July 2020

FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER by Rachel Beanland is a wonderful treasure of a novel. It takes place during the summer of 1934 in Atlantic City and is inspired by a secret that was kept by Rachel’s own family.

As it opens, Florence is training to swim the English Channel, and her loved ones are rallying behind her. However, fate steps in, and suddenly the Adler family is thrown in a completely different direction, which will test them all.

This debut novel is an uplifting story of hope, solidarity and resilience. It’s written from the points of view of seven characters, and careful readers will see that they appear throughout the book in order. Florence bursts to life in just a few short pages, which was challenging for Rachel, but she completely pulled it off. Even the title is perfect.

Book groups, this book could spur so many conversations! It is one of my favorite books of the summer. Read it, and I am betting you will feel the same way about it!