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Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman's Long Road Home
A must-read for the millions who suffer from chronic illness, Soul-Happy is an inspiring and poetic account of navigating away from shame and life-threatening disease and into redemption and grace through a commitment to hard truths and unconditional love.
Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them—starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada—when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path—only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again.
In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves—and the lives they dream of having—when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman’s downhill slide after she falls for “the wrong kind of love,” and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them—starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada—when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path—only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again.
In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves—and the lives they dream of having—when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman’s downhill slide after she falls for “the wrong kind of love,” and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
312 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Anette Nilsson really poured her heart out in this book. I enjoyed reading this memoir. Nette tells us about her move to Toronto Canada to attend University, and how she met her husband who ended up being a volatile man. Her marriage was making her unhappy and then she faces a life threatening physical health condition that charges the direction of her life. Nette is such a strong, inspiring woman who faces her challenges and finds her way to happiness again through faith and spirituality. The way she makes you feel like you can get through hard times was so refreshing and positive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
March 25, 2026
Soul‑Happy is one of those memoirs that doesn’t just tell a story — it invites you into someone’s hardest truths and asks you to sit with them for a while. It’s honest, reflective, and deeply human, and it lingers long after you close the book. A solid 4‑star read for me.
Nette Nilsson begins her journey full of ambition and possibility, leaving Denmark to build a life she can be proud of. And then she falls into a relationship that slowly erodes her confidence, her joy, and her sense of self. The way she describes that unraveling — the subtle shifts, the compromises, the moments she ignored her own instincts — feels painfully familiar. It’s not dramatic; it’s real. And that’s what makes it hit so hard.
Just when she begins to reclaim her life, she’s confronted with a life‑threatening illness that forces every buried truth to the surface. The physical battle is frightening, but the emotional one is just as powerful. She has to face family secrets, old wounds, and the parts of herself she learned to hide. Her healing isn’t linear or pretty — it’s slow, raw, and full of hard-won clarity.
What makes the memoir shine is Nilsson’s voice. She writes with a poet’s eye and a survivor’s honesty. There’s no self‑pity, no dramatics — just a woman telling the truth about what it costs to lose yourself, and what it takes to come home to who you really are.
If anything keeps it from being a full five stars, it’s that some sections circle the same emotional territory a bit too long. But the heart of the story is strong, and the message is powerful.
A thoughtful, compassionate 4‑star memoir about trauma, resilience, and the long, brave road back to yourself.
Nette Nilsson begins her journey full of ambition and possibility, leaving Denmark to build a life she can be proud of. And then she falls into a relationship that slowly erodes her confidence, her joy, and her sense of self. The way she describes that unraveling — the subtle shifts, the compromises, the moments she ignored her own instincts — feels painfully familiar. It’s not dramatic; it’s real. And that’s what makes it hit so hard.
Just when she begins to reclaim her life, she’s confronted with a life‑threatening illness that forces every buried truth to the surface. The physical battle is frightening, but the emotional one is just as powerful. She has to face family secrets, old wounds, and the parts of herself she learned to hide. Her healing isn’t linear or pretty — it’s slow, raw, and full of hard-won clarity.
What makes the memoir shine is Nilsson’s voice. She writes with a poet’s eye and a survivor’s honesty. There’s no self‑pity, no dramatics — just a woman telling the truth about what it costs to lose yourself, and what it takes to come home to who you really are.
If anything keeps it from being a full five stars, it’s that some sections circle the same emotional territory a bit too long. But the heart of the story is strong, and the message is powerful.
A thoughtful, compassionate 4‑star memoir about trauma, resilience, and the long, brave road back to yourself.
October 14, 2025
I was a Beta Reader for Soul-Happy and I can confidently say…Anette created a beautiful masterpiece. A tale of the frailty of life and the beauty of living. Soul-Happy is a riveting piece, masterfully crafted by a brilliant mind. This story is a gift to mankind, a tale that must be told and thankfully Anette blessed us with the gift of telling it.
I will definitely be reading again once it’s released.
I will definitely be reading again once it’s released.
November 2, 2025
honored to have been chosen as a beta reader. Soul-Happy had me glued to her pages from Start to finish. An incredibly inspiring story that has helped me in my own chronic illness journey. Definitely recommend it!
June 1, 2026
Anmeldelse af “Soul-Happy” af Anette Nilsson - She writes press - anmeldereksemplar
Bogen er mit første møde med denne forfatter og jeg glæder mig til at komme igang med bogen. Det er ikke en genre som bliver set så meget af i DK, så jeg er helt klart nysgerrig på hvad den kan.
