This book was so moving! A young biologist, Hildy, had to return home after years away from her family. This was never something she was going to look forward to because of her childhood and loss. Her relationship with her mother had scarred her emotionally and the loss of her father hung heavy in her heart years after he went missing. The hardest part were the memories from her childhood that may have all been just fantasy and misremembering of details and events. She did not trust her memory of anything anymore.

Hildy captured my heart right away and I loved being part of her discovery even when it was hard to fathom. So many people live every day with family dysfunction and feelings of hopelessness. Hildy had some very low moments but she kept picking herself back up and moving forward. In the midst of her constant feelings of weakness she proved over and over to be a relentlessly strong woman. Her battle for her sanity and future was a long hard-fought journey. Would the battles be worth it all in the end?

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
4.5 Stars (Rounded up to 5 On Goodreads, Honorable Mention of Fav 2025)

What a powerful story. This is my 3rd Cheryl book and I just love the way she tells layered, in depth stories set in the Pacific Northwest. The setting always comes to life and her characters, while they go through hard things, really tug at your heart strings and you can always see hope between the pages.

Here, we follow Hildy Nybo, a biologist that specializes in Pacific Northwest fish. She has anxiety, memory loss and a traumatic childhood where her father went missing. When her mother's health declines, leading to a dementia diagnosis, Hildy returns to her family resort on the Elwha River to help restore the Elwha River after the demolition of two century-old dams. Side note, I love how in the beginning, we see Hildy as a young child with her father and she told her Dad she met God in fish and nature. It was such a beautiful detail from a child's POV that reminds us to take in all of God's creation and truly see Him in every aspect of everything. There is also a moment where Hildy as a child can "see shadows" among evil and it felt like a tie in to spiritual warfare, reminding us that children have a greater sense of awareness.

When Hildy returns home, she steps out of her isolation and here meets Luke, a compassionate carpenter with his own tragic past and grief, and together they go through healing in this book. They have a passion for nature, animals, the river and they really connect well.

Hard things about the past resurface, she starts to put things together about her father's disappearance and what she finds is not what she expected....

Bottom line, I really enjoyed Luke and Hildy's healing journey, their romance and God's love, redemption - fully weaved into the story throughout. What Luke had been through was SO HARD and he was such an inspiring guy really trying to do the best he could. Seeing their healing was POWERFUL to me. A favorite quote from Luke “I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m all in, Hildy. Not with some God I tap for favors, but with a living Tsunami who raises the dead. Who washed my sorry carcass onto a better road.” Had me TEAR UP!

Along the way though, we see something happen with separation between the characters and the path Hildy goes down is not a good one...yet Luke is there regardless and I love how he stepped in to protect her and take care of her.

Moving to the ending, I loved how the mystery was revealed - did NOT see that coming....it was sad, but real, raw and the start to true healing and forgiveness for Hildy to move on.

Overally, highly recommend. I always say if you liked Delia Owens Where the Crawdads Sing type of story with the nature elements but with a level of faith added, pick up Cheryl's books. I love her stories and looking forward to what she writes next.

*Content warnings: Death of a spouse and children, grief, death of a parent, dementia, attempted sexual assault with details leading up to the abuser's intentions and her trying to escape, domestic violence in that same scene, brief mention of animal abuse/animal death

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, Cheryl and TLC Book Tours for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So much to celebrate in this character driven story. The author does an absolute amazing job developing characters and bringing them to life. The emotions were palpable as the characters worked through so many things from their past. In addition, I felt fully transported to the Pacific Northwest. It was so atmospheric.

Amazing prose, I'm shocked this was the first book I have read by her. I look forward to her backlist.

Thoughtful, inspiring book but I found it hard to get into. So much technical and research material about Hildy’s work was not appealing. Hildy’s struggles were heartbreaking. Many readers may enjoy the book but it was not for me.

This story sure packs emotional punches! It’s got family drama, a missing father, a wonderful male main character in Luke and a lot of healing for the main female character Hildy. This story is a beautifully woven tapestry of redemption and love through the hardest of hard things. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will look for more from this author!

I received a copy of this book from the Author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

What the River Keeps
by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book will long stay with me. I highly recommend it.
A compelling story of forgiveness, redemption, and overcoming painful secrets that explores the beauty of the natural world
A poignant and emotive contemporary novel perfect for fans of Delia Owens and William Kent Krueger
Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Book Review: WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
(ARC)

Some stories reach into your soul with quiet hands, but Hildy’s gripped mine with the ache of her unraveling, layer by layer, as she faced the pain she carried and the secrets she feared for far too long.

