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The Weight of Water
Rachel and Talia Fontenot are sisters born into brutal, rural poverty of southeastern Louisiana in the 1960s.
Raised with one another until tragic circumstances intervene and they are separated. Talia disappearing into a life of drugs and petty crime, Rachel fleeing to New Orleans. It is now present day and Talia has been missing for many years. Rachel in New Orleans is living what appears to be the perfect life, but underneath she is struggling with constant anxiety, prescription drug abuse and tremendous grief over the loss of her missing sister, as well as her oldest son to an accident several years earlier.
One night, she receives a call from a nurse she's not heard from since Hurricane Katrina. The information she is given sets in motion a series of events that will unravel Rachel's life, forcing her to examine her past choices and taking her on a psychologically arduous journey to save her sister.
Raised with one another until tragic circumstances intervene and they are separated. Talia disappearing into a life of drugs and petty crime, Rachel fleeing to New Orleans. It is now present day and Talia has been missing for many years. Rachel in New Orleans is living what appears to be the perfect life, but underneath she is struggling with constant anxiety, prescription drug abuse and tremendous grief over the loss of her missing sister, as well as her oldest son to an accident several years earlier.
One night, she receives a call from a nurse she's not heard from since Hurricane Katrina. The information she is given sets in motion a series of events that will unravel Rachel's life, forcing her to examine her past choices and taking her on a psychologically arduous journey to save her sister.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2021
166 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
About the author
W.A. Schwartz
4 books75 followersW.A. Schwartz is a psychiatrist and author of poetry, short stories and novels. Her work has been given special mention by the literary journal Glimmer Train (2018) and been long-listed for the Alexander Chee Short Fiction Prize (2020). She was born in Berkeley and raised in California. She spent many years working and living in New Orleans with her husband, a native of Louisiana. She holds a BS in biochemistry and an MD from the University of California. She studied literature at UC Davis and novel writing at Stanford. Currently, she lives in Northern California with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 14, 2021
Read this author's previous book Eden and loved it. She's clearly a very, very good writer as well as someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about the South and it's people. As a transplanted Southerner myself I look for authenticity in art works about the South. She's got it in droves. More importantly, it's a great story with realistic portrayals of both characters as well as places and culture. I cared about the characters and was drawn to the story. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2021
This novel drew me in from the start and kept me reading. I had to give it 4 because of editing issues.
New Orleans is a city like no other. I remember Katrina like it was yesterday and the devastation it left behind. Living through the eyes of Tee and Rachel was amazing. A life of abandonment, poverty and hopelessness. Two sisters, two very different lives. Rachel’s revelations later on about how Talia was protecting her older sister and not the other way around, speak to the development of characters.
Beautiful prose carry the reader into another world. So descriptive you can’t help but sink into the South, from the humidity and insect sounds to the aromas and music. I felt like I was there.
Thank you Voracious Readers Only for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
New Orleans is a city like no other. I remember Katrina like it was yesterday and the devastation it left behind. Living through the eyes of Tee and Rachel was amazing. A life of abandonment, poverty and hopelessness. Two sisters, two very different lives. Rachel’s revelations later on about how Talia was protecting her older sister and not the other way around, speak to the development of characters.
Beautiful prose carry the reader into another world. So descriptive you can’t help but sink into the South, from the humidity and insect sounds to the aromas and music. I felt like I was there.
Thank you Voracious Readers Only for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It is not a fast read, there is too much going on for that. I think the characters that we saw the most of were developed nicely. I would have liked to see a little more of the husband, since his changeover was rather abrupt, without any groundwork laid for it. I have read another book, Zeitoun, nonfiction, that came out of the Katrina disaster, and I understood this book the better for it. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 18, 2021
Beautifully written with the truth revealed gradually, increasing the tension. Characters well developed and relatable. Fascinating insight into a terrible tragedy in American history. Well done. Can highly recommend.
January 10, 2021
This was a great offering from VRO. The story kept me on the edge of my seat; read most of it in a day. The effect of the hurricane Katrina and attempts to cover up the aftermath, the unnecessary death toll, the impossibility of escape or evacuation for the poorer citizens of New Orleans rang shocking and true to me.
