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The First Lady Next Door: A Canadian's Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure
An inspiring memoir by the Canadian-born former First Lady of Iceland that asks the question: What if the life you didn't plan is the one where you find your voice?
In early 2016, Canadian-born Eliza Reid’s biggest daily goals were modest but meaningful: showering without one of her four kids bursting into the bathroom, juggling clients without dropping a deadline, and growing the writers’ retreat she was building from scratch. What wasn’t on her bingo card? That her husband—a bookish, cardigan-wearing history professor—would run for president of Iceland. . . and seven weeks later, actually win.
Suddenly, Eliza was catapulted into a new life as First Lady of her adopted country, with the eyes of a nation watching her every move—as someone’s wife. Absent an instruction manual (she googled how to curtsy before meeting the Queen of Denmark), she decided to do what she’d always done: figure it out on her own terms.
Part fish out of water and part fairy tale, The First Lady Next Door takes you from rural Ontario to Timbuktu, to the White House and Buckingham Palace. Eliza shows how embracing authenticity in all its messiness can become your greatest strength, even when the world expects polished perfection. After all, our everyday moments are what create the roadmap for making the unexpected count.
In early 2016, Canadian-born Eliza Reid’s biggest daily goals were modest but meaningful: showering without one of her four kids bursting into the bathroom, juggling clients without dropping a deadline, and growing the writers’ retreat she was building from scratch. What wasn’t on her bingo card? That her husband—a bookish, cardigan-wearing history professor—would run for president of Iceland. . . and seven weeks later, actually win.
Suddenly, Eliza was catapulted into a new life as First Lady of her adopted country, with the eyes of a nation watching her every move—as someone’s wife. Absent an instruction manual (she googled how to curtsy before meeting the Queen of Denmark), she decided to do what she’d always done: figure it out on her own terms.
Part fish out of water and part fairy tale, The First Lady Next Door takes you from rural Ontario to Timbuktu, to the White House and Buckingham Palace. Eliza shows how embracing authenticity in all its messiness can become your greatest strength, even when the world expects polished perfection. After all, our everyday moments are what create the roadmap for making the unexpected count.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Eliza Reid
3 books183 followersEliza Reid is a bestselling writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, cofounder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat and former first lady of Iceland. She was born and raised in Canada but has lived in Iceland for over twenty years. Eliza’s first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, was an instant bestseller in Canada and Iceland, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick, and translated into numerous languages. Her first novel, an Iceland-set mystery called Death of a Diplomat (Death on the Island in North America.), will be published in spring 2025 and has been optioned for television.
From 2016 to 2024, Eliza served in the unofficial role of First Lady while her husband was President of Iceland, during which time she served as patron of numerous organizations and was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals. A memoir of her time in the role is set for publication in 2026.
Eliza has degrees from the University of Toronto (Trinity College) and Oxford University (St. Antony’s College). She lives in the outskirts of Reykjavík with her husband and four children.
From 2016 to 2024, Eliza served in the unofficial role of First Lady while her husband was President of Iceland, during which time she served as patron of numerous organizations and was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals. A memoir of her time in the role is set for publication in 2026.
Eliza has degrees from the University of Toronto (Trinity College) and Oxford University (St. Antony’s College). She lives in the outskirts of Reykjavík with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2026
The first chapters truly help the reader enter the story. The author allows us to follow the journey of her life in a very engaging way. Unlike some autobiographies where childhood is described in extremely detailed ways that can slow down the reading, here the author goes straight to what matters. She gives us enough context to understand where she comes from and how she developed over time, without losing the reader’s attention.
Eliza Reid seems to be incredibly socially skilled to meet and build so many friendships throughout her travels. It takes a lot of courage and openness to trust people you don’t know, especially when you are in places that are completely unfamiliar. Her ability to connect with others really stood out to me.
I also appreciated her honesty and authenticity. She openly admits that she didn’t really know what the role of First Lady involved when she first stepped into it. She didn’t fully understand the expectations, the influence she had, or even the customs surrounding certain events. It was refreshing to read, because it reminds us that no one can be perfect from the very first day in a new role or responsibility.
One thing that truly surprised me was learning that the wives of presidents or prime ministers are not paid for the work they do. Hosting dinners, attending events, giving speeches, representing the country... This all requires an enormous amount of time and commitment. I find it quite shocking that such an active and demanding role is unpaid. The First Lady is expected to be present at almost every event to show a united front with the president. But if she has to leave her job or significantly reduce her work hours, how is she supposed to maintain her own financial independence? Even if the president’s salary is meant to support the family, what happens if the couple separates during those years? It feels like an unfair and outdated expectation.
