Reviews

Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

heather_g's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

4.0

Very interesting story of a small Jewish family.  1 sister is training to swim the English Channel, the other on bed rest for high risk pregnancy.
A terrible accident occurs on a training swim and the family decides to keep the info from the pregnant sister.  It is sad story but full of.interesting characters.  Was hoping for a different ending but was still a great story, based on author’s own family!

jesstele's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

annaroses's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ginia552's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

sunset8305's review against another edition

5.0

I’m so grateful to be on such a roll with amazing books as of late! I loved this story, from beginning to end. I fell in love with all the characters (especially sweet Gussie) and the focus on fierce family loyalty, trust and protection.

I particularly liked reading a story set in this time period (1930’s) as the stories I typically read around the WWII-era are at its height in the 1940’s. This story reflects how pivotal were Americans’ decisions (and consequences) in the years leading up to WWII, as they were learning piecemeal of the Nazis’ ascent in Germany.

It was 4 stars throughout, until I read the Author’s Note at the end - learning this was based on a true story quickly shifted this up to 5 stars for me.

Why’d I pick this read? I forget! I believe I’d seen it promoted on Simon and Schuster’s Insta, but I’m not positive.

mekb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

nursetess's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ljm57's review against another edition

4.0

A highly enjoyable family drama, very much character-driven which is based on the short life of a pioneering female distance ocean swimmer, and aunt of the author’s grandmother who, at age six witnessed the tragic event around which the story is plotted. Told from multiple viewpoints of the major characters, readers ponder the ethics of keeping a heart-breaking secret by telling grave lies in order to a protect loved one. Written in a lovely style the 1930s setting in the American resort town of Atlantic City is brought vividly to life with its beach, life-guards, grand hotels, boardwalks, piers, sideshows and large Jewish community to which the Adlers belong. Life here is a world away from the machinations occurring in Hitler’s Germany but the ramifications for Jewish family and friends in the US are nevertheless never far from their hearts and minds, this being one of the many sub-plots threaded through the book.

karihall_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sarahenwright's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0