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Dalton, Maine #2
Where the Forest Meets the River
Return to Dalton as Shannon Bowring draws another stunningly human portrait of small town America.
It’s been five years since Bridget Theroux’s death shocked the small town of Dalton, Maine, leaving behind husband Nate and daughter Sophie, now a vibrant young child. Nate doesn’t always know how to answer her questions, but he is intent on raising her with joy—and shielding her from her grandmother, Annette, who remains dangerously locked away in her grief.
After his first year away at college, Greg Fortin is back in town for the summer to work at the family store. It’s expected he'll take over the hardware business eventually, but finding the words to tell them no—and the truth about who he is—has become his own Everest. Rose’s abusive ex, Tommy finally disappeared a few years ago, though sometimes his presence in the eyes of her oldest son unnerves her. She and Nate are finding themselves drawn together by their children’s playdates, and into a delicate balance between friendship and the possibility of more.
And Trudy and Bev, always so sure of their love for each other, find themselves rocked when Trudy’s husband Richard suffers a heart attack, bringing into focus all the guilt she has felt about their empty marriage for years.
Shannon Bowring demonstrates once again that she understands exactly where the heart of a story lies. Where the Forest Meets the River is a poignant return to the small town of Dalton, whose inhabitants continue to startle and humble both themselves—and us.
It’s been five years since Bridget Theroux’s death shocked the small town of Dalton, Maine, leaving behind husband Nate and daughter Sophie, now a vibrant young child. Nate doesn’t always know how to answer her questions, but he is intent on raising her with joy—and shielding her from her grandmother, Annette, who remains dangerously locked away in her grief.
After his first year away at college, Greg Fortin is back in town for the summer to work at the family store. It’s expected he'll take over the hardware business eventually, but finding the words to tell them no—and the truth about who he is—has become his own Everest. Rose’s abusive ex, Tommy finally disappeared a few years ago, though sometimes his presence in the eyes of her oldest son unnerves her. She and Nate are finding themselves drawn together by their children’s playdates, and into a delicate balance between friendship and the possibility of more.
And Trudy and Bev, always so sure of their love for each other, find themselves rocked when Trudy’s husband Richard suffers a heart attack, bringing into focus all the guilt she has felt about their empty marriage for years.
Shannon Bowring demonstrates once again that she understands exactly where the heart of a story lies. Where the Forest Meets the River is a poignant return to the small town of Dalton, whose inhabitants continue to startle and humble both themselves—and us.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2024
139 people are currently reading
1562 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Bowring
4 books140 followersShannon Bowring’s work has appeared in numerous journals, including Best Small Fictions, and has been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net prizes. She is the recipient of the 2022 Julia Peterkin Literary Award for Flash Fiction and was selected by Deesha Philyaw as a finalist for the Fractured Lit Anthology II Contest. Shannon has been recognized on such short- and long-lists as the Maine Literary Awards, the Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition and the New Millennium Writing Awards. Her debut novel, The Road to Dalton, received a Kirkus Starred Review and was included in the June 2023 Indie Next List. Shannon’s sequel to Dalton, WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER, is forthcoming from Europa Editions.
Raised in Northern Maine, Shannon now resides in the mid-coast region of the state, where she works as a cataloger at her local public library.
Raised in Northern Maine, Shannon now resides in the mid-coast region of the state, where she works as a cataloger at her local public library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
August 3, 2024
I grabbed an ARC of “Where the Forest Meets the River” by Shannon Bowring at my local library. I didn’t know this was a series, with this being book number 2 of the Dalton Novels Series. This can be read as a standalone, but I am sure I would have appreciated it more if I had read the first book in the series, “The Road to Dalton.
It took me a while to get into the story, and I realized I needed to note the various characters. Bowring introduces a slew of characters in the first chapter. Once I wrote them down, and how they are related to each other, it was easy to get caught up in this fictitious small town of Dalton, which is in northern Maine, encapsulated by New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada.
Small town, country life is familiar to me, as I was raised in a town of 4,000 in South Dakota. This story takes place in Aroostook County which is more than 3 hours north of Bangor. These are salt of the earth people who care about each other but stop short of prying. Oh, there are gossips, but for the most part, everyone allows each other their choices in life.
The story picks up at 5 years after the crushing death by suicide of a young mother, Bridget. She suffered from postpartum depression, and the aftermath of guilt has not subsided. From the country Doctor to Bridget’s mother, father, husband, and in laws, everyone continues to work through how they let Bridget down. Nate, her husband, is now caring for his beautiful daughter, Sophie, who is bright, inquisitive, and well adjusted, although full of questions. She’s 5 and her mother’s departure, which happened when she was a baby, is murky to her. Nate quit the police force after her death and took a job at his in-law’s lumber mill. Nate and Sophie are the heart of the story.
Author Shannon Bowring writes beautifully. It was her prose that kept me intrigued. This is a slice-of-life story in which Bowring generates rich, relatable characters for whom the reader roots. I appreciated that she wrote the adults in Sophie’s life with care; these characters might have let Bridget down, but they are going to do their best to make sure Sophie enjoys a healthy childhood.
Meanwhile, there is a clandestine love-affair (it’s a small town, of course there will be a clandestine love-affair). There is a single mother living in a trailer with two little boys, trying to make ends meet. There is the expectation of the son of the local family-run hardware store to go to college and return to run the store. Bridget’s mother lives in a alcoholic fog of guilt.
This will be published in September. I need to read the first one because I am sure she’s currently writing the 3rd of the series. I recommend this for those who enjoy literary domestic fiction involving small town America.
It took me a while to get into the story, and I realized I needed to note the various characters. Bowring introduces a slew of characters in the first chapter. Once I wrote them down, and how they are related to each other, it was easy to get caught up in this fictitious small town of Dalton, which is in northern Maine, encapsulated by New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada.