Overall, I appreciated the author’s honesty, vulnerability, and the way she invites readers into both the personal and public aspects of her life. The book not only tells the story of her journey, but also raises interesting reflections about social roles, expectations, and the realities behind positions that often seem glamorous from the outside. It was an insightful and engaging read that left me thinking about the invisible responsibilities carried by people in such public roles.
Eliza Reid seems to be incredibly socially skilled to meet and build so many friendships throughout her travels. It takes a lot of courage and openness to trust people you don’t know, especially when you are in places that are completely unfamiliar. Her ability to connect with others really stood out to me.
I also appreciated her honesty and authenticity. She openly admits that she didn’t really know what the role of First Lady involved when she first stepped into it. She didn’t fully understand the expectations, the influence she had, or even the customs surrounding certain events. It was refreshing to read, because it reminds us that no one can be perfect from the very first day in a new role or responsibility.
One thing that truly surprised me was learning that the wives of presidents or prime ministers are not paid for the work they do. Hosting dinners, attending events, giving speeches, representing the country... This all requires an enormous amount of time and commitment. I find it quite shocking that such an active and demanding role is unpaid. The First Lady is expected to be present at almost every event to show a united front with the president. But if she has to leave her job or significantly reduce her work hours, how is she supposed to maintain her own financial independence? Even if the president’s salary is meant to support the family, what happens if the couple separates during those years? It feels like an unfair and outdated expectation.
Overall, I appreciated the author’s honesty, vulnerability, and the way she invites readers into both the personal and public aspects of her life. The book not only tells the story of her journey, but also raises interesting reflections about social roles, expectations, and the realities behind positions that often seem glamorous from the outside. It was an insightful and engaging read that left me thinking about the invisible responsibilities carried by people in such public roles.
April 8, 2026
THE FIRST LADY NEXT DOOR tells the remarkable story of a Canadian woman, married to an Icelandic man (Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson) who became Iceland’s sixth President. Eliza Reid became the first lady of Iceland, for eight years, and the majority of the book is about that experience.
I learned a lot about Iceland and its politics. Their president is roughly equivalent to Canada’s governor-general, and is the replacement for the King. It is a mostly ceremonial position, where the president formally appoints governments and ministers.
She wrote about the pressures of raising a family while your spouse is the president, the blend of public and private life, and how she approached being the first lady. There is no formal “First Lady” / “First Man” position in Iceland, so the author found that she had to define the role herself and make her own agenda. She had to fight to get recognition in the media, as she was often left off of photo captions or referred to as “his spouse”.
I really enjoyed THE FIRST LADY NEXT DOOR. Ms. Reid writes very well. She was a writer well before becoming the first lady, writing for numerous publications and cofounding the Iceland Writers Retreat. The book was an easy read, full of interesting stories, and I found it very inspirational. She was thrust into a vaguely defined role, and she found ways to make it her own and thrive in it.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advanced reader copy of this book.
I learned a lot about Iceland and its politics. Their president is roughly equivalent to Canada’s governor-general, and is the replacement for the King. It is a mostly ceremonial position, where the president formally appoints governments and ministers.
She wrote about the pressures of raising a family while your spouse is the president, the blend of public and private life, and how she approached being the first lady. There is no formal “First Lady” / “First Man” position in Iceland, so the author found that she had to define the role herself and make her own agenda. She had to fight to get recognition in the media, as she was often left off of photo captions or referred to as “his spouse”.
I really enjoyed THE FIRST LADY NEXT DOOR. Ms. Reid writes very well. She was a writer well before becoming the first lady, writing for numerous publications and cofounding the Iceland Writers Retreat. The book was an easy read, full of interesting stories, and I found it very inspirational. She was thrust into a vaguely defined role, and she found ways to make it her own and thrive in it.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advanced reader copy of this book.
May 9, 2026
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Eliza Reid grew up in a Canadian family that emphasized manners, education, and togetherness. She learned to use stories as a way to cope with the world and celebrate her own resilience: "by making us the heroes--or sometimes the antiheroes--of our own adventures, my mother taught my brothers and me that we had a place in the world, that our actions mattered, that we belonged." This spirit encapsulates Reid's memoir of life as the "first lady" (which isn't an official position) of Iceland after her academic husband decides to pursue the presidency while they were raising their young children.
