Oh my goodness. What a story. I'm not much given to being overly emotional about books but this really broke me.

It is the story of two sisters Melissa and Ronja, as told by the youngest sister Ronja. They live with their father whose life is becoming increasingly out of control. But instead of accepting things Melissa and Ronja get jobs helping out at a Christmas tree suppliers - not that the boss knows it.

Ronja's narration is sweet and childlike but also shows a wisdom beyond her years. She makes unlikely friendships and as the book comes to an end she is the one who provides the solution to their problems.

My heart broke for these two girls, trying to get through their lives in the best way they can. The prose is beautifully simple with characters conveyed with such a light touch.

Beautiful and heartbreaking novella. I loved it but it did make me cry.

Very highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.

Before recommending this book I would ask my reader if they like original fairy tales because this is what this novella felt like to me. It was extremely well written and although it takes place at Christmas time this is not a charming Christmas tale. The writing is charming and so are the two girls but it is actually a sad tale with a touch of magic at the end.

This is such a touching emotional short tale. You will feel invested in the girls immediately and desperately want things to work out for them. It has a sort of modern day Christmas Carol vibe and made me sob. Not sure about the ending though.

Brightly Shining is a grim Norwegian holiday novella with a gorgeous cover that begs to be seen in December. Ronja, age ten, and Melissa, 16, try to survive by selling Christmas trees as their alcoholic father does little to feed or care for them. Neighbors and the school caretaker help, but it's never enough. “Hello, two motherless children and an alcoholic here, can you give us two more weeks?” begs Melissa into the phone. It's bleak but beautifully written.

This book might be short in the length but it left me heartbroken and in tears, I was immediately invested in the characters and their situation. The language is so beautifully written, but each word is impactfully used. The novel is just like the classic stories I grew up reading like a little match girl, it has hope but doesn’t shy away from the hardship of reality. Melissa and Ronja have a very strong sisterly bond and their hard work, determination and hope lifts what could be an unbearably sad read. I found it a charming book that will stay with me a very long time.

This was a charming yet sad novella about two young girls who have to fend for themselves because their father is an alcoholic. The girls go to work, despite their young age to help make money for the family.

Though a quick read, you become invested in their story and hope that everything turns out all right for them. I was confused at the ending though. Left open to interpretation, I wasn’t sure what was implied.

Despite the ending, I really enjoyed this quick read. Poignant and heartbreaking, it gives you all the feels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

This Norwegian novella, written by Ingvild H. Rishøi and translated into English by Caroline Waight, was a major bestseller in Norway. Young Ronja is largely cared for by her older sister, Melissa. Their father dotes on them, but he's an alcoholic. His new job at a Christmas tree farm is paying well, and then he succumbs to addiction again. Melissa pleads to take over his job, trying to balance both work and school, while Ronja begins to hang around the tree lot, too. Soon, she takes up sales at the lot as well as part of a scheme run by Melissa's compassionate boss--a ploy that the big boss doesn't agree with one bit.

The description of the book misled me into thinking this was a story that touched on darkness but was ultimately a hopeful holiday tale. Uh, nope. This is dark, dark, dark. There's a reference early on to the classic story "The Little Matchgirl," and that imagery circulates again in a magical realism ending that is profoundly unsatisfying. That said, there are many wonderful aspects to the book. Ronja's voice is imaginative and bright, and the descriptions of her emotions around her father and his addiction are heartbreaking. Technically, the writing is great, but I really hoped for something different of the story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of two sisters; 16 year old Melissa and our narrator 10 year old Ronja. They live in a crappy city apartment in Norway with their alcoholic father. Ronja is still young enough to imagine a better life and happy times, while Melissa picks up the slack left by her father. The writing is beautiful, as Christmas approaches Ronja dreams of a miracle and a happy family, where her father doesn’t go out at night to get drunk. She comes to rely on the kindness of the community to get by and ends up selling Christmas Trees with her sister . Things go well for a while, but then the author made a huge jump to magical realism, leaving me confused, and it kinda ruined the story for me.

Spoliers below



I got the illusion of the little match girl, but Im really confused at the end. Did Ronja die, did both girls die, or is Ronja so sick that she is hallucinating? Or did we go full on Narnia?
I wish the author had given them a more definitive ending, or the reader more clues as to what was happening. I found it jarring to go from gritty though optimistic realism, to full on fantasy.