Small town, country life is familiar to me, as I was raised in a town of 4,000 in South Dakota. This story takes place in Aroostook County which is more than 3 hours north of Bangor. These are salt of the earth people who care about each other but stop short of prying. Oh, there are gossips, but for the most part, everyone allows each other their choices in life.
The story picks up at 5 years after the crushing death by suicide of a young mother, Bridget. She suffered from postpartum depression, and the aftermath of guilt has not subsided. From the country Doctor to Bridget’s mother, father, husband, and in laws, everyone continues to work through how they let Bridget down. Nate, her husband, is now caring for his beautiful daughter, Sophie, who is bright, inquisitive, and well adjusted, although full of questions. She’s 5 and her mother’s departure, which happened when she was a baby, is murky to her. Nate quit the police force after her death and took a job at his in-law’s lumber mill. Nate and Sophie are the heart of the story.
Author Shannon Bowring writes beautifully. It was her prose that kept me intrigued. This is a slice-of-life story in which Bowring generates rich, relatable characters for whom the reader roots. I appreciated that she wrote the adults in Sophie’s life with care; these characters might have let Bridget down, but they are going to do their best to make sure Sophie enjoys a healthy childhood.
Meanwhile, there is a clandestine love-affair (it’s a small town, of course there will be a clandestine love-affair). There is a single mother living in a trailer with two little boys, trying to make ends meet. There is the expectation of the son of the local family-run hardware store to go to college and return to run the store. Bridget’s mother lives in a alcoholic fog of guilt.
This will be published in September. I need to read the first one because I am sure she’s currently writing the 3rd of the series. I recommend this for those who enjoy literary domestic fiction involving small town America.
October 22, 2024
the setup…
Though not much ever changes in the small town of Dalton, Maine, the tragic death of Bridget Theroux five years ago has altered the lives of quite a few. Husband Nate resigned from the police department and now works for his father-in-law Marshall Frazier at the mill so he can devote more time to raising his daughter, Sophie. His mother Bev has quit her job so she can help with her care. But it is Annette Frazier who seems to be moored in her grief, the once vibrant woman now an alcoholic recluse who refuses to see her granddaughter. Then Richard Haskell, the town doctor, suffers a heart attack, forcing his wife Trudy to face the truths about her marriage. It also shakes her relationship with friend Bev, the true love of her life.
the heart of the story…
Greg Fortin, the former sexually confused and overweight high schooler, is now in college and has returned home for the summer. He’s now a physically fit young man who is clearer about who he is and knows he doesn’t want to be the heir of his father’s hardware store. And then there’s Rose Douglas who has escaped from her abusive relationship with her children’s father and now works for Dr. Haskell. So, a lot has changed in this quiet town but it’s more in the hearts of those who have chosen to stay here. Once clear about their destinies, the tragedy brought by Bridget’s death has caused so many to rethink the paths they’ve taken. It’s not a lot of drama, just real life issues with serious consequences.
the narration…
Patricia Shade has captured the essence of these characters with her subtle performance and storytelling. She is wonderful at voicing these characters, letting the beauty of the writing come through.
the bottom line…
Once again Bowring has skillfully drawn us into the lives of ordinary people who are coping with the day to day while grappling with issues of the heart. It’s the follow up to The Road to Dalton, which is a required read before this one. I was fully invested in these people, hoping they’d find the answers they were seeking that even I couldn’t lay out for them. There’s beauty in the writing, the characters and the small town community with all its flaws and sustenance. Keep bringing us back to this town because I need to know what’s next.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Though not much ever changes in the small town of Dalton, Maine, the tragic death of Bridget Theroux five years ago has altered the lives of quite a few. Husband Nate resigned from the police department and now works for his father-in-law Marshall Frazier at the mill so he can devote more time to raising his daughter, Sophie. His mother Bev has quit her job so she can help with her care. But it is Annette Frazier who seems to be moored in her grief, the once vibrant woman now an alcoholic recluse who refuses to see her granddaughter. Then Richard Haskell, the town doctor, suffers a heart attack, forcing his wife Trudy to face the truths about her marriage. It also shakes her relationship with friend Bev, the true love of her life.
the heart of the story…
Greg Fortin, the former sexually confused and overweight high schooler, is now in college and has returned home for the summer. He’s now a physically fit young man who is clearer about who he is and knows he doesn’t want to be the heir of his father’s hardware store. And then there’s Rose Douglas who has escaped from her abusive relationship with her children’s father and now works for Dr. Haskell. So, a lot has changed in this quiet town but it’s more in the hearts of those who have chosen to stay here. Once clear about their destinies, the tragedy brought by Bridget’s death has caused so many to rethink the paths they’ve taken. It’s not a lot of drama, just real life issues with serious consequences.
the narration…
Patricia Shade has captured the essence of these characters with her subtle performance and storytelling. She is wonderful at voicing these characters, letting the beauty of the writing come through.
the bottom line…
Once again Bowring has skillfully drawn us into the lives of ordinary people who are coping with the day to day while grappling with issues of the heart. It’s the follow up to The Road to Dalton, which is a required read before this one. I was fully invested in these people, hoping they’d find the answers they were seeking that even I couldn’t lay out for them. There’s beauty in the writing, the characters and the small town community with all its flaws and sustenance. Keep bringing us back to this town because I need to know what’s next.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 24, 2025
4.5 stars. this one didn't grab me quite as much as the first book in the series, but i am still just so enamored with dalton, maine and all (most? lol) of it's inhabitants. already anxiously awaiting the announcement of book 3!
cw: death of a loved one, suicide, alcoholism, addiction, ptsd, miscarriage
cw: death of a loved one, suicide, alcoholism, addiction, ptsd, miscarriage
October 7, 2024
This is the author’s second novel, and a sequel to her first, The Road to Dalton. In another “slice of life” look at the townsfolk of Dalton, Maine, this book takes place 5 years on from the tragic events of book one. The sequel checks in with most of the characters to see how they’re doing five years later. Everyone in Dalton was affected—some more than others—and, of course, in different ways.
