"This one nearly broke my heart. With deeply human characters I will not easily forget, Weiss captures the fierce pull of desperation and the formidable power of hope. An impressive debut from a talent to watch.... " -- Kathleen Grissom, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything

"Every page of Leah Weiss' debut, If the Creek Don't Rise, has a pulse as fierce and unyielding as its Appalachian setting. Told through an ensemble of narrators, men and women of all ages bound by the inescapable power of place and belonging, it is a lush exploration of the darkest rooms in the human heart, and the brightest fires of the human spirit. Weiss' remarkable gift for language left me breathless, and her characters, distinctive and unapologetically-human, will haunt me for some time." -- Erika Marks, author of The Last Treasure

"Writing with a deep knowledge of the enduring myths of Appalachia, Weiss vividly portrays real people and sorrows. A strong, formidable novel for readers of William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy." -- Library Journal

"...tender but powerful debut...highlighting Weiss's considerable characterization skills." -- Publishers Weekly

"Weiss' tale is a beguiling, compelling read." -- Kirkus Reviews

"...masterful use of language....Weiss' novel is a great suggestion for fans of the Big Stone Gap books, by Adriana Trigiani, and Mitford series, by Jan Karon." -- Booklist

"[A] striking debut." -- BUSTLE

"Like Daniel Woodrell's 'hillbilly noir' novel Winter's Bone - adapted into a tremendous backwoods thriller starring a then unknown Jennifer Lawrence - Leah Weiss's Appalachia-set fiction debut unfolds like a dark, gripping alt-country ballad. " -- Yahoo!

"...fascinating, gripping... an immersive and deeply emotional reading experience -- especially satisfying for readers who love richly drawn characters and a strong sense of place" -- NPR

"A fascinating, gripping portrait of the interconnected and often unseen ways people help each other... an immersive and deeply emotional reading experience -- especially satisfying for readers who love richly drawn characters and a strong sense of place." -- NPR

"Weiss's inspiring debut novel is steeped in atmosphere, ingenuity and heart...an engaging page-turner." -- Shelf Awareness

"In this tender but powerful debut, Weiss paints both the bright and the dark in the lives of her fictional Appalachian community's denizens." -- Publishers Weekly

"Part gothic, part romance, part heartbreaking Loretta Lynn ballad--Weiss' tale is a beguiling, compelling read." -- Kirkus Reviews

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Pub date: 2017-08-22

Length: 320 pages