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.