Florence Adler Swims Forever    by Rachel Beanland Order:  USA  Can Simon & Schuster, 2021 (2020) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens This beautifully written story concerns a Jewish family whose daughter, named in the title, dies in the first chapter. The mother is beside herself, not only with grief, but with concern for her younger daughter Fannie, who is having a difficult pregnancy. She therefore insists on keeping news about the death from Fannie. This throws everybody off. Joseph, the father, feels he can't properly grieve. Fannie's husband Isaac only very reluctantly agrees to the scheme. Gussie, their daughter, has to be kept from her mother as much as possible, which means Fannie suspects something is up but doesn't know what. We can only imagine what Esther, the mother, must be going through. Over a summer the family faces not only this situation but other secrets as well. The emotional tension builds as it all unfolds. The author has written each chapter from a different character's point of view, and it is amazing how she keeps the story unfolding. At the same time Atlantic City in the 1930s comes alive. This is a very accomplished first novel. Be sure to read the Author's Note and Reader's Guide - they are very interesting. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews