Fantastic Debut

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Florence Adler Swims ForeverFlorence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Florence Alder Swims Forever” is a wonderfully poignant story written by first-time novelist Rachel Beanland.

Set in Atlantic City in 1934 over the span of three months, the novel focuses on the Alder family. Daughter Florence Adler, an accomplished swimmer, is training to swim the English Channel. Her parents, Esther and Joseph, who have successfully turned a small bakery into a thriving success, watch Florence’s niece, the precocious Gussie, while her mom, Fannie, is hospitalized due to a difficult pregnancy. Because of tragedy, Esther chooses to hide this information from Fannie with assistance from Isaac, Fannie’s husband. Also involved in the conspiracy are German refugee, Anna, who has unclear ties to Joseph, and Florence’s coach, Stuart, who does the best to distance himself from his racist family.

This novel is told in the differing points of views of the above characters as we experience the impact of not just hiding the one secret, but many others. Ms. Beanland has a superb mastery of each of these storytellers. While these individuals are certainly flawed, that is part of what makes these characters so captivating. Once I started reading, I could not put this book down.

“Florence Alder Swims Forever” is rich in history in the time of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, though at its heart, this novel is compelling family drama. It’s because of this that you’ll find yourself angry at the very same character who you were sympathizing with pages before.

Thank you to Rachel Beanland, Random House Publishing Group, and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this novel.

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