Where the River Flows by Rachel Havekost - An Honest Review About Heavy Books from a Carlisle book club member

Not every book resonates with every reader. This honest review from our member Theresa shows that's okay, and why spaces for real conversation matter.

Member Review

"Where the River Flows is a memoir detailing a journey through divorce and an all-encompassing eating disorder, including all the many emotions that come along with trauma.

I struggled somewhat with this book. Initially, I did not enjoy it much, especially as certain parts felt drawn out and over explained. Looking back, I recognise that dealing with my own personal traumas was making this book too heavy for me. And while I have been divorced myself, I couldn't really relate as our experiences were so different.

Overall, it's a tough read due to the heavy topic, though she doesn't shy away from that. I'd recommend if this is a genre you'd read anyway. I'd advise caution if you're not in a good headspace." Theresa Ribeiro

Why We Value This Review

Theresa didn't pretend to love this book. She didn't give it five stars for the sake of it. She was honest about why it didn't land - and in doing so, showed exactly why spaces for real conversation matter.

Not every book will be for you. Not every book club conversation will be easy. But showing up and chatting openly? That's what creates the connection we have.

Rachel Havekost's Where the River Flows is a raw memoir about eating disorders, divorce, and trauma. It won't be for everyone, and that's okay. What matters is that we created space to talk about it and why - and Theresa's honesty helped others in the group understand their own reactions too.

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