3.5 Stars

I was drawn to this novella because of the lovely book cover, and the fact that it's translated from the Norwegian and involving Christmas. The story is told from the perspective of ten-year-old Ronja who lives in an apartment with her older sister, sixteen-year-old Melissa, and her father. As the book begins Ronja is bantering with the caretaker outside her school when he gives her a flyer for a local job selling Christmas trees. The hope is that her father could get this job.

In a slow reveal, through the skepticism of the older sister Melissa towards their father, and her mothering care to her younger sister, a poignant story of child neglect due to parental alcoholism is told. I admired both sisters' work ethic and the revelation that there can be joy and satisfaction in alternate environments, even while working- and this happened to be at a Christmas tree / wreath sale lot. I also loved the concept of a neighbor in the apartment providing sustenance and support when called upon, in the character of Aronsen, an elderly widower.

This was a quick and satisfying read up until the very end when things got a bit foggy for me. Rather than a straightforward and clear conclusion, it was muddied up with a splash of magical realism that left me confused.

Thank you to the publisher Grove Atlantic / Grove Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Earlier in the year I decided I wanted to branch out and start reading books by non-UK writers, and it just so happened that this book was on that list under Norway, and NetGalley kindly sent me a copy, and so I was looking forward to reading it, especially as I don't think I've read any Norwegian fiction before.

It follows Ronja, our narrator, a 10 year old girl, alongside her older sister Melissa. It's a tough books, with loss, grief, poverty, addiction alcoholism - things a 10 year old shouldn't have to deal with and that shows in the narration. She's confused and scared and naïve, and Melissa almost has to become a replacement mum.

Unfortunately that is the only positive I can give this book.

It has no chapters. I know it's a short book, but I do prefer chapters. And yes in a way the longwinded nature of it adds to the rambling nature of a child, but I still didn't care for it.

I've seen some comments say that it's going to be a classic book, a Christmas tale compared to that of Dickens. Now, I know I am bias because I adore Dickens, but I don't see how it can compare at all. It has more of a feeling of The Little Match Girl (which is referenced in the story). It's not got that uplifting festive story. Maybe it is exactly what Norwegian readers want, but in my opinion, it doesn't have that longevity a classic needs.

I'll be honest, I didn't really get it. It's a bit of a ramble, no real plot, no character depth. Nothing really happens and I was confused as I had no idea what was meant to be happening. It didn't make me think of anything or feel anything, it was just sort of words on a page.

Usually if I dislike a book this much then I don't finish it, but and 192 pages, I was determined to get to the end. But this ended up being my first 1-star read as I would normally DNF a book like that. Unfortunately it did nothing to me and I wouldn't recommend it as a nice festive read.

A beautifully written book about the bonds of sisterhood and a broken family dynamic. I found myself in awe of Ronja and Melissa and how even though it seemed like everything was stacked against them, they remained steadfast, and never broke. The story of these two girls has quickly become one of my favorites.

This is marketed as a Christmas tale, and despite the setting in a Christmas tree stand, a typical holiday story this is not. If the Cratchit family eventually get their goose (and raise), the two sisters here have much less reliable family bonds and no Scrooge-like amends to enjoy. Unsurprisingly, the themes of addiction, loneliness, and insecurity are pretty bleak, and the warmer, optimistic scenes in the first part of the book eventually give way to a darker, if ambiguous, ending. I do think there's an audience that would enjoy this a lot; the writing and particularly the narrator's voice are well done, and it addresses familiar problems in a literary way. But the packaging/marketing clashes (probably intentionally) with the outcome in a way that I suspect might be off putting for some readers looking for a more traditional Christmas-cozy vibe.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

The premise of “Brightly Shining” drew me in instantly. A Christmas (!) tale set in Norway (!)? You got me Ingvild Rishoi, because is there anything cozier than reading a meaningful book during the darkest months of the year?

The friendships between the caretaker and Ronja as well as between Mr Aronsen and Ronja (and even between Tommy and the girls) are the main elements of the narrative which kept me reading as I wanted to know if these relationships remained as hopeful as their appeared earlier in the novella. The depiction of the way in which Ronja looks at her father’s jobs is so pure, so beautifully done. It immerses the reader in a world in which there is a positivity to everything, a world in which a banker is not more highly regarded than a tram cleaner.

Nevertheless, I did not feel like the story was novel. It did not surprise me. The plot is very much like the plot of most Christmas novellas. I simply did not feel many emotions in a tale which was supposed to awaken something in the reader. I did not connect with the characters as I was missing a deeper, more unique characterisation. The concept of Christmas as a festival of Capitalism becomes evident in the novella which to me just adds to the rather ordinariness of the plot unfortunately.