Two of the “secrets” in book one have now been revealed, to some extent, and certainly for the better! But it’s still a small town and, as such, secrets, gossip, and rumours still run rampant. The baby born in book one is now an adorable little 5-year-old—Sophie—the spitting image of her Mom and a sweet, precocious little thing who lights up the lives of three of her four grandparents.
As with the first, it’s a light, easy read about small-town life—barbeques, street dances, parades and such—along with a few eyebrow-raisers, so if you’re one who needs thrills and turmoil in your books, this is definitely not for you. But if you enjoy a peaceful, easy-going style, I promise you’ll enjoy this, but you’ll want to read The Road to Dalton first. The sequel won't work nearly as well without knowing at least the gist of events from the author’s debut.
One thing that truly did surprise me, though, was the enormous cliff the author left us dangling from—sans rope!😲 It led me to “Dr. Google” to ask if another book was in the works. And sure enough, there will be a third book in this series... In a Distant Valley, coming soon from Europa Editions. 😮💨Thank goodness… my rapidly beating heart is grateful.😰
4 “There’s-no-place-like-home” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Two of the “secrets” in book one have now been revealed, to some extent, and certainly for the better! But it’s still a small town and, as such, secrets, gossip, and rumours still run rampant. The baby born in book one is now an adorable little 5-year-old—Sophie—the spitting image of her Mom and a sweet, precocious little thing who lights up the lives of three of her four grandparents.
As with the first, it’s a light, easy read about small-town life—barbeques, street dances, parades and such—along with a few eyebrow-raisers, so if you’re one who needs thrills and turmoil in your books, this is definitely not for you. But if you enjoy a peaceful, easy-going style, I promise you’ll enjoy this, but you’ll want to read The Road to Dalton first. The sequel won't work nearly as well without knowing at least the gist of events from the author’s debut.
One thing that truly did surprise me, though, was the enormous cliff the author left us dangling from—sans rope!😲 It led me to “Dr. Google” to ask if another book was in the works. And sure enough, there will be a third book in this series... In a Distant Valley, coming soon from Europa Editions. 😮💨Thank goodness… my rapidly beating heart is grateful.😰
4 “There’s-no-place-like-home” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 6, 2024
No matter where you live or who you are these things are true.
Sometimes you need to leave.
Sometimes you need to stay.
Sometimes you need to leave and come back.
The small Maine town of Dalton is a community whose citizens are all wrestling with various combinations of this. We first met them in The Road To Dalton, and 5 years later and after a lot of heartbreak for some of them, we continue their story. All I can say is I hope the author is working on book number 3. She left one little hanging situation that needs clearing up.
Is it okay to threaten a writer? Write a 3rd Dalton book or else?
Sometimes you need to leave.
Sometimes you need to stay.
Sometimes you need to leave and come back.
The small Maine town of Dalton is a community whose citizens are all wrestling with various combinations of this. We first met them in The Road To Dalton, and 5 years later and after a lot of heartbreak for some of them, we continue their story. All I can say is I hope the author is working on book number 3. She left one little hanging situation that needs clearing up.
Is it okay to threaten a writer? Write a 3rd Dalton book or else?
June 26, 2024
I was so happy when I saw that Shannon Bowring had a sequel that follows her debut, ’The Road to Dalton’, another quietly lovely story with people who feel so real, and the small town these people inhabit in Dalton, Maine.
This begins five years after ’The Road to Dalton’, and while time has passed, Dalton is one of those towns where it feels as though not much has changed within the town. Although the changes are nothing momentous, there are moments here and there where you can see the frustrations of some, while also seeing the beauty of this town, a somewhat tightly knit community where everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone. Their lives are practically transparent.
This sequel shares a sense of growth of the people in this town, overall, there is a sense of acceptance of some of the changes felt in relationships, if not a downright appreciation of the changes, but after living in a small town for most of their lives, there is a sense of acceptance.
A lovely story of family and community, of pain, relationships, and life plans that are life changing.
Pub Date: 03 Sep 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Europa Editions
October 25, 2024
The return to Dalton was just as heartwarming as the first in the series. Getting reacquainted with the town and it's people was like visiting old friends. Dalton reigned as the beloved sanctuary and constant comfort to all whom were able to call it home. Each character was so human and masterfully portrayed - in love and sorrow and self discovery.
Can't wait to visit again as I'm pretty positive there will be a third in the series.
Thanks to #EuropaEditions and #NetGalley for the early read.
Can't wait to visit again as I'm pretty positive there will be a third in the series.
Thanks to #EuropaEditions and #NetGalley for the early read.
July 28, 2024
Oh, Dalton, I am so happy to be back!
It's been five years since the loss of Bridget hit the town of Dalton, Maine like a tidal wave and we get to catch up with all our favorite inhabitants. All of these characters feel so real living their mundane lives and I think that's where the magic of this story lies. It is so beautifully written that you feel like you truly know them and are their friends, together going through lifes ups and downs.
This book holds a special meaning to me that I will keep private for now, but I feel such a connection to this town and its people. Hoping there will be a third! 💙
Pub. Date: Sept. 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Europa Editions for my advanced copy!
It's been five years since the loss of Bridget hit the town of Dalton, Maine like a tidal wave and we get to catch up with all our favorite inhabitants. All of these characters feel so real living their mundane lives and I think that's where the magic of this story lies. It is so beautifully written that you feel like you truly know them and are their friends, together going through lifes ups and downs.
This book holds a special meaning to me that I will keep private for now, but I feel such a connection to this town and its people. Hoping there will be a third! 💙
Pub. Date: Sept. 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Europa Editions for my advanced copy!
