characters, the unusual storyline, the plot twists that keep the reader guessing, the lyrical writing.

I totally enjoyed this book. It is infused with hope and unconditional love despite some desperate circumstances the characters experience. Readers looking for a clean romantic read with imperfect characters who live out Christian principles, and a beautifully written story, should grab this book.

I am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary arc in return for this, my honest review.

So this book, What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom was not what I expected, but yet it was so much more!! Sometimes lies are not what they seem! This is a story of working through trauma and overcoming it with God and friends.

The first part of the book was a bit slow going for me, but once I got to the middle I understood why, and oh the ending, so not what I expected. So that was a shock!

I enjoyed the characters, relationships, and Hildy’s job, since I have some close friends that work in that field.

It is an inspiring story of faith and the importance of friendships, and learning to trust.

So readers, be sure to add this book to your list and pick it up when it releases later this summer!

What the River Keeps captured my heart from the very first page. Bostrom's ability to write unique, complex, and engaging characters is inspiring, and causes the reader to only want good for them. This book is thoughtful, and beautifully written, and is everything you want from a novel -- intrigue, romance, and mystery. I didn't want it to end!

I received an ARC of this book, but these thoughts are my own.

Quite possibly my favorite read of the year.

What the River Keeps is a stunning work of fiction. Bostrom’s narrative captured my heart from its first pages.

Hildy, the female MC, has a rare emotional strength, despite her layers of trauma and complex history. And Luke, the male MC, is a beautiful picture of love centered on gentle servanthood. The Pacific Northwest setting and Bostrom's poetic prose only enhanced this lovely story. Readers who enjoy nature writing will be especially drawn to this one.

A novel not to be missed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tyndale publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, A beautifully written novel with so much description I felt like I was there with Hildy and Luke. A very unique plotline with such wonderful characters who had to deal with past lost. The ending was so very satisfying. I can highly recommend reading this book.

A person can pack her bags, shut the doors on her upbringing, and start anew, but, inevitably, her tangled past will cry to be unsnarled. This is certainly true for Hildy, the elusive biologist in What the River Keeps. When she returns to her birthplace to work on the Elwha River restoration project, she meets Luke, whose recovery from his own personal tragedy has enabled him to breach her defensive psyche and dammed-up heart. Together Luke and Hildy’s discoveries of long-buried generational secrets expose an unexpected story. In this contemporary novel, Cheryl Bostrom brings to life a little-known event of history and captures both the redemption of a Pacific Northwest river and the life paths of her characters. I loved this book...the pacing is just right, the dialog is engaging, the characters are unique and memorable, the plot is creative and winsome, and the ending left me with satisfying closure (but wishing for more). This is a five-star book on every level.

Thank you to Tyndale for the advance reader copy.

Book Review: What the River Keeps by Cheryl Bostrom
Some novels move like poetry—with every word intentional, each sentence laced with something reverent. What the River Keeps is one of them. From the moment a stone calls out to Hildy from the riverbank, I knew I’d follow her anywhere.
Cheryl Bostrom crafts a world that breathes. You don’t just read this novel—you see the light shift over the water, hear the wind move through the trees, feel the cool hush of the riverbank. Her love for nature pours into every page, just as deeply as her tenderness for these characters. Hildy, especially, carries a quiet gravity that drew me close and didn’t let go.
Hildy’s story is both haunting and healing. A reclusive young woman shaped by a childhood full of uncertainty, she retreats to a cabin on her family’s rustic resort—a place thick with memories she can’t quite name. There, amid the wild edges of a river slated for restoration, she begins to confront the shadows that trail her.
Bostrom paints people with the same precision and empathy she gives to landscape. These are characters shaped by loss and secrets—damaged, yes, but resilient. Their pain doesn’t define them, but it does root them in something real. Hildy and Luke, each shouldering their own invisible burdens, find one another not in some sudden flash, but in careful moments—a romance kindled with gentleness and truth. Their connection unspools like a current, tearing down old walls as it winds toward something freer, braver.
And beneath it all, a steady undercurrent of tension and mystery runs through—memories that don’t quite line up, secrets half-buried in Hildy’s past, and troubling pieces that begin to surface as the river rises. These elements never rush. Instead, they drift up, layering suspense beneath the grace of the prose.
This is a story about renewal and the way the natural world sometimes knows us better than we know ourselves. It’s about letting go—of shame, of fear, of others’ secrets and judgments we thought we had to carry. The river doesn’t just take; it also gives back, too.
What the River Keeps is a quiet triumph, reminiscent of Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone—aching, tender, and deeply human. Cheryl Bostrom has written more than a novel; she’s offered a refuge—full of truths I won’t soon forget.
Lynne Curry, founder of Real-life Writing @ https://bit.ly/45lNbVo.