A must-read for the millions who suffer from chronic illness, Soul-Happy is an inspiring and poetic account of navigating away from shame and life-threatening disease and into redemption and grace through a commitment to hard truths and unconditional love. Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them--starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada--when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path--only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again. In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves--and the lives they dream of having--when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman's downhill slide after she falls for "the wrong kind of love," and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
Vurdering:
Der ligger flere ting i titlen, så jeg var ikke helt sikker på, hvad det var, som jeg gik indtil. Men når det er sagt så er det en bog, med enormt meget på sinde i flere planer. Forfatteren tager læseren i hånden hele vejen, mens man kommer igennem ligeså stille og man er på ingen måde alene, og det er virkelig rart. Sproget er i et forholdsvis til at gå til engelsk, og der er nogle som måske ikke er til at forstå, så tøver man ikke, da de bliver forklaret undervejs. Der er en masse billedsprog og lag, som bliver brugt i enormt godt og giver teksten endnu mere kant til fortællingen. Man får lov til at spejle sig i forfatteren og være en usynlig karakter som ser det hele på afstand.
Jeg giver 5 hjerter ud af 6 hjerter, fordi jeg synes at bogen er godt skrevet og man kan mærke, at forfatteren har meget på hjerte. En bog som også handler om at finde sig selv og starte et nyt liv igen. Det er en bog som har efterladt mig med masser af tanker og den har overrasket mig.
💙💛💚💙💚
Bogen er mit første møde med denne forfatter og jeg glæder mig til at komme igang med bogen. Det er ikke en genre som bliver set så meget af i DK, så jeg er helt klart nysgerrig på hvad den kan.
A must-read for the millions who suffer from chronic illness, Soul-Happy is an inspiring and poetic account of navigating away from shame and life-threatening disease and into redemption and grace through a commitment to hard truths and unconditional love. Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them--starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada--when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path--only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again. In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves--and the lives they dream of having--when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman's downhill slide after she falls for "the wrong kind of love," and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
Vurdering:
Der ligger flere ting i titlen, så jeg var ikke helt sikker på, hvad det var, som jeg gik indtil. Men når det er sagt så er det en bog, med enormt meget på sinde i flere planer. Forfatteren tager læseren i hånden hele vejen, mens man kommer igennem ligeså stille og man er på ingen måde alene, og det er virkelig rart. Sproget er i et forholdsvis til at gå til engelsk, og der er nogle som måske ikke er til at forstå, så tøver man ikke, da de bliver forklaret undervejs. Der er en masse billedsprog og lag, som bliver brugt i enormt godt og giver teksten endnu mere kant til fortællingen. Man får lov til at spejle sig i forfatteren og være en usynlig karakter som ser det hele på afstand.
Jeg giver 5 hjerter ud af 6 hjerter, fordi jeg synes at bogen er godt skrevet og man kan mærke, at forfatteren har meget på hjerte. En bog som også handler om at finde sig selv og starte et nyt liv igen. Det er en bog som har efterladt mig med masser af tanker og den har overrasket mig.
💙💛💚💙💚
March 25, 2026
Because it’s a memoir, the book carries a quiet authenticity. The reflections feel earned, not theoretical, and the encouragement lands with more weight. You’re not just reading guidance, you’re witnessing someone navigate their own emotional landscape and come out lighter on the other side.
This gives the book a companion‑like quality, the kind you reach for when you want to feel grounded, understood, or simply reminded that growth can be soft. A much needed reminder for myself during some current growth of my own.
Thank you Anette for sharing your story, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
This gives the book a companion‑like quality, the kind you reach for when you want to feel grounded, understood, or simply reminded that growth can be soft. A much needed reminder for myself during some current growth of my own.
Thank you Anette for sharing your story, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
April 8, 2026
A beautiful memoir of loss, grief and healing. Inspiring and compelling! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
April 12, 2026
Soul Happy is a deeply moving and beautifully honest story of resilience, healing, and rediscovery
Anette Nilsson’s journey from her early dreams in Denmark to building a life in Toronto and later New York unfolds with such vulnerability that it feels less like reading a memoir and more like sitting beside a friend who is bravely telling her truth.
What makes Soul Happy so powerful is its quiet courage. It explores how easy it is to silence our intuition in pursuit of love, belonging, or the life we think we should want. Nette’s story of navigating privilege, pain, illness, and ultimately self reclamation is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
From her time at University of Toronto and Queens College, CUNY to building a life across places like Minneapolis, Nilsson brings depth and perspective to a journey that is as internal as it is external.
This memoir is a beautiful reminder that healing is possible and that reclaiming your voice can be the beginning of truly living.
