An easy enough read but I got confused with the timelines at points and didn't really feel that there was a lot of point to Kate's parts.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was a good read with great characters. Not a conventional love story but a love story all the same. The descriptions of both Cecilie and Hectors lives give a vivid and vibrant picture and you can easily imagine them as real. The input of Kate was at first a little strange and incomprehensible but became clearer later on.

A decent read

first of all i would like to thank the publishers Boldwood and Zoe herself for letting me review such a wonderful read .

I read Zoe's last book and i fell in love it very much , i got to meet Zoe last year i can tell you she is a wonderful person and i love her imagination,she loves diving in to the human emotion and the way we think as humans when it comes to love or any emotion she says it like it is i think that is wonderful .
The plot to this book i did not see coming very different ,the fact the characters have not yet got to meet each other i am always sceptical of romance like this ,but wow Zoe writing made it so dreamy yet real all at the same time that is power of good writing .she so clever at making you feel what the Characters is feeling . loved how it was a small town vibe , with them learning about each other's life . you can see that Ceclie and Hector are soul mates to be so different yet just the same . i loved all the characters , they all blended so well, I loved their personality you could really connect with them all .

i think if you love Zoe books you will love this just as much highly recommend .

i am giving the book 5 emotionally charged stars

Your reaction to this book might depend a little on your expectations. Yes, it really is the “utterly gorgeous romantic read” the publishers promised – but it was never going to be a conventional love story when Hector lives in Mexico and Cecilie in Norway, both living very different lives on opposite sides of the world. Their initial common ground is a love of Depeche Mode, as they “meet” on a fan forum – but their on-line relationship slowly develops into something considerably more.

We learn about their lives through a really innovative but easily followed timeline. Cecilie lives a small life, never having travelled, the mother who she lives with in some luxury a rarely present politician, her father having committed suicide by jumping from the harbour bridge – but she’s quietly quirky and fiercely independent, works different jobs at the library and a few cafes, has a number of close friends and a good relationship with her brother. Generally, she’s very “together”, but there are developments in her life that throw her off kilter, and Hector’s support – albeit at such a distance – becomes increasingly central to her well being.

Hector, now a commercial artist, had a very different upbringing – his care was shared by his grandfather and the local orphanage he still supports. Through his own relationships, he finds it increasingly difficult to distance himself from a former dissolute lifestyle and the involvement of gangs in his everyday life – and his much-needed connection with Cecilie provides a stability that becomes more and more important to him. And that timeline? It swirls, but is always clearly signposted – we’re there for their tentative early contact, through the heartbreak of Hector’s marriage and its aftermath, through their breaks in contact, and into the present day when the possibility of them meeting becomes real.

There is an additional complication to the story’s telling – a third point of view in Kate, a mother of three in England, endeavouring to cope with the suspected infidelity of her husband. We slowly learn that she and Hector have a past – a very distant one, when she helped out in the orphanage as a teen. Her particularly touching story unfolds along a separate track – it was one I rather enjoyed – with all three of their lives converging towards the book’s end.

However unusual the story’s telling or its highly original premise, something the author does incredibly well is to bring her characters to life on the page, to make them sympathetic and real, and to make you believe in the love story that’s slowly building through their on-line exchanges. I particularly loved Cecilie, with the vulnerability and lack of confidence that she conceals behind her less than conventional appearance – the dreadlocks and DMs – and her determination to be always in control, but with a heart that’s open to love and very easily broken. But I really felt for Hector too – so very much to cope with, and so difficult to find a way through it all.

As you might expect if you’ve read her other books, the author’s emotional touch is just perfect throughout – but the other thing she does particularly well is to capture the very different cultures. I suspect there might be those who’d question the authenticity of the Mexican setting, its general seediness and the level of threat and violence – but it certainly felt wholly real to me. And I particularly loved the depiction of Tromso in Norway – on the edge of the Arctic circle, and I could feel the cold in my bones while admiring its icy calm through the quite wonderful descriptions. And I am deliberately avoiding any mention of the book’s ending – but it was every bit as perfect as I wanted it to be, particularly well handled throughout the closing chapters, and not without a few painful stumbles as the final hurdle drew closer.