April 4, 2024
I really loved The Road to Dalton and this sequel is somehow even better. The world contained in Dalton is completely immersive - I feel like I know all of these people. I didn't want Road to end and I wanted this to end even less. These books need more hype. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Strout's novels.
September 22, 2024
How happy I was to return to Dalton, Maine and revisit the characters that I loved in the author's first novel, The Road to Dalton.
Each chapter in Ms. Bowring's sequel to her first novel is told from a different character's point of view and perspective. It is very helpful to have read The Road to Dalton prior to reading Where the Forest Meets the River, but it is not absolutely necessary. Having a background of the characters' lives is helpful to understanding this sequel which takes place five years following The Road to Dalton.
Each of the characters is richly portrayed, a stitch in the amazing fabric of a small town. Ms. Bowring's ability to draw a character is most unusual and haunting, a texture and creation that is not easily forgotten.
Nate and Sophie go on with their lives after Bridget's death. Nate is a conscientious father and loves Sophie beyond measure. Perhaps he is too cautious but he can't help but worry about Sophie's well-being. Nate has left the police force and is working at his father-in-law's lumber plant.
Greg Fortin is back and his father is assertively hoping that Greg will take over the family hardware business. However, that is not where Greg's heart is. He is more interested in gardening and he and Trudy work together on her lovely garden. Greg has finally come to accept his bisexuality but this is a small town and he is reticent to come out.
Dr. Haskell, Trudy's husband, has suffered a heart attack and though Trudy paid little attention to him. prior to his attack, she is now overly protective, worrying about his diet, his exercise, and even their relationship,
Bev has given up her position at the assisted living center and is working part-time at the local market. As Nate's mother-in-law, she loves her interactions with him and Sophie though she worries about the impact of Bridget's death on her granddaughter.
Rose is now working for Dr. Haskell, and she and her abusive ex-husband are separated. It is difficult for Rose to make ends meet and she lives in a poorly structured trailer. She and Nate have become friends but their relationship straddles a fine line between friendship and something more.
I found Annette to be the most interesting character of all. A cold and distant alcoholic, and Bridget's mother, she is but a shell of herself since her daughter's death. In addition to alcohol, she is addicted to purchasing items she has no use for on the shopping network and she neglects her well-being as she goes deeper and deeper into her addictions. Will she come out the other side or not?
I. loved this treasure of a novel. In many ways, it reminded me of Elizabeth Strout's work, and that is a true compliment. Ms. Bowring, however, has a strong and singular voice, one that I look forward to hearing again.
Each chapter in Ms. Bowring's sequel to her first novel is told from a different character's point of view and perspective. It is very helpful to have read The Road to Dalton prior to reading Where the Forest Meets the River, but it is not absolutely necessary. Having a background of the characters' lives is helpful to understanding this sequel which takes place five years following The Road to Dalton.
Each of the characters is richly portrayed, a stitch in the amazing fabric of a small town. Ms. Bowring's ability to draw a character is most unusual and haunting, a texture and creation that is not easily forgotten.
Nate and Sophie go on with their lives after Bridget's death. Nate is a conscientious father and loves Sophie beyond measure. Perhaps he is too cautious but he can't help but worry about Sophie's well-being. Nate has left the police force and is working at his father-in-law's lumber plant.
Greg Fortin is back and his father is assertively hoping that Greg will take over the family hardware business. However, that is not where Greg's heart is. He is more interested in gardening and he and Trudy work together on her lovely garden. Greg has finally come to accept his bisexuality but this is a small town and he is reticent to come out.
Dr. Haskell, Trudy's husband, has suffered a heart attack and though Trudy paid little attention to him. prior to his attack, she is now overly protective, worrying about his diet, his exercise, and even their relationship,
Bev has given up her position at the assisted living center and is working part-time at the local market. As Nate's mother-in-law, she loves her interactions with him and Sophie though she worries about the impact of Bridget's death on her granddaughter.
Rose is now working for Dr. Haskell, and she and her abusive ex-husband are separated. It is difficult for Rose to make ends meet and she lives in a poorly structured trailer. She and Nate have become friends but their relationship straddles a fine line between friendship and something more.
I found Annette to be the most interesting character of all. A cold and distant alcoholic, and Bridget's mother, she is but a shell of herself since her daughter's death. In addition to alcohol, she is addicted to purchasing items she has no use for on the shopping network and she neglects her well-being as she goes deeper and deeper into her addictions. Will she come out the other side or not?
I. loved this treasure of a novel. In many ways, it reminded me of Elizabeth Strout's work, and that is a true compliment. Ms. Bowring, however, has a strong and singular voice, one that I look forward to hearing again.
August 8, 2024
I recently read The Road to Dalton (Dalton, Maine #1) and was delighted to find this sequel is soon to be published. Set in the very small fictional town of Dalton, Maine, it dives into the lives of those who have long lived there, their lives, loves, tragedies, and more, what's on the surface and what is hidden, as well as the relationships among them all. This sequel furthers the lives of those of the original main characters while also bringing to the fore those who had been secondary characters. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I do think the reading experience is richer if read in order. The author does a decent job here of wending in the earlier stories that are delved into deeply in book #1, but the full import will be missing without having first read #1. It's both a hard place to be, Dalton, and also generous of spirit. I enjoyed my time there yet again.
Thanks to Europa Editions and Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Europa Editions and Netgalley for the ARC.
February 28, 2025
4.25 Enjoying this series set in the little town of Dalton, Maine.
September 1, 2024
The roots run deep. The secrets run wide.
Where the Forest Meets the River
Shannon Bowring
I'll open by saying something I said in my review of The Road to Dalton and holds true in this sequel; this is a story of authentic people with authentic struggles, the writing is rich and descriptive and brings Maine to life. You can search high and low for stories like this -- ones that are readable, warm, comforting AND well written. What a picture perfect way to round out my summer reading with a trip back to Dalton.