Reid, who has also written a murder mystery and has another one forthcoming, has a lively voice in this memoir, and while she touches on difficulties and challenges, this is largely a sunny account by a resourceful optimist. She encounters her first sense of cultural ostracism when she's ten and her family moves to a rural area, where she doesn't fit in either in her new community or with the middle schoolers in the Ottawa suburb that she's bussed to, so reading becomes a retreat and solace, as well as a pleasure. A high school gifted program, flair for typing, and passion for politics also offer comforts as she grows older, and as a university student in Toronto, she thrives on intellectual challenges and becomes a school leader and, upon graduation, an Oxford student. It's here that she meets a young Icelandic man, several years older than she is, but but who shares her passion for politics. By the time she's 24 and he's 32, they're living together in England, and the author notes she has to cast off her more provincial sexual mores to adapt to Icelandic social norms. When he completes his doctorate, she returns to Iceland with him, to be near his young daughter from a previous relationship. She proposes just before she embarks on a long and adventurous solo trip.
For me, Reid's memoir is most vivid in its early chapters, while the lengthy section focused on how she shaped the role of President's wife into one as a meaningful social and cultural emissary tends to bog down in details. This is likely the more significant section for many readers, who will find it interesting to learn how Reid navigated linguistic, cultural, and social differences while juggling the roles of mother, partner, and public person.
An engaging glimpse into an unusual experience.
Eliza Reid grew up in a Canadian family that emphasized manners, education, and togetherness. She learned to use stories as a way to cope with the world and celebrate her own resilience: "by making us the heroes--or sometimes the antiheroes--of our own adventures, my mother taught my brothers and me that we had a place in the world, that our actions mattered, that we belonged." This spirit encapsulates Reid's memoir of life as the "first lady" (which isn't an official position) of Iceland after her academic husband decides to pursue the presidency while they were raising their young children.
Reid, who has also written a murder mystery and has another one forthcoming, has a lively voice in this memoir, and while she touches on difficulties and challenges, this is largely a sunny account by a resourceful optimist. She encounters her first sense of cultural ostracism when she's ten and her family moves to a rural area, where she doesn't fit in either in her new community or with the middle schoolers in the Ottawa suburb that she's bussed to, so reading becomes a retreat and solace, as well as a pleasure. A high school gifted program, flair for typing, and passion for politics also offer comforts as she grows older, and as a university student in Toronto, she thrives on intellectual challenges and becomes a school leader and, upon graduation, an Oxford student. It's here that she meets a young Icelandic man, several years older than she is, but but who shares her passion for politics. By the time she's 24 and he's 32, they're living together in England, and the author notes she has to cast off her more provincial sexual mores to adapt to Icelandic social norms. When he completes his doctorate, she returns to Iceland with him, to be near his young daughter from a previous relationship. She proposes just before she embarks on a long and adventurous solo trip.
For me, Reid's memoir is most vivid in its early chapters, while the lengthy section focused on how she shaped the role of President's wife into one as a meaningful social and cultural emissary tends to bog down in details. This is likely the more significant section for many readers, who will find it interesting to learn how Reid navigated linguistic, cultural, and social differences while juggling the roles of mother, partner, and public person.
An engaging glimpse into an unusual experience.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion]
THE WHAT
The First Lady Next Door is a memoir by Eliza Reid, chronicling her experience of becoming First Lady of Iceland after her husband decided to run for presidency. The book explores her journey navigating this unexpected role, sharing insights into her life, adventures, and challenges while carving out her own voice in the public eye.
THE VIBE
Memoir, family dynamics, First Lady, motherhood, managing change, finding your voice, leaving a legacy.
THE HOW
The memoir is written from Eliza’s perspective, often citing her own speeches, public appearances, and the many events she participated in. The structure blends personal anecdotes with detailed accounts of her official duties.
THE HIT
The first half of the book drew me in. I enjoyed learning about her personal adventures, her travels around the world, and candid moments like her story about skinny-dipping which felt surprisingly vulnerable and human for someone in her position. These glimpses into her life made the memoir engaging and relatable.
THE MISS
The second half didn’t land as strongly for me. The emphasis on speeches, events, and formal obligations slowed the pace and made it harder to stay connected. I found myself wishing for more introspection and the same vulnerability that made the beginning feel so genuine. I felt that the book’s theme of feminism and breaking the glass ceiling got a bit lost along the way. At times, the tone came across as whiny and a little entitled, which gave the narrative a bit of a “pick me” energy. I also noticed that her husband’s role and support were rarely acknowledged, which made the message of partnership and balance feel incomplete. She didn’t discuss her children much either which I didn’t love.
