This was the perfect little novella for the holiday season. Loosely inspired by The Little Matchgirl, I can see this story being a good gift for someone (so long as they don't mind their holiday stories to be less-than heartwarming!).

Ronja and Melissa's father is an alcoholic and therefore has difficulty holding down a job. In a sober spell, he gets a job at a Christmas tree lot but soon it is up to Melissa to hold down the job. Her younger sister, Ronja, often tags along, helping to sell the trees and upsell the customers, all in the name of providing for their family. When word gets back to the head of the tree farm about their schemes, he is not too happy and threatens to take them away from their father.

Told through Ronja's eyes, we see the story through a veil of innocence. I particularly enjoyed her loose friendship with an older man in their apartment building, who she latches onto as a sort of father/grandfather figure that she lacks in her life. I do wish the story had been a bit longer; Rishøi folds a lot of different topics, from addiction to immigration, into the novella. That said, it is a good homage to the format of the original story.

Shining Brightly by Ingvild Rishøi is a masterclass in quiet, evocative storytelling. This slim, powerful novella captures the fragility and strength of human connection with a tenderness that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

Rishøi’s writing is poetic yet unpretentious, striking that perfect balance between beauty and relatability. The story follows a family facing financial hardship during a harsh Norwegian winter, yet what stands out most isn’t the bleakness—it’s the hope and resilience that quietly simmer beneath the surface. Her characters feel so vivid, so alive, that their struggles and small triumphs feel personal, as though they belong to someone you know.

The descriptions of the icy Norwegian setting are stunning, almost cinematic, and create a sharp contrast to the warmth of the relationships at the story's core. Rishøi manages to pack so much depth into such a small book, making it an ideal read for anyone who loves deeply human, emotional stories.

This is a book about light in the darkest of times, and it does exactly what its title promises—it shines. Perfect for a cozy winter evening and for readers who find solace in stories of resilience and quiet love.

This is a captivating tale of resilience and redemption. Ingvild Rishøi's "Brightly Shining" is a literary gem that weaves together the threads of human vulnerability, hope, and the enduring power of connection. Set against the backdrop of a small Norwegian village, this novel invites readers into the lives of its characters, revealing their hidden struggles and the transformative impact of compassion.

The story revolves around Anna, a middle-aged woman burdened by a tragic past. Her days are monotonous, filled with routine tasks and quiet desperation. But everything changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious letter tucked away in an old bookshop. The letter, written decades ago, hints at a long-lost love and a secret that could alter Anna's life forever.

As Anna embarks on a quest to unravel the letter's enigma, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters: Lars, the reclusive artist haunted by his own demons; Signe, the wise grandmother who dispenses cryptic advice; and Elias, the young boy with an uncanny ability to see beyond the surface. Their intersecting paths create a tapestry of emotions, drawing readers into a world where brokenness and healing coexist.

Rishøi's prose is exquisite, painting vivid landscapes of the Norwegian fjords and capturing the nuances of human emotions. Anna's vulnerability is palpable, and we ache with her as she confronts her past and seeks redemption. Lars, with his brooding intensity, becomes a beacon of hope, while Signe's wisdom adds depth to the narrative. The village itself feels like a character—an intimate space where secrets whisper through the wind and memories cling to the moss-covered stones.

"Brightly Shining" delves into themes of forgiveness and second chances. As Anna grapples with guilt and regret, she learns that healing requires vulnerability and the willingness to forgive—not only others but also herself. The novel beautifully portrays the fragile threads that connect us all, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding.

The mysterious letter serves as a powerful symbol throughout the book. Its yellowed pages hold promises of love and redemption, urging Anna to confront her past and embrace the possibility of a brighter future. As readers, we eagerly follow Anna's journey, hoping that the letter's secrets will illuminate her path.

Ingvild Rishøi's "Brightly Shining" is a triumph — a novel that lingers in the heart long after the last page. With lyrical prose, well-crafted characters, and a plot that unfolds like a delicate origami, this book deserves every star in the constellation. Whether you're a fan of literary fiction or simply crave a soul-stirring read, "Brightly Shining" will leave you with a sense of wonder and a renewed belief in the resilience of the human spirit.

"Brightly Shining" is a work of fiction, but its emotional impact is undeniably real. Ingvild Rishøi's storytelling prowess shines brightly, illuminating the corners of our own hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and Grove Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In a Nutshell: A Scandinavian literary fiction with a different kind of Christmas story, somewhat inspired by ‘The Little Match Girl.’ Don’t trust that joyous cover and the title; the story is dark and emotional. The ending is left open to interpretation, which might go either way for readers. Not for those looking for feel-good Christmas tales.

