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. 🌟📖✨

Let’s just say that the book started off really well. I struggled with the ending though, as it seemed to end rather abruptly and unclearly… I honestly wasn’t that sure what happened in the end by the way it was written. Did the two girls die under that tree? It wasn’t made very clear, and to be honest left me disappointed in what could have been a really good book had the ending been more clear. I would have loved to see more of what happened to the girls after child services was called. The ending was too abrupt and confusing for me.

This was a wonderful story about two sister trying hard to get their drunk father a job all in time for Christmas so our main character can have a great holiday...after their mother died. The writing style was something different than what I was used to, told from a girl who is 10 however the reading feels more like a girl who was 5 or 6. But regardless the story itself kept me entertained to the very end.

BrightlyShining #NetGalley

I really liked the story Ingvild told about Ronja and Melissa, two sisters about how their father was a drunk. And how they got him a job that Melissa took over. It ends with Ronja getting sick and finding Melissa and then calling under a Christmas tree. Tommy, who is their boss, is fired by his boss for having kids working for him. Melissa is also fired because Ronja who is younger is found out by the Big Boss, Eriksen. Well let you figure out the rest because it is the ravings of a small girl

I received an ARC of the English translation of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bittersweet Christmas tale with a vague ending. I loved the main character and the strangers who gave her hope but I can't hang with the vague ending.

Brightly Shining is a beloved Scandinavian Christmas tale. Its rave reviews and recent English translation seemed to make it a perfect match for my love of Christmas and all things merry and bright. However, in hindsight, I probably wouldn’t recommend picking up this book to get into the Christmas spirit.

The story follows 10-year-old Ronja who lives with her sixteen-year-old sister Melissa and their father in the Norwegian town of Tøyen after the passing of their mother. Shackled to the yoke of alcoholism their father tries to throw off his demons to give his girls the Christmas that they long for and takes a job selling Christmas trees. His resolve lasts only as long as it takes to get an advance on his wages then the siren's call of the pub leaves the two young girls to pick up the pieces and pay his debt by working his job themselves.

Written from Ronja’s perspective, the author does a wonderful job of capturing an innocent and naive voice. Personally, I found it a bit too naive for a ten-year-old, especially one forced to grow up quickly. It would have felt more realistic if Ronja were around six or seven. The father is depicted in an interesting way. While it’s clear he is failing his children terribly, neglecting them to the point where they know child services might take them away, he is not portrayed with any malice. It’s evident that the grief from losing his wife and the strain of parenting two young children pushed him into alcoholism, but his love for his girls is still palpable

The girls' neglect is heart-wrenching. With scarce food and warmth at home, hiding from their father’s creditors, the two girls cling to each other. Melissa has to grow up quickly to care for her sister, which leaves her vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous people willing to use her situation to their own advantage. It’s a sadly common narrative in today’s society.

There are many comparisons to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl," and this does feel like a modernised retelling. Sadly, like the earlier story, the plight of those most in need hasn’t improved much with societal advancements. There are plenty of kind people around the girls who want to help but are held back by modern society’s hesitation to intrude. The story highlights this "neglect by politeness."

Some of the translations feel a bit off. Often it’s the phrasing, which I assume reflects Norwegian speech patterns but feels disjointed in English. At times, literal translations are confusing, like when characters have to straighten the "glitter" on their head or wear "glitter" around their neck, which I can only assume means tinsel. These little things broke the narrative for me.

The ending is deliberately left open, which might not appeal to everyone, but however you interpret it, this book will leave you heartbroken for two little girls trying to survive in a “kind” but ultimately ineffectual society.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely love all things Christmas and have always wanted to go to Norway, so I wanted to read this lovely book from the moment I saw the gorgeous cover and read the blurb. It did not disappoint. A magical little tale of two sisters, Ronja and Melissa. Their story was hard to read sometimes, and very heartbreaking. I felt so much for them, let down by the person who should have been the one to keep them safe and provided for. A very emotional story, but I’m not sure how I feel about that ending. It led me feeling vaguely unsatisfied. I still loved this though, thank you Netgalley and the publisher.