Hildy’s story charts a tender course through the wreckage of childhood secrets, offering a lifeline to those caught in their currents. Showing us all that even the most fractured past can shape the future, not by what was broken, but by what was bravely rebuilt.

Rooted in themes of nature and personal growth, this story moves with the quiet strength of the river that anchors it~ Steady, reflective, and deeply restorative.

WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS is a story that will linger with me long after this review is written~ A quiet, powerful reminder of the strength it takes to heal, the beauty in truth, and the grace found in the slow unfolding of hope.

I highly recommend WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS to anyone who appreciates layered characters and emotional depth. It’s one of those rare reads that leaves a lasting imprint.

I thank the author for my personal copy of her upcoming release and for the opportunity to read and review such a meaningful story.

5 Stars

#WhatTheRiverKeeps
#CherylGreyBostrom
#TyndalFiction

Wild Sage Book Blog

This book made me smile every time a location on the Olympic Peninsula was described. The way the author welcomed you into the landscape and the main characters story. As a reader who loves nature, science and romance stories..... this one was exactly what my heart needed. Family, heartbreak, redemption and love .... beautiful story!! Thank you, Net Galley, for this opportunity to be immersed into such a wonderful story!!

What the River Keeps is a very well written book. I enjoyed the plot and character dynamics. This was a new author to me and I enjoyed her writing style.

In this contemporary women’s fiction novel, thirty-four-year-old Hildy is a wildlife biologist in the state of Washington. She knows a lot about rivers and trees and fish, especially fish. When Hildy was little, she told her dad she had met God in fish.

This is also a missing-person cold case story. Hildy’s dad went missing when she was a teenager.

There’s something “off” about Hildy. For some reason, she doesn’t trust her memory. Someone has messed with this woman’s head. Is it simply that her dad went missing on one of his hikes through the forest, which would traumatize anyone, or is there something more sinister at play?

When the bad guy was revealed bit by bit, it was frightening because of how another person can be so manipulative, so skillful at gaslighting, so sneaky.

On a different note, I loved the research-driven details in this story. Hildy has a geeky job, and I learned a lot about the ecology of a river, the Pacific Northwest weather, even the life cycles of fish.

The only con for me is I didn’t need the epilogue. I was happy with the way the last chapter ended. I didn’t want a peek into the future. However, I know some readers do like to know for sure what eventually happens, so I’m only taking off half a star.

A well-written, seriously good book, 4.5 stars!

I read What the River Keeps through NetGalley.

I was quite excited to read this novel because I had really enjoyed her earlier book, Leaning on Air. I've attempted multiple times to read beyond the 30% mark. I couldn't identify with the characters or their situation. This work is about loss and healing, specifically a father who's gone missing and a mother suffering from dementia. Hilda has developed a habit of writing everything down so she doesn't forget. She is tasked with caring for her mother and the resort and has a job dealing with wildlife. I will attempt to read this another time, but right now I’m not connected with this story. If my opinion changes, I will update my review at NetGalley.

What the River Keeps is contemporary fiction, that immerses the reader in the beautiful environment of the Pacific Northwest, while exploring deeper themes of anxiety, complicated relationships, and unraveling past traumas. I enjoyed Bostrom's writing, with her detailed setting descriptions and the mix of complex characters and their relationships, but I did find there were some moments in the book with abrupt time jumps that gave a choppy feel to parts of the story. I also felt like one of the spiritual aspects of the story didn't come to a fulfilling conclusion by the end of book.

The characters were well-written, and I felt like the main character, Hildy, really added an emotional investment to the story. After spending years away from her childhood home, and having to return for family responsibilities, brought great tension to the story. Bostrom delivers a great slow burn revealing the circumstances that have led Hildy to her anxiety and unsolved family secrets from her childhood.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* TW: Dementia, Sexual Assault, Animal Death
* Ecosystem Restoration/Environmental Work
* Olympic National Park
* Family Secrets
* Second Chance at Love
* Faith/Spiritual References
* Healing/Letting Go

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

If you enjoy stories with complex characters, romance, and some mystery, with a stunning natural backdrop, then I would recommend What the River Keeps.

Cheryl excels at crafting multi-dimensional characters, whose hope and anxieties resonate long after reading. Hildy is relatable and flawed, navigating the world with a mix of courage and vulnerability. Her hope, fears and triumphs become you own.

Why am I fighting tears in this moment? Because I just reviewed all of the passages I highlighted in this magnificent novel. These mementos of some glorious, poignant reading moments stirred up some sediment in my own heart. I feel “seen.”