June 19, 2024
While I enjoyed the writing style and the subject matter of this book, I found it very hard at times to follow. There were so many characters brought in and I was never sure if they were important to the story or not. I think there could have been editing that would have helped the story stay tighter
April 21, 2021
This is a Wonderful book!!
I haven't read a book quite like this in a long time and I loved every second I was reading! The characters, the sisters, were so different and I wanted to tell them it was okay and all would work out but then something else would happen..I stayed up way too late last night finishing this book😋. Not sorry and I know you will enjoy it as much as I did!!
I haven't read a book quite like this in a long time and I loved every second I was reading! The characters, the sisters, were so different and I wanted to tell them it was okay and all would work out but then something else would happen..I stayed up way too late last night finishing this book😋. Not sorry and I know you will enjoy it as much as I did!!
December 29, 2023
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I am very torn about this book. There were some things I loved about it but there were some that bothered me.
First, the positives: the topic was fascinating. I remember Hurricane Katrina like it was yesterday. I have been to New Orleans several times and love the city. The research that obviously went into this book was amazing. I learned so much about what happened. The level of attention to that detail was obvious. The events, of course, were compelling. The prose was beautifully written.
Second, the difficulties. The book was a little slow to start. The style was a bit confusing and I am not sure it wasn't intentional. The timeline kept going back and forth and looked at different characters. It seemed to get more focused at the end, as if it was trying to enter the eye of the hurricane, which would be quite ambitious but made it hard for me as a reader (not the focus at the end but the back and forth for much of the book). The prose and the topic were good enough for me to continue reading until I knitted things together but I prefer to be a little less confused in my reading. The confusion extended to the characters and it was hard to keep them all straight, and I knew it might be when I saw a glossary of characters in the beginning. I think I would have preferred a few less characters. At the same time, while we got a good picture of the main character and her sister, we did not of her husband and since he figured prominently at the end, I wished we had seen more of him.
Finally, the book was so packed with plot and characters and for this much content, it seemed a little rushed. Now, I have read many books recently where I think it could have been 100 pages less, but my thinking here is that it might have done the plot justice if the author had slowed down just a little.
That said, I am glad to have read the book and it would be a solid 3.5 stars for me. I am rounding to 4 because it was so ambitious and such an important subject. Just one note, if a reader is looking for a lighthearted read, this is not the book. If the reader is looking for a thought provoking book about an event that many of us THINK we know about but may not really, this would fit the bill.
I am very torn about this book. There were some things I loved about it but there were some that bothered me.
First, the positives: the topic was fascinating. I remember Hurricane Katrina like it was yesterday. I have been to New Orleans several times and love the city. The research that obviously went into this book was amazing. I learned so much about what happened. The level of attention to that detail was obvious. The events, of course, were compelling. The prose was beautifully written.
Second, the difficulties. The book was a little slow to start. The style was a bit confusing and I am not sure it wasn't intentional. The timeline kept going back and forth and looked at different characters. It seemed to get more focused at the end, as if it was trying to enter the eye of the hurricane, which would be quite ambitious but made it hard for me as a reader (not the focus at the end but the back and forth for much of the book). The prose and the topic were good enough for me to continue reading until I knitted things together but I prefer to be a little less confused in my reading. The confusion extended to the characters and it was hard to keep them all straight, and I knew it might be when I saw a glossary of characters in the beginning. I think I would have preferred a few less characters. At the same time, while we got a good picture of the main character and her sister, we did not of her husband and since he figured prominently at the end, I wished we had seen more of him.
Finally, the book was so packed with plot and characters and for this much content, it seemed a little rushed. Now, I have read many books recently where I think it could have been 100 pages less, but my thinking here is that it might have done the plot justice if the author had slowed down just a little.
That said, I am glad to have read the book and it would be a solid 3.5 stars for me. I am rounding to 4 because it was so ambitious and such an important subject. Just one note, if a reader is looking for a lighthearted read, this is not the book. If the reader is looking for a thought provoking book about an event that many of us THINK we know about but may not really, this would fit the bill.
February 24, 2024
I just finished reading 'The Weight of Water' and I'm still gutted from the emotional impact. It's like the author took my heart, wrung it out like a wet towel, and then tenderly pieced it back together again. The story of Rachel and Talia is a raw, unfiltered gaze into the darkest corners of human suffering, but also the most radiant aspects of love and resilience. I mean, these sisters go through some seriously messed up stuff - poverty, addiction, trauma, and loss - but their bond is this unbreakable force that just won't quit.
The writing is masterful, with a pace that's both measured and relentless. W.A. Schwartz knows when to pull back and when to dive deep, and the result is a story that feels both expansive and intimate. The characters are fully realized, with all their flaws and beauty on display. And the setting - oh, the setting! New Orleans and the surrounding bayous come alive in a way that's both haunting and alluring.
I'm not gonna lie, this book wrecked me. I stayed up way too late reading, my heart racing and my emotions raw. But it was worth it, because in the end, 'The Weight of Water' is a testament to the human spirit, a reminder that even in the darkest depths, there's always hope. Just read it, okay? But be prepared to ugly cry and/or want to hug your loved ones forever.
The writing is masterful, with a pace that's both measured and relentless. W.A. Schwartz knows when to pull back and when to dive deep, and the result is a story that feels both expansive and intimate. The characters are fully realized, with all their flaws and beauty on display. And the setting - oh, the setting! New Orleans and the surrounding bayous come alive in a way that's both haunting and alluring.
I'm not gonna lie, this book wrecked me. I stayed up way too late reading, my heart racing and my emotions raw. But it was worth it, because in the end, 'The Weight of Water' is a testament to the human spirit, a reminder that even in the darkest depths, there's always hope. Just read it, okay? But be prepared to ugly cry and/or want to hug your loved ones forever.
December 29, 2023
The Weight of Water, though a thriller, is a thriller of all sad components - a story, in essence, of what multiple adverse childhood events can do and how vulnerable those children are left.
The Weight on Water was not my favorite work, but not my least favorite, either. For starters, a good chunk of the book, start trim pretty much page 1, goes way too slow. However, there is some necessary information presented for later down the line. The slowness, though, almost stopped me from making any attempt to finish the book.
It wasn't until close to or actually the end of the book where anything of the full-blown thriller aspect of the books comes in play. Of course, this, too, is when the story is resolved.... This is where I think the book shows the best it has to offer with the full presentation the thrilller, then, it's resolution. The overall ending I found to be satisfying yet not.
I may not recommend this book, necessarily. However, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it.
The Weight on Water was not my favorite work, but not my least favorite, either. For starters, a good chunk of the book, start trim pretty much page 1, goes way too slow. However, there is some necessary information presented for later down the line. The slowness, though, almost stopped me from making any attempt to finish the book.
It wasn't until close to or actually the end of the book where anything of the full-blown thriller aspect of the books comes in play. Of course, this, too, is when the story is resolved.... This is where I think the book shows the best it has to offer with the full presentation the thrilller, then, it's resolution. The overall ending I found to be satisfying yet not.
I may not recommend this book, necessarily. However, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it.
October 19, 2024
What an excellent bi-timeline novel! I enjoyed the premise which dealt with mistakes and coverups during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The protagonist Rachel had a white trash background and an endless surge of guilt that she felt for leaving her baby sister behind when she fled her dysfunctional household. These two traumas have affected her throughout her life and add to the drama in the unfolding plot. Having lived in Louisiana in the past during hurricane season, I was swept up in nostalgia and vicariously participated as the story developed. This book is an excellent resource for folks who want to visit the emotional terror of hurricane victims or those who live in Louisiana and can relate closely to many of the events in the saga. I did stay up most of the night to finish the story, so I can unequivocally state that this is a mesmerizing book which will linger in the reader's memory.
August 11, 2025
What a great piece of writing!
