Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland has been my favorite summer read thus far. It is Ms. Beanland’s debut novel. I was introduced to the book through the Barnes and Noble Book Club, as it was its July selection. It is a historical fiction novel set in 1930’s Atlantic City.
The book is centered on three generations of the Adler family. Joseph and Esther are the parents of Fannie and Florence. Fannie is expecting her second child with her husband, Isaac. She is in the hospital on complete bedrest until the baby is born because of complications. Gussie, Fannie’s seven-year-old daughter, is staying with her grandparents while her mom is in the hospital. Florence is practicing her swimming every day because she wants to swim the English Channel just like her idol, Gertrude Ederle.
This book is very character driven. Each major character tells a chapter in the book and rotates in the same order until the book ends. The book covers the summer of 1934 and follows actual events that happened in 1934 Atlantic City. The novel is full of emotions, from grief, to romance, to family secrets. Gussie is probably my favorite character because of her precociousness. Joseph Adler emerges as a strong figure making difficult decisions for his family, as does his wife, Esther.
This is a difficult book to review without spoiling it for the reader, which I am not going to do. All I can say is, read this book! It is so endearing, and the Author’s Note will stay with me a long time. I also suggest that you go to Barnes & Noble’s Facebook page when you finish the book and listen to the virtual Barnes & Noble Book Club’s August 4th interview of Rachel Beanland. It is a delightful interview, and it answers many questions you may have about the book. I highly recommend Florence Adler Swims Forever. I can hardly wait for Rachel Beanland’s next novel!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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