Plot Preview:
Tøyen, Norway. Ten-year-old Ronja is a dreamer. But she is also practical. Her alcoholic father is out of work again, so when Ronja gets to know about a job at the local Christmas tree stand, she pushes him to get it. For a few days, things are “brightly shining” for Ronja and her elder sister Melissa. But then, her father falls back to his old ways and loses the job, after having taken a huge advance on his salary. Melissa decides to take his place so that the motherless siblings aren’t sent to foster care. Ronja does her best to chip in. But can Christmas turn around so easily for the siblings?
The story comes to us in Ronja’s first-person perspective.


This debut novel was first published in Norwegian as ‘Stargate: en julefortelling’ (Stargate: A Christmas Story’). A huge success, it was instantly acclaimed as a modern classic. This version, translated to English by Caroline Waight, was released in November 2024.
Seeing that gorgeous Christmas tree and the sparkly star on the cover, and the title proudly proclaiming “Brightly Shining”, it is easy to understand why most English-language readers would take this to be a merry story for the joyful season. The truth is exactly the opposite. The title might remind you of all things bright and beautiful, but let’s not forget that even when eyes are filled with unshed tears, they look “brightly shining”. This is not a happy story in any way, though there are some heartwarming moments. I think that the title and the cover of the English edition neither indicate nor suit the content well.
Ronja, whose name means ‘star’, is a fascinating character to have as the narrator. She loves to go into dreamland, either pondering over the happy moments of the past or making wishful plans for the future. At the same time, she is mature because of her circumstances, and isn’t a typical head-in-the-clouds child we often see in light fiction. As our narrator is so young, we need to be prepared for a lot of reading between the lines. Ronja tells us what she knows and wishes and wonders, but she can’t tell us facts beyond her limited worldview. As such, the character development of the other characters is a bit surface-level. But what little we see is enough to get a handle on them.
Ronja’s elder sister Melissa is excellent. Forced to be a provider and caretaker to Ronja at the young age of sixteen, Melissa comes across as a mature youngster who is worried about the future but isn’t so fearful as to run away from it. I simply loved the realistic bond between the two siblings. There are also a few amazing secondary characters in the book, my favourite being the caretaker.

The blurb doesn’t mention this, but Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Little Match Girl’ has a strong role to play in the story, both through direct mentions in the plot as well as some scenes inspired by the sad fairy tale. If you know this story, then you can be prepared for a similar melancholic vibe in this novella.
The Scandinavian setting is used beautifully in the plot. The snow, the trees, the people, the atmosphere – all seem so real that you will feel as chilled as Ronja does in the Christmas tree stand. The portrayal of the family is also true to life, especially in the depiction of their father’s alcoholism (which is disappointing as well as infuriating) and the girls’ regular struggles to find enough food.
At just 190 pages (that too, in the hardcover edition), this is a quick read despite being literary in style. There are no chapter divisions, but there are sectional breaks in between scene transitions.
Ronja’s age might lull you into thinking that this book can work for middle-graders or teens, but be warned: the content is not for children. This is literary fiction, not middle-grade or YA fiction. There are many upsetting scenarios that are suitable only for adult eyes. The book does contain Christmassy feelings, but not necessarily of the warm or faith-oriented kind. The focus in the book is more on the capitalist nature of contemporary Christmas celebrations, with everyone having forgotten the true reason for the season.
In some ways, the book reminded me of Claire Keegan’s ‘Small Things Like These’, which is also an unusual Advent-Christmas story. But while Keegan’s novella, though equally grim, ends with a ray of hope, this book moves towards an array of confusion. You see, the ending is open to interpretation. There seems to be a sudden jump in genre, which I simply couldn’t understand the reason for. I am still trying to decide if what happened was literal or metaphorical. The final scene could be considered either magic or tragic, depending on your perspective.
One thing I simply didn’t like in the book was the repetitive use of a blasphemous cuss word. There might be people in real life who say such things, but does a Christmas story need to have a cuss word referencing ‘Jesus’ in such a vulgar way? This could have easily been avoided.
All in all, this is a story set during Christmas, but it is not a Christmas story. Mostly well-written but character-oriented, it will work better for literary fiction lovers looking for a somewhat serious holiday read. This book is being adapted for film. I hope the movie will shed more light on the ending because I do want to know what exactly happened.
Recommended to those who appreciate darker fairy tales/ Christmas stories such as ‘The Little Match Girl’ and don’t mind the cuss words. It is definitely not for those looking for a uplifting festive tale with a happy ending.
3.75 stars. (I’d have gone higher if the ending had been clearer and the language, cleaner.)
My thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing the DRC of “Brightly Shining” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A beautiful but heartbreaking story about two sisters forced to grow up faster than they should due to family circumstances that leave them without a parental figure in charge. This updated take on children in need over the holidays is set in Norway and told from the perspective of the 10-year-old protagonist.