THE REC:
As an avid memoir reader, if I may say so myself, I was excited to jump into this one however it didn’t work for me.
If you enjoy reading memoirs, politics, and even less emotional reads, this one may be for you!
THE OVERALL: Overall, I would rate this book as follows:
⭐️Overall Rating: 2/5
THE WHAT
The First Lady Next Door is a memoir by Eliza Reid, chronicling her experience of becoming First Lady of Iceland after her husband decided to run for presidency. The book explores her journey navigating this unexpected role, sharing insights into her life, adventures, and challenges while carving out her own voice in the public eye.
THE VIBE
Memoir, family dynamics, First Lady, motherhood, managing change, finding your voice, leaving a legacy.
THE HOW
The memoir is written from Eliza’s perspective, often citing her own speeches, public appearances, and the many events she participated in. The structure blends personal anecdotes with detailed accounts of her official duties.
THE HIT
The first half of the book drew me in. I enjoyed learning about her personal adventures, her travels around the world, and candid moments like her story about skinny-dipping which felt surprisingly vulnerable and human for someone in her position. These glimpses into her life made the memoir engaging and relatable.
THE MISS
The second half didn’t land as strongly for me. The emphasis on speeches, events, and formal obligations slowed the pace and made it harder to stay connected. I found myself wishing for more introspection and the same vulnerability that made the beginning feel so genuine. I felt that the book’s theme of feminism and breaking the glass ceiling got a bit lost along the way. At times, the tone came across as whiny and a little entitled, which gave the narrative a bit of a “pick me” energy. I also noticed that her husband’s role and support were rarely acknowledged, which made the message of partnership and balance feel incomplete. She didn’t discuss her children much either which I didn’t love.
THE REC:
As an avid memoir reader, if I may say so myself, I was excited to jump into this one however it didn’t work for me.
If you enjoy reading memoirs, politics, and even less emotional reads, this one may be for you!
THE OVERALL: Overall, I would rate this book as follows:
⭐️Overall Rating: 2/5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Finally, Eliza Reid’s beautiful memoir is out today for all to enjoy!
The story of a Canadian girl who grew up in the Ottawa Valley, fell in love with an Icelandic guy, and became First Lady!
When Eliza Reid met her husband, they were both students in college. They later settled in his native Iceland and built a family. Academia and business expertise led to opportunities of influence, and an offer they couldn’t refuse; running for the country’s highest office.
What do you do when, all of a sudden, your life changes completely? When, out of the blue, you find yourself representing an entire country? No choice but to roll with it. Insecurities and all, you power through and give it your best.
“Uncomfortable though it was to realize that as first lady, I was steering a ship without a compass, using an appliance without reading the directions, I knew from the outset that I needed to be the one who would decide how I would be defined. I needed to be my biggest champion, and I needed to make my own rules to follow”.
Not without a few littles bumps in the road, Reid embraced her new role and received the public’s support. She put her platform to good use; speaking up for equality and justice, feminism, pride and authenticity. She inspired a nation, and continues to do so here.
“This book is for everyone who has ever found themselves in a situation they never anticipated, whether or not you are married to a head of state. It’s a book for everyone who wants to believe in fairy tales but lacks the requisite fashion sense. It will inspire you to harness the discomfort of a rule-free environment to push your own limits.”
Special thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
The story of a Canadian girl who grew up in the Ottawa Valley, fell in love with an Icelandic guy, and became First Lady!
When Eliza Reid met her husband, they were both students in college. They later settled in his native Iceland and built a family. Academia and business expertise led to opportunities of influence, and an offer they couldn’t refuse; running for the country’s highest office.
What do you do when, all of a sudden, your life changes completely? When, out of the blue, you find yourself representing an entire country? No choice but to roll with it. Insecurities and all, you power through and give it your best.
“Uncomfortable though it was to realize that as first lady, I was steering a ship without a compass, using an appliance without reading the directions, I knew from the outset that I needed to be the one who would decide how I would be defined. I needed to be my biggest champion, and I needed to make my own rules to follow”.
Not without a few littles bumps in the road, Reid embraced her new role and received the public’s support. She put her platform to good use; speaking up for equality and justice, feminism, pride and authenticity. She inspired a nation, and continues to do so here.
“This book is for everyone who has ever found themselves in a situation they never anticipated, whether or not you are married to a head of state. It’s a book for everyone who wants to believe in fairy tales but lacks the requisite fashion sense. It will inspire you to harness the discomfort of a rule-free environment to push your own limits.”