Anette Nilsson’s journey from her early dreams in Denmark to building a life in Toronto and later New York unfolds with such vulnerability that it feels less like reading a memoir and more like sitting beside a friend who is bravely telling her truth.
What makes Soul Happy so powerful is its quiet courage. It explores how easy it is to silence our intuition in pursuit of love, belonging, or the life we think we should want. Nette’s story of navigating privilege, pain, illness, and ultimately self reclamation is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
From her time at University of Toronto and Queens College, CUNY to building a life across places like Minneapolis, Nilsson brings depth and perspective to a journey that is as internal as it is external.
This memoir is a beautiful reminder that healing is possible and that reclaiming your voice can be the beginning of truly living.
May 14, 2026
I just want to start off by saying thank you to the author for making herself vulnerable , for being honest , real and dealing with subjects that many find taboo …. I salute you !
Nette leaves her home country of Denmark to chase her dreams and then she meets her husband and ends up living in New York and life isn’t what she hoped it be but there comes a time where say enough is enough , what about me and she decides to put herself first for a change because how do we fill others cups when our own is empty ?!
So many people ( I find more women than men) just blank out trauma and events in life that change them but suppressing it and just getting on with it backfires at times and then we crash or our bodies physically get ill and life would be so much easier if we just communicate or face things that come our way but sometimes it seems easier to ignore it than deal with it , does that make sense !?
Recently a loved one was thought to have had a stroke but it was neurological disfunction caused by stress and symptoms manifest strike like symptoms ! There’s only so much us humans can cope with … we need to talk and not suppress it’s like shaking a coke bottle and expecting it not to explode 🤷♀️
This a reminder not to let things or people define you , stay true to who you are , forgive because resentment eats you alive , don’t let setbacks keep you back , rise from the ashes 🥰
Look I think I cried more than I laughed but at the end of the day this is a read that so many could identify with and it makes you think and feel 🤗
Nette leaves her home country of Denmark to chase her dreams and then she meets her husband and ends up living in New York and life isn’t what she hoped it be but there comes a time where say enough is enough , what about me and she decides to put herself first for a change because how do we fill others cups when our own is empty ?!
So many people ( I find more women than men) just blank out trauma and events in life that change them but suppressing it and just getting on with it backfires at times and then we crash or our bodies physically get ill and life would be so much easier if we just communicate or face things that come our way but sometimes it seems easier to ignore it than deal with it , does that make sense !?
Recently a loved one was thought to have had a stroke but it was neurological disfunction caused by stress and symptoms manifest strike like symptoms ! There’s only so much us humans can cope with … we need to talk and not suppress it’s like shaking a coke bottle and expecting it not to explode 🤷♀️
This a reminder not to let things or people define you , stay true to who you are , forgive because resentment eats you alive , don’t let setbacks keep you back , rise from the ashes 🥰
Look I think I cried more than I laughed but at the end of the day this is a read that so many could identify with and it makes you think and feel 🤗
May 3, 2026
Anette Nilsson grew up in a small Danish town with big dreams, and she got them. What she didn't expect was how hollow they'd feel. The glossy American life she built looked like success from the outside, but from the inside it was quietly falling apart — and this book is her unflinching account of how she found her way back to herself.
What sets it apart is the honesty. There's no softening of the hard parts — the illness, the betrayal, the family secrets she had to face — but there's also real humor running through it, and a kind of fierce, Nordic no-nonsense resilience that I found deeply refreshing. Nilsson doesn't ask for your sympathy. She just tells you the truth.
Highly recommend to anyone who's ever felt like they were performing a life rather than living one.
What sets it apart is the honesty. There's no softening of the hard parts — the illness, the betrayal, the family secrets she had to face — but there's also real humor running through it, and a kind of fierce, Nordic no-nonsense resilience that I found deeply refreshing. Nilsson doesn't ask for your sympathy. She just tells you the truth.
Highly recommend to anyone who's ever felt like they were performing a life rather than living one.
May 12, 2026
An honest memoir that leads from Denmark to Canada and later to New York. She had bokeh relationships, trauma, family secrets, and new found independence, healing spiritual and physical after a medical crisis. I normally dont choose to read memoirs unless its someone i know from television or music but Im so glad i had chosen to give this book a read. This book is easy to read and follow once you get past her childhood section on to our version of high school years and after. I really enjoyed this story and I think you will as well. We’ve all been through things and her story will resonate with you, especially women.
