"What did anyone ever know about a relationship that could look as transparent as a Coke bottle one moment and as milky as sea glass the next?"

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I picked this book up expecting a fun summer story about a strong woman in history doing something amazing, but boy was I shaken by the turn this book took. I don't want to give too many specifics without giving spoilers but essentially it's the story about the real lives of a Jewish family in the 1930's. This family love each other fiercely that they go to unimaginable lengths to protect one another. Joseph and Esther are the parents any one of us could want they are successful and kind and want the best for their daughters. Stuart was also a great character with morals beyond his age and background.

For much of the story I was really annoyed by Fannie and Isaac's selfish behavior. I was happy to see that their daughter Gussie had the great influence of her grandparents in her life. I appreciated that the author's note clarified the real story as that bumped it up a half a star for me, knowing that those were story devices to add tension rather than real actions of real people.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Family secrets, generations of women under one roof, a baby on the way and an emigrate from Nazi Germany. This book is loosely based on Florence Adler's character. It is a heartwarming story and you can't help but to love all of the characters in their own way.

I raced through this book while at the beach for a weekend, and I wish I would've taken it slower!

Based on a true story, Florence Adler's story is not to be missed. Summer's rolled around yet again, and the Adlers are renting their house out for the season, packing up and moving into the apartment above their family bakery - the very apartment where they raised their daughters. Now, with both daughters home for the summer - and Joseph Adler insisting they take in a young woman who's recently emigrated from Nazi Germany with Joseph's help - the apartment is bursting at the seams. And in such close quarters, things are bound to go awry. Secrets and long-held tensions will bubble to the surface over the summer - and leave you questioning, what does it mean to protect someone you love? Is the truth always the most important thing? And how does a family learn to grieve together through it all?

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for advanced access to this title!

This book has everything. A mystery, a tragedy, a romance, a sense of sadness, and a feeling of hope. I loved all of these things about this book, and although it started off strong (and I really liked the ending), I did feel like it really dragged in the middle.

I didn’t read much about what the book is about beforehand. While it was surprising (to me) that Florence dies early on in the book, she still remains a central character throughout. The way a tragedy impacts a family and community is what drives the plot, and I did enjoy learning about every character and their lives. Overall I think this would appeal to most readers, but it was just okay for me. Definitely a well-written debut, just not as entertaining or remarkable for my personal taste. However, I would definitely recommend to others who are fond of these types of stories and will definitely check out future books from the author.

Thank you to #netgalley and @SimonandSchuster for an advanced r-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster for my copy of Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland. It published July 7, 2021.
Wow! This book sure had a lot going on in it. I appreciated the different characters' perspectives, their differences and relationships. I think when a book like this is so character-driven, it is super important for the characters to be well-developed.
Also, I think the author's note really made this book come full-circle for me, so be sure to read that as well.
I appreciated the representation of Jews and Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century. I think it's so important to talk about and learn, even through story.
There were a lot of twists and turns I didn't expect or see coming, and I'm so glad I got to be surprised over and over again!

I wish I had read this book sooner! What a wonderful story. Beanland is a gifted author- her characters are so well written and attractive yet flawed and realistic. I loved this one!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Florence Adler Swims Forever is based on a true story involving the author's family. Set in the summer of 1934 in Atlantic City, a tragedy befalls the Adler family that profoundly impacts the,=m. Told from multiple points of view, the novel starts strong but lags in the middle and seems to end rather neatly and abruptly. There are a lot of minor plot lines that could have been refined to make the pace a little more brisk. I'd like to read a sequel to see what happens to the characters.

I didn't love this book although the last 1/3 of the story was good. I know a lot of book clubs are reading it but I don't see what the fuss is about, sorry.

Florence Adler Swims Forever is a wonderful book. It’s warm, tragic, heartwarming, happy and sad. The characters are genuine and have qualities and flaws that can be related to by everyone. I enjoyed this book so very much and looked forward to picking it up again, every time I needed to stop reading. Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was offered the chance to read this title through Net Galley. Imagine the Atlantic City in the 1930s... new hotels, boardwalk, arcades and of course, the beach. It’s because of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean that this story unfolds. Florence is the independent second daughter of Jewish immigrant parents. She loves swimming. She’s always loved swimming. She’s been in a women’s swim club and was motivated to train to swim the English Channel. The summer she was training with with her coach Stuart, something tragic happens. All while her sister is expecting a baby and her family has sponsored a young woman from Germany. Well told story of grief and tough decisions. #FlorenceAdlerSwimsForever #NetGalley

I genuinely don’t know why I took so long to read this, as it was genuinely probably the best book I’ve read in the last year. I’ve cried so many times in this book, and without giving anything away— learned a lot about different customs. The ending and afterword both broke my heart and lightened it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I adored this book! I love a good slower paced family drama, and this one was well done. I especially liked the format of telling each chapter from a different characters perspective. It allowed the story to unfurl in a really nice way, the way each character had to face the repercussions of this big secret. Each family member had a different reaction to the death of Florence, and that's a major part of the story but also what secrets are uncovered as a result. I didn't want the book to end, I wanted to keep going with the characters.