The author hooked me in from the start and kept up the tension and mystery throughout. The characters were well developed and you learn to care for them through the sad and intricate story of their childhood in poverty and adversity to the tumultuous themes of their journey through adulthood.
The author imparts great knowledge of the area and well researched information of the tragic event. I learned a lot about Hurricane Katrina through this read. Her evocatively descriptive writing places you in the midst of the family and you experience the emotional upheaval of their lives along with them.
A thought provoking story of human spirit and the capacity for enormous disregard for community safety and welfare by community institutions tasked with impementing these very measures in our everyday lives.
I highly recommend this book and my thanks for the complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers for my honest review.
The author hooked me in from the start and kept up the tension and mystery throughout. The characters were well developed and you learn to care for them through the sad and intricate story of their childhood in poverty and adversity to the tumultuous themes of their journey through adulthood.
The author imparts great knowledge of the area and well researched information of the tragic event. I learned a lot about Hurricane Katrina through this read. Her evocatively descriptive writing places you in the midst of the family and you experience the emotional upheaval of their lives along with them.
A thought provoking story of human spirit and the capacity for enormous disregard for community safety and welfare by community institutions tasked with impementing these very measures in our everyday lives.
I highly recommend this book and my thanks for the complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers for my honest review.
January 22, 2021
Captivating... Thrilling... Beautiful..
The author did an amazing job with this book. I was grabbed from the start, wanting to know how the story was going to end.
Two sisters were separated and both had different lives. Rachel had always wanted to protect her younger sister Talia but she didn't realise that Talia was actually protecting her all those times.
The author had crafted a stunning story using hurricane Katrina as the setting. She gave us a detailed description of how Katrina happened.
The characters were well developed and there were many interesting minor characters. But we may need more about the husband as he was one of the important characters. The book may have some editing issues. I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it.
I've received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via VoraciousReadersOnly.
The author did an amazing job with this book. I was grabbed from the start, wanting to know how the story was going to end.
Two sisters were separated and both had different lives. Rachel had always wanted to protect her younger sister Talia but she didn't realise that Talia was actually protecting her all those times.
The author had crafted a stunning story using hurricane Katrina as the setting. She gave us a detailed description of how Katrina happened.
The characters were well developed and there were many interesting minor characters. But we may need more about the husband as he was one of the important characters. The book may have some editing issues. I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it.
I've received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via VoraciousReadersOnly.
May 27, 2024
Abandoned by their mother, Talia and Rachel grow up in poverty living in squalid conditions with their Nona and then their dad. After an act of violence Rachel is forced to flee in her teens leaving her sister behind. 40 years later, Rachel is living a good life with her rich husband and, after a life of addiction, Talia is in prison for murdering a policeman. Following a visit from an old friend, Rachel sets out to find out what happened to her sister and to try to save her life even at the risk of losing everything. The author writes beautiful descriptions; the squalor of the Ninth District of New Orleans, the horrors of addiction, the anticipation in the days prior to Katrina, and the devastation in her aftermath. I could not put this book down. Received a complimentary copy from the author via Voracious Readers only
April 29, 2025
This book follows sisters Rachel and Thalia growing up in rural Louisiana living in extreme poverty. The story starts in the 1960’s. Rachel and Thalia live with family until tragic circumstances force Rachel to flee.
Rachel ends up going to New Orleans, and she marries a wealthy businessman. Thalia turns to drugs. On the outside, it appears as if Rachel is leading a perfect life. The truth is Rachel is being torn apart with guilt and anxiety.
Rachel discovers certain events that happened during Hurricane Katrina involving people close to her, and her life begins to unravel.
Thalia and Rachel end up reuniting. Ugly truths are discovered by Rachel. Revealing this information could save Thalia’s life, but it could also get family members killed. It could also cost Rachel everything-including her life.
The Weight of Water is about love, family, and deciding what really matters. There are many twists, and everything comes together in the end.
Rachel ends up going to New Orleans, and she marries a wealthy businessman. Thalia turns to drugs. On the outside, it appears as if Rachel is leading a perfect life. The truth is Rachel is being torn apart with guilt and anxiety.