Special thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
May 8, 2026
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions that follow are my own!
This is a completely new genre for me, I typically gravitate towards all things fiction but reading the blurb for this story had me intrigued!
Canadian born Eliza met her Icelandic husband while at school and together they built a beautiful life with 4 children and varying jobs. Then one day Eliza’s husband declares he’s running for president of Iceland. And then wins. Thrusting Eliza into a whirlwind of meetings and public events while maintaining her authentic self.
This was so fascinating to read. I’ve always admired Iceland form what I’ve heard and seen about it so this was a great read in terms of learning more about the culture and customs and how I as a Canadian might end up faring there. And Eliza’s positivity throughout all of the messiness as she calls it was so refreshing. Her realization that there didn’t have to be perfection, simply showing up and attempting is what mattered most and I really loved that.
The book did get a little dry for me around the halfway mark, I feel like there was just a lot of politics happening and not enough intrigue but overall I found this memoir to be well written (at least for my first ever one) and definitely recommend it for those wanting a truly authentic reflection on what it’s like to be a First Lady.
This is a completely new genre for me, I typically gravitate towards all things fiction but reading the blurb for this story had me intrigued!
Canadian born Eliza met her Icelandic husband while at school and together they built a beautiful life with 4 children and varying jobs. Then one day Eliza’s husband declares he’s running for president of Iceland. And then wins. Thrusting Eliza into a whirlwind of meetings and public events while maintaining her authentic self.
This was so fascinating to read. I’ve always admired Iceland form what I’ve heard and seen about it so this was a great read in terms of learning more about the culture and customs and how I as a Canadian might end up faring there. And Eliza’s positivity throughout all of the messiness as she calls it was so refreshing. Her realization that there didn’t have to be perfection, simply showing up and attempting is what mattered most and I really loved that.
The book did get a little dry for me around the halfway mark, I feel like there was just a lot of politics happening and not enough intrigue but overall I found this memoir to be well written (at least for my first ever one) and definitely recommend it for those wanting a truly authentic reflection on what it’s like to be a First Lady.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Eliza Reid has become an instant-read author for me ever since I read her first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar. In her first book, she discusses Iceland’s work towards gender equality. In this book, she shares how she took it upon herself to be a sprakki (Icelandic for an extraordinary woman).
Reid takes readers on a brief journey through her childhood and her decision to study in England. I enjoyed that she let readers see she was always a bit outside the norm. I mean, how many 8-year-olds play bridge? She also shares the solo journeys that she took before marrying her husband.
When Reid became the First Lady of Iceland, she found herself unsure of what she could and should do, as there was no instruction manual for the position. One thing she knew was that she would not be more than her husband’s companion. She didn’t know how to go about doing that. So, Reid did what felt was right to her.
Though I’m older than Reid, I want to be like her when I grow up! And I’m not just talking about her actions as first lady, but the way she fights for what she feels is right.
Reid takes readers on a brief journey through her childhood and her decision to study in England. I enjoyed that she let readers see she was always a bit outside the norm. I mean, how many 8-year-olds play bridge? She also shares the solo journeys that she took before marrying her husband.
When Reid became the First Lady of Iceland, she found herself unsure of what she could and should do, as there was no instruction manual for the position. One thing she knew was that she would not be more than her husband’s companion. She didn’t know how to go about doing that. So, Reid did what felt was right to her.
Though I’m older than Reid, I want to be like her when I grow up! And I’m not just talking about her actions as first lady, but the way she fights for what she feels is right.
May 3, 2026
One can only wish to be like Eliza, in the way she scoops up opportunities and turns them into outcomes with impact.
A lot of Eliza’s early story resonates with me. A Canadian girl who also tried to set her own books up as a lending library, though mine had no clients. 🤣 That connection helped the first half of the book fly by with interest.
The second half was a little more reflective. Do you snap up all opportunities? I know I don’t, not in this manner.
Eliza’s opportunity as First Lady of Iceland gave her a bigger platform, but she really made it her own. She has become known for her fight for gender equality (read Secrets of the Sprakkar, if you haven’t), has written three books (one more known, on the way) and you can only imagine what might come next.
I’m rooting for my fellow Canadian, I know she’s not at the end of her story and I hope that her words inspire more people to scoop and run with the opportunities in front of them.