May 13, 2026
Soul Happy is an inspiring story. I understood how she got pulled into a life that was not happy for her but felt like it should be. Its hard to listen to your gut and follow what you want and need when you have a horrible toxic person telling you the opposite and manipulating you. I think women should read this because I felt it gave me perspective and courage to remember who I am and what I want in my life. I also understand getting a diagnosis you were not expecting. I love how she looks at the wholistic ways of healing. I also love her sense of humor. You will feel Nette’s joy and pain through this whole book. Loved it.
May 9, 2026
This story is very relatable on so many levels. Heartbreaking yet full of hope and future. The lessons, the healing, is well written and reaches that part of you that has experienced similar life experiences. The ability to drop in bits of laughter and fun help strengthen the connection you have with the character and her life. I was not sure about this book at first bit I am so glad I picked it up. Do read it. Definitely recommend
April 24, 2026
4 Stars
Soul-Happy By Anette Nilsson
Soul-Happy is a beautifully written Memoir that took me on an emotional journey through her life story. There was a lot of heart,soul,raw emotions poured into this book and I felt it all. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect going in but man am I glad I took the chance. I found myself kinda relating with Nette a lot more than I probably should. We go along with her as she leaves Denmark to go to university and later meets Cal whom is American. After a quick marriage she finds herself not really happy and he’s not who she thought he was. Through all the changes that were thrown her way she now has to learn to live again. I could go on and on. I will say this was one of my favorite memoirs I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend reading and I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
Soul-Happy By Anette Nilsson
Soul-Happy is a beautifully written Memoir that took me on an emotional journey through her life story. There was a lot of heart,soul,raw emotions poured into this book and I felt it all. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect going in but man am I glad I took the chance. I found myself kinda relating with Nette a lot more than I probably should. We go along with her as she leaves Denmark to go to university and later meets Cal whom is American. After a quick marriage she finds herself not really happy and he’s not who she thought he was. Through all the changes that were thrown her way she now has to learn to live again. I could go on and on. I will say this was one of my favorite memoirs I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend reading and I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
March 27, 2026
Soul-Happy by Anette Nilsson is an inspiring, moving, and heartwarming memoir. I don't normally read memoirs, but im gonna be honest, the cover and blurb drew me in, and I stayed for the beautiful journey. Its told in such a poetic way, I just had to read through it. Im really glad I did!
May 10, 2026
A Soul Happy by Anette Nilsson is an emotional memior. This book is inspiring. She went through so much trama and then she found herself once more. Most of us has been through things that they had to find themselves. It is definetly a book that you should pick up!
May 12, 2026
This book was phenomenal!!
Her memoir was so open an honest
Moving to Toronto and meeting her husband.
The ups and downs and all between!
This wasn't just a story but truly she invited us into her life and was raw and bare
Her memoir was so open an honest
Moving to Toronto and meeting her husband.
The ups and downs and all between!
This wasn't just a story but truly she invited us into her life and was raw and bare
June 25, 2026
Advanced copy given to me for a review:
Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman’s Love, Loss, and Quest for Healing is a raw, emotional, and inspiring memoir about resilience, self-discovery, and finding your way back to yourself. Anette Nilsson beautifully shares her journey through toxic relationships, chronic illness, and hidden trauma with honesty and vulnerability. While some parts are heartbreaking, the message of hope, healing, and unconditional love shines through every page. This is a powerful read for anyone who has ever lost themselves while loving the wrong person or faced challenges that seemed impossible to overcome. A moving reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim your strength and choose a happier life.
Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman’s Love, Loss, and Quest for Healing is a raw, emotional, and inspiring memoir about resilience, self-discovery, and finding your way back to yourself. Anette Nilsson beautifully shares her journey through toxic relationships, chronic illness, and hidden trauma with honesty and vulnerability. While some parts are heartbreaking, the message of hope, healing, and unconditional love shines through every page. This is a powerful read for anyone who has ever lost themselves while loving the wrong person or faced challenges that seemed impossible to overcome. A moving reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim your strength and choose a happier life.
March 29, 2026
Anette is a warrior without a doubt, and her story was a page turner for me. It was hard to read at times, and it must have been even harder to write. It’s an important story of resilience that demonstrates the importance of speaking up for ourselves in a health care system that, unfortunately, imposes many hurdles and can be more focused on the bottom line than on the patient.
May 12, 2026
Anette Nilsson’s Soul Happy: A Viking Woman’s Long Road Home brought me to tears more than once. With every chapter, I found myself thinking her story couldn’t possibly get any harder, and then somehow it did.
Coming from a dysfunctional family myself and dealing with my own chronic health struggles, I saw so many parallels between Nilsson’s experiences and my own life. One of the most heartbreaking parts of her story was being separated from her only child. As a mother to an only child/daughter, I honestly cannot imagine that kind of pain. I don’t know how I would survive it myself.