This was such a sad, eye-opening, and thought-provoking read. I would gladly give this book five stars over and over again. Ronja and Melissa both live lives that are all too familiar to many individuals and I found a sense of nostalgia within the writing. This was a simple read that allowed me to get soaked in the storyline through a child’s Christmas joy and anticipation. I highly recommend!

Posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6575989800

Brightly Shining is a Christmas story about two sisters, Ronja and Melissa, and their struggles with an alcoholic and perpetually unemployed father. A kindly neighbor plants a seed about a job selling Christmas trees in Ronja's mind for her father, who wrestles daily with his parental responsibilities and temptations of addiction, often putting the job (and his family) at risk. The sisters boldly take matters into their own hands, working at the stand and charming customers, managing to take care of themselves and their father, while staying under the radar of child services. There are glimpses of dreams past and future of wanting a better life. The story is told from a child's perspective and is heartwarming and honest. It's far from an idyllic Christmas story yet is raw and honest about the maladies that besiege many families. The language is sometimes whimsical, incorporating subtle elements of magical realism to depict the strength of sisterhood, the kindness of strangers, how family can be created through community, and how one can find humor and tenderness in any situation if they so choose.

Beautifully written and translated story set around Christmas time.
Shattering, because parents are awful (or they can be) yet hopeful, because it takes a lot to have a child despair.

Seen through the eyes of a 10 year old, this book tells the story of two sisters and a father in the days leading up to Christmas. The opening pages are innocent enough but soon it becomes rather clear that pasta with ketchup is a daily dinner - that is: if there’s money for food. It’s also clear that yes, Dad does love them very much, but there’s something in the world that he just loves more.

I don’t want to give anything away, as I started reading it without any knowledge at all and that made for such a discovering read.

I always marvel at book that have such easy sentences in them, that are so sharp and clear they cut like knives. This book is full of them, and only after I finished I realised not ONE gave me pause, meaning not ONE sentence felt like it was translated.

I've shelved it at Goodreads as "buy"

3.5★s
Brightly Shining is a Christmas-themed novella by prize-winning Norwegian author, Ingvild Rishoi. It is translated by Caroline Waight. In the Norwegian town of Toyen, ten-year-old Macaronja and her sixteen-year-old sister, Melissa are saddled with a chronically unemployed father. The widower loves his daughters, but he’s weak. It might be grief that sees him in bars in the company of dissolute characters and (possibly loose) women, drinking more and for longer than is compatible with keeping a job.

This puts the sisters under threat of intervention by social services, something that Ronja has seen happen to other children, and thus dreads. But there are adults watching out for the girls, concerned for their welfare. In November, one of these has a suggestion for a job for their father: Christmas tree seller.

It all goes well for a while: there’s food on the table and Dad is in his responsible phase. It comes apart when he gets an advance from his employer, ostensibly for Christmas gifts and treats, much of which is spent when Dad gives in to the temptation one of his drinking pals presents.

When he fails to turn up for the job, Melissa decides the only way to cover the debt is to work his job herself, before school and in the evenings. It leaves her exhausted, and Ronja lonely. Hanging around the tree-selling site allows Ronja to avoid her drunken father and their nosy neighbour, and is tolerated by Melissa’s manager, and soon Ronja’s cuteness is selling product. But the owner, Herman Eriksen is an ogre who objects to Ronja’s participation and even her presence: she is banned.

Rishoi paints a fairly realistic picture of a family in crisis, very sad and moving. As Ronja connects and begins to trust those who care for her, there’s plenty to like about this tale, but as the situation deteriorates, it seems like the author paints herself into a corner, and resorts to magic realism for a resolution that is rather unsatisfactory but apparently appeals to many, given the high ratings. Beautifully written.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grove Atlantic

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Norway is a truly magical place, powered by nature and deep in lore of trolls and Norse mythology. For sisters, Ronja and Melissa, this Christmas season is bleak and it is a struggle for their family to even keep food on the table. A new job selling
Christmas trees provides a glimmer of promise for a merrier holiday season until they are let down by their father yet again. Doing the best she can in a desolate situation, Melissa takes over the job. Brightly Shining is a exquisite and uniquely told Christmas tale about finding hope in even when life has got you down. This is such an enchanting Christmas tale that is certainly worthy of a revisit every year.

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!