The First Lady Next Door: A Canadian's Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure

by Eliza Reid

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.

Genres: Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 28, 2026

About the author

Eliza 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.

Reviews

[herbookcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bonni · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

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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