i spent the whole of this book waiting for the payoff, which never really felt like it happened. It's well written, but ultimately not for me.

Its the summer of 1987.
Diamond Newbury is lonely, eating for company and missing her dad who disappeared 7 years ago.
her mother is preparing to declare him dead but Diamond doesn't want to forget him.
She receives a letter from a relative who tells her about her dad and his life growing up and this will change her life forever.
Felt the ending of the book was abrupt and left questions unanswered.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6606996392

An interesting book, with an interesting lead character, and lots of themes to chew on. But not a light or easy read. I also found some parts of the plot really hard to follow (and looking at other reviews I may not have been the only one). And there is quite a lot of ambiguity built in, which some may love but I just tend to find frustrating! So not quite my cup of tea but many thanks to the (very talented) author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in any event.

I went into this book not knowing what to expect but came out having read a beautiful written and very moving story. The main character is very lovable, and the way her living and family situation is described was exceptional.

The story depicts not only Diamond’s battle with racism and prejudice in her little town of Swift River, but also that of her female ancestors in the form of letters from the past. I think the shift to the past of the protagonist is perfectly used to present the story-line of love and loss, and the mix of emoltionaland mental struggles that come with it.

At the start I found it a bit confusing to grasp the plot and the past/present slips - hence the lower marking - but later in the book it was something I was really looking forward to.

I think it is not only a moving story but one that is worth reading to see the world from a different perspective.

I found this a shocking reminder of black lives in a white community in the USA. The mother is white and the father black, and they have a mixed daughter. The issues that she faces and hides from her parents are distressing for the reader and bewildering for the child, who obviously increasingly realises their significance as time passes. The father and daughter are there only non white members of the community and are also coping with poverty.
This story seems to be a reminder of the race and poverty issues still reported in small town America. As the family faces more problems the daughter tries to protect her mother and everything becomes more complicated.
The story is really sad, recognising that long standing issues are still very much present with little sign of progress.

I enjoyed this book despite the fact that the essential tale told was not very pleasant, but sadly true in a lot of parts of the world, essentially about poor black people trying to overcome all of the adversity that they met.
The tale did not have the style of James Everett but was nevertheless absorbing.
For me this was a story that lost momentum due to the present day trend of switching between different parts of the story.
Indeed the narrative flow was spoilt by the apparent need to cover all of the requirements of modern day publishing, when a narrower, punchier narrative, that would have been achieved by concentrating on the main storyline, would have enhanced the book.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Diamond is a young woman growing up in a predominantly white area, with a white mother and black father. The book does go backwards to 1915 and her black relatives and how racist people where. Although Diamond in the 1970/80's realises nothing much has changed. The story describes her lifes ups and down.
I did find it a little confusing when the story flips backwards and foreword in time but I eventually got quite engrossed in her story.

2.5 stars rounded up. Swift River follows Diamond and her mother, who are trying to declare her father legally dead after he disappeared seven years ago, so they can finally claim the insurance money. Diamond has lived in Swift River all her life and is the only Black person. The book follows multiple timelines, through Diamond’s point of view, letters she receives from a family member and her memories as a child.
The first part of this book was interesting - I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue, the writing was building up to something that kept you sucked in to this world. However the ending had no pay off, there was no big reveal or surprises. Everything just…happens. It all feels very small, and many loose ends aren’t tied up.
With complex ideas of identity, race and class, this could’ve been a really great book. Chambers’ style of writing is compelling and the foundation is there. Unfortunately the unsatisfying ending, lack of answers and random subplots marked it down for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Swift River and Diamond did seem to go hand in hand throughout this book.

I felt I got distracted by the different time concepts that were portrayed here. Different Aunts Uncles and the time between them and trying to get the relevance into Diamonds story seemed to lack something. Not sure what, but it did not hold my full attention.

Pity as this was a story that could be told a lot better.

It’s the summer of 1987 in Swift River, and Diamond Newberry is learning how to drive. We follow her escapades with her friend Shelley and her attempts with her mother to prove her father's death, while she reminisces about the past in flashbacks and learns more about the life of her aunt and great aunt through letters.

This debut novel explores themes of identity and belonging, racism and family bonds. At times, the story is heartrending and the writing lyrical, but several key plot points and character motivations remain unanswered and I found the multiple timelines confusing.

A recommended read for people who enjoy coming-of-age stories without open endings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dialogue Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In "Swift River," we follow Diamond Newberry, an overweight Black teenager navigating life in a mostly white New England town. Diamond and her mother are haunted by her father's mysterious disappearance, leaving them uncertain about his fate amidst swirling rumors. Despite their financial hardships, Diamond's mother clings to the hope of an insurance payout, believing it could change their luck after seven years.

Diamond relies on food for comfort, often teased for her weight in school as the only brown person in town. Unsure about her mom's behavior, Diamond finds solace in letters from her father's relative, who becomes close to her. Through these letters, she learns about the important women in her father's life before he vanished.

While the premise was intriguing, the narrative lacked a little cohesion for me in some sections. I still felt that this is a strong debut and a coming-of-age story of a young girl as she navigates the influences of her upbringing and family dynamics, or their absence, in her life. Thank you #Net Galley and #Dialogue Books for an advanced reading copy.

Sixteen-year-old Diamond Newbury is struggling through a steaming hot summer in the town of Swift River in New England. But the heat is not the only thing driving Diamond to distraction.

Unlike her mother - who only wants to put the past behind her - Diamond is still trying to make sense of the disappearance of her father seven years ago. A letter she receives from an unknown relative may offer her some of the answers that she so desperately seeks. But not without complications...

Set in 1987, this evocative novel brings up many issues germane to 20th century life, including widely-attitudes and prejudices. Diamond is an appealing protagonist, and - despite some uneven pacing and perhaps a few characters too many - her story is well told in this book. It gets 3.5 stars.

I didn’t connect to this book at all. I tried to read it but I kept getting distracted. I don’t think the story flowed well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The overall book was good but didn’t keep me engaged with so many narrators at different times of their lives. The need to pause my reading and do something else was constant throughout. In my opinion, this made the it feel choppy and difficult to enjoy the story author was trying to tell. The ending was disappointing.