Go as a River

Go As a River by Shelley Read is a quiet, stirring novel that unfolds with the same patient beauty as its title suggests. Set against the rugged natural backdrop of Colorado, this story is at once heartbreaking and deeply hopeful, following a young woman’s journey through love, loss, and resilience.

At the heart of the novel is a strong, quietly determined protagonist who learns to navigate a world that often seems to take more than it gives. Her story is one of selfless strength — of caring for others while learning, in time, how to care for herself. The pacing is gentle, the prose lyrical, and each scene is saturated with a sense of place that will speak to nature lovers and fans of evocative storytelling.

Though comparisons to Where the Crawdads Sing or The Great Alone are easy to make, Go As a River ultimately stands on its own — a deeply emotional narrative that doesn’t rush, but lingers with the reader long after the final page. It's a novel about survival in more ways than one, quietly powerful in its portrayal of human connection and the endurance of the natural world.

This is adult fiction with some moderate language (particularly early on), a tastefully handled intimate scene, and themes of prejudice, childbirth, and adoption. If you're looking for a meaningful, reflective summer read, this is a story that invites you to slow down and listen — just like a river.