This is certainly a Christmas story of a sort, if for no other reason that Christmas trees play a central role in the narrative. But it’s not a cosy feel-good Christmas tale and it’s no coincidence that The Little Match Girl is referenced. It’s a dark and disturbing tale about loss, grief, alcoholism, parental neglect and poverty. Set in Oslo, where ten-year-old Ronja lives with her protective older sister Melissa and her alcoholic father, it’s a heart-breaking story, beautifully written and expertly paced, a small gem of a novella which lingers long after finishing it. There are moments that are heart-warming as well as heart-breaking, there’s kindness and care to be discovered here too, it’s not unrelievedly bleak, and that saves it from being sensationalist and melodramatic, but my goodness it’s sad. The ending is ambiguous and the reader must draw their own conclusions, but this added to the magic for me. A lovely book.

Translated from Norwegian, BRIGHTLY SHINING is a novella full of struggle and hope. Sisters Ronja (10) and Melissa (16) are trying to balance school and jobs with survival without the help of parents or guardians. Their mother is dead and their father is caught in the grip of alcohol addiction and unemployment. I had high hopes for a 5 star reading experience, which this came close to, but a couple of things fell a little short for me, including Melissa’s swearing which felt really jarring in a story like this, and the ending, which while dreamy, was ultimately unsatisfying in its ambiguity. But overall, this was one of the best Christmas stories I’ve read in a long time, and I’m sure I will return to it again in the future. It made me think a lot about how vital sturdy adults are for children’s development and well-being, and how we can step up for the kids around us who need extra support.

Brightly Shining is like a modern-day retelling of The Little Match Girl. It's actually referenced a couple of times in the book.

If you don't know the story, The Little Match Girl is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson. Not unlike most fairy tales (not made over by Disney), it's not a feel good story.

Brightly Shining was very similar. It wasn't a feel-good story. It is a reminder that Christmas isn't a happy time for everyone. Whether it be the absence of family and friends to celebrate with or lack of means to afford elaborate dinners, decorations, or presents.

This is a short read at 192 pages. It was a sad story, but with a lot of sweetness and some humorous moments. The only complaint I might have with this book is the ending. I'm not sure I really understood it. Perhaps it was meant to be open for interpretation. But, it follows the path of The Little Match Girl, then it would be a very tragic ending.

Translation is captivating and the set-up heartbreaking. Motherless sisters are left to fend for themselves during the holidays due to their alcoholic father’s neglect.

I read this the weekend we were getting our Christmas tree, which was perfect, since the majority of the books setting is on a Christmas tree farm.

The story is told from the younger sister’s perspective and feels believable. The ending however is pure magic which may leave you puzzled or feeling the Christmas spirit. I’m still processing but I really enjoyed this short novel.

Thank you for letting me read this book. I was disappointed in that I had expected to become involved in the characters and care about their difficulties. I did not find that to be the case. I will not be blogging about this book because another person may react entirely differently, and I don’t want to take away their pleasure.

I enjoyed the scene setting and he main child character of this novella and it evoked the Christmas season in Norway.
However the ending was very ambiguous and made it unclear if this story was rooted in reality or was a fairy tale.

The cover is first of all stunning!

This book is not fun to read in a good way. It's full of sadness and dispair and the positive bits almost makes it feel even more sad. The writing is very good and the translation makes a nice job (I speak Swedish, so it's not that far from Norwegian). It's an important book that I will recommend to anyone who reads.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

BRIGHTLY SHINING by Ingvild Rishøi has a simple, yet beautiful cover and the story does indeed have a Christmas theme. But, it is extremely sad. The well-written story is set in Oslo and told from the viewpoint of Ronja, a 10-year-old girl who lives with her alcoholic father and hard-working, protective sister, Melissa, who is 16 years old. Their father briefly holds a job at a Christmas tree stand until he returns to drinking with old friends. Melissa steps in and takes over for him to be able to buy food. While an elderly neighbor and others attempt to help the sisters, it is not enough and hope may not be sufficient to save them.

This is a sort of modern twist on The Little Match-girl, set in contemporary urban Norway. It follows the 10 year old protagonist, Ronja, and her sister, Melissa, as they attempt to make it through a Christmas season despite their father's alcoholism and general inability to provide for them. While there are many moments of positivity, the work is overall sad and ends in tragedy. It is well written, but too sad for me, particularly for a Christmas story.

Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ronja and Melissa live with their alcoholic father. The girls are both hopeful that their dad will get a job selling Christmas trees. This would provide consistency and stability in the household. Instead, the author paints a picture where the father continues to put himself above his daughters.

