This book is beautiful. It reaches back through time to the 60’s and then forward to the 80’s telling the story of family, injustice and love.
The characters are richly drawn with depth and flaws and such truth! The story of Diamond and her family will break your heart then put it back together with laughter and hope for the future. I can’t imagine this beautiful story not winning awards! I found nothing in it that I would change. I felt like I was remembering instead of reading a book. This would be an amazing movie as well. Well done!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster

Swift River is a beautiful coming-of-age novel. The book centers on Diamond Newberry as she deals with a complicated relationship with her mother, navigating a town where she is the only person of color, and the disappearance of her father. The time jumps in the book give us a more complete picture of Diamond and her family history. I recommend this book and look forward to more from the author Essie Chambers.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Diamond is tired of Swift River. She and her mom are struggling to make ends meet, relying on Diamond's job at a motel and the odd jobs her mother picks up from time to time. It's just them since her father had gone missing years before, leaving Diamond as the only person with brown skin in the town. She has to deal with being poor, being brown, and being a misfit as she learns to navigate the waters of growing up.

This book touched something inside of me. There's a weight to it that sat with me as I read this story. I thought it was beautifully crafted.

I found this book to be mostly heart breaking. I read other reviews and some said heart breaking and hopeful. I would agree with that yet, I felt sad most of the time, especially for Diamond. She’s a biracial teenager, living in a town, where she is the only black person, other than her father, who ultimately disappear.s. She is extremely overweight. She has a lot on her plate. There were promising moments. But, man’s inhumanity to man, is always a tough one for me. The book is very well written. I do not want to create any spoilers, so I will not comment on the ending. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my ow.n. #NetGalley, #SwiftRiver, #Simon&Schuster..

It's 1987 and 16 year of Diamond Newberry is struggling to understand who she is and where she fits into Swift River. Being the only person of color in Swift River is hard enough but the reason why is breaking her heart. Seven years earlier her father, Pop, disappeared leaving behind only a pair of his sneakers at the water's edge. With hope, that he may still be alive, his unsolved disappearance has altered the life of her and her white mother and we see how their relationship has been changed by Pop's disappearnce.

The narrative of the book moves through time back and forth from 1987 to 1980 to 1915, giving us a look at the lives of Diamond, her parents, and Pop's relatives who used to call Swift River home. I found the sections from 1915 to be really engaging and left me wanting to know why all of Pop's relatives left Swift River except him. The sections in 1980 and 1987 were very emotional as we learn about the relationship with Diamond's parents and then in 1987 when Diamond starts wanting her independence and meets new friends and tries new things.

I really enjoyed this book. I had to find out how Diamond and her mom's story would unfold and was rooting for her the whole time. This was a 4.5 star book for me. The further I got into the story, the more invested I became and just couldn't put it down. The three narratives were a little hard to follow at the beginning and I did have to go back and reread to follow some of the names, but that is the only reason I am not rating 5 stars.

Swift River is a beautifully written novel that delves into themes of family, identity, and the lasting consequences of history. Essie Chambers has crafted a compelling narrative that will resonate with readers. If you enjoy stories that explore deep emotions, tackle important social issues, and leave you with a renewed sense of understanding, then I highly recommend!

"The Leaving. That's what they call the night all the Black people left Swift River."
I was late leaving for an appointment this morning because I only had 20 pages left and HAD TO FINISH!
I thoroughly enjoyed Swift River, by Essie Chambers. Our main character, Diamond, who is biracial, and the only Black person left in the town of Swift River after the disappearance and presumed death of her father- ever since The Leaving when the entire Black community left town, except Diamond's Aunt Clara, who stayed, and who later took in he father.
Ma is counting on the insurance money they are to get once her father's death is confirmed after 7 years and how they will then live extravagantly, not needing to worry about keeping the lights on and food in the fridge. Meanwhile, Diamond is secretly taking driving lessons in an effort to gain freedom from a town that shuns her. With her one friend, Shelly, also an outsider, she spends her weekends out at driving lessons with Mr. Jimmy, trying to ignore the growing inappropriate interactions between her friend and the drivers ed teacher.
Flashing back to their family's history and the events leading to her father's disappearance, and letters sent to her by a member of her father's family she has never met, Diamond is letting herself think of a life beyond Swift River, thinking about moving on to somewhere where more people looked like her because, "her Ma had met more Black people than she had, and that's not fair."
Ma's desire to stay in Swift River to wait for the insurance payout so she could finally live as the rest of the well to do White neighbors overrode her ability to put Diamond first. It broke my heart.
Diamond will worm her way into your heart, and she will stay there for a very, very, long time.
Thank you @netgalley for my ebook copy.
Pub date June 4, 2024.


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This story was written well. You witness diamond go through many challenges and learn the secrets of her town. It flowed well and I love the message behind it. I'd recommend it.

This was such a captivating and engaging coming of age story. I became so attached to Diamond, and I felt her overcoming her challenges made her even more special and powerful. The story itself was quite inspirational and I loved the beautiful writing. The book allows others to really feel like they can do anything and be strong as well. Thank you Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC of this book.

16-year-old Diamond Newberry is secretly taking driving lessons in the summer of 1987 in Swift River. She and her Ma have been hitchhiking all over the place since her Pop vanished seven years ago. Diamond faces some sizable (no pun intended) challenges: she is constantly bullied about her weight, and, with her Pop’s disappearance, she is the only Black person left in Swift River. As the story opens, Ma seeks to legally declare Pop dead so that she and Diamond can (finally) get his life insurance money, reclaim their house from the bank, and start a new life.

