What an amazing story! I have always been fascinated with the Jewish religion/culture and learning some things about how they deal with death is very interesting. So many lovely and believable characters. I think most people can relate to some of them and see others in their lives who are similar, especially the son-in-law who is such a creep. This really took family secrets to the extreme with Florence’s death. Reading the authors notes at the end and how she used so much of her own family history made this so special!

Oh boy. This book was very hard to finish. I LOVED the idea behind it and the storyline but it was slow going and in some ways infuriating.

Things I loved:
- each chapter was from a different character's perspective (ranging from a 7-year-old girl to a woman in her 60s)
- the setting - Atlantic City in the 1930s
- the author was super thorough in her descriptions of Jewish culture. I loved this so much.
- (NOT a spoiler since it's in the description) the entire book revolved around the death of a character (in the first chapter) and how the others reacted. I thought this was an interesting idea but I found the deceased character unlikeable
- I love that this was based on the authors family

Things I didn't love:
- Issac. HATED him
- There were a lot of loose ends and I felt like some of the story was disjointed and incomplete. Almost like trying to combine 3-4 books into one
- Slow read and didn't really feel like there was a plot
- I skipped 30 pages on accident (kindle mess up) and I didn't even notice. Feel like that isn't good.

I do think there is a wonderful set up for a 2nd novel. As a debut novel, I think the author did a great job in many areas.

After a tragic event that kicks off the book, this turns out to be a sweet, well-written family saga. I really enjoyed this one and I'm glad I persevered after the upsetting event.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A beach read about the beach with a bit of history thrown in. A bit of suspense, simple story, easy to read

I really liked this book. I would give it 5 stars! It was fast paced and engaging. The characters are well defined and the story draws you into the time period.
Poor Florence drowns and the family has much to deal with. Secrets are kept with good intentions but things are not what they seem. Florence’s father brings a girl into their home and her background raises eyebrows. Issac is Florence’s brother in law with a shady side and her sister is in the hospital with a risky pregnancy. The story reveals bits and pieces but it is not predictable. I like the fact that the story is based on a true story.

I enjoyed reading Florence Adler Swims Forever. It was set in the early 1930's, and some of the story was nonfiction and happened in real life. The characters had great development, especially Anna and Stuart, and there were a few plots that I was surprised about (in a good way!). I was lucky enough to read and review this book prior to its publication this summer, July 2020.

This was a great thought provoking read. Loosely based on true events the story follows a family after the drowning of one of their daughters. Filled with complex family issues and whether it’s right to hide the truth. Will recommend.

Five stars

This book took me by surprise in the very best way. I requested the arc because I thought the cover was charming and was intrigued by the setting; there's nothing like a beachy-looking read to warm one's soul in early December.

From the start, I was interested, but I later found myself captivated. The narrative begins with a completely (for me) unexpected bang, and then the plot unfolds with subtle and understated complexity that I ended up loving. I found the characters - even one I truly loathed - arresting. Their secrets, their motivations, their fears...I was so wrapped up in all of their outcomes and so curious to know how some of these secrets, especially, would be revealed and then received.

One added bonus is the way this work ends. I couldn't wait to get certain answers, and I also dreaded how they might be presented. Having finished the novel, I feel extremely satisfied with what I got to see and what will live in my imagination forever. Also, the author's note completely blew my mind.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. It's not often that a narrative creeps up on me like this, and I am excited to experience the feeling again sometime. If there's a pledging system for the Florence Adler Lives Forever Society, I'll do whatever it takes.

Having grown up Jewish and on the New Jersey shire, this book was of special interest to me. I loved reading the references to the beaches I frequented for most of my life and the connection with Jewish culture made the story that much more touching for me. Although it wouldn’t have made sense for the story, I wanted to know Florence more. She is referred to and remembered by the other characters, but she still never became more than one dimensional for me. And, I think that was my problem with most of the characters… We met them all superficially, but even with all I may have had in common with them, there was just something missing. I enjoyed the book, the story moved quickly, and I wasn’t dissatisfied with the ending (something I’ve found happening more and more frequently lately). As a fan of historical fiction, I’d recommend the book. As a former (and forever) Jersey Girl, and a once aspiring swimmer, I’d recommend the book. As an educator, I don’t honestly see it fitting into any curriculum I’ve ever taught (middle and high school English).