While Nilsson’s story is undeniably sad, it is also one of resilience, conviction, and learning to truly listen to your body and soul. She writes honestly about understanding what nourishes you, what drains you, and what it means to finally see yourself clearly from the inside out. In the end, her journey shows that real healing begins when you reconnect with yourself in the deepest and most honest way possible.
Coming from a dysfunctional family myself and dealing with my own chronic health struggles, I saw so many parallels between Nilsson’s experiences and my own life. One of the most heartbreaking parts of her story was being separated from her only child. As a mother to an only child/daughter, I honestly cannot imagine that kind of pain. I don’t know how I would survive it myself.
While Nilsson’s story is undeniably sad, it is also one of resilience, conviction, and learning to truly listen to your body and soul. She writes honestly about understanding what nourishes you, what drains you, and what it means to finally see yourself clearly from the inside out. In the end, her journey shows that real healing begins when you reconnect with yourself in the deepest and most honest way possible.
May 12, 2026
4.4 Stars
This was a deeply moving and sometimes difficult read, made all the more heartwrenching by the fact that these things actually happened to the author. I adored the way she wrote about her childhood, the ease of happiness and the care-free soul-happiness she found during that time. It's something I think most people can relate to, especially if they grew up in a safe, mostly happy home, where difficult things and family secrets are kept hidden. When that illusion is shattered later in life by the revelation of these secrets, it can be a bitter pill to swallow, a grief that echoes through our past and threatens to destroy even the most precious of memories. Nilsson captures that feeling perfectly in her memoir, especially as certain family secrets come to light.
I thought the way she wrote about her marriage was incredible, but absolutely heartbreaking. She showed how such relationships don’t take all at once, but slowly chip away at you, moulding you and shaping you into someone you eventually don’t even recognise. This somewhat hit home for me. I remembered previous relationships I had been in where they were the same, and how, when the relationship ended, it took some time for me to feel right in my skin. I remember how difficult it was to fully shake them, so hats off to Nilsson for her resilience and bravery, and for writing in such an open and deeply honest way.
Her talking about her chronic illness also really hit home for me. I have a chronic illness that mostly makes me deal with quite a lot of pain daily, so it was a difficult but almost cathartic read. The way she wrote about her experience was so honest, and really got to the heart of what it truly feels like to deal with having a chronic health issue.
I don’t usually read memoirs, but I am so glad that I picked this one up. It was an incredibly emotional read, and Nilsson writes wonderfully. If you’re looking for a memoir to read, then you’ve found it.
This was a deeply moving and sometimes difficult read, made all the more heartwrenching by the fact that these things actually happened to the author. I adored the way she wrote about her childhood, the ease of happiness and the care-free soul-happiness she found during that time. It's something I think most people can relate to, especially if they grew up in a safe, mostly happy home, where difficult things and family secrets are kept hidden. When that illusion is shattered later in life by the revelation of these secrets, it can be a bitter pill to swallow, a grief that echoes through our past and threatens to destroy even the most precious of memories. Nilsson captures that feeling perfectly in her memoir, especially as certain family secrets come to light.
I thought the way she wrote about her marriage was incredible, but absolutely heartbreaking. She showed how such relationships don’t take all at once, but slowly chip away at you, moulding you and shaping you into someone you eventually don’t even recognise. This somewhat hit home for me. I remembered previous relationships I had been in where they were the same, and how, when the relationship ended, it took some time for me to feel right in my skin. I remember how difficult it was to fully shake them, so hats off to Nilsson for her resilience and bravery, and for writing in such an open and deeply honest way.
Her talking about her chronic illness also really hit home for me. I have a chronic illness that mostly makes me deal with quite a lot of pain daily, so it was a difficult but almost cathartic read. The way she wrote about her experience was so honest, and really got to the heart of what it truly feels like to deal with having a chronic health issue.
I don’t usually read memoirs, but I am so glad that I picked this one up. It was an incredibly emotional read, and Nilsson writes wonderfully. If you’re looking for a memoir to read, then you’ve found it.
April 9, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📖 enjoy reading memoirs
😷 ever battled a life threatening illness
💍 married the wrong person
😭 looking for a book that’ll give you all the feels
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them—starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada—when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path—only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again.
In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves—and the lives they dream of having—when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman’s downhill slide after she falls for “the wrong kind of love,” and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
What an incredible memoir. Anette really poured her heart and soul into her story. I really enjoyed learning about her life growing up in Denmark, a country I’ve always wanted to visit! I felt every part of her life so deeply, and I really resonated with her pain and heartbreak, especially when it came to the man she married who completely destroyed her in every way. I have experienced too many of those relationships myself, so I was really able to empathize with her in that aspect. The information about her illness was even more difficult though. I was so angry alongside her. This is a moving memoir that really puts you in someone else’s shoes.
