You're listening to the Girl Next Door Podcast. I'm Kelsey.

And I'm Erica. We're two former next door neighbors and good friends who love a good chat and a good laugh.

We're inviting you to come on in, have a drink, and stay a while.

Hey friend.

Hey friend. This is our winter book club episode and we have a rich and cozy novel to discuss, Diane Sutterfield's Once Upon a River.

Let me give a quick recap of the story to remind us what we read.

Once Upon a River is about three families, the Vons, the Armstrongs, and Lily White, who have each lost a young girl.

When the story of a miracle involving a young

girl at the Swan Inn begins to be told throughout the surrounding towns, each of the families

hope that this young girl is their own. The book explores each of the claims on the girl,

the motivations and histories of these families, and the mystery behind the girl's sudden appearance.

So I cannot stop using the word rich to just describe this book.

So I will say one more time, this book is so rich in characters, setting, and plot.

I'm so glad it's one that I get to discuss with someone.

You know how you just finish a book and you're like, I've got to talk to someone.

So as we always do during book club,

let's take turns giving our letter grade ratings and overall reviews. Then I have a few

follow-up discussion questions for us. So what did you think of Once Upon a River?

Okay. I am going to give this book A B plus A minus, like just because it didn't change my life.

That's what the A grading is for, but I really, really loved it. It's another one of those books that stood out to me

as super unique, which, like, I talk about the night circus all the time, but it's not the same as

the night circus, but it just, it stands out as like, I can't even

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