If you like your romance trope-focused and smoothly told through a rather more simple sequence of events, I’d understand if you might think this book isn’t for you. And yes, it really is very different – but that was what I’d rather expected (perhaps even hoped for…), and I always rather enjoy it when an author steps outside conventions a little and absolutely nails it. I have to say, this was a book I really loved – and the author is most certainly one I’ll be adding to my personal favourites.

Under One Sky” is an interesting, multi characters read. As the story unfolds, you learn of the challenges and perspectives of each. As well, their stories intertwine. The story is set from Norway to Mexico to Paris. It was a solid read. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advance read. You can pick this book up March 4th on its publication date.

Under One Sky by Zoe Follbig, I love the get to know you romance created in this author‘s books and I found this one to be a little different from her other books. I love the way Cecily and Hector were almost faded to be together and had many missed encounters but I did not like the way Cecily would go off into some daydream I mean I really had to stop and wonder if the author was making her clairvoyant or psychic or was she just daydreaming for daydreaming sake. it also irritated me with the third POV of Katie in England because until you know why she’s even talked about it’s just some random person story but having said all that negative I would still recommend this book. There’s a lot to love about the authors books and I have read many of them and love most. She really has a knack for riding a great story and although this one wasn’t one of my favorites I definitely still recommend it. I also want to say I was so rooting for Hector‘s happy ending because despite his fraud childhood he seemed like such a likable guy.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #ZoeFalberg, #UnderOneSky,

Zoe Folbigg delivers an emotionally rich and beautifully written story in Under One Sky, weaving together themes of love, fate, and human connection in a way that is both heartwarming and deeply moving.

The story follows multiple characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways, creating a tapestry of emotions and experiences that feel authentic and relatable. Folbigg’s writing is lyrical and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the different perspectives and the overarching theme of how people are connected despite distance, time, and circumstances.

What stood out most to me was the depth of emotion in the storytelling. Each character’s journey is compelling, filled with moments of joy, heartbreak, and hope. The pacing is steady, allowing each storyline to develop naturally, and by the end, everything comes together in a satisfying and poignant way.

Folbigg has a talent for capturing human emotions with authenticity, and Under One Sky is a perfect example of that. It’s a novel that reminds us of the power of love, destiny, and the invisible threads that tie us all together.

Having read other Zoe Folbigg books I was thrilled to receive this ARC.
This took a little bit of perseverance to get into it and despite incredible contrasting settings I struggled to connect with the main characters.
Kate- a married mother of three with a husband who really needed to try harder.
Hector- a Mexican political cartoonist who spent much of his adolescence in a orphanage.
Cecile- a Norwegian twin in love with a stranger half a world away.

I was really looking forward to reading this novel, but ultimately this missed the mark for me. It was distracting that there were multiple POVs and multiple timelines as well. I would not recommend.

A really interesting read. I loved Cecile and Hector's story after they meet on line it's a complicated relationship as they live in different countries and there is so much more to learn about each other. There are plenty of interesting characters woven into to story which make you want to keep reading I was really rooting for them to finally get together. I really enjoyed it

I have read and enjoyed Zoe Folbigg's books before so I was looking forward to reading this free ARC from Netgalley and Boldwood. On the whole this book was okay. I found some of the characters irritating, the writing waffled at times and the timeline was confusing. A sub plot based in England wasn't required and I almost felt it was part of another book. However, the cultural backgrounds of the characters were interesting.and the ending bright everything together.

I was very excited about this book until I realised I read it years ago. I liked it a lot back then :). But it is currently sitting in my Little Library- I do recommend my neighbours to pick this up.

This is the story of an online love affair between Cecile in Norway and Hector in Mexico. I liked the vast difference of the two countries and the background story of the two characters.
Hector is obviously a very flawed man as he kept up this online affair even after he was married. He didn't choose his wife very well as they didn't seem to love each other and as she grew further away from him towards his one time friend he did the same with Cecile..
There is also Kate who lives in England who was a girlfriend of Hectors twenty years ago and he cheated on her.
Although I liked Kate's story I didn't see the need for it. So three countries and two different timelines which I did find the different dates quite confusing.
An OK story but i was expecting more.