📖 enjoy reading memoirs
😷 ever battled a life threatening illness
💍 married the wrong person
😭 looking for a book that’ll give you all the feels
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them—starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada—when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path—only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again.
In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves—and the lives they dream of having—when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman’s downhill slide after she falls for “the wrong kind of love,” and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
What an incredible memoir. Anette really poured her heart and soul into her story. I really enjoyed learning about her life growing up in Denmark, a country I’ve always wanted to visit! I felt every part of her life so deeply, and I really resonated with her pain and heartbreak, especially when it came to the man she married who completely destroyed her in every way. I have experienced too many of those relationships myself, so I was really able to empathize with her in that aspect. The information about her illness was even more difficult though. I was so angry alongside her. This is a moving memoir that really puts you in someone else’s shoes.
March 27, 2026
The story is meant to inspire those who suffer from chronic illnesses, although we don’t really get into the chronic illness part of the story until the second half of the book. It’s an account of navigating away from shame, although it feels as though it is full of shame until the last few pages. The story is meant to reach a stage of redemption and grace after committing to hard truths and unconditional love, and whilst I believe the unconditional love between the narrator and her daughter was one of the most beautiful aspects of this book, I didn’t feel like there was much commitment to hard truths. Yes, there was an acknowledgement of a lot of hard truths that the narrator had to come to terms with, but it didn’t seem like the narrator accepted the part they played in those truths. She’d been through a lot of difficult experiences but never seemed to own up to the mistakes she made, just the ones everyone else made. And I think a hard truth that was never fully accepted is that the narrator had been neglecting their health, dismissing medical advice and then using that as an excuse to dismiss or blame health professionals further down the line when her health declined. It was interesting and relatable to see how a woman ended up in an unhappy relationship and unhappy life, and how she needed to overcome and learn things for the sake of her health, but I felt like I didn’t really get to see how she overcame things, or how she became soul-happy in the end. I do think the concept of this book is an important one, to raise awareness of the strong, intelligent women who lose themselves to toxic men, and how they can put themselves back together again. ‘She is dew, and I am morning; I am mist, and she is daybreak.’
November 30, 2025
Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman’s Long Road Home by Anette Nilsson is both a triumph and a testament to the healing power of truth. The author takes us on an unforgettable journey, from her soul-happy childhood in Denmark through the "beige" years of marriage and disconnection, a painful divorce, and ultimately a life-threatening illness that brought her face-to-face with what truly matters.
What makes this book remarkable is its unflinching honesty about the corrosive nature of secrecy, both in her biological family and her marriage. But this is not a story of defeat. It's a story of choosing faith over fear, again and again. The author's Viking stamina carries her through the darkest times, grounded in an internal strength rooted in spirituality and a deep understanding of the soul-body connection.
The descriptive language transports readers through moments of breathtaking beauty and raw vulnerability. The second half of the book becomes a powerful illness memoir, heartbreaking and tough to read (though far tougher to live). It also serves as an essential primer for medical professionals, illustrating both how NOT to treat patients and how a small amount of compassion and humanity can make all the difference.
Above all, this is a story about resilience, finding your way back to color, joy, and soul-happiness after years of merely surviving. Truth, as she discovers, really does heal.
Highly recommended for anyone navigating their own journey through loss, illness, or the search for authentic living.
What makes this book remarkable is its unflinching honesty about the corrosive nature of secrecy, both in her biological family and her marriage. But this is not a story of defeat. It's a story of choosing faith over fear, again and again. The author's Viking stamina carries her through the darkest times, grounded in an internal strength rooted in spirituality and a deep understanding of the soul-body connection.
The descriptive language transports readers through moments of breathtaking beauty and raw vulnerability. The second half of the book becomes a powerful illness memoir, heartbreaking and tough to read (though far tougher to live). It also serves as an essential primer for medical professionals, illustrating both how NOT to treat patients and how a small amount of compassion and humanity can make all the difference.
Above all, this is a story about resilience, finding your way back to color, joy, and soul-happiness after years of merely surviving. Truth, as she discovers, really does heal.
Highly recommended for anyone navigating their own journey through loss, illness, or the search for authentic living.
March 28, 2026
Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman's Long Road Home by Anette Nilsson.
4 of 5 Stars.
