2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This month we will be reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

This is your space to chat about this month's book selection with other readers. There is no set schedule to follow, and no discussion leader is assigned. Everyone should feel free to post comments, share pertinent articles or interviews, ask questions, share likes or dislikes, etc. Most importantly, enjoy reading together!

This book was nominated by Carolyn for our monthly theme White.

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon's newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.

What prompted you to join this group read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Hi everyone! I've been waiting to join a group read that I haven't already read, and wanted to read, and this is my last chance to catch one this year for my Bibliopoly prompt haha.
I probably won't get a chance to get to the book until a little later in the month, but I am looking forward to chatting with you all. I do think this one sounds pretty good. :)

I have been wanting to read this book for a long time and this is the first chance I have had to do it as it hasn't fitted any of the challenges I was involved in through the year from when I joined.

Thank you for suggesting this book, looks like a great read.

Melissa wrote: "Thank you for suggesting this book, looks like a great read."

You're welcome, I have wanted to read it for the longest time, it just didn't fit into any of my challenges

I'll be reading this as both a Group Read and a Buddy Read.

I read Ms. Lawhon's Flight of Dreams with my local book club and very much enjoyed it. I've added several other books of hers to my TBR since then, including this one.

Yay, Jennifer, for getting the prompt done for Bibliopoly! Nothing like cutting it close! 😉

I will be reading as a Group Read!

I haven't read anything by this author yet but I have a reading buddy that I do a monthly read with and she was talking about this book the other day and said I needed to read it.

I always enjoy seasonal reads and these seems like a great book to read in December.

Looking forward to it!

If you're interested in what others in this group are saying, you can check out the buddy read that was planned for this book as well!

I usually like historical fiction + anything that lets women be seen (which it sounds like in this book), so I am quite excited to read this book with all of you. Reading it as a buddy + group read.

Hello!
I've not participated in a group read before and fancied a try !
I've not read anything by this author and this book looked very tempting, plus it was on my to read.
Quite excited to start and to exchange with you all

This has been on my TBR list since it came out. Just downloaded it yesterday. Looking forward to this read!

I just happened to be listening to the audiobook this month! I had planned on it for the winter and needed another completed book for BOTM.