This book is Essie Chambers debut novel. Swift River is a dual timeline narrative based on the life of Diamond Newberry and two other Newberry women. The tale of Diamond’s life and heritage is delicately woven. The descriptions of Swift River make you feel like you are there!

Diamond is a biracial 16 years old using lady trying to figure out who she is while living in the small town of Swift River. Swift River has a big history of racial prejudices and is not multiracial. Diamond lives with her mother Anne, who is white. Her father went missing 7 years ago. They are living poverty and Anne, who struggles with drug addictions, wants to declare her father dead. Diamond receives a letter from her fathers relative and tries to understand her heritage and self better.

I really enjoyed this story. Diamond is an extremely lovable character that you can’t help but like. Her perception of the past and present is unique. She is resilient and dedicated to improving her life and seems to do so with a positive outlook. I highly recommend picking this up for a quick read!

This is a coming-of-age novel about Diamond Newberry who lives in a small town in New England, Her father disappeared seven years ago and is presumed dead. Since her father's disappearance, Diamond's loving, yet unstable (white) mother struggles to handle life. They live in a dilapidated old house where utilities are turned off and on. Hitchhiking is often the only method of transportation, and there is often little, if any food in the house. Diamond is friendless, overweight and, since her father's disappearance, the only black resident of the town. Diamond's Aunt contacts her and through a series of letters, she learns about her father's family history. We also learn about horrific racism black people dealt with in the North.
I found the book compelling and well written. But I struggled with many unanswered things - was the father really dead? Why didn't Diamond's parents move? Why would the mother want to remain in New England? Ultimately, I felt the story was from the teenage Diamond's viewpoint and she wouldn't have known the answers to these questions either. I will recommend Swift River to my book club - lots of discussion protentional. I rated it 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

his coming-of-age narrative follows Diamond Newberry as she grapples with the loss of her father. Seven years prior, her Pop went missing by the side of the river, and his absence drastically changed her life. Not that her family was picture perfect before—they were the only biracial family in the small town of Swift River, but it mostly worked. Without Pop, Diamond’s mother Anna spirals into pills and booze and endless jobs in attempt to keep the lights on.

Diamond, a clever girl with a beautiful singing voice, turns to food to deal with her past trauma. She eats to comfort herself, and seems to have no friends other than Shelley who is the only one to talk to her at drivers ed. Shelley, no stranger to family drama herself, helps Diamond to realize her family problems do not determine her self-worth. Along, with letters from her father’s cousin and her great aunt, Diamond begins to understand that Swift River and it’s narrow-minded inhabitants will not define her now or in the future.

Though the plot can be a little hard to follow jumping between two time periods with the family letters thrown in, Diamond’s journey to figuring out her identity, is both painful and poignant. Her race, class, gender, self esteem and family dynamics all play a role in shaping the young woman that she is and the future she craves. This is a character driven novel for sure, if fast paced is your jam, you might be bored by Diamond’s story, but I found it honest and moving.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and of course the author Essie Chambers for the advanced copy of the book. Swift River is out now! All opinions are my own.

At its core, Swift River is a coming-of-age story of a biracial girl, Diamond, grappling with generations of familial dysfunction, abject poverty, racism, and multiple levels of abuse. Diamond and her mother are stuck in an all-White failing factory town that has racist roots – at one point, all the Black residents (save one) were burned out unjustly. Diamond Is the product of one of these displaced Black descendants (Rob) who returns decades later and eventually marries a local girl (Annabelle). The book is a series of present-day happenings and flashbacks: Diamond's early memories before her father’s strange disappearance and the struggles endured in the seven years since, and letters from Rob’s relatives that shed light on the events that lead to their forced exodus.

There are many layers of trauma within the pages and brilliance in how the author introduces its varying types and degrees. Diamond struggles but endures with little to no coping skills resulting in childhood obesity, low self-esteem, and voluntary social distancing (among other issues). While her mother can only offer her love and cursory “pep talks” she clearly fails her daughter (and herself) with lackluster parenting skills. She is powerless to confront the racism and discrimination thrown at her daughter; however, when an opportunity presents itself, she refuses to migrate to a different, more diverse environment thereby placing her needs (and comfort) before her daughter’s.

I must respect the author’s work, but I wish we hadn’t spent so much time in Diamond’s youth. The summarized ending gave us enough to know that Diamond seemingly made peace and is well; however, it was rushed and glossed over. I still had unanswered questions and wondered about a few of the key supporting characters whose fates were mere one-liners; however, I went along with it just to end the story.

Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Diamond and her mom live in Swift River, a town abandoned by all Blacks decades ago. Her pop disappeared on its shores 7 years ago. This is a year in the life of Diamond, an overweight, 16 yr old, biracial young lady who is the only Black gal in town. She goes through 1987 trying to figure things out, like why her pop disappeared, why her mom is like she is, and maybe a little about her own history. She's given a smidgen of hope a few times, but all of that hope relies on other people delivering. She's learning to drive, which is a learning experience in and of itself, and she gleans a lot of knowledge from this and letters from an aunt she's never met.
This book really doesn't have a beginning and an ending, just a chunk of Diamond's life with some deep moments. There is a racial tension in the history of her pop's side of the family, as well as some weirdness because her mom is white and her dad is black, which was odd in 1987. I enjoyed the writing style, but this one leaves too much for you to discern on your own.

"Swift River" by Essie Chambers is a gripping family saga set in the declining town of Swift River in 1987, focusing on Diamond Newberry's journey of self-discovery amidst family secrets and the legacy of prejudice.

Chambers' debut novel navigates the complex bond between mothers and daughters, unveiling layers of history and resilience within the Newberry family. Diamond, the protagonist, grapples with issues of race, identity, and loss, especially concerning her missing father, Pop.

For readers seeking a poignant exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the lasting impact of history, "Swift River" promises a compelling and heartfelt journey.

New England, 1987. Diamond is a sophomore in high school dealing with all the typical high school drama plus some..

After her father disappeared nearly 7 years ago, she’s been the only Black person in her small town. Her mother never recovered from losing him. Everyone seems to think her weight is something they can comment on. And they’re poor.

When the 7th anniversary of her dad’s disappearance comes, her mom can finally receive his death certificate and try to claim his life insurance money. They’ve lived with little income for so long that this money will really help them.

Diamond wants more than that. She wants to get her license so that they no longer have to walk or hitch rides anytime they leave the house. She wants to leave Swift River. She wants to be around more people of color.

Her Aunt Lena has recently gotten into contact with her. Before that Diamond had no relationships with her dad’s family. She’s happy to learn more about them.

When her Auntie tells her why they left Swift River generations ago, Diamond learns the racist history of her hometown as a sundown town. It was something she always felt, but being raised by her white mother, never knew how to put it into words.

Told from the POV of Diamond present day, her great Aunt Clara and her Auntie Lena, Diamond starts to gather a better understanding of her surroundings.

Chambers leaves some mystery around Diamond’s father and it pushes the reader to really try to understand how incomplete a family is after a loved one just vanishes.

I was interested in Diamond’s mom and her thinking. She must have been struggling with some mental health issues but it made me sad for Diamond how much she had to grow up to support her mom and their co-dependent relationship.

All in all, I was definitely into the story but felt like there were some story lines that could have benefited from a little more explanation.

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and author for this e-arc!

It's summer 1987, and in the New England town of Swift River, sixteen-year-old Diamond Newberry is troubled as usual. Ever since Diamond's father, Robert Newberry, disappeared seven years ago, she's the only Black person in town. Diamond is lonely and overweight, and she observes, "I am so fat I can't ride my bike anymore, so I let it get stolen on purpose....The bruises and stinging raspberries all over my body from weekly falls are constant reminders that the bike doesn't want me anymore."

Diamond lives with her mother, a White woman named Annabelle (Anna), who's very loving, but inept and addicted to prescription pills. Since Anna's husband Robert has been gone for seven years, she hopes to get a death certificate, for the insurance money. Anna has a police report saying Robert's shoes, wallet, and keys were found beside the fast moving Swift River, but Anna hasn't filled out the proper papers, doesn't have witness statements, hasn't put a death notice in the papers, etc. So Anna has to go back and get her ducks in a row.

It's not clear whether Robert is dead or alive, but he vanished after being accused of theft, and after the police had taken to constantly driving by the house. Many people have reported seeing Robert here or there, but Diamond puts it down to racism - to White people being unable to distinguish one Black man from another.

Diamond and her Ma live in a dilapidated house with Robert's battered car still in the yard, but Anna doesn't drive and she and Diamond have to hitchhike or walk everywhere - including the Goodwill store where they buy their clothes. Diamond has dreams though, and admits, "By the time I turn seventeen I want: a birthday party with German chocolate cake and friends, new clothes with the store smell still in them, [and] shoes that fit. I imagine leaving this place, leaving Ma. That thought hurts too much and I pinch it down to nothing." Still, Diamond is saving money from her part-time cleaning job at the Tee Pee Motel, and she's secretly signed up for Driver's Ed - to get her driver's license.

In the midst of this angst, Diamond gets a package from her Auntie Lena, whom she's never met. The package contains some keepsakes and a letter in which Auntie Lena says she's a nurse based in Atlanta, but is currently living in Woodville, Georgia. There she manages Newberry Fine Fabrics, the family business established way back in 1915, when the Newberrys migrated from Swift River to Woodville. Diamond and Auntie Lena embark on a correspondence, and Diamond learns a lot about her history and her relatives. Auntie Lena says she and Diamond's father Robert grew up in Woodville together until the boy was seven-years-old. At that time, Robert's father took him up to Swift River, to be raised by Aunt Clara. When Robert grew up he met Anna in Swift River, and they fell in love, got married, and had Diamond.

The story shifts around between three time periods: 1987, 1915, and 1980.

1987
In 1987, Diamond is living with her doting mother whom she both loves and from whom she wants to escape. In short, Diamond wants to live in a place with people who look like her. Diamond also dreams of going to college and being a botanist. Diamond becomes friends with a Driver's Ed classmate named Shelly, who's 'a loose girl' with a good heart. Diamond and Shelly's interactions with the driving teacher, Mr. Jimmy, are quirky and - for Shelly - inappropriate.

1915
In 1915, toxic discrimination leads to an exodus of all Black people from Swift River, in an incident called 'The Leaving.' The ONLY Black person who remains in Swift River is Aunt Clara, an apprentice to the local doctor, who says he'll help her go to medical school at Howard University. Aunt Clara's voice and story are heard in letters she sends to her sister (Auntie Lena's mother) in Georgia.

1980
In 1980, nine-year-old Diamond and her parents take a trip south and have some trouble in town. Later that year, Robert disappears.

In the course of the story we learn about the historic racism in Swift River, which in 1915, was a 'sundown town.' At that time, Swift River had signs all over town reading, "N....., don't let the sun go down on you in Swift River." Things are less toxic in 1987, though Diamond is uncomfortable being the only Black person in Swift River. I was surprised that Robert and Anna, an interracial couple, (apparently) didn't experience overt discrimination on that score. Diamond IS called a name by a classmate in elementary school, which causes a small brouhaha.

The story has humor and heart, one of the high points being Diamond's family, who love one another, but have a hard time getting by in difficult circumstances. For one thing, Ma and Pop disagree about visiting relatives in Georgia. It's good to see Diamond mature over the course of the story, and take charge of her life.

Swift River was Jenna Bush Hager's June, 2024 'Book Club Pick.' Hager noted, "Swift River is a story filled with secrets: community secrets and family secrets. It is a book that made me cry and then filled me with enormous hope."

I enjoyed this well-written, enlightening book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Essie Chambers, and Simon and Shuster for a copy of the book.

This is an amazing novel about a biracial young woman stranded in a northern New England mill town by events in her own past and the events of the people in the town. Diamond’s voice is both wry and tragic as she narrates the story of her life so far, the story of her parents, and the extended family in a faraway state. Alternating voices of the women in that family fill out the bigger picture of why things happened the way they did. Diamond desperately needs these courageous aunts and ancestors to get her through the dark days ahead.
The writing is extraordinary. I opened the book to write the review and felt right back into reading the story.
Highly recommended if you love #ownvoices, women’s fiction, and literary fiction.

I was excited about the premise of this book and happy that it was chosen for Jenna's book club. I hope that it finds it's audience, but it is not me. I didn't connect with the writing and I know that the character being overweight was written with sensitivity, but I just didn't like it.

A 16yr old has come to a place in her life where she must make decisions that will influence the rest of her life, yet she has no history on which to base her decisions. Diamond Newberry stands out in her small community based on her differences when all she wants is to be invisible. Essie Chambers gives an excellent story of a young woman who will learn that she is more than she thought and has a family group she never knew. As her past fills in the blanks of her present, she will face her future head on.

Swift River is a powerful coming of age novel focusing on family class, and the need for friendship and connection. How does the past impact our lives? Diamond is a character I soon won't forget. She grows both emotionally and spiritually and you'll root for her throughout the novel.

This was a 3.5 for me. Chambers excels at writing emotions. A story told from three different time periods/perspectives it sheds a light on the experience of being the only black in a town, about growing up in poverty, about the feeling of otherness ones body can bring upon you. Although not a lot happens physically in reality a tremendous amount happens internally. Well written.

✨Swift River by Essie Chambers✨

I enjoyed this one!

I loved Diamond so much, especially when we get her POV before her Pop disappears. She’s inquisitive and quick and observant of all the adults around her. The POV of her as a teenager shows her humor and I thought the dialogue between her and her mom was done so well. She was very much the adult in most situations, her mom appearing younger and child like.

I thought this story really shined when we were with Diamond. While I understood the POV of the two older generations, I personally felt like I was getting pulled out of the story when it switch to them. What Diamond learns from that has an impact on who she is, and you do see her grow and change near the end of the novel because of these connections, but I really felt like the strength of the novel was in Diamond’s sections as the main thread, and I finished the book wanting more.

Overall, I thought this was a great novel. It was a quick, engaging read.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Immediately finished and had to talk about it. I have hardly seen any reviews but this debut novel by Essie Chambers is very good and heart wrenching.

The novel has a split timeline following Diamond and biracial teen whose Black father goes missing and her and her white mother are left to grapple with the loss and 7yrs later fight to have him legally declared dead in order to get the insurance money. The timeline is from the year of his disappearance 1980 and 1987, the year they can legally have him declared dead.

They live in Swift River a tiny Northern mill town, which is also a sundown town, where all the Black families left after the mill forced them out with unjust wages and continued racial violence. Diamond’s dad came back to live with his dad and Auntie Clara who was the only one to stay after The Leaving.

Diamond is alone in the world. Her mom in unhealthily attached to her while also having no understanding of the challenges Diamond faces as the only Black person in town. They are living in poverty as her mother has let the house rot around them after the disappearance of her father. She has no friends until she starts her driving classes in an attempt to give herself hope of leaving and meets Shelley.

Shelley befriends Diamond and this is one of my most favorite parts of the novel. Through Shelley, Diamond finds some normalcy and is able to begin really growing into herself.

This book is heartbreaking. It shows the effects of inter generational racial trauma, the complications of having a biracial identity, poverty, fatness, sexual molestation, having a parent who can’t care for themselves or their child, and the ways in which trauma compounds Nd makes it difficult to get out.

This book tackles so much hardship and really heavy, painful topics, yet as you start realizing Diamond’s self awareness and how she is finding ways to take control of her life you can’t help but root for her. I really loved this book. The ending made me ugly cry. Gah the final interaction with Shelley and Diamond confronting her mom, and her mom’s surprise for her 😭😭😭😭

Where I think I can see people getting lost:

It has a slow start. I understand why though. I feel like you really have to understand how hopeless and entrenched in trauma responses Diamond and her mom are in and why. They have had no closure and her mom has lost the love of her life and has not been able to live beyond the hope of insurance money for her daughter. They are stuck.

It’s not only a split timeline but randomly an aunt reaches out to Diamond and starts corresponding and also then shares correspondence from her dad’s Aunt Clara which serves to help give the racist history of Swift River. This ends up being a bit much I’ll admit and may have been better served with another stylistic choice but I did really enjoy reading both the correspondence of Lena and Aunt Clara so it wasn’t really to big of an issue for me.

There is a side plot where Shelley is flirting with the driving teacher, Mr. Jimmy who is trying to be the cool teacher, and it escalates. It is a sidebar, but I do think it’s a danger of youth and growing up that is being shown. The girls especially Shelley feel their burgeoning young adulthood and rush to mature and older men take advantage of them (yes TW statutory rape). It’s yet another danger of navigating coming of age especially without parental love and guidance that both girls lack.

That said for me I really enjoyed this book. I think it’s an excellent debut! I’m looking forward to reading more from Essie Chambers in the future.

Author Essie Chambers brings us an unforgettable character in her debut novel 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥. It’s 1987 and nothing about Diamond Newberry’s life is easy. In the seven years since her father vanished she’s been the only Black person in her small New England town. Her mom is a mess, barely able to keep them afloat. Over the years Diamond has gained more and more weight and it’s now to the point where it’s impacting her day to day life. Without any real friends, the one thing Diamond dreams of is getting her driver’s license. She longs for escape, but to where she’s unclear.⁣⁣
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“That’s how it came to me: I may be too fat for my bike, but I’m going to learn how to drive. I haven’t told Ma. The thought is like a puddle with a river inside it.”⁣⁣
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Diamond knows there’s a different world out there somewhere, a world where she fits in, a world that makes sense. When she receives a letter from her father’s cousin, Diamond begins to see the legacy of her family and how their struggles and their love paved a path where she now walks.⁣⁣
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All the threads of this story were tied together beautifully. The more I read, the more invested I was in Diamond’s life, and the more I wanted for her. 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 is an impressive debut and a great choice for the @readwithjenna June pick. I know it’s a story I won’t soon forget and I’m betting many others will feel the same. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25⁣⁣
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“Something is happening. The past is gathering itself together, taking a solid shape somewhere I can’t see, like hands on my shoulders from behind.”⁣⁣
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Thanks to @simonbooks for an electronic copy of #SwiftRiver.

This book had so many feelings, sadness in how a family treats family, sadness in the demise of a small mill town, bravery in wanted to be the one in the family to make the change to better oneself and of course hope. This book was tragic and beautiful at the same time, painting a picture of crumbling American small towns in the 1980s. I really liked this book, I think Diamond will be with me for some time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book follows multiple generations of a Black family and their migration in and out of Swift River, a former mill town. It primarily focuses on Diamond, a girl coming of age in Swift River. As the child of an interracial couple, Diamond is left as the only Black person in the town when her Dad disappears. This follows her finding out more about her Dad's family history, as well as uncovering what may have happened to him. While this book sounded right up my alley, it disappointed. The concept was interesting but poorly executed. The plot felt slow and I did not feel a deep connection to any of the characters. I felt the book was trying to be too much at once without committing to anything enough to fully flesh it out and capture the reader's attention. 2.75 stars!

Swift River is a coming-of-age that follows Diamond, the only Black person in a small town that has a long history of prejudice. After her father disappeared when she was little, Diamond's mom has never quite been the same, and Diamond longs to get away. An unexpected letter from a long lost family member and a new friendship start to change Diamonds worldview.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was beautifully written and very moving.

The story did jump around a lot though, and I'm not sure I was always quite able to connect the dots.

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

A teenager learns about her family's past as she struggles to navigate her future in this warm but realistic story of race, class, and coming of age. It's 1987, and Diamond Newburry is literally the only Black person in Swift River, MA since her father vanished seven years ago. Diamond's weight problems make her stand out even more, and her loving but eccentric mother can barely hold the household together. Against her mother's wishes, Diamond is learning to drive, and as she faces adult challenges, she begins corresponding with her Auntie Lena, whose letters share the sweet and painful sides of their family's history. First time novelist Essie Chambers paints a loving, unblinking portrait of life in Swift River in the 1980s and the 1910s, as well as Diamond's life with her unreliable mom. It's an often moving, occasionally shocking portrait of love, family, and the legacies we live with.