Once upon a time I paid someone $15 on eBay for a set of five hard cover books. Funny enough, they were all water-themed! One of these books was The River at Night by Erica Ferencik. It sat on my shelf for over a year until I finally picked it up and devoured it in a single day.
“A high-stakes drama set against the harsh beauty of the Maine wilderness, charting the journey of four friends as they fight to survive the aftermath of a white water rafting accident, The River at Night is a nonstop and unforgettable thriller.”
Goodreads
Compared to many of the other books I have read and reviewed, this one doesn’t have as much going on on Goodreads. Even the summary is short and inadequate! Plus less than 12,000 people have given it ratings. What is going on here?
What is The River at Night about?
The River at Night is about four women in their late 30s that have been friends for almost two decades. Once best friends, they are still close but busy with their lives that include divorces, questionable careers and all the other fun stuff that comes with adulting. They miss the good old days as much as I do and their girls trip is a crazy way of reliving those days as well as reconnecting with each other.
“Wini, Sandra, Rachel and Pia are the type of friends that remain close in spite of physical distance and ever-changing lives. Each year, the three take a vacation together. Adventurous Pia has finally convinced her three mates to face a new challenge: rafting the Winnegosset River.”
Book Page
Obviously, things go wrong. We expect it from the moment we pick up the book. But it’s hard to expect the full extent of just how wrong things go! This book is great at making you think you know what’s coming next and then surprising the heck out of you. Kind of like the river, suddenly tossing you out of the boat into the freezing waters.
The Characters
I am still closer to the age that the four protagonists were when they met then they are throughout the story. However, I find them all very relatable. I am as adventurous and careless as Pia. My body gets as cold and is as pear-shaped like Sandra’s. I am also tough on my friends yet love them fiercely beneath it all just like Rachel. Finally, I am as scared of being alone and left behind like Wini. These four characters couldn’t be more different and as a foursome, they make a great team when they work together.
Why I Loved It
Oh, in case it wasn’t already clear, I loved this book! It was different from anything I have read – no Gone Girl comparisons will be uttered from my lips! I loved the author’s description of the forest, the river, everything. Normally when I read, I feel like I’m watching the book as if it were a movie. In this case, I was on that raft with these ladies!
My one guess at why people didn’t like this book is the few slightly unrealistic moments. I can’t mention them without spoiling anything, but I thought they were well executed. Also, unlike the last book I reviewed, Baby Teeth, I didn’t hate the ending this time.
You can buy The River at Night on Amazon using this link. To save yourself the time, I also recommend that you get Into the Jungle using this link at the same time. Into the Jungle is her newer book, released just last year and although it still has very few reviews on Goodreads, they are significantly better than those for The River at Night. My book is already purchased and on its way!
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