Rachel discovers certain events that happened during Hurricane Katrina involving people close to her, and her life begins to unravel.
Thalia and Rachel end up reuniting. Ugly truths are discovered by Rachel. Revealing this information could save Thalia’s life, but it could also get family members killed. It could also cost Rachel everything-including her life.
The Weight of Water is about love, family, and deciding what really matters. There are many twists, and everything comes together in the end.
October 14, 2021
I was given a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only for an honest review.
The story follows two sisters, born into poverty in rural Louisiana. It takes you through their lives from their seeming abandonment by their mother, to the present day 15 years after Katrina.
Their lives take very different paths. One to wealth and status , the other to drug abuse and prostitution. Both are shaped by the struggles they endure.
The author conjures up images of both beauty and devastation as she describes the swamps and the city in poetic detail.
If you’re looking for a light read this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re looking for believable characters and a flowing story you won’t be disappointed.
The story follows two sisters, born into poverty in rural Louisiana. It takes you through their lives from their seeming abandonment by their mother, to the present day 15 years after Katrina.
Their lives take very different paths. One to wealth and status , the other to drug abuse and prostitution. Both are shaped by the struggles they endure.
The author conjures up images of both beauty and devastation as she describes the swamps and the city in poetic detail.
If you’re looking for a light read this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re looking for believable characters and a flowing story you won’t be disappointed.
August 2, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a beautiful and emotional book that had me feeling so many things. The book jumps to the past and present to tell the full story. My heart ached for Rachel as she had dealt with so much and now has to look into the choices she’s made before and try to uncover some things she’s offered insight on from a nurse she knew years back. The book also includes Hurricane Katrina in the plot which makes it that much more fascinating. A beautiful and emotional book that will have you in your feels till the very last page.
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April 8, 2022The two sisters were easy to connect with as I started this story. The characters are well developed and the storyline kept me turning the pages. Their childhood is less than ideal and heartbreaking to me. I love when an author can stir emotions in me, and this one did. The descriptions were not overdone but very effective. I was gripping the book during the hurricane portion. The author did a great job of bringing me into the moment. The ending was a tab bit sudden but very satisfying.
A special thank you to Voracious Readers Only for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
A special thank you to Voracious Readers Only for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2022
I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review. I truly enjoyed this although it was dense and hard to get through at some parts. The end of it felt kind of rushed considering how slow the beginning was. Overall the story was good and I am thoroughly interested in hurricane Katrina since it happened when I was too little to remember anything from it. It was interesting to hear more about the experience and I think the story telling was overall really good but I probably wouldn’t read it again.
October 10, 2024
** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review ** this would be a 4.5 stars if a .5 star was possible.
Despite the heavy content (which felt even more anxiety inducing with the current goings on in Florida), I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the authors writing style and her descriptions of the scenery and of New Orleans were very rich and made me almost feel like I could close my eyes and be transported there.
Some parts felt a little rushed but, on the whole, I enjoyed the story and I didn’t find myself getting bored reading it.
Despite the heavy content (which felt even more anxiety inducing with the current goings on in Florida), I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the authors writing style and her descriptions of the scenery and of New Orleans were very rich and made me almost feel like I could close my eyes and be transported there.
Some parts felt a little rushed but, on the whole, I enjoyed the story and I didn’t find myself getting bored reading it.
November 16, 2025
I very much enjoyed this book and it was certainly an interesting subject matter.
Unfortunately I did struggle to follow it at times as there were a lot of characters (there was an introduction to the characters at the front of the book) and also a few times, I felt that a scene didn't seem to add much to the story.
The author was very descriptive in places too and I'm not a fan of lots of description.
That aside, it was a very good story and I would still recommend it, especially if enjoy descriptive books.
Thank you to VRO & the author for my free review copy.
Unfortunately I did struggle to follow it at times as there were a lot of characters (there was an introduction to the characters at the front of the book) and also a few times, I felt that a scene didn't seem to add much to the story.