Recommendation Status
Tenderly cathartic and strikingly relatable, Cheryl Grey Bostrom’s latest release offers intimate insight into the harrowing experiences of anxiety and doubt. Like its Elwha namesake, What the River Keeps charts a fluid and powerful course along its path from repression to release.

Due to content concerns, reader discretion is strongly advised. Recommended for those who enjoy strong elements of naturalism and metaphor in a (fairly) contemporary setting.

Content Notes
Fairly major content note for attempted rape. Leading up to the event, the assailant’s plans become increasingly clearer. The scene is fairly detailed, in terms of Hildy attempting to escape, but without much in the way of graphic content– mostly a descriptive verb or two.

Additional content note for animal abuse.

There are also some derivatives of the Lord’s name: 2 uses of “g–z,” a use of “cri–ny,” and a use of “Good L—.”

Scripture Connection
I went to check the book for an epigraph and discovered not one, but four verses! What a neat, textured way for Bostrom to begin her work. I love how the overlapping references serve to tease out and foreshadow the different themes in the story. It feels like a delightful puzzle, because the connection between the individual verses isn’t immediately apparent, but the verses clearly tie into the interwoven threads of the plot.

In fact, all together, the verses can read like a found poem (which is one of my favorite ways to interact with Scripture!). I’m going to mash the verses together and list the references afterwards.

"Everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…

I will give you back what you lost…

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Mark 4:22, Eph. 6:12, Joel 2:25, and John 8:32

Very, very cool!

Spiritual Themes
I’m so grateful for the simple, honest truths seasoning the novel. While there are some longer discussions about God and faith, there are also some brief, but powerful lines that delve right into the heart of the matter.

For example, Hildy shares that she doesn’t always feel God with her. “I held onto God by a string,” she says, “but I couldn’t feel Him.” The next paragraph, rather than offering a rebuttal about not relying on feelings, sidesteps in favor of a wider, encompassing truth: Luke “knew about that. Knew God did the holding” (p. 151).

The other themes are tied to the verses above. I’ll let that beautiful concert of Scripture speak for itself.

What I Liked
Sometimes, when I start a book, I’m immediately struck: this book is going to be amazing. I’ll close the book for a moment and ask myself or the Lord, “What am I getting into?” Such was the case for me with What the River Keeps. It was an almost-visceral reaction. A powerful “wow” moment, and it happened within the first few pages of the story.

On page four, the end of the prologue, I wrote, “Whoa, there. This is gonna be good.” And ten pages later, I was already beginning to formulate my thoughts about the reading experience. “Like eating something delicious and nourishing,” I wrote. I was finding that, while I typically read books for the plot and want to rush forward to learn what will happen next, I was really enjoying the process, savoring my way through the start of the book.

I felt an immediate affinity with Hildy and her experiencing God through nature. Her explanation was so honestly and so innocently stated. I saw myself in her. And then, there’s an immediate introduction of supernatural elements, which I did not see coming in this contemporary realistic fiction. What a great start to the book!

Richly introspective, the novel follows Hildy, a naturalist _____. Hildy is determined not to forget the events of her life, so she systematically logs each day with an artifact to tether the memory in place. Hildy experiences an immense of anxiety, and I her character felt deeply authentic, as well as relatable. I’ve experienced my own share of anxiety, and lines like this one resonated with me:

A soup of feelings she didn’t understand and couldn’t describe washed over her.

p. 103

This is a very relatable experience, and Bostrom sums it up so well!

The romantic content has an allegorical flair to it, as Luke demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Hildy, even when she has very little to offer him. What a solid depiction of the “great mystery” of the union between Jesus and His bride!

