GO AS A RIVER: A Novel
Written by Shelley Read
Narrated by Cynthia Farrell
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Set amid Colorado’s wild beauty, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter. A tragic and uplifting novel of love and loss, family and survival—and hope—for readers of Great Circle, The Four Winds, and Where the Crawdads Sing.
Seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash runs the household on her family’s peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Colorado—the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land and determined to live as he chooses.
Victoria encounters Will by chance on a street corner, a meeting that profoundly alters both of their young lives, unknowingly igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known. She flees into the surrounding mountains where she struggles to survive in the wilderness with no clear notion of what her future will bring. As the seasons change, she also charts the changes in herself, finding in the beautiful but harsh landscape the meaning and strength to move forward and rebuild all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River threatens to submerge her homeland—its ranches, farms, and the beloved peach orchard that has been in her family for generations.
Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola in the 1960s, Go as a River is a story of deeply held love in the face of hardship and loss, but also of finding courage, resilience, friendship, and, finally, home—where least expected. This stunning debut explores what it means to lead your life as if it were a river—gathering and flowing, finding a way forward even when a river is dammed.
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Reviews for GO AS A RIVER
505 ratings30 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a beautiful and emotional journey. The descriptions are amazing, the narration is well done, and the book is both thought-provoking and unforgettable. While some readers disliked the ending and found the plot contrived, they still appreciated the well-developed characters and the exquisite writing. Overall, this book is a stunning debut that explores themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the choices we make as mothers. It is a powerful and must-read story that captures the reader's interest and provides a capable distraction from grief.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A lovely story. The last few chapters were heart wrenching & heart lifting
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing! I really wanted to give it a
One star because of the ending!!!! Left me hanging!!!!
Loved the book tho1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stunning debut with an absolute heartbreaking and simultaneously heart mending story about love, loss, and the impossible choices we are forced to make as mothers.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was such a beautiful and emotional journey. The descriptions were amazing, the narration was well done, and the book was both thought-provoking and a story I will not soon forget. This was my book club's first read, I wish we could have the author in the room to discuss It with us, fantastic!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fabulous on audio. I felt transported to the story due to the elegant, descriptive prose. Highly recommend.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very well written. It brings back memories of a lifetime.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a story of heartbreak and resilience, and I truly enjoyed it. It really captured my interest and was a very capable distraction from my grief after losing my father - even though the father’s death is a plot point. It drew me in but wasn’t overly sentimental. And while it’s geared towards a female audience it avoids the spoon fed, IQ-reducing themes that plague a majority of “chick lit” novels and nearly all Lifetime movies. I look forward to more from this author.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It is a beautiful book about life on a farm in the mid-1900s and the resurrection after the Vietnam War. It's such a fantastic read!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wonderfully told! Heart breaking story. Would recommend for anyone interested in Forrest Gump style historical fiction.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A slow start but stick with it. Gets you in the feelings.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was incredible! I didn’t want to stop listening!! Great coming of age story and a heroine whose hardships will make you cry and whose triumphs will have you cheering!!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful story of life, love, loss and the connections women have when we endure each of these.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Heart wrenching grit woven with hopeful determination. A beautifully landscaped novel.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The beautiful descriptive writing and the story. Thank you Shelly
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a very good book. I really like it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plot was a little contrived, but characters were well developed.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The story and the masterful writing were both powerful and moving. Bravo!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautifully written. Attention to detail of farming and lost ❤️
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was great from beginning to end. Loved it!!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Instagram love and one-dimensional characters.The plot was unbelievable, but the writing was beautiful.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved the characters and the sincerity of the story. Being born in ‘53, I lived through some of those decades. I disliked the ending, but it was because I wanted it to go on and on.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book. Beautifully written and great to listen to.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Exquisite writing! Overwrought storyline. Will look for the next book just for the writing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Powerful story of love, loss, pain, and strength. Well written. Must read!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I have to say I wish I had these hours back! I almost gave up about chapter 13 right when I thought it would be worth it at the end it just ended! Left you just hanging. Don’t waste your time.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book! A story about life, loss, forgiveness, and a mother’s love.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Heartbreaking but oh so beautiful. The story of sacrifice and love.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I liked the story. The reader was too dry. Pretty good though.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a beautiful book. Wasn’t sure what to expect but definitely recommend listening.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a tragic story so beautifully written. I wish I could know more about the ending.