What the River Keeps is set in the Olympic Peninsula, where the Elwha River was set free when the dam was dismantled. Cheryl Grey Bostrom used this as a backdrop to take the reader to a soul-stirring setting where Hildy’s caged memories are dismantled. Through some divinely-orchestrated events, Hildy reluctantly returns to the birthplace where sadness lived and “shadows ran amok.” In this place, though, the unconditional love and acceptance of some key characters bring light and hope into her world.

Yes, this is a fictional story, but What the River Keeps will dismantle readers’ own dams and lead them to the One who sets us free; to “a living Tsunami who raises the dead” as Luke describes Him. It’s a story that rends the heart. It might even stir up some sediment, but Cheryl Grey Bostrom leaves the reader sitting along the banks of a river where joy runs uninhibited.

I’m very grateful I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this novel (thank you, Net Galley). It’s an extraordinary novel. I’m going to recommend it to all my reading friends.

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a beautifully written story about healing that I really enjoyed. The topic about generational family trauma and redemption is one that is close to my heart.

I really loved the character of Hildy who is a biologist. Her canary Butterness is a great addition to the story.

What a great story of faith and hope and honesty and what one must overcome to move past those hurts of the past.

Very compelling!

What the River Keeps is a wonderful story that delivers all the great things I've come to hope for in Bostrom's novels: Character struggles that offer a window into difficult experiences. Immersive depictions of nature (and in this story's case--dialect) that transport you to new places. And, authentic depictions of faith that anchor readers through the story. Luke and Hildy's love story was deep thanks to the complex nature of their characters, and I loved learning about the bigger backdrop of the Elwha River and its restoration!!

Maybe more of 3.5 stars. I had a hard time getting into the book and had to stop and come back to it several times. It may have been just me, but it was really hard to connect, mainly because the story jumped around too quickly. I did enjoy the ending much better and I appreciated the faith elements.

I was given a complimentary copy of the book but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What the River Keeps
Cheryl Grey Bostrom
August 12, 2025

Hildy Nybo and her sister Tess grew up by the river in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Her dad worked on the river, her mother at home with the girls. Dad was gone when he was on ship detail. Mother was there for the girls but she often became lonely and at night took off in her canoe to find peace and breathe. Tess was easy with her mom but Hildy was a constant challenge. She was brilliant and continued on to become a marine biologist studying the salmon growth in the area. She lived alone in her small apartment, then a small cabin. Many thought she hoarded but in reality her finds were catalogued in daily journals. Everything from rocks, feathers, and assorted interesting parts of nature were numbered and written down. Sights from walks, conversations with friends and family, all were transcribed in her dairies. After college and the start of her career many found her to be a recluse. She taught her classes, worked with her river teams but no discussions beyond that.
What the River Keeps will be published by Tyndale Fiction on August 12, 2025. I was able to read Bostrom’s latest title via NetGalley. What the River Keeps is a first by her for me. I found Hildy’s journey to become a welcoming story to read. I was absorbed by her life and that of her profession. I must find her other novels. This particular adventure was extremely well written and a joy to read. I encourage book-lovers to pick this one up.

July 17, 2025
Review of Cheryl Grey Bostrom’s, What the River Keeps
By Robin Walter

What the River Keeps is a wonderful and thoughtful literary gift that award-winning author Cheryl Grey Bostrom gives to us. Set in the majestic Pacific Northwest amongst the ocean, mountains, rivers, forest and wildlife, Cheryl’s informed, lyrical, and thoughtful voice is present on every page.

Her clearly defined characters, Hildy and Luke, recognize each other as kindred spirits. In this page-turning novel, readers will discover all the “nuggets” that Cheryl embeds in her work. The nuggets surprise you as you read; and are key to inviting you to read and reread What the River Keeps.

Enjoy your journey with Hidy and Luke as they discover their second chances to glean the understandings of their troubled and misunderstood pasts. They search for truth, restoration, clarity, love, and forgiveness as they follow their path to their future. In nature’s beauty, they parallel their lives with the renewal and restoration of the Elwha River and its historical past.

This is a beautifully written story, and one you do not want to miss. Cheryl’s first two novels – Sugar Birds and Leaning on Air – are also amazing. All three novels are award winners and a treasure to experience. Enjoy!

What the River Keeps is a beautifully told story about confronting a painful and confusing childhood for one character (Hildy) and overcoming a family tragedy for another (Luke). Set on the stunning Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, Hildy’s healing mirrors that of the long-dammed Elwha River that she participates in restoring as a fisheries biologist. While the story does contain brief relationship violence and childhood psychological abuse, it is truly a story about the resilience and healing power of love of all kinds—spiritual, familial, romantic, and that for the natural world. Vivid, skillful writing and deep emotions kept me up late reading this powerful book. I highly recommend it. I received an advanced reader copy of What the River Keeps to review. All opinions are my own.