My honest review is freely provided in return for the kindness by NetGalley and the publisher in providing me with an advance copy.

Read this sweetly-written book patiently to really enjoy its lyrical prose. The reader is drawn in to experience everything about Victoria’s hardscrabble coming-of-age story. Her life’s heart-breaking journey is beautifully told by Shelley Read. Bookgroups will love this selection - lots to discuss.

Go as a River by Shelley Read was a stunning novel. It is described as a novel in the vein of “Where the Crawdads Sing”, and while it does give those vibes, it is its own unique story.
The writing is descriptive, and it makes you feel as though you are alongside the main character.
The novel is heart wrenching, but does give the main character some semblance of redemption.
It should be noted for the content warning throughout - death, racism, and some abuse.
After a bit of a slow start for me to become engaged, the middle and the end went so fast and I could not put down. My critique of the novel would be that I wanted more from the ending.
Highly recommend, especially if the readers loved “Where the Crawdads Sing” and historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Shelley Read for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for a review.

We were pleased to share this title at our live Spring Book Preview event for the Modern Mrs Darcy and What Should I Read Next communities on January 10, 2023, when 1200 readers attended live and twice that many watched the replay in the following week. The PDF from that event is attached. Long story short: I so enjoyed this character driven and quiet (though not boring, and at times brutal and heartbreaking) story about love in the midst of hardship and loss. The writing very much reminded me of Mary Lawson, who also doesn’t flinch at letting terrible harm befall her characters.

I was immediately drawn to this cover and the description of 1940s Colorado. What a great read! I devoured this book. The writing was beautiful and descriptive as we followed Torie over decades of life in the beautiful, yet harsh backdrop of the Colorado wilderness. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves an atmospheric novel. It is hard to believe this was a debut novel and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author in the future!

Stunning. What an immaculately told work of perfection! This will be a book I talk about and push everyone to read, no doubt.
The book begins with young Victoria, a girl on a Peach farm in Colorado in the 40s. We follow her life as those close to her pass away, as she finds her own strengths. The writing is just exquisite and the depth of character, surroundings and dialogue will pull you in. I absolutely could not put this book down and flew through it in about a day (staying up wayyyy to late). This will no doubt make my top 10 books of the year. Just read it. Trust me.

Go as a River is an amazing coming-of-age historical novel set in Colorado about forbidden love, loss, and survival. From the first page, this book held me captive. Historical history fans will love this book. I'm looking forward to the next book by this author. Thanks to Shelley Read, publishers Spiegel & Grau, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Inspired and set during the time of damming a river to create a reservoir in Colorado, despite what the blurb says this story is not about that other than as a narrative device. 17 yo Victoria has lost most of her family in a car crash and lives with her sullen father, evil brother, and war crippled morose uncle on the family peach orchard. She does all the housework, yard work, and helps on the farm as well. She meets a young Native American boy, Wil, and falls in love, forbidden due to his race. After he meets a horrid end, she flees the farm to survive and triumph on her own. To live life and “go as a river” as Wil has taught her. Gaining strength from nature, both wild and cultivated. Lyrical writing, I kept highlighting passages so I could go back and reread them. This is a love story but so much more. Set from the 1940s thru 1970s.

I am so blown away by this title. I can’t believe how engrossing, well-researched, and spiritual it was. This is the kind of book that will stay with you. Weaving in themes of grief, faith, loss, erasure, memory, and how the landscape my change but certain lines that bind us can never be obliterated. This author reminded me of Delia Owens, Marilyn Robinson, and Ruth Ozeki. She’s such a powerhouse and I cannot thank her enough for writing this love letter to the beauty and brutality of the west. Thank you to Netgalley and Spiegel & Grau for this ARC. Full review coming closer to pub date.

Go As a River by Shelley Read published March 2023 If you are a fan of where the crawdad sing, you will enjoy this book of a young poor Colorado girl in the 40s. Her life is a great struggle with her mother dead and dealing with a dad , war handicapped uncle . Good for nothing brother and a strange man who she meets. Hope you enjoy in march

An epic coming of age story, Go as a River follows the life of Victoria Nash as she navigates the life of a young woman caught between expectation and desire. Victoria’s story is full of both tragedy and hope, anguish and beauty. Read’s prose reads as poetry at times and flows just as rhythmically as the rivers she describes.

"Go as a River" by Read is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of trauma on the mind. The story follows the journey of a young woman, who, after experiencing a traumatic event, must confront her past and find a way to heal. The author's writing is evocative and lyrical, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. The themes of love, loss, and redemption are woven seamlessly into the story, making it an emotional and moving read. Overall, "Go as a River" is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human psyche and the impact of trauma on the mind and soul.

"Seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash runs the household on her family’s peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Colorado—the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land but determined to live as he chooses." Description from Amazon

This book was great, It has everything! Young love, true love, bigotry, nature and the force of life and all the unexpected twists and turns. The descriptions are long and that might bother some, I assure you it is necessary. You will see, hear, smell and feel what the character is going through. I would put this under historical fiction or small town/urban. Either way, read it! I will recommend it to everyone and have requested it, and it is already, on the "to buy" list for our library. I look forward to other books from Shelley Read.

Once in a great while a book affects you like no other. This is that book. One of the most amazing stories I have read! For Victoria and Wilson Moon it is love at first sight. Unfortunately this is the 1940s and Wilson is not only a drifter passing through town but a Native American. Prejudices make him an outcast and he is accused of stealing some clothing so the law is looking for him. Wilson stays hidden but will not leave because of his feelings for Victoria. Their love has heartbreaking consequences that Victoria carries within her for decades. Sometimes strength comes not from holding on but letting go.

I truly enjoyed the lush writing of Go as a River. I see this as a movie, and I think it would be so cinematic as the landscape and nature play such an important role in the book and make reading it such an enjoyable experience.

The story is intriguing, as we are introduced to Victoria Nash as a young girl living on a peach farm in Colorado with her family. As the story progresses, we learn that she has lost her mother and some immediate family and is left to fill the shoes of her mother as a teenager. She is surrounded by men, and no one seems to notice or care for her. Trying to help her brother get back to the farm one day in one piece, she bumps into Wilson Moon. Wilson seems to be a drifter, but there is an immediate spark that sends Victoria on a path that changes her life.

This is where the story blossoms, and it would be a spoiler if I told you more. The book is wonderfully rich with details that are well expressed. We learn about how Victoria is so tied to her trees from the farm and makes some brave decisions to keep them at all cost. She is builds a life for herself alone, and comes to grips with her solitude and love of nature that brings the reader into understanding how nature can truly heal the soul.

Go as a River is well written, and you are easily drawn into the story. I would highly recommend this book as I read most of it in one sitting.

If there was ever a book written that captured the essence of what I love about fiction, it would be this. GO AS A RIVER by debut author Shelley Read is truly a modern classic in the making.

The story follows Victoria, a 17 year old girl living in small town Colorado in the 1950s. In the wake of losing her mother, her days are spent caring for callous men. She finds solace farming peaches her family has done for generations. As the steady sense of foreboding gives way and tragedy strikes, Victoria must forge her own path. Over the course of 20 years, she must navigate unexpected friendships, deep-rooted sorrow, and grace for the girl she once was.

I knew from the prologue that I had something special on my hands. The writing is lyrical, the plot is poignant, and the characters will make a home in your heart and stay awhile. Shelley Read’s prose is simply breathtaking and her ruminations on motherhood, identity, and the people and places that make up a home are beautifully timeless.

If you’re looking for a striking story that has the *it* factor, let GO AS A RIVER sweep you away. Your heart will break and mend a thousand times over and I promise you’ll be better for it.

RATING: 5/5
PUB DATE: March 7, 2023

Many thanks to Spiegel and Grau and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date

Perfect for fans of “Where the Crawdad Sings” or Kristin Hannah’s books; this should be a book club hit come spring. The writing is rich in its depiction of the scenery of midcentury Colorado. The story is moving albeit heartbreaking.

Well-written and lush, this coming of age story is a better written sibling to 'Where the Crawdads Sing'. I highly recommend this and enjoyed every moment reading it.

Such an incredible and intriguing story! There is so much sadness and hope in the story, tears and smiles.

The characters are amazing - so well developed and interesting. The descriptions are amazing - you can taste the Nash peaches and feel the river currents. The story of Iola isn't one I've heard before, so it was really interesting reading about the timeframe and setting for this book. The hostility and frankness of the era is really on display - so many emotions involved. Love, loss, wildness, betrayal, friendship, Easily one of the most moving books I've read in a while.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review,

What a good book. Well written with lots of good description and character devolpent.
The way the Ms. Read tells the two story lines is clever and believable.
I LOVED the ending! Just enough and yet not!

Shelley Read's coming of age novel, Go As a River, is a gift to readers. This novel is so beautifully written, with prose that flows like poetry, that every page is a joy to read. I had never given serious thought to the small and large towns that have been buried under water, when a dam is built and a reservoir is created. More recently, and largely due to the drought in the southwest, the remains of lost towns have been uncovered. We gaze at the photos, while marveling at a church steeple now visible, but we give little thought to the people who lost home, friends, and whole communities, when the reservoir was created. Shelley Read forces us to think about these small towns that were lost.

The main character Torie/Victoria is a lonely young women in a household of men. While the men farm the land, Torie functions as cook, maid, and cleaner, while also working on the farm. The choices that Tory makes and the choices made by others impact her life in many ways. All of these choices force a young girl into becoming a strong decisive woman. The descriptions of the natural world that Read includes are beautifully crafted. These same descriptions make the world in which Torie, her family, and the community reside, all the more poignant when readers recall that these town and farms have a limited life span.

I hated to see Go As a River end. As I became more invested in Torie's life, this novel became a page turner. I will be recommending Go As a River to my book club as a selection for April. Thank you to author and publisher for providing this ARC. And thank you to NetGalley for bringing this novel to my attention.