Sequels are tricky! As readers we are so invested in the lives of characters we've come to care about and Bowring delivered. Both Dalton books revolve around towns where children attended the same schools as their parents and communities where, for good or bad, everyone knows your business. I lived in one of those towns in Vermont for 15 years and even though this is Maine, for me these books are like going home.
Where the Forest Meets the River picks up where Dalton left off, in the wake of the tragic death of Bridget Theroux, a young mother who took her own life. Bowring doesn't shy away from difficult plotlines, but she handles them so honestly and deftly; she captures not only Maine and its people but the essence of New England. There is an unapologetic toughness to the people from this part of the northeast, but they are also the kind of people that hold you up in the worst of times.
These are the people that make up most of Maine, not what 1% on the coast in the summer. These books rip your heart out but then cast rays of hope as well. When I interviewed Bowring after Dalton released, she knew this second book was in the works, and now there is reason to celebrate because I have word we are in for a trilogy. When I turned the last page last night I thought to myself "wow, I hope she writes quickly."
Where the Forest Meets the River is on sale Tuesday! Yes, you need to read The Road to Dalton first - you won't regret it. Thank you @europa for this gifted copy and for bringing us beautiful authors and stunning books. If I had my way, there would be no hardcovers and all books would be bound like @europas!
Where the Forest Meets the River
Shannon Bowring
I'll open by saying something I said in my review of The Road to Dalton and holds true in this sequel; this is a story of authentic people with authentic struggles, the writing is rich and descriptive and brings Maine to life. You can search high and low for stories like this -- ones that are readable, warm, comforting AND well written. What a picture perfect way to round out my summer reading with a trip back to Dalton.
Sequels are tricky! As readers we are so invested in the lives of characters we've come to care about and Bowring delivered. Both Dalton books revolve around towns where children attended the same schools as their parents and communities where, for good or bad, everyone knows your business. I lived in one of those towns in Vermont for 15 years and even though this is Maine, for me these books are like going home.
Where the Forest Meets the River picks up where Dalton left off, in the wake of the tragic death of Bridget Theroux, a young mother who took her own life. Bowring doesn't shy away from difficult plotlines, but she handles them so honestly and deftly; she captures not only Maine and its people but the essence of New England. There is an unapologetic toughness to the people from this part of the northeast, but they are also the kind of people that hold you up in the worst of times.
These are the people that make up most of Maine, not what 1% on the coast in the summer. These books rip your heart out but then cast rays of hope as well. When I interviewed Bowring after Dalton released, she knew this second book was in the works, and now there is reason to celebrate because I have word we are in for a trilogy. When I turned the last page last night I thought to myself "wow, I hope she writes quickly."
Where the Forest Meets the River is on sale Tuesday! Yes, you need to read The Road to Dalton first - you won't regret it. Thank you @europa for this gifted copy and for bringing us beautiful authors and stunning books. If I had my way, there would be no hardcovers and all books would be bound like @europas!
September 10, 2024
I feel sorry for every book that comes after 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳, just as what happened in 2023 with the first book in the series. Shannon Bowring is just simply brilliant, and I do NOT say this lightly.
Bowring has created a small cast of characters, in a small town in Maine, but there is nothing small about these books. She unwinds the threads of this town by looking briefly, yet deeply, at the lives of these people who interact with one another, each impacted differently by the death of a young woman five years previously (as showcased in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯)
I literally cannot get these people out of my brain: the small, salty librarian; her best friend and lover, whose life became both small and large with the death of her granddaughter’s mother; the middle-aged doctor who wonders about his future; the young father experiencing parenthood alone; the young bisexual teenager trying to stand up for his life choices; the young woman escaping an abusive relationship.
Each character felt so real, like my neighbors, my relatives, my friends. Shannon Bowring has my undying loyalty and has become an auto-buy author in a very short period of time. Her words move me, breathe in me, live in me; what a gift she has brought us in these two books (and rumor has it a third one is on its way!!!!)
Do NOT miss these books, trust me trust me trust me.
Bowring has created a small cast of characters, in a small town in Maine, but there is nothing small about these books. She unwinds the threads of this town by looking briefly, yet deeply, at the lives of these people who interact with one another, each impacted differently by the death of a young woman five years previously (as showcased in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯)
I literally cannot get these people out of my brain: the small, salty librarian; her best friend and lover, whose life became both small and large with the death of her granddaughter’s mother; the middle-aged doctor who wonders about his future; the young father experiencing parenthood alone; the young bisexual teenager trying to stand up for his life choices; the young woman escaping an abusive relationship.
Each character felt so real, like my neighbors, my relatives, my friends. Shannon Bowring has my undying loyalty and has become an auto-buy author in a very short period of time. Her words move me, breathe in me, live in me; what a gift she has brought us in these two books (and rumor has it a third one is on its way!!!!)
Do NOT miss these books, trust me trust me trust me.
October 29, 2024
Very disappointed with this book. Bowring is a skillful writer and I understand that there are stories that proceed this novel, so I'm missing some context. The information from those stories needed for this novel is integrated well and I'd be interested to see the perspectives of the characters not included in Where the Forest Meets the River.
Even so, this book was hard to get through. So many reviews talk about it as a cozy book, and I have read several cozy books that incorporate more challenging plotlines and maintain a charming, small-town vibe. This book does not. Every perspective character (of which there are a few too many) judges everyone, especially unnamed service workers. Multiple receptionists are described with terms like 'bottle redhead' or 'old bitch', people in this mill-town are criticized for wearing sweatpants or eating the wrong things, even main characters aren't extended any grace. Ambient judgment and gossip are often part of small-town narratives, but so much of it in this novel comes from characters we are supposed to empathize with and root for.
