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.