This is a wonderfully written memoir, full of emotion, which kept me captivated throughout. Anette Nilsson writes openly and honestly about her past and really lets us into her life, which makes it very easy to feel engaged with her. The memoir starts with Nette leaving Denmark with big dreams, and then attending university in Canada. It’s here that she meets and falls for American Cal and after a quick romance they marry. Although she finds herself living as she calls it, ‘a privileged life’, she is deeply unhappy and finds Cal to be increasingly volatile. Having realised she’s suffered too long Nette makes changes, however just as she begins a happier life she is faced with a life-threatening physical condition.
Suddenly she is faced with living with a chronic illness, and in her journey of healing she discovers family lies and hidden traumas. Having ignored her gut and lost herself, and the live she dreamed of having, her goal is to ‘find her own power again’. Nette not only had to deal with a toxic relationship but also come to terms with living with a chronic illness. She details this in such a poetic way that despite the uncomfortable issues raised, I found this to be an easy read which flowed well.
As someone with a chronic illness and a life-threatening condition myself, I found this memoir particularly emotional and inspiring.
4 of 5 Stars.
This is a wonderfully written memoir, full of emotion, which kept me captivated throughout. Anette Nilsson writes openly and honestly about her past and really lets us into her life, which makes it very easy to feel engaged with her. The memoir starts with Nette leaving Denmark with big dreams, and then attending university in Canada. It’s here that she meets and falls for American Cal and after a quick romance they marry. Although she finds herself living as she calls it, ‘a privileged life’, she is deeply unhappy and finds Cal to be increasingly volatile. Having realised she’s suffered too long Nette makes changes, however just as she begins a happier life she is faced with a life-threatening physical condition.
Suddenly she is faced with living with a chronic illness, and in her journey of healing she discovers family lies and hidden traumas. Having ignored her gut and lost herself, and the live she dreamed of having, her goal is to ‘find her own power again’. Nette not only had to deal with a toxic relationship but also come to terms with living with a chronic illness. She details this in such a poetic way that despite the uncomfortable issues raised, I found this to be an easy read which flowed well.
As someone with a chronic illness and a life-threatening condition myself, I found this memoir particularly emotional and inspiring.
August 24, 2026
Soul Happy: A Viking Woman’s Long Road Home is a deeply moving and inspiring memoir about love, identity, resilience, illness, and the difficult journey toward reclaiming one’s life. Anette Nilsson offers readers an intimate account of a woman who leaves Denmark for a new life in Canada, falls into a complicated relationship, and eventually finds herself confronting circumstances that force her to reconsider the choices, beliefs, and patterns that have shaped her life.
One of the memoir’s greatest strengths is its honesty about the process of losing oneself and finding the courage to return. Nette’s experiences with a toxic relationship, family secrets, hidden trauma, and a life-threatening physical condition create a powerful emotional journey in which survival becomes intertwined with self-discovery and personal transformation. Her willingness to confront painful truths gives the story an authenticity that makes its message of redemption and grace especially meaningful.
Readers interested in memoir, women’s stories, resilience, personal transformation, relationships, overcoming adversity, healing journeys, and inspirational nonfiction should find Soul-Happy especially compelling. Its exploration of how people can lose themselves in relationships and eventually reclaim their inner strength gives the memoir a universal quality, while Nette’s journey from Denmark to Canada and the United States adds a distinctive cultural and personal dimension.
One of the memoir’s greatest strengths is its honesty about the process of losing oneself and finding the courage to return. Nette’s experiences with a toxic relationship, family secrets, hidden trauma, and a life-threatening physical condition create a powerful emotional journey in which survival becomes intertwined with self-discovery and personal transformation. Her willingness to confront painful truths gives the story an authenticity that makes its message of redemption and grace especially meaningful.
Readers interested in memoir, women’s stories, resilience, personal transformation, relationships, overcoming adversity, healing journeys, and inspirational nonfiction should find Soul-Happy especially compelling. Its exploration of how people can lose themselves in relationships and eventually reclaim their inner strength gives the memoir a universal quality, while Nette’s journey from Denmark to Canada and the United States adds a distinctive cultural and personal dimension.