Once the plot started to morph into something else, something more mysterious and ambiguous, I did not understand what was happening. Albert and the Christmas tree, the girls underneath it and the ending of the girls just walking away were too cryptic for me. I could not even figure out what it was supposed to mean other than the girls being possibly aware that they will have to go in the care of social services. Or did the girls

die? I was definitely missing something here, emotions, clarity not in meaning but in description of the scene.

A tender but cruel story about two sisters trying to survive in a cold and hostile environment with his alcoholic and irresponsible father. I didn't know what to expect from the book, but was greatly surprised by the depth of the story. What a wonderful read! Looking forward to reading more of this author.

Whilst I enjoyed the plot of this book, it was too chaotic for me. I didn’t feel as though there was any structure to the story and it didn’t flow well. I couldn’t figure out what actually happened at the end of the story under the tree or what followed that. It just didn’t make sense! Beautiful idea but not very well executed - sorry 😞

This is a charming story of a family struggling in so many ways to “be a family” On the surface, 2 daughters attempt to help their alcoholic father maintain a job selling Christmas trees. There are moments of triumph and togetherness but also moments of true despair. The ending is left vague leaving the reader to choose their own adventure. The cover is extremely attractive.

There are so many types of great Christmas stories out there - nostalgic ones, magical ones, ones with ghosts or mystery and ones that rip out your heart because they are heartbreakingly sad.
If you are a fan of the latter, let me tell you about Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishøi.

Already a best seller in Europe a beautiful English copy, translated by Caroline Wright, is coming out on November 19 in North America. Thank you to @netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC.

Brightly Shining is told by ten year old Ronja who lives in Oslo with her sixteen year old sister, Melissa, and their alcoholic father.

By some stroke of luck, their father gets a job selling Christmas trees and the girls' lives seem to get easier. Melissa has been down this road many times and is sure it won't work out but Ronja has to hope so Melissa indulges her hopes and dreams for Christmas. The reader takes on Melissa's fear and Ronja's hope as the story goes forward - half worried and half hopeful for a miracle.

Brightly Shining is beautifully written with moments of humour and wonder. It is also desperately sad. I was reminded of Claire Keegan's bleak window into her native Ireland but Rishøi's window into Norway uses more magic realism

Something of a modern day retelling of A Little Match Girl, Brightly Shining is an utterly heartbreaking and poignant short story featuring two young sisters who have lost their mother and are left to cope with an alcoholic and neglectful father. At times the prose is beautiful, while a few awkward or simply oddly worded phrases occasionally suggest something was lost in translation. For me, the English version did not measure up to the international acclaim. Also, the purposefully vague ending with a sprinkling of magical realism will likely be off putting for some.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Grove Atlantic for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

What an emotional read for 192 pages!

Brightly Shining is a Norwegian tale that is critically acclaimed and a major bestseller across Europe. I didn't feel like I was reading a translation of something. This story is about two sisters who struggle with neglect and their father's alcoholism. During the holiday season the oldest sister takes on a job. The story is told by Ronja the youngest sister who is ten years of age. She is curious, innocent, and observant about their life, family, friends, and busy hustle and bustle of life. The sisters struggle, make friends, make memories,
There is magical realism in this book.
Trigger warnings alcoholism and neglect
Spoiler warning, it's very matchstick girl.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Ingvild Rishøi’s novella “Brightly Shining” is a gem that sparkles with warmth and wisdom. Set against the backdrop of a Norwegian Christmas, it weaves together themes of addiction, dreams, and unexpected connections.

Macaronja’s Voice: Ten-year-old Macaronja narrates the story, her innocence and curiosity infusing every page. Her observations about life, family, and the kindness of strangers are both heartwarming and insightful.

Sisters in Struggle: Macaronja and her older sister, Melissa, face adversity head-on. Their chronically unemployed father adds to their burden, yet they refuse to lose hope. When they take on the task of selling Christmas trees, their resilience shines.

Magical Realism: Rishøi blends reality with a touch of magic. The Christmas trees become more than mere merchandise—they symbolize dreams, second chances, and the power of community.

Hygge and Hope: Curl up with this book for instant hygge—the cozy feeling of warmth and contentment. As Macaronja navigates life’s challenges, readers will find hope in unexpected places.

At just the right length, “Brightly Shining” leaves an indelible mark. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, kindness and dreams can light our way. 🌟📖✨