This is especially apparent in the anti-fat bias throughout the novel. One character is saved from a life of "hardened arteries and sweatpants" by winning the pubescent lottery and growing into his size. He makes a number of self-hating comments but other characters also affirm that he's a better person for losing weight. His temptation to stress eat is treated with more seriousness than alcoholism (especially because the alcoholic isn't a sympathetic character).
This formerly fat character is also bisexual in a way that is so grating. Maybe the bi folks I know are super chill, but I've rarely heard from them that they experience attraction to men and women in equal measure at all times and must mention a man and woman they are interested in whenever they express desire. I'm having a hard time putting into words how odd his yearnings and his coming out process are framed. He acts like people would be equally shocked if he introduced people to a boyfriend or a girlfriend, even while acknowledging what life was like for gay men in the 90's. It all felt misguided. Hanya Yanigihara would be proud of the inclusion of decidedly unqueer 2SLGBTQIA+ characters.
Which brings me to the element that took this from an innocuous book that I didn't connect with to a 1-star, ' mad that I read it' book: piss poor inclusion of an Indigenous character. Bowring doesn't spend much time describing the characters but it is pretty obvious that most of them are white. Because I hadn't read the first book, it wasn't until 200 pages in that I realized one of the two people that Greg, the bisexual, was interested in was a First Nations woman, Angela. This makes Greg expressing his desire to "wrap her braid around [his] wrist" feel not great, either fetishizing or uncomfortably dominant. Later, in a different character's narrative, a woman with dark skin and braids is speaking in a recovery group and, wouldn't you know it! It's Angela! She makes a comment about scalping that made me want to DNF immediately. Even if it was a commentary on opinions of the time or meant to expose the ignorance of the character it was aimed at, it really underlined that exclusion can be better than thoughtless or ignorant inclusion.
So, why did I finish it? Well, I was hoping that there would be some revelation about the judgmental characters realizing how unfair they have been, how people should accept themselves as they are, or that someone acknowledging that the one non-white character deserves a little bit of understanding. Sadly, none of this happened and the last word on Angela is the leader of the recovery group saying "We can't save everyone". I'm not trying to be contrarian because I see how much people love the story and characters but, to me, this is a deeply unkind novel.
Even so, this book was hard to get through. So many reviews talk about it as a cozy book, and I have read several cozy books that incorporate more challenging plotlines and maintain a charming, small-town vibe. This book does not. Every perspective character (of which there are a few too many) judges everyone, especially unnamed service workers. Multiple receptionists are described with terms like 'bottle redhead' or 'old bitch', people in this mill-town are criticized for wearing sweatpants or eating the wrong things, even main characters aren't extended any grace. Ambient judgment and gossip are often part of small-town narratives, but so much of it in this novel comes from characters we are supposed to empathize with and root for.
This is especially apparent in the anti-fat bias throughout the novel. One character is saved from a life of "hardened arteries and sweatpants" by winning the pubescent lottery and growing into his size. He makes a number of self-hating comments but other characters also affirm that he's a better person for losing weight. His temptation to stress eat is treated with more seriousness than alcoholism (especially because the alcoholic isn't a sympathetic character).
This formerly fat character is also bisexual in a way that is so grating. Maybe the bi folks I know are super chill, but I've rarely heard from them that they experience attraction to men and women in equal measure at all times and must mention a man and woman they are interested in whenever they express desire. I'm having a hard time putting into words how odd his yearnings and his coming out process are framed. He acts like people would be equally shocked if he introduced people to a boyfriend or a girlfriend, even while acknowledging what life was like for gay men in the 90's. It all felt misguided. Hanya Yanigihara would be proud of the inclusion of decidedly unqueer 2SLGBTQIA+ characters.
Which brings me to the element that took this from an innocuous book that I didn't connect with to a 1-star, ' mad that I read it' book: piss poor inclusion of an Indigenous character. Bowring doesn't spend much time describing the characters but it is pretty obvious that most of them are white. Because I hadn't read the first book, it wasn't until 200 pages in that I realized one of the two people that Greg, the bisexual, was interested in was a First Nations woman, Angela. This makes Greg expressing his desire to "wrap her braid around [his] wrist" feel not great, either fetishizing or uncomfortably dominant. Later, in a different character's narrative, a woman with dark skin and braids is speaking in a recovery group and, wouldn't you know it! It's Angela! She makes a comment about scalping that made me want to DNF immediately. Even if it was a commentary on opinions of the time or meant to expose the ignorance of the character it was aimed at, it really underlined that exclusion can be better than thoughtless or ignorant inclusion.
So, why did I finish it? Well, I was hoping that there would be some revelation about the judgmental characters realizing how unfair they have been, how people should accept themselves as they are, or that someone acknowledging that the one non-white character deserves a little bit of understanding. Sadly, none of this happened and the last word on Angela is the leader of the recovery group saying "We can't save everyone". I'm not trying to be contrarian because I see how much people love the story and characters but, to me, this is a deeply unkind novel.
November 10, 2024
In my glowing review of “The Road to Dalton”, Shannon Bowring’s first novel set in Dalton, Maine in 1990, I said that I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the town or the characters, so I was thrilled when Bowring continued with her latest Dalton novel, “Where the Forest Meets the River”.
Now it is 1995, five years after the shocking suicide of new mother Bridget Theroux, from Postpartum Depression – which wasn’t widely recognized in the 1990s.
We catch up on Bridget’s bereaved husband, Nate, and her now five-year-old daughter Sophie, as well as all the other wonderful denizens of Dalton.
You DO NOT need to have read the first novel to enjoy this one; Bowring skillfully “catches you up” on what happened in 1990. But I’m betting that you will want to go back and read it, too.
Bowring’s characters are unforgettable, relatable, and real. Her writing is sublime, and her story lines are compelling and emotional, with a perfect dose of suspense. Clearly there will be a third Dalton novel! YAY!