Anna was probably my favorite character, but they were all well developed. The beginnings of the Holocaust serve as the undercurrent of her story and what a parent would do to save their child. Even while if is there, this is not a book about the Holocaust. It isn't often that there's Jewish representation in a historical fiction book that isn't about the Holocaust, but it was well done and much appreciated.

The authors note at the end that it was based on a true story added so much to it all. I look forward to reading what Rachel Beanland comes out with next.

I did not particularly enjoy this book. The sense of foreboding that carried through as we wait for the awful truth to be known was too much to bear. I was not able to finish this book.

Fanny, the older sister is on bedrest in the hospital, pregnant with her third baby, shortly after losing her second. She is being monitored closely in order to keep her and her unborn baby safe. Meanwhile, Florence, the younger sister is home from college and is training to swim the English Channel. This story plays out over a few months, and at the start of which a tragedy occurs that may cause more tragedy to befall the family, unless the truth can be kept a secret.

The cover and title give off light, summer vibes, but don't be fooled, this book is a roller coaster ride. Be sure to read the author's note at the end. It brings a wave of emotions, as well! Somehow, with all of the heaviness, this story manages to keep you going and has you hoping this family can make it through.

Based in the late 1920s, Florence’s family must deal with her death. This novel was both heart-warming and heart-breaking. Definitely a great read for book clubs!

Florence Adler Swims Forever
by Rachel Beanland

It’s 1934, and Florence Adler loves slicing through the ocean, a stroke at a time. Swimming the English channel is her focus, dream and goal. Her family and friends have mixed feelings, but support the dream. Fannie, her sister, feeling anything but free and independent, watches Florence live her free and independent life. Fannie’s prison is a hospital bed where she is trying to keep all bodily functions safe and ready for the birth of her third child, made even more crucial in light of the death of her second at birth. Two life plans opposed, sisters that struggle to keep close. Until they can’t.

This is a tale of just how far a family will go to sacrifice in order to make sure there is a happy ending for everyone, regardless of prejudices, racism, national and family politics, money pressures and even Hitler. Just like for all of us, when a decision is made to hide essential truths, consequences follow. The longer the omissions linger, the sooner situations get out of control.

Rachel Beanland has provided readers with a very satisfying book, which is probably even better if one is within reach of sand, salt water and earshot of seabirds.

A Sincere Thanks to Rachel Beanland, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. #FlorenceAdlerSwimsForever #NetGalley

This is such a lovely read...made even more lovely by the author's note at the end. The tragedy here is jarring, but it is a wonderful depiction of how families (for all of their faults) love, protect, and remember. This is well written with tender descriptions of the time shortly before WWII, when Atlantic City is in its heyday, Jews were struggling to find a way out of Germany, and land in Florida was cheap. Many layers here...highly recommended! Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review!

Rachel Beanland talks about her Grandmother's sister practicing to swim the English Channel in Atlantic City which was the impedance for writing this book. This book seems to hit very close to home and is one of those times when I wish my mother was here to discuss and remind me of our family stories.

My mother and her siblings grew up in Atlantic City in the 1930s to 40s. She lived there with her mother and a number of aunts and other relatives. As a child we would travel south to visit an aunt who had stayed in Atlantic City and actually lived in an apartment building next door to the famous Knife and Fork restaurant. We would walk along the Boardwalk, visiting Mr Peanut, Nathans and James Salt Water Taffy stores as regular stops. Of course there was also the Steel Pier and other attractions that are also apart of the memories.

This book spends its time following the characters to all these wonderful memories and to the beach. It shows the history of segregation, of hotels that did not like the Jews and the separation of the the classes, wealthy and not separated by neighborhoods and towns. The medical practices and ignorance of childbirth and also the religious and personal practices that may have led to family strife . The frustration that feeling you should not talk about subjects within a family created divides and unhappiness that could have been avoided.

But the most fun part was finding out that young people in Atlantic City spoke ARP. It was always fascinating to me when my mother and sister spoke ARP, a secret language like Pig Latin, between themselves so that the kids would not understand what they were talking about. I did not realize that maybe it was an Atlantic City thing!

A wonderful story that will really make you think and rethink the secrets you keep from your family.

I really enjoyed this story. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre but this was a different sort of Historical Fiction for me. It was nice to be brought back in time where there were some references to WWI but the book was, most certainly, not a book about war. The characters and storylines are well developed and captivating. It was intriguing that the author has a personal connection to the basis of this story.

Florence Adler Swims Forever is a historical fiction story that takes place in 1930s Atlantic City. Told from the perspectives of an entire family, it begins with a tragic death that's followed by a path of drama and secrets.

What I liked: The story is based loosely on the author's aunt's life, and I thought that was interesting inspiration for a story. I liked the multiple POVs and the audiobook featured different narrators for each.

What I didn't like: The characters were mostly unlikeable, and the ending left me with unanswered questions.

Overall: 3 stars.