Whimsical and sweet, Just A Fika neatly weaves inherently Swedish vignettes and traditions with broader whimsy that ought to be familiar to anyone who has dabbled in little witchy exploits in their youth. This is a lovely insight into a culture through an inherently accessible lens. Not many of us has had a Mormor, but a lot of us carry a memory of a beloved family member (be that family origin OR found) who would probably have also sent us on adventures of self-discovery given a bit more time and foresight.

The writing style, however, posed somewhat of a challenge for me. This book could do with another round of edits. So often I would have to backtrack and read a paragraph twice, then extrapolate the meaning. I could guess what the author was trying to say, but I found her way of saying it a little unnatural and odd. Usually when reviewers complain about a lack of editing in books, we are referring to clunky pacing, infodumps or too-long tomes that could have been much shorter. With Just A Fika for the first time my reservations have to do with line editing itself.

“He takes it down quickly while looking at us” (Here presumably ‘takes it down’ means ‘throws back a shot of rum’)
“Laughter, singing and high energy envelope into the sweet salt air” (I assume this is meant to be ‘envelop’ - but that also wouldn’t really sound natural)
“I’d like to slightly vomit for the commitment to a full dinner.”

I marked down almost seventy such sentences before I gave up on that endeavor. The meaning is almost there, an intended phrase is possible to glean from the broader context, but it doesn’t sound quite… right?

Ultimately, this love letter to Swedish culture in pockets of the US is sweet but perhaps a bit too rushed.

This was an ok read for me.

While I enjoyed the matchmaking ancestors I wasn't really a fan of the main character and the love triangle aspect.

I would probably only recommend this to a few select friends.

So cozy and fun! I loved this tale of family exploration and history. The main character found herself in some peculiar situations but overcame them through it all. The setting also stole the show!

Just a Fika is the story of Ingrid, who moves to her family's home on the Jersey shore, which she discovers is already occupied by the ghost of her grandmother, Mormor. There is a love triangle, where Ingrid is caught between two brothers, and there is a tie into some Norse Mythology with Loki and Thor.

If you love a good paranormal cozy mystery, then this might be right up your alley! This had literally all the elements that should make me love it- I am a total sucker for anything related to Swedish heritage. All the right ingredients are there, the vibes are immaculate. Unfortunately, though, the writing style was a bit choppy and just not for me and I did not like Ingrid nearly as much as any of the other characters. I think this would absolutely have benefited from a great editor and a rewrite.

A good heartwarming read. I didn’t totally vibe with the writing style but enjoyed the narrative once I got into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beck Erixson for the advanced copy.

I enjoyed the eccentric ghosts and Mormor but it left me wanting more! A cozy book to read with a coffee and a treat!

Just a Fika follows Ingrid as she rediscovers family history and finds love with the help of her well-intentioned but meddlesome Mormor (who btw is a ghost). This was a very cozy read that kept me laughing at the antics and charmed by the personality. Recommend for anyone seeking an easy cozy addition to their TBR.

I think you will. like this book if you're a fan of Ashley. Potson's The Dead Romantics. It's filled with ghostly antics and a really cool undercurrent of Swedish history and mythology. This book just wasn't for me though. I did not like the way it was written. I found it very difficult to understand the reason Ingrid is in Aeigr to begin with. I also didn't like the attitude of the ghosts in the house. I couldn't finish it, I just didn't care what happened to Ingrid in the end, it didn't matter to me whether she went for one guy or the other. What is a really good concept just didn't come through for me unfortunatley.

Ingrid is persuaded by her family to become live-in caretaker for the family home on the Jersey shore.
She does genealogy work and can work from anywhere so she agrees. It's nice being near family, even though her cousin introduces her to a musician and handyman to fix up the house and her dead grandmother, Mormor is trying to fix her up with a local attorney. A fun easy read. I always like friendly a ghost helping out and grandma seems happy to guide her granddaughter.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book–it's a delightfully cozy and fun read! The characters are hilarious, and the vibes throughout the story are so fun. The author has a knack for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that kept me hooked from start to finish. The charming interactions between the characters added an extra layer of enjoyment. If you're looking for a book that not only entertains but also leaves you with a sense of joy, this is it. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a good story with heartwarming characters and delightful vibes!

This book was not what I was expecting and I wanted to like it more, but it just wasn't for me. I think others will like it though.

I really tried with this book but in the end I had to DNF it. I thouggt this was the book for me but had to give it up sadly. As a scandinavian I thought I would enjoy this type of book and I really did like how the main character tried to find back to her family roots and see our traditions in a setting like this but I'm sadly not the biggest fan of love triangles.

This book was okay. It had a lot of loos ends and some things in the book didn't make sense and just made me more confused and there were no answers provided. It was a slow read with a lot of confusion but the ending was good and I really liked the setting. I had high hopes for this book unfortunately I was a bit disappointed.

I was thinking I would like this more than I did. I did not like the protagonist. I am also not a fan of love triangles. Thanks for the review copy.

The premise of this was so interesting but I just could not get into it. I don't think it's the right book for me. Had to DNF before the halfway point.

I really tried to get into this book, but I just couldn't. The premise is interesting but I just don't think that this book is for me. There were moments of witty dialog that I liked, but I found Ingrid hard to like and her grandmother was difficult to like - she felt too critical for me, it needed to be balanced out so instead if felt irksome rather than like a nosy relative.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

I could not get into this book. I was intrigued by the synopsis but it ended up being not for me. I ultimately decided to DNF this book. I am unsure how sending feedback should go on a book I did not finish, as this is a first for me.

While I was incredibly interested in the synapsis, and there was wonderful detail in the writing, the characters were just a bit difficult to connect with. This definitely made it harder to become invested in the story. However, I would be interested in what Erixson writes next.

What an unexpectedly fun read
With a Mormor (grandmother) deciding its help you need
A dead but still matchmaking gran, with definite views
For Ingrid certainly isn't always good news!

Ingrid has returned to research her family
To their historic house on the coast in (the US) Jersey.
She's always felt like she's missing family connections and so
Hopes this research will help those connections to grow.

With cousins to help her and introduce her, too,
Their love for each other always shines through.
As Ingrid discovers more from their past
Maybe those holes will heal at last.

There's also the possibility of a romance - or three!
But who should she trust or should she wait to see?
There's a great sense of this close community
With its Swedish roots in every family.

A very different read, with folklore from the past
And traditions that have proven to last.
The Fika is such a brilliant way to share
And show the family and friends that you care!

If you're looking for a romance with (ghostly) surprises galore
This is a story I think, like me, you'll adore!
For my complementary copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.