Now it is 1995, five years after the shocking suicide of new mother Bridget Theroux, from Postpartum Depression – which wasn’t widely recognized in the 1990s.
We catch up on Bridget’s bereaved husband, Nate, and her now five-year-old daughter Sophie, as well as all the other wonderful denizens of Dalton.
You DO NOT need to have read the first novel to enjoy this one; Bowring skillfully “catches you up” on what happened in 1990. But I’m betting that you will want to go back and read it, too.
Bowring’s characters are unforgettable, relatable, and real. Her writing is sublime, and her story lines are compelling and emotional, with a perfect dose of suspense. Clearly there will be a third Dalton novel! YAY!
November 18, 2024
I really enjoyed The Road to Dalton and was very excited to receive an early copy of this sequel.
This book picks up 5 years after the events of Road to Dalton, with many of the same characters we got to love in the first. I love books that really center around a small town and the characters within it. There are some very heavy topics discussed in both books, and I think they are handled very delicately.
I loved seeing both Rose and Nate as parents, as their kids are getting older and they are managing life. Vera was my favorite character -- she was a great addition to the town and I enjoyed her relationship with her parents.
I think you definitely need to read the Road to Dalton prior to this one -- it is very much a continuation of the story and characters we met in the first book. If you've enjoyed Elizabeth Strout's books, or Fredrik Backman's Beartown, I would recommend this series.
I hope we get more books about Dalton in the future -- but I will definitely be reading anything that Shannon Bowring writes!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
This book picks up 5 years after the events of Road to Dalton, with many of the same characters we got to love in the first. I love books that really center around a small town and the characters within it. There are some very heavy topics discussed in both books, and I think they are handled very delicately.
I loved seeing both Rose and Nate as parents, as their kids are getting older and they are managing life. Vera was my favorite character -- she was a great addition to the town and I enjoyed her relationship with her parents.
I think you definitely need to read the Road to Dalton prior to this one -- it is very much a continuation of the story and characters we met in the first book. If you've enjoyed Elizabeth Strout's books, or Fredrik Backman's Beartown, I would recommend this series.
I hope we get more books about Dalton in the future -- but I will definitely be reading anything that Shannon Bowring writes!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
March 11, 2025
My gal surprised me with an impulse gift from Buffy’s Book Boutique, an independent bookstore in Las Vegas. Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowing, is the second installment in a small-town drama series. While I found it entertaining and well-written, I quickly realized that jumping in without having read the first book made things a bit challenging.
There were so many characters with interwoven relationships that I constantly had to reference my cheat sheet to keep track of who was who. While the story itself was engaging, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing key background details that would have deepened my connection to the plot and characters.
Now, I’m thinking I should go back and start with the first book before moving on to the third. I have a feeling the series will be even more enjoyable with the full context in place!
There were so many characters with interwoven relationships that I constantly had to reference my cheat sheet to keep track of who was who. While the story itself was engaging, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing key background details that would have deepened my connection to the plot and characters.
Now, I’m thinking I should go back and start with the first book before moving on to the third. I have a feeling the series will be even more enjoyable with the full context in place!
August 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this novel, even though I had not read the previous book, The Road to Dalton. The characters are so well described that you almost get the feeling that you know them. Life in Dalton is not marked by big events, but by the small dramas and joys that happen to all of us. I have a feeling that there will be a third book in the series, and it will be well worth the read.
Ho apprezzato molto questo romanzo, anche se non avevo letto il libro precedente, The road to Dalton. I personaggi sono descritti così bene che si ha quasi la sensazione di conoscerli. La vita a Dalton non è segnata da grandi eventi, ma dai piccoli drammi e dalle gioie che capitano a tutti noi. Ho la sensazione che ci sarà un terzo libro della serie e che varrà la pena leggerlo.
Ho apprezzato molto questo romanzo, anche se non avevo letto il libro precedente, The road to Dalton. I personaggi sono descritti così bene che si ha quasi la sensazione di conoscerli. La vita a Dalton non è segnata da grandi eventi, ma dai piccoli drammi e dalle gioie che capitano a tutti noi. Ho la sensazione che ci sarà un terzo libro della serie e che varrà la pena leggerlo.
October 23, 2024
Such a pleasure to return to Dalton and these lovable characters. Europa has really discovered a gem of a writer here in Maine - I would gladly read many more Dalton books or anything Shannon Bowring writes. There is something so humane, so assured in her storytelling.
December 23, 2024
I’m a fucking idiot and accidentally read a sequel. Didn’t realize that until I finished. Oops! Gotta backtrack a bit…
Really loved this book though. Super cute!!!!🥹🥹also refreshing to mindlessly read.
Really loved this book though. Super cute!!!!🥹🥹also refreshing to mindlessly read.
November 23, 2025
4.25 This is the sequel to The Road to Dalton. It was a delight to be back in Dalton, Maine, where the same ensemble of characters experience joy and heartache, and everything in between. If you liked the first book, I think you’ll enjoy this one, too.
August 29, 2024
I friggin love Dalton 💚
February 23, 2025
Wonderful. The only problem is that I must wait until fall for the last book in the trilogy to see how everyone’s lives move forward. I do love Dalton, Maine and its people.
September 22, 2025
Favorite book of 2025 maybe of ever heartwarming and wrenching at the exact same time I feel deep love
January 19, 2026
Judy supremacy, the color yellow, and Greg’s coming of age moment!!! That’s all!!! Onto number three!!!
February 14, 2025
what!!! this was even more tender and nuanced than the last. I’m unironically waiting on the edge of my seat until the final book comes out in October :’)
July 21, 2025
There are a looooot of characters - and I suppose this serves to center the town itself rather than any one character’s plot. Like it’s meant to be this collective whole situation rather than any one character - they are all intertwined as a result of living in this small town in the 90s. But it didn’t manage to serve as hard as the first book. There is a third forthcoming… and I’m curious if it will draw things together.