May 11, 2026
Soul Happy: A Viking Woman’s Long Road Home is a memoir about a Danish woman, Nette Nilsson, whose promising life derails after she becomes entangled in a toxic relationship and later faces a life threatening illness. Her journey becomes one of confronting buried trauma, reclaiming her identity, and rebuilding a life rooted in truth, resilience, and self love. Main themes in the memoir include trauma and healing, toxic relationships, identity loss and rediscovery, resilience, intuition, family secrets, and empowerment. The memoir follows Nette Nilsson, a Danish woman who leaves home for university in Toronto and is swept into a charismatic but damaging relationship that leads to an emotionally painful marriage. Just as she begins reclaiming her independence, a sudden and severe medical crisis forces her to confront long buried trauma, family secrets, and the ways she abandoned her own intuition. Her journey becomes one of rebuilding her life with honesty, courage, and self compassion. Nette is intelligent, driven, intuitive, and deeply reflective, yet vulnerable to emotional manipulation and self doubt. Her voice throughout the memoir is raw, honest, and unfiltered, showing both her strength and her fragility as she works to reclaim her sense of self. This memoir really resonated with me, and I found Nette’s story relatable as well as uplifting, courageous, and empowering.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Nette has really bared her life in this novel. She explores her past, her dysfunctional family and childhood as well as her open experiences during her schooling in Canada, to her volatile marriage to a man she can no longer stand. It was interesting to read how the author often connected past or childhood events to how she reacted to things throughout her life and how often we suffer way too long in silence. Often a life changing heath diagnosis will make someone really see life in a different way, and this was the wake up call that Nette needed. Through perseverance, strength and the will to want more for herself, Nette really takes the time to explore her life so far and she doesn't hold anything back. I enjoyed that she really did a deep dive into the mental, physical and spiritual parts of her life and wasn't afraid to put it in writing for others to learn from, relate to and know they can do it also. It's so easy to stay stuck because it's comfortable and feels safe even when it isn't. This was another eye opening memoir about one woman's strength to be happy and healthy again after putting herself back together. Thank you to the author and publisher for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
March 26, 2026
This was a really moving memoir. The author really opened their life to us and showed us everything. This story was eye opening, heartwarming and inspiring. Reading about someone’s journey and how they have overcome obstacles put in front of them makes this a really thought provoking and inspiring read.
We start with Annette’s journey from leaving her home in Denmark to marrying her husband, the painful relationship and divorce and then the shock and knock down of finding out after all that, that she has a life threatening illness. This is a story not about feeling pity but it is a story about learning what truly matters in life and embracing everything around you.
The author really deep dives into every aspect from the mental and physical to the past trauma and spiritual. It was refreshing and interesting how the author after reflection could relate back to her past experiences to explain some of her actions and reaction to the things happening to her. It was inspiring enough that it made me contemplate and look more into things in my own life.
This is a very inspiring story written in a way that is poetic and informative as well as open and honest which really makes it stand out to me. I am glad I picked this book up.
We start with Annette’s journey from leaving her home in Denmark to marrying her husband, the painful relationship and divorce and then the shock and knock down of finding out after all that, that she has a life threatening illness. This is a story not about feeling pity but it is a story about learning what truly matters in life and embracing everything around you.
The author really deep dives into every aspect from the mental and physical to the past trauma and spiritual. It was refreshing and interesting how the author after reflection could relate back to her past experiences to explain some of her actions and reaction to the things happening to her. It was inspiring enough that it made me contemplate and look more into things in my own life.
This is a very inspiring story written in a way that is poetic and informative as well as open and honest which really makes it stand out to me. I am glad I picked this book up.
May 11, 2026
Soul-Happy: A Viking Woman’s Long Road Home by Anette Nilsson is a deeply moving and inspiring memoir that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Nilsson writes with remarkable honesty and vulnerability, sharing her journey through toxic relationships, chronic illness, family trauma, and ultimately healing and self-discovery. Her storytelling is both poetic and raw, making the book incredibly hard to put down.
What I loved most was the emotional depth and resilience woven throughout the story. Even during the darkest moments, there is a powerful sense of hope, courage, and transformation. Nilsson’s voice feels authentic and relatable, and her reflections on healing — both physical and emotional — are thoughtful and empowering.
The book paints vivid scenes from Denmark, Toronto, and New York, while also exploring the inner journey of reclaiming one’s identity and strength. It’s more than a memoir; it’s a testament to survival, truth, and learning to choose yourself again.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional memoirs, stories of personal growth, and inspiring accounts of overcoming adversity. A beautifully written and unforgettable read.
What I loved most was the emotional depth and resilience woven throughout the story. Even during the darkest moments, there is a powerful sense of hope, courage, and transformation. Nilsson’s voice feels authentic and relatable, and her reflections on healing — both physical and emotional — are thoughtful and empowering.
The book paints vivid scenes from Denmark, Toronto, and New York, while also exploring the inner journey of reclaiming one’s identity and strength. It’s more than a memoir; it’s a testament to survival, truth, and learning to choose yourself again.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional memoirs, stories of personal growth, and inspiring accounts of overcoming adversity. A beautifully written and unforgettable read.
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