Given that this is such a short book I was impressed with the character development of Melissa and Ronja. You could feel Melissa's need to protect her younger sister. I believed that they had each others backs. I found myself hoping that the girls would receive food, a warm apartment, paid bills and even Christmas presents.

I know that not every story can end with a wrapped bow. I had hoped for a small gift of hope at the end. This is a Christmas book after all. A lesson could be learned. Maybe a bit of hope could've been found. Instead it left me sad and depressed.

Brightly Shining is about two sisters who live with their single father, who is an alcoholic and cannot keep a job. It's narrated by Ronja, a girl that at her 10 years old is still innocent and hopeful that things will be better. One day, she finds a job posting to sell Christmas trees. After her dad gets the job and loses it within days, the older sister Melissa decides to take the job herself. Eventually Ronja starts working there too, improving their financial situation, while their dad wastes his life away drinking. It's a heartbreaking story, and a necessary one. It's also a short book, I read it in a couple hours. The translation is very good, it doesn't feel like it drags at any point. Very recommended.

Brightly Shining is now on my December list for holiday reads. . .it is a deep dive into family dynamics of a heartbroken family in the Land of the Midnight Sun (Norway).

Readers ride in the mercurial mind of 10-year old Ronja - it is her eyes, ears and thought processes that inform this story. Poverty hangs heavy over the family consisting of one parent who is charged with and loves his daughters, but is tangled in the weeds of reality; Ronja is first to see joy in their world, and her sister Melissa, is a teen who is bristling under and clearly sees the dangers all around them. Also in this sweet sour tale is an almost able set of community saviors who are facing their own difficulties, but still are moved to reach out to the girls.

This is a short tale, and given the message, must needs be so. It's open ended, but my take felt that part of it tells us that Hope perceived by others is ever present, but follows the travelers and just as they do, also fades from the reader's ken and view altogether. Readers are left rather bereft and lonely caring about these fictional characters - hit in the heart. Thinking, like me, perhaps, of the very many non-fictional real people within the light and warmth of our very own lamps.

That's a reminder worth all the stars, in every season.

*A sincere thank you to Ingvild Rishøi, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Despite the title and cheerful cover, this little novella is dark. Sisters Melissa and Ronja live in Tøyen, Oslo, with their widowed father. He loves his daughters, but he can’t keep a job due to his alcoholism. The girls live an impoverished life, with Melissa taking on a maternal role in the house.

At ten, Ronja is a dreamer. She’s not ignorant to her father’s troubles, but she’s young enough to still have faith in him. She loves fairy tales and often imagines a better life for her sister and herself. Melissa is sixteen and decides to fill in for her father when he fails to show up for a job selling Christmas trees. Ronja tags along as there’s nothing better to do at home. Her youth and cuteness work end up working in her favor, and she quickly joins the tree-selling business with Melissa.

Brightly Shining is kind of a modern fairy tale. The story of The Little Match Girl is referenced multiple times, to give you an idea. That being said, don’t go into this expecting a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brightly Shining
Author: Ingvild Rishøi,
Caroline Waight (Translation)
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date:  Nov. 19, 2024

Brightly Shining is a Christmas Story but one that is sad when you consider two young girls, an alcoholic father, and barely surviving a cold Norwegian Christmas. The little girls get their dad a job selling Christmas trees, but not long before, he falls back into poor choices. The girls survive on their dreams. Dreams of cabins, food, better times, and hope. But it’s hard to keep dreams alive when Dad loses his job. This isn’t Tiny Tim, and no one saves the day, which is sometimes realistic. I will let you decide what you think of the ending. #BrightlyShining @netgalley #Christmas #alcoholism #suffering #bookintranslation @groveatlantic #dreams #hope #family #magicalRealism #holidays #sisterlylove
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #pbooklove #bookreviewer #christmas

Ten year-old Ronja has a “teeny tiny dream.” She hopes that her dad will get a job, and that they can have a tree in time for Christmas. Her sixteen year old sister Melissa has seen too much, and is afraid to dream like that. Their dad has held many jobs, but he can’t seem to hold on to them for very long. Melissa and Ronja team up with Tommy who works at the Christmas tree lot and has a scheme to make some extra money. He has a child on the way, and he knows that the girls are clever and are also in need.

The novella is told through the childlike eyes of Ronja, and through them we see the wonder and awe of life, even when those who you love dearly disappoint. But Ronja wistfully holds on to those precious few memories of when all was brightly shining, longs for a repeat performance, and refuses to let go. Brightly Shining is a doleful reminder that while we wish the season to be merry, it is not so bright for everyone, and of what a balm the kindness of others can be. If you are a fan of Hans Christen Anderson’s The Little Match Girl or O’Henry’s The Last Leaf, this wonderfully told tale will break your heart.


Many thanks to the author Ingvild Rishoi, @GroveAtlantic, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.