The book follows two timelines. One, the river, is about Ronny, an orphan doing his best to survive in 1940s and 50s Vancouver. He is in and out of foster homes, running the streets, fighting gangs, until he eventually joins the navy. The sea is about Chandra, a son of Sri Lankan immigrants, growing up in 1980s Nanaimo. Chandra is a swimmer and has friends, but never feels like he truly belongs anywhere. The book is described as an exploration of masculinity, and I guess there's that, as both Ronny and Chandra try to make sense of who they can become within the parameters they are given. But this book did not work for me. Practically every line is glutted with a metaphor or layers of description. It was dizzying and distracting. Also, the need for both storylines never felt quite clear. They are united in the end, but it felt like too little, too late. That said, there is something interesting going on in this book, Moorthy was going for something. I don't think she succeeded but I applaud her ambition. I just wish she had had an editor who could have helped shape it better, and reign in some of her prose.

Thank you Rachael Moorthy, House of Anansi Press Inc. and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. What a book. I'm having a hard time thinking of words to describe how I feel. This is the type of book that breaks you down and exposes all its vulnerability just to slowly build your soul up again. Such a heartbreaking journey both boys faced and through different decades to finally be able to cross paths. That is fate. To meet someone who knows your story as their own and has walked in your shoes. Just an unforgettable tale and somethbing that really left me thinking after reading.

Historical fiction is often about filling the gaps in history with our imagination. This novel certainly does that with a vivid imagination. That said, there's a lot going on, so the pacing in some parts of the storytelling felt a bit uneven to me. This made it less of an immersive read than I generally like with this genre. But, definitely, this is a writer to watch and I look forward to more works.

My reactions: I felt really detached from the characters. This is partly because it took me a while before I realized which character was narrating which chapter. But I was very interested in the author's biography and would try her other titles.


#RiverMeetstheSea #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 30/05/23
Goodreads Review Published 14/05/23

I found the premise fascinating but the book itself was absolutely awful. It is poorly written with no continuity. I do not recommend this book

The writing was great but I think that I thought this was going to be something else? Not sure what but the copy just led me to think it was going to be different. I'm sure this will do great.

Thank you, House of Anansi Press Inc., House of Anansi Press, for allowing me to read River Meets the Sea early.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was an impulsive request on my part because I usually go for titles I have heard of already, but sometimes my impulsiveness repays me.