When Diamond begins getting letters from a relative she has never heard of, she starts to get an idea of where she fits in her family’s history and gains the greater picture of prejudice against her race in Swift River. What Diamond will do with this newfound knowledge will guide her in considering her future options and in refining her relationships with her Ma and her best friend.

I enjoyed this book, but found it hard to follow at times. There was quite a bit of jumping around in time, specifically with the relatives’ letters, and I found it difficult to keep track of it all. The overall gist of the story was clear, however, and I appreciated the ways in which the author brought about an understanding of how family history, familial relationships, and friendships guide us in facing the future. Diamond is a character that I won't soon forget.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me access to this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I believe the take away from this wonderful, sad at times, inspirational story is "Learn and embrace your family history. The answers are within".
Diamond, is a teenager trying to gain independence as she ages. She would love to have friends, but there is prejudice in the town and being the only black person in town is so difficult.
Why did her relatives and others leave the small village?
The answers come slowly from letters that she receives from a relative that will give insight into the past for this young teen.
I truly enjoyed this story and will be remembering Diamond and the message in these pages for a long time.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Simon& Schuster for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.
This would make a great read for high school students.

This poignant and engaging coming-of-age narrative delves deep into the life of Diamond Newberry, a young Black girl grappling with the complexities of identity and belonging. Born into a town scarred by the legacy of historical injustices and haunted by the unresolved disappearance of her father, Diamond finds herself caught between the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

Raised by her white mother amidst the harsh realities of poverty and racial discrimination, Diamond struggles to find her place in a community that often overlooks or marginalizes her. Her desire to break free from the constraints of her circumstances is palpable, yet she feels tethered to her hometown by the weight of unresolved trauma and unanswered questions about her father's fate.

As Diamond navigates the challenges of adolescence, she is confronted with the harsh realities of systemic racism and economic hardship, further complicating her search for self-discovery and acceptance. Despite the odds stacked against her, Diamond refuses to be defined by her circumstances, yearning for a sense of agency and autonomy in a world that often feels indifferent to her struggles.

When she receives letters from her estranged aunt, Diamond embarks on a journey of self-discovery, delving into her family's complex history in search of answers and connection. Through these letters, she uncovers untold stories of resilience, strength, and survival within the African American Newberry community, offering her a newfound sense of purpose and belonging.

As Diamond navigates the complexities of family dynamics, racial identity, and personal growth, she finds solace and support in unexpected places. Through the lens of her own experiences, she begins to understand the profound impact of history on her present reality, and the power of resilience in shaping her future.

This powerful and thought-provoking narrative resonates with readers through its nuanced exploration of identity, community, and the enduring legacy of systemic injustice. Through Diamond's journey, readers are reminded of the importance of confronting the past, embracing the present, and charting a path toward a more hopeful future.

I have a feeling this will be a book club pick and favorite. It's so well written and the story is one that I devoured. Chambers knocked it out of the park with Swift River. I get lost in books like this one, ones with strong family dynamics, coming of age tales, and complex relationships. This has it all. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was immediately drawn into this book and the disappearance of Diamond's dad and was so excited to see where this story took us. Unfortunately somewhere about the half way point I just got really bored. That does not mean this is a bad book by any means, and many readers will absolutely adore this one. I did finish the book and the story was good, but I felt myself slogging through the pages to see how it ended. I did really like Diamond and I think she is a really strong character especially with the type of parents she had. She is so relatable in so many ways and I love her tenacity.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Essie Chambers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. Diamond is an unlikely heroine, honest, brave, and hopeful, despite all the hardships and her complicated family history. Even though it's set in Maine, it didn't feel like a Maine story; that would be my only complaint. Thank you #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another great book that left me with one too many unanswered questions! I enjoyed the narrative style and would read more from this author.

5 stars for another title and new to me author that I enjoyed very much! It was so good that I couldn't put this book down!
The family secrets are what kept me turning the pages.
I loved that this story offered hope all the way through
The characters are awesome and I enjoyed in getting to know them. My heart broke for some of them along the way.
This book does have some laugh out loud moments with Diamond and her mom.
I think I felt most for Diamond. She was my favorite character.
I will highly recommend this book.
I gave it 5 stars for the well written family dynamics and secrets that kept me turning the pages.
The mystery was well written too.
Overall, I just really enjoyed this book. I was sad to see it end but I loved the ending. It left my heart feeling full and satisfied. I'm still thinking about Diamond and her mom.
It's a blessing to have a mom.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story may not be relatable to everyone but it is eye-opening and thought-provoking. Vibrant, visceral, and oddly funny at times. How and when do you sever a tie that binds you to a land or area that defines you? A place where your roots run deep yet have been cut & conquered? where you are now the outsider who is dismissed as less than. One foot in two worlds, where neither parent can relate to being a bi-racial child, much less a teenager. The truth in this story and how it can be someone's journey is a gut punch. You cheer & hope this character will have a safe journey and a full life.

I found the character Diamond's conflict of being between two parts of herself, her family, her desire for life to be interesting and to see her navigate that, especially being a teenager. I wanted so much to love this book. However, it was difficult to keep consistent attention with the use of so many narrators, I was never really sure where to put my focus or what to hope for while reading. However I liked the addition of the letters as a narrative voice. Hopefully, I'll read it again soon, and be more engaged.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Funny, heartwarming and poignant tale. I always find generational stories so intriguing. This mother and daughter is quite the dynamic duo. A good read.