Adrift in Iceland

by Victoria Walker

When Leifur Magnússon's family fishing business becomes another casualty of Iceland's changing fishing industry, all he has left is his boat—and the weight of his father's legacy. Determined to honour the past while securing his future, he transforms his fishing vessel into a whale-watching tour boat, hoping the waters that once provided his livelihood might save him yet again.

Marine biologist Astrid Jonsdóttir returns to Iceland feeling like a stranger in her own homeland. After working for years in Norway, she's caught between worlds—no longer at home in Reykjavik, yet with nowhere else to go. When an unexpected opportunity arises to guide whale-watching tours for the summer, she finds herself aboard Leifur's converted fishing boat, navigating more than just Iceland's spectacular coastline.

As their love of the ocean brings them together, helping them overcome the difficulties of their new lives, what begins as a summer romance suddenly becomes something more. But can love flourish when both are still searching for where they truly belong?

Join Astrid and Leifur for a summer of whale-watching, storms and cosy nights out in Reykjavik with Gudrun, Jonas and the rest of the gang!

Genres: Romance

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Victoria Walker has been writing romantic fiction since a visit to Iceland in 2014 inspired her first novel. As well as writing, she spends her free time dressmaking, knitting and reading an inordinate amount of contemporary romance, occasionally punctuated by the odd psychological thriller and saga.

In the past she has worked as a cinema projectionist, a knitting and sewing tutor and has owned a yarn store, all things which will no doubt appear in her books if they haven't already.

Victoria lives in the Malvern Hills.

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being a proof reader for this book and let me say… it’s so magical 🫶 it really captures Iceland and even though it’s set in summer it’s so cosy and cutesy! I really love Leifur and Astrid 🥰 really WHOLESOME!!

[Lee-Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful instalment in the Iceland series from Victoria! This welcoming and fun group of young folk in Reykjavik are so engaging, that each new book feels like settling in for a comfortable coze with old friends, and Adrift in Iceland is no exception. However, it's also important to mention that although it is of course nice to have all the back story behind you, this book will read perfectly well as a stand alone, so don't feel you can't start here if this happens to be where you first arrive!

This time the story centres around Guðrún (manager of Snug, the home store from book 1) whose sister Astrid, a marine biologist, comes home from Norway after 4 years away. She's looking for a new research position anywhere in the world but in the meantime stays with her sister. At the same time Leifur is feeling on the ropes with his family fishing boat - the capelin did not come last year and he can't afford to risk another summer of financial uncertainty this year, so he proposes to his old school friend Jonas, boss of the Iceland Adventures travel company that threads throughout the series, that he might like to consider adding boat trips to the company's repertoire. His fishing boat could be refitted for whale watching, and he can work off the loan for the refit as the skipper. Jonas agrees but says they'll need someone to lead the excursions - and hence the plot is set up for Astrid and Leifur to meet...

But they've already met...

How Astrid and Leifur go from their initial distant-but-charged meeting, to their inauspicious proper meeting, and onwards in their relationship from there, with assorted ups and downs, forms the rest of this entertaining book. With the typical warmth and humour of its predecessors in the series, this is a very enjoyable romance set in evocative surroundings. I thoroughly enjoyed it as always, and am always hopeful that we'll revisit the Reykjavik gang again in future - this is an automatic Must Read series for me!

[anne patricia joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrift I Iceland

Thank you once again for another lovely book. I really enjoy reading these lovely stories about firstly Iceland and secondly the different people who all each make the stories gel together. Anne

[Susan Munnings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Having been to Reykjavik- I can picture all the streets and places that are mentioned in the book which brings the whole story to life even more for me. I’ve loved every book in this series so hoping that there are more to come! ❤️

[MRS J WARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I have read all five books and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Can't wait for the next book to be released.

[Lis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous to be back in Iceland, like meeting up with friends, old and new.

[Tasha Corbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - Icelandic romance

The fifth book in an interconnected series, this instalment focuses on Leifur and Gudruns sister, Astrid. Leifur teams up with Jonas to turn his fishing boat, into a whale watching boat after a downturn in fishing. Astrid, a marine biologist, is visiting her sister after a temporary work contract ends, she is offered a part time role on the boat. She and Leifur connect instantly but can a summer romance last?

I really enjoy reading this series and love how they never feel the same though set in the same small Icelandic town. As always the need to book a holiday there hits again!

I loved Astrids and Leifurs story, both personal growth and their relationship development. The whale watching boat added an extra winter theme to the story and I loved catching up with Jonas and Rachel and the gang.

A lovely heart-warming series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild romance

It was lovely to meet the tram again and what a lovely couple. So interesting to give them a different backdrop. And so much romance (and this couple are really into each other) it felt a little rushed towards the end when things start to go awry between them but I was gripped and wanted to find out what happened.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the 5th book in this series I started last year - a fun rom com set in Iceland. Leisure has to convert the family fishing business into a whale-watching tour boat. Astrid is a marine biologist between jobs and she agrees to help guide these tours. Sparks fly but can they make it work? Read it and find out!

[Pat Flowerday · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you love Iceland and Romance…..

A gentle, easy-read love story set in a spectacular country. It will hold your interest all the way through and you’ll want to read more in the series.

[Claire Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Iceland I love these books for their cosy, wintery, romantic feel.

[Tracey Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, read whilst in Iceland so hugely relatable.

[Aija Vanaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed, but liked the way the author solved the end of the book, it was a good one.