Mystery / Foreshadowing
While I wouldn’t describe the book as a mystery, there is definitely some intrigue in terms of the knotty, interwoven psychological and spiritual threads. When she is not distracting herself with work, Hildy’s status quo is a state of bewilderment. Slowly, slowly, as the narrative unfolds, we learn more about the root of Hildy’s issues– the “lie” that needs to be exposed.

I use the term “foreshadowing” somewhat loosely. It’s not so much a hint of future events as nods to past events. Luke has suspicions early on, and it is easy for the reader to follow his line of reasoning, even though he doesn’t expressly state his thoughts. A big part of the plot is watching Hildy come to a place where she can begin to face the truth. In the process, we also learn the particulars of the “lie.”

Natural Elements
Bostrom’s writing stands out to me for its strong emphasis on nature: not only in terms of imagery and metaphor, but as a significant participant in the plot (due to Hildy’s role as a hydrobiologist). Hildy’s appreciation for, and relationship with, nature is absolutely beautiful. But, from the start, that strong natural bent is a cue to look upward. Hildy tells her mom that she “thought she met God through fish.” How gorgeous is that? I think I delight in this line because it captures a bit of my heart.

Throughout the book, Hildy anticipates the breaking of a dam, which proves to be very much metaphorical, as well as literal. Brilliant and powerful.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS by CHERYL GREY BOSTROM is a beautifully written novel, with an interesting story, unforgettable character analysis, and strong metaphors. As the Elwha River is set free from the two dams that hold it in check, will Hildy Nybo be set free as things are uncovered that explain her unusual childhood, which has caused her to doubt her sanity? Her father understood her - they were always close. They shared a love of fish, nature, and carpentry. He believed in her and his unexplained disappearance has affected her badly…….
Hildy is a highly educated biologist, passionate about wild fish which the demolition of the dams will set free to breed and repopulate the river. She returns to her family home to oversee a group of scientists who are working on this project.
Luke, Miranda Rimmer’s brother, is a carpenter who really “gets” Hildy. They grow close as she helps him do some work for his sister. Luke has also experienced tragedy. Will her secrets be safe with him, or will they chase him away?………
I cannot recommend this lovely read strongly enough, especially for the strong Christian message of loght in the darkness, forgiveness, deliverance and redemption.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book made me long for the days at my grandparents’ cabin on Fox Lake. The author painted a place I could see, hear, smell and feel. Although much of the research and technical terms were beyond me, they were still general enough that I could follow the storyline without getting hung up.

Some of the characters were a bit too typical—the overbearing sisters, the good-time, distraction guy, the hero with a heartbreaking backstory, the wise father-figure—but the depth and struggles of Hildy’s story were enough to carry the book and keep me engaged. I saw my own struggles in her self-doubt. I cheered for her when she stepped outside of her comfort zone. I related to her bond with Butterness. My heart broke with hers when she was finally strong enough to take off her protective blinders and see truth.

There were some storylines dropped or grazed over that I wish had been pursued or resolved more fully. One being Hildy seeing shadows. What were they? Did they stop at some point? Was it a gift or burden? The book dipped its toes oh so gently into the realm of spiritual warfare, mainly around the lies we believe, but then seemed to back away and tie it up with a neat bow. I wanted more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

After a troubled childhood where she is constantly losing things--toys, a favorite dog, and finally her father, a biologist returns to her home in the Pacific Northwest for both personal and professional reasons. There, she meets a man with a trouble history of his own, who may be able to help her face her past, if she can let him. Unusual but satisfying story about faith and love.

I enjoyed WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS, especially the personal journey of Hildy as she gets to know Luke better and confronts troubling memories and incidents from her past.

I don't know if this was a formatting error, but I grew tired of the following convention on a line level. The author will say something like, "She leaned elbows on the bridge" or "He twisted hands as he looked away." Why not say "her elbows" or "his hands"? Honestly, it started to really distract me.

The pacing is also very slow. I don't need an action thriller, and I'm quite accustomed to slower paced literary stories, but this one really took its time.

However, despite these issues, this is a lovely story with a meaningful message. I recommend it for fans of contemplative literary fiction.