This book is worth persevering with, it took me a little while to get into it, but the writing is lovely and very evocative. The characters are flawed, not always likeable, and the hops in the time line do sometimes make for a slightly confusing read. Overall however the end is deeply satisfying and moving and I would recommend. Many thanks

🌍🖥The end justifies the reading journey💻🌎

4-4.5🌟 stars
That ending made the sad parts all worthwhile!

Having enjoyed the author's Five Days, I was looking forward to Under One Sky. Like the earlier novel, this one did not grab me until a ways into the story. But then I was hooked. All three viewpoints, from Cecilie in northern Norway, to Hector in Mexico, to Kate in suburban England, drew me in to their lives. Hector was the most difficult character for me but, really thinking about how difficult he had it growing up without his parents and escaping from Benny's shady influence, I eventually liked him too.

Good plot, flawed but interesting characters, some vivid descriptions of the natural beauties of the Arctic: rocky romance that I would recommend to readers who don't mind heartbreak on the table along the way.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Shared on 2/28/25 on Goodreads and Waterstones and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared with kobo and Google Play upon publication.

This novel mainly follows the love story of Cecilie and Hector, who are separated by an ocean and a series of life events.

I’m going to start by saying I liked this book – very much.

I did something I don’t normally do before I read it, which is look at other reviews as the star rating seemed rather low. Having read it myself, I think I know why, but I don’t believe it’s an issue with the book. The cover and blurb give the impression this book is a standard romance novel, possibly chick-lit territory. And I think some reviewers are probably disappointed because they haven’t got what they expected. I think this novel leans more into the literary fiction genre. Okay, it’s not at the level of The God Of Small Things or anything, but to me it was more reminiscent of Arundhati Roy’s style than a pulp fiction beach read.

It has time, place and perspective shifts (some of the latter I was less keen on, especially the momentary jumps to minor characters), lots of introversion and reflection, description of minute detail, exploration of cultural differences, and none of the paciness of a lot of popular fiction. Reading this novel takes a bit of effort, but in my opinion, it’s well worth it. There are shades of Gabriel García Márquez and Virginia Woolf in the narrative style, and I loved the evocative, contrasting descriptions of Norway and Mexico.

Sure, there are moments where the author slips into stereotypes (Manic Pixie Dream Girl, anyone?) and the language is a little overwrought. Plus, I understand why the Kate story is there but I’m not 100% convinced by the need for it. But this is a beautifully- AND cleverly-written novel with a satisfying resolution that got my cold, dead heart to actually feel something, which is quite an achievement. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Under One Sky by Zoe Folbrigg is a romance about two people who find connection despite the huge geographical distance between them. Cecile lives in Norway where she splits her time between three jobs in the small town where she grew up. She's never travelled outside Norway so the last thing she expected was to find friendship with a man from Mexico, but when she strikes up a conversation with Hector in an online music forum she soon finds herself wondering about his life. Hector is trying to break away from a tragic past and Cecile would have to take a huge leap out of her comfort zone , but the connection they both feel is too strong to resist.
There is also a third POV character, Kate, an English woman who met Hector when they were both teens. I honestly do not see the point of her character in the book, she adds nothing essential and just seems like a way to pad out a quite flimsy story. The book moves back and forth in time quite a bit and this was sometimes hard to keep track of, I found myself having to flip back to check far more often than I should have. I persevered because I wanted to see how the stories would tie together but unfortunately that did not pay off in any way that made up for my frustrations while reading. Unfortunately I just think this one is not for me.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC digital copy and the opportunity to read Under One Sky but I’m afraid this one wasn’t for me. It was well written but I found it very confusing as it jumped between Norway, Mexico and England, plus I felt that there was a lot of extraneous detail the reader didn’t need to know , information that wasn’t necessary and added to the confusion but nothing to the story. Told from the perspective of the three main characters, Cecilie, Hector & Kate, I felt it should have had great potential but for me it simply didn’t gel. I almost gave up at 25% and then again at 59% , however , in order to give a fair review I managed to read to the end, but it was a struggle.

I really liked the story, but the writing style just didn't work for me. I really wasn't invested in the characters and the outcome until about 60% thru. I'm glad I stuck it out cause I loved the ending! The time jumps and the way viewpoints changed just confused me sometimes, and I had to go back and figure out when we were. I just spent a lot of time confused. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!

I thought I would love this book but, unfortunately I didn't. It was confusing and muddled and the names were hard to get my head around. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.