This book started off quite strong. I usually love a quiet novel, and as someone who’s just passed their driving test relatively late in life (28 to the protagonist’s 40 but still), I found Sonja quite relatable. But the book loses what little steam it had to begin with about halfway through, and I found myself caring less. It meanders through Sonja’s (occasionally humorous) interactions with the various people in her life, which I liked, and her childhood memories, which I didn’t. These didn’t really serve a purpose in my eyes, and only derailed my attention. If you’re going to read some Nors, I’d recommend Wild Swims or Minna Needs Rehearsal Space instead!

Translated from the Danish by Misha Hoekstra