Book Review: The River

The River by Beverly Lewis is an Amish fiction book set in the late 1970's. The book tells the story of Tilly and Ruth, two siblings that used to be Amish. The sisters have remained close and involved in each other's lives, but they rarely interact with their Amish family. When they are invited to attend their parents' wedding anniversary celebration, they reluctantly decide to return to their home.

Ruth and Tilly have unfinished business in Lancaster County. Tilly is plagued by guilt from the death of her much younger sister. Ruth never resolved a relationship with her former beau. In addition, Tilly and her father have always had a very difficult relationship which has only gotten worse after she left the Amish faith. The visit ends up being significant for both sisters finding peace with these issues.

I always enjoy Beverly Lewis books and this one was no exception. She does a lovely job of describing the Amish community. The book also does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. The interactions among the characters are very rich and intricate - just like real relationships. The book didn't end up as I expected that is would, but in a good way. As is often the case, there is much more than meets to eye to the situations the women were dealing with. Understanding the perspectives of other people is vital to growth and acceptance of difficult situations.

I received a copy of this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for this review; all opinions are my own.

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