September 21, 2024
Dalton, Maine is situated at the top of the state near the Canadian border. It is not the coastal Maine that tourists imagine. It is a Maine of hills and forests and it is said that the trees vastly outnumber the people.
It is 1995, and like small towns everywhere, Dalton is a microcosm of humanity. It is five years since the events of the first book "The Road to Dalton". Some of the town's residents are still feeling the loss and the changes that resulted.
Dalton is a town where many of the people who live there suffer from ennui. They are dissatisfied with their lives, but know nothing else. They stay because the town is all they've ever known. It is a mill town, and the lumber mill owners, the Fraziers, are the town’s hierarchy.
Annette and Marshall Frazier - Annette has locked herself away in her house. She drinks too much and constantly buys things she doesn't need on the shopping channel. Grieving the death of her daughter Bridget, and chronically depressed, Annette has never tried to be a part of her granddaughter Sophie's life. Marshall, on the other hand, would like to have Sophie in his...
Richard and Trudy Haskell – Richard is the town’s physician who runs the medical clinic that was run by his father before him. His position in the town makes him privy to many of its secrets. He is very uncomfortable with his role of town 'confessor' and after the suicide five years previously he has turned to food for comfort. Richard has just had a heart attack. His wife, Trudy, who works at the local library stays by his side.
Bill and Bev Theroux – Bill has taken early retirement for health reasons and Bev was the director of the local long term care facility, but has since left that position. She now works in a store/diner.
Trudy and Bev have been best friends for years – and much, much more. They are each other's everything and their lives are very complicated as a result.
Nate and his daughter Sophie – Nate is Bev’s beloved son. He worked as a policeman in the small Dalton police force before his wife's suicide. Now he works at the mill owned by Marshall, his late wife's father. His five year old daughter is the only bright thing in his life and he adores her.
Rose Douglas and her two sons – Rose was once engaged to be married to Tommy (a ne’er do well who physically abused her regularly. Now she lives alone in a run-down trailer with her two young sons and works part-time at Dalton's medical clinic. Rose and Nate Theroux could become a couple, if only...
Gregory Fortin – a nineteen year old. In the past five years he has gone from being an overweight and bullied teen to a fit college freshman. Greg is attracted to men and women and he is not comfortable with his sexual identity. Grey is expected to run the town's hardware store like his father before him. This is a life he cannot imagine for himself and does not want. Greg is never happier than when he is working in a garden and wishes his life could center around horticulture.
Vera Curtis - lives in Bangor, but comes home to Dalton because her 68 year old mother has broken her leg. She is a nurse practitioner who will step in to run the clinic while Dr. Haskell recovers from his heart attack.
This literary novel touches upon myriad themes. Depression, sexual identity, alcoholism, grief, loss, heredity, endurance, change, and resilience. It also is a novel about hope, and those who have none. About people who are restless and those who are content.
“Where The Forest Meets The River” is an impressive sequel written with great empathy for its characters. It was poignantly realistic tale, told by a gifted storyteller.
It is 1995, and like small towns everywhere, Dalton is a microcosm of humanity. It is five years since the events of the first book "The Road to Dalton". Some of the town's residents are still feeling the loss and the changes that resulted.
Dalton is a town where many of the people who live there suffer from ennui. They are dissatisfied with their lives, but know nothing else. They stay because the town is all they've ever known. It is a mill town, and the lumber mill owners, the Fraziers, are the town’s hierarchy.
Annette and Marshall Frazier - Annette has locked herself away in her house. She drinks too much and constantly buys things she doesn't need on the shopping channel. Grieving the death of her daughter Bridget, and chronically depressed, Annette has never tried to be a part of her granddaughter Sophie's life. Marshall, on the other hand, would like to have Sophie in his...
Richard and Trudy Haskell – Richard is the town’s physician who runs the medical clinic that was run by his father before him. His position in the town makes him privy to many of its secrets. He is very uncomfortable with his role of town 'confessor' and after the suicide five years previously he has turned to food for comfort. Richard has just had a heart attack. His wife, Trudy, who works at the local library stays by his side.
Bill and Bev Theroux – Bill has taken early retirement for health reasons and Bev was the director of the local long term care facility, but has since left that position. She now works in a store/diner.
Trudy and Bev have been best friends for years – and much, much more. They are each other's everything and their lives are very complicated as a result.
Nate and his daughter Sophie – Nate is Bev’s beloved son. He worked as a policeman in the small Dalton police force before his wife's suicide. Now he works at the mill owned by Marshall, his late wife's father. His five year old daughter is the only bright thing in his life and he adores her.
Rose Douglas and her two sons – Rose was once engaged to be married to Tommy (a ne’er do well who physically abused her regularly. Now she lives alone in a run-down trailer with her two young sons and works part-time at Dalton's medical clinic. Rose and Nate Theroux could become a couple, if only...
Gregory Fortin – a nineteen year old. In the past five years he has gone from being an overweight and bullied teen to a fit college freshman. Greg is attracted to men and women and he is not comfortable with his sexual identity. Grey is expected to run the town's hardware store like his father before him. This is a life he cannot imagine for himself and does not want. Greg is never happier than when he is working in a garden and wishes his life could center around horticulture.
Vera Curtis - lives in Bangor, but comes home to Dalton because her 68 year old mother has broken her leg. She is a nurse practitioner who will step in to run the clinic while Dr. Haskell recovers from his heart attack.
This literary novel touches upon myriad themes. Depression, sexual identity, alcoholism, grief, loss, heredity, endurance, change, and resilience. It also is a novel about hope, and those who have none. About people who are restless and those who are content.
“Where The Forest Meets The River” is an impressive sequel written with great empathy for its characters. It was poignantly realistic tale, told by a gifted storyteller.
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