Reviews – ESSIE CHAMBERS

Reviews

June 2024

‘Swift River,’ by Essie Chambers, a sparkling debut with an unforgettable protagonist

In Essie Chambers’s novel, Diamond Newberry learns about her family’s history seven years after her father disappeared.

Photo Credit: Washington Post

April 6, 2026

BLAVITY: 10 Debut Novels By Black Authors That Are Certified Page-Turners
June 4, 2025

“Swift River” is a Madison Public Library Book Discussion Pick – July 2025
April 18, 2025

Marmalade and Mustardseed – Book Guide: Swift River
January 28, 2025

Book Riot: In Reading Color – A Visceral, Big-Hearted Coming-of-Age Story With Deep Roots
November 26, 2024

NPR’s Annual Books We Love 2024 includes Essie Chambers’ Swift River
November 21, 2024

Washington Post: 50 notable works of fiction from 2024 highlights Essie Chambers’ Swift River
November 21, 2024

The New Yorker’s 2024 Best Books List includes Essie Chambers’ Swift River
September 26, 2024

The Southern Bookseller Reviews Swift River
September 4, 2024

Book Riot: New Historical Fiction by Black Authors
August 10, 2024

Irish Independent: Essie Chambers’s Swift River expertly presents a multifaceted Diamond in the rough in New England
August 5, 2024

The New Yorker: Briefly Noted Book Reviews Swift River
July 5, 2024

The i: The best new books to read in July 2024