A lot of Eliza’s early story resonates with me. A Canadian girl who also tried to set her own books up as a lending library, though mine had no clients. 🤣 That connection helped the first half of the book fly by with interest.
The second half was a little more reflective. Do you snap up all opportunities? I know I don’t, not in this manner.
Eliza’s opportunity as First Lady of Iceland gave her a bigger platform, but she really made it her own. She has become known for her fight for gender equality (read Secrets of the Sprakkar, if you haven’t), has written three books (one more known, on the way) and you can only imagine what might come next.
I’m rooting for my fellow Canadian, I know she’s not at the end of her story and I hope that her words inspire more people to scoop and run with the opportunities in front of them.
May 14, 2026
This is the most down-to-earth, relatable memoir that I’ve read in a long time. The story is so inviting in its humor and candidness that it is easy to let yourself live vicariously in what you could imagine is the alternate timeline of your own life. Eliza’s honesty throughout, especially about growing in her confidence in the role and the continual decision-making behind using her platform as a voice for women and other causes, provides so much wisdom and inspiration to carry into my own life, not to mention how many other sources of wisdom she introduces readers to through quotes and vignettes of world leaders and luminaries.
Read
May 12, 2026Thank you, Simon & Schuster for the ARC.
Eliza seems like an amazing, smart & ambitious woman & Iceland a great country. The election process is a fascinating one in this country. The role of the spouse of a world leader is a hard one to describe, gain respect for & discover your path in. Eliza does her very best to bring all of her skillset & motivation to it. She strives to be recognized as a separate entity to her husband, with her own issues to advocate for.
I did find myself a little bored at times but that’s probably a me problem.
Eliza seems like an amazing, smart & ambitious woman & Iceland a great country. The election process is a fascinating one in this country. The role of the spouse of a world leader is a hard one to describe, gain respect for & discover your path in. Eliza does her very best to bring all of her skillset & motivation to it. She strives to be recognized as a separate entity to her husband, with her own issues to advocate for.
I did find myself a little bored at times but that’s probably a me problem.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This will be a valuable record for some people, maybe especially the author's family, but also other first ladies. It's carefully written and provides interesting insights and details. I connected most with the author's younger years and the roots of her interests and accomplishments. I found myself skimming through accounts of speeches and state visits.
May 7, 2026
Listened to the audiobook. Narration was ok but I found it to be lacking emotion. Unfortunately I found this story very boring. Maybe it was the way it was told but my thoughts kept drifting off to other things while listening simply because nothing she said kept my interest.
May 13, 2026
I really enjoyed Eliza Reid’s Icelandic thriller last year, so I was excited to read this memoir and learn more about her experience as Iceland’s First Lady. Reid is clearly intelligent, thoughtful, and deeply aware of the unusual position she found herself in, and I appreciated the honesty and candor she brought to the book.
As someone who has worked in government-adjacent environments and occasionally served as a “spouse contact” myself, I found some of her observations about the role of spouses particularly interesting and insightful. At times, she did come across as a little entitled to me, but I also understood many of the pressures and expectations she described.
I especially enjoyed learning more about Iceland’s government, culture, and political landscape, which added a unique layer to the memoir.
Genre: Memoir / Political Memoir
Setting: Iceland
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who has worked in government-adjacent environments and occasionally served as a “spouse contact” myself, I found some of her observations about the role of spouses particularly interesting and insightful. At times, she did come across as a little entitled to me, but I also understood many of the pressures and expectations she described.
I especially enjoyed learning more about Iceland’s government, culture, and political landscape, which added a unique layer to the memoir.
Genre: Memoir / Political Memoir
Setting: Iceland
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is Eliza Reid's story and the unexpected life she has had, from childhood, all the way up to becoming the First Lady of Iceland when her husband decided to run for president. She learned her whole life to adapt, she was creative, and she learned how to fit in and make the best of what life was bringing her too. She wasn't anyone but who she is, and that is what made the book such an interesting read. Life created her path and she walked to where life was leading her too. I learned so many things reading this memoir, as she discovered over the years, who she was becoming and who she became. As she grew, and changed, she found how to navigate it. She has had quite the adventure, and has had an interesting life, and I am happy she has shared it with us.
I received an ARC from Sourcebooks through NetGalley. It isn't the life I would want, but it was the life that she was supposed to have.
I received an ARC from Sourcebooks through NetGalley. It isn't the life I would want, but it was the life that she was supposed to have.
February 11, 2026
amazingly well written memoir that tells the former First Lady's story really well. she discusses her life from the start, during the campaign, and during the presidency. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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