The author was very descriptive in places too and I'm not a fan of lots of description.
That aside, it was a very good story and I would still recommend it, especially if enjoy descriptive books.
Thank you to VRO & the author for my free review copy.
February 18, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers.
The copy I had does require some editing, which took a little bit away from my reading experience. With that said, I thought the writing style of the author was really good, and I found this book easy to read. I thought the concept was interesting and the storyline somewhat compelling, although this doesn't fit within my typical reading genre.
The copy I had does require some editing, which took a little bit away from my reading experience. With that said, I thought the writing style of the author was really good, and I found this book easy to read. I thought the concept was interesting and the storyline somewhat compelling, although this doesn't fit within my typical reading genre.
February 21, 2021
Loved this book, couldn't put it down and finished it in 2 days! It's a story focused on two sisters and the twists and turns life throws at them both with the backdrop of the horror of Hurricaine Katrina. Beautifully written, the author is amazing and makes you care about the characters and has you wanting to keep reading until the end to see how life turns out. I cannot recommended this book enough
April 29, 2021
With thanks to Voracious readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book held me from the start and captivated me throughout.
I very quickly fell in love with the sisters and their struggles to survive their own personal hurricane.
The build up and description of Hurricane Katrina brought this disaster home to me and i often found myself holding my breath as i read .
Overall a very voracious read which I thoroughly recommended.
This book held me from the start and captivated me throughout.
I very quickly fell in love with the sisters and their struggles to survive their own personal hurricane.
The build up and description of Hurricane Katrina brought this disaster home to me and i often found myself holding my breath as i read .
Overall a very voracious read which I thoroughly recommended.
May 19, 2021
Excellent content! Terrible editing—many incomplete sentences!
The content is excellent and the storyline is well-developed. I felt like the author could have been more descriptive of her characters. There were numerous incomplete sentences, word usage errors, spelling and punctuation errors, that were distracting to me as the reader. That being said, barring the poor editing, the story grabbed me right from the beginning, was thoroughly absorbing and hard to put down!
The content is excellent and the storyline is well-developed. I felt like the author could have been more descriptive of her characters. There were numerous incomplete sentences, word usage errors, spelling and punctuation errors, that were distracting to me as the reader. That being said, barring the poor editing, the story grabbed me right from the beginning, was thoroughly absorbing and hard to put down!
June 30, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers. Set in New Orleans during the time prior to Hurricane Katrina though present day, the story covers two sisters, separated when young, and the separate paths they took and events that eventually bring them back together. Despite some editing issues in the copy I received, this was a very enjoyable novel involving a cover up and fight for justice.
November 26, 2021
Had a complimentary copy of this book from voraciousreaders.com. the characters are introduced at the very start of the book. It tends to jump about a bit, delving back into the girls childhood and also events that took place during hurricane Katrina. Rachel who is doing well for herself but learns that there are lots of people with secrets and Talia has the biggest secret of all. Can Rachel unravel it all and save her little sister from death row. A really good read.
April 8, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers. I really struggled with this read, to the point where I subconsciously avoided reading it in favour of other books. The copy I received was in dire need of editing, so maybe that was what impacted my reading experience.
The concept is strong but the delivery is lacking, in my opinion. Quite disappointed as this is my usual go-to genre.
The concept is strong but the delivery is lacking, in my opinion. Quite disappointed as this is my usual go-to genre.
April 25, 2022
I like the conversational style of writing by W.A. Schwartz. I was drawn in early by the story of these two sisters growing up in New Orleans and the struggles they faced with the poverty of the area and ultimately their divide in adulthood. By weaving in the story of Hurricane Katrina I have a better understanding of the horror this region endured. The Weight of Water is aptly named and I look forward to reading more from this author.
August 30, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of the book and am giving my honest review. The book started off a bit confusing to me because of how it started, but as you progress through the book it all makes sense. The way that the plot twists are revealed is unique because instead of telling you outright, it goes back in the past to describe word for word what happened. There was a lot I didn't expect from the book and it satisfied me in the end where everything went.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews