Overall, Leah Weiss' IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is a very readable story that pulls you in fast & keeps you hooked through the end. It cycles through a lot of different perspectives and, for better or for worse, that's part of what keeps you reading - waiting to get back to the people in Baines Creek that you felt most connected to or interested in. It only falls a little short in that some of the characters I felt most interested in don't really get much resolution and I wish there was more to their stories, or they hadn't had their own sections at all.

(I received a copy of IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and original review.)

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me access to this book. This book brought me to Appalachia and introduced me to some amazing characters. Weiss really brought the book to life for me with her great writing and amazing character development.

A truly memorable book about the way of life in the deep South of America. A slow burner of a story but with some emotional and hard-hitting subject matters.

I really enjoy this author’s writing style, characters and stories. I think her books end too abruptly but they are still very good.
Reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley.

A powerful debut novel by Leah Weiss. I knew from the first page that this would be an emotional read. You fall in love with these characters, and the power and silent strength that they have. It wasn't easy to read at times, but provides an emotional and eyeopening look into 1970s North Carolina. Gritty and dark at times, this book was magnificent.

Well. the ending of this was just brilliant. Let's just say it was perfect. I believe we call that KARMA!
I do have a few questions as to what happen to others in the town I hope to see a sequel.



My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, I read this book back in 2017 but completely forgot to upload a review on here, so can't remember exactly what I was going to say about it!

First, let me thank netgalley and the publishers for approving my request for an early release of this book. All reviews of my netgalley books can be found on goodreads and youtube. Please be sure to check out the links attached.

The reviews for this book have been outstanding. Which makes the fact that I couldn't connect that much more disappointing. No doubt, this book, in the right hands, equals reading nirvana. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case here. I do appreciate the access to the early copy, but I had to make the tough decision to set it aside and move on.

A striking and wholly absorbing portrayal of a small town in North Carolina. Featuring some wonderful characters, this novel is heartfelt and moving. A wonderful character study of a novel.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing style, the language of the characters took me a little time to get used to but I enjoyed the story and the characters were strong and vivid. I found myself rooting for these characters and relating to them in ways that held my interested because I had to know what was coming next! I liked that the story line flowed well throughout the book and It kept me wanting more!

Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of If The Creek Don't Rise. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

In a remote section of Appalachia, Sadie Blue has a harsh life to go along with the depressed surroundings. A teenager, married to a man that threatens her daily, Sadie must summon the strength to do whatever it takes for herself and her unborn child.

Had the story been written totally in Sadie's perspective, If The Creek Don't Rise would have been very compelling. The fact that there are multiple points of view, that the story travels back and forth in time depending on whose perspective is front and center, and that there are no chapters to speak of, the plot can be hard to follow. The story goes awry half way through and the author is never able to rein it back in. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend If The Creek Don't Rise to other readers.

This book really got to me. I don't know that I have read anything that had this kind of abuse in it on a regular basis, if that makes sense. I don't live in an area where everyone covers for each other. Seeing that dichotomy in a book was so interesting. This book really got to me and at times made me feel sick to my stomach because I wanted to cry for Sadie through the whole book.

Sadie Blue is seventeen, pregnant, and a Loretta Lynn super fan. She’s also an abused newlywed at the end of her rope. Living in the impoverished Appalachian community of Baines Creek, Sadie is supported by many of the small town’s inhabitants.

Told from multiple perspectives, Leah Weiss’ debut novel paints a portrait of a struggling town filled with struggling people. Colorful characters and a unique voice make this a standout debut. If the Creek Don’t Rise is an excellent example of gritty, southern fiction with a dash of hope.

This book was provocative, honest, bold, and just simply stunning! It took me into the south; a place where I’m familiar and gave me all the feels of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The characters are real, they feel real, make me want more of their souls.

I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

I was surprised that there were so many characters in this story. I wanted to know more about Sadie. I found a lot of the story repetitive due to the many different points of view of the varied characters. I did like Sadie but a few of the characters were quite annoying. I honestly thought parts of the story weren't needed. Having so many characters with their own chapters did cause me confusion at times.

It took me a long time to get through this one, mostly because of the language, but it was still a good book and I recommend it if you like books set in the south.

Great book! This was a heartbreaking story with a good ending. This book sucked me in immediately and it was really hard to put down!

What a pleasant surprise! Such a fantastic read

This book was filled with such absolutely fantastic characters! Living in the south, I wastaken completely off guard by the author’s writing and the presentation. You could FEEL the south and the atmosphere in her words.

This is quite an impressive debut