Book Review: January River by Bernard Jan

Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: January River

Subtitle:

Author: Bernard Jan

Genre: Romance

Part of a series? No

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series? No

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52890595-january-river?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sUy4KQAMu9&rank=1

Overall score:

I scored this book 5/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

(I had to read the book a second time as by the time I had time to write the review, I had forgotten the details already. It was only better the second time around.)

For who has read books by Bernard Jan before, you will familiar with his love of animals.

In this book, the central figure is January River, ‘Riv’ for short. A golden retriever named after the river the hero of the book found him at.

We first meet Ethan McCoy as a dreamy teenage boy, enjoying life with his friends and his older brother William Patrick in Greenfield. A teenage boy forced to grow up too soon.

It follows Ethan through his childhood into adulthood, carrying secrets with him the entire time. What really happened to Derrick, his friend?

After he loses the love of his life, Ethan returns to Greenfield to finally tell his secrets. By now he has become a successful author.

What I liked about the book:

The writing is such, it made me wonder if Ethan McCoy, the author really existed. Bernard Jan’s writing is easy to read and entices you to continue to read.

What I didn’t like about the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

My favourite bits in the book:

Too many to count. My favourite bit was probably the moment Ethan learned he could keep January River.

My least favourite bits in the book:

When the cruel Warren took revenge in a horrible way.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

As far as I’m aware, this is a stand-alone book. However, the author has written two other books also worthy of a mention.

In A World Without Color, the author’s main character is a beloved cat.

In Look for me Under the Rainbow, the main character is a seal.

The author’s love of the animal world is clear.

What books could this be compared to and why?

The books to compare this one to are the author’s other two books. Whereas his first was based on the real-life Marcel, his second was more a work of fiction describing the plight of seals.

In this book, the humans play as much a role as ‘Riv’ does.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children	No
Young Adult	Yes
Adult	Yes

If you like romance, animals and real-life dilemmas, this book may be the book for you.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Book Description by Author:

Five friends. One dog. One river carrying a secret.

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation.

Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever.

In this heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story, Bernard Jan, the author of Look for Me Under the Rainbow and A World Without Color, speaks of true friendship, first darlings, and real loves. With gentle words he describes our connection with nature and love for our four-legged friends who quickly become honorable members of our families, but also tells about the dark secrets we carry in our hearts.

About the Author:

"There is no greater joy than to share what you love with those who appreciate it." - Bernard Jan

Bernard Jan is a novelist and a poet from Croatia, and he has released three books in English.

A World Without Color is a true story of the last three days he spent with his cat, while Look for Me Under the Rainbow in a unique and gentle way sheds light on the plight of harp seal pups in Canada. It warms the heart of all readers concerned about our planet and its treasures. January River is a heartwarming cross-genre novel about five friends, one dog, and one river carrying a secret.

His first two books were written at the beginning of the war in Croatia in 1991 amidst air alerts and illusory attempts when he wanted to believe and think that life is normal, that everything is all right with the world. He has published five novels, two novellas, and one book of poems in Croatian. Four of his books, including the book of poems, were translated into English.

His passion for music and entertainment resulted in his becoming a partner of Tom's Music Place, which was established in 2009 by his friend Thomas Carley Jr., whose objective was to raise the respect of music.

His desire to help others came to the fore during his years advocating environmental protection and advocacy of animal rights. He did volunteering work for the refugees, because suffering does not know any borders. When it comes within your reach in your home, you simply have to do something. As part of his animal advocacy activities, it has been a great honor and pleasure to translate "Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust" by Charles Patterson into Croatian.

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