The Adler family is facing a series of crises in Atlantic City in 1934. Joseph and Esther don’t want to tell their daughter, Fannie, that her sister Florence drowned since Fannie is experiencing a high risk pregnancy. Joseph has sponsored Anna to save her from Hitler’s Germany, without telling Esther the whole story. Their granddaughter, Gussie, is an innocent bystander in all of this family drama. Well written and engrossing, I recommend this book, which is based loosely on the author’s family. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

What a sweet story! I was a bit aghast when the tragic event happens at the very beginning! Now what? Where is it going to go? We have secrets, a risky pregnancy, coping with grief, new romances *breathe*. So much happened I was kept enthralled. Set in 1934 Atlantic City the settings were spot on. The writing made you feel as if you were there breathing the ocean air along with the Adler family. Just an old fashioned enjoyable story.

The characters in this book are so rich they really drew me in. Although there may have been some predictable parts, the story really illustrated how far a parent will go to protect their child.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Set in Atlantic City, in 1934, this gorgeous book captured my heart from page one.

Florence has a plan to spend her summer training to swim the English Channel. A gifted swimmer, she is focused and determined to reach her goal.

When the family faces an unexpected tragedy though, they make a decision to protect their daughter (Fannie) from knowing the truth about what had happened.

The secrecy comes from a good place though because Fannie’s in the hospital to help her stay calm and quiet for the risky birth of their child. With numerous complications, the last thing that they want to do is to put Fannie into early labor.

The thing is, this secret is too big to keep, especially for Fannie’s young daughter.

This book is so beautifully written that I was shocked that this was Beanland’s debut.

I hung on every word of this story and think it would be amazing for a book club discussion.

My only regret is to tell you that this one won’t hit the shelves until July, but can assure you that this is the perfect historical fiction escape for summer.

I loved this book. It surprises right away then hooks you with her ability to draw her characters so clearly. There was some part of me that felt the ends were tied a little too neatly and maybe everything won’t really work out as planned. Inquiring minds want to know. By the end I felt so involved with this family I need to know more and would love a sequel.

Ratings..they are of course subjective but I also wonder if my ratings are consistent. As I write reviews tonight I seem to be stuck on a rating of 3. Once again this is a good story - for me a 3 means read it when you get to it; its worth reading just not at the top of your pile. It helps that this saga is based on a true story; otherwise I would be ranting that the plot, that someone would try to keep this secret and would be able to actually keep the secret, isn't believable. I didn't love the characters in the book. I found I wasn't rooting for anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this review arc!
A story of family and heartbreak, this was a great novel.
Florence Adler is a swimmer training to swim the English Channel. When she dies her family ultimately makes the decision to keep her death a secret from her older sister,Fannie, who is going through a difficult pregnancy.
This novel is told through the eyes of the different characters.
A really great debut novel, I highly recommend this book!

This would be a suitable summer read. It took me quite a few pages to get into it and felt like it dragged at points. Imperfect, but good enough, this is destined for the beach bags of mothers across America.

Perfect summer read. Good writing and fun, moving historical setting set in old New York. Great title and certainly a plot that allures, again for summertime reads.

Absolutely wonderful! I wasn't sure what to expect, and after a tragic event in the early chapters, wasn't sure I would enjoy it, I'm so glad I kept reading. Such beautiful writing that evocatively captured 1934 Atlantic City and several family members reeling and recovering for the tragic event. I was sad to see it end and even though I finished it a couple of days ago keep thinking about the Adler family and wonder what happened after the last chapter. Be sure to read the author's notes, they added so much to the reading experience!

I loved this novel and eagerly await its publication so I can encourage everyone to read it this summer. One of the best books I've read in a long time!

Occurring in the 1930s, this book is set in Atlantic City or the “Jewish Rivera”. It’s before WW2, but they know what’s coming, the Adler family has a young girl staying with them from Germany and they are trying to bring her parents to the US as well. Although not the central theme, this is an important part of the story as well.

There are a lot of different characters in the novel. Florence, who the book named after, is only present for a few chapters, however, her tragedy impacts everyone in this story. Her mother, maybe partially as a coping mechanism and to save her other daughter’s unborn child, refuses to let anyone talk about the tragedy. In this way, she leaves everyone to deal with her loss in their own way, instead of together.

I’ll admit, it took me a while to be able to figure out all of the characters and their place in the story. Once I did, I loved the story and the way that it unfolded.
It began as a tragedy and ended with a love story. Showing that even after going through so much, we survive and move on.

Even more impressive is that parts of the story were taken from the author’s own family. I’m glad that she chose to share their story with us and I hope that you love the book as much as I have.