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One for Sorrow
A new novel from the much-loved, Miles Franklin shortlisted Favel Parrett. In the tradition of Claire Keegan and Sarah Winman comes an unforgettable story of love and betrayal through the eyes of a child.
The rhythm drew me in, so even though I did not understand all of the words, I felt like I understood the feeling of the story. And that shook and excited me at the same time. For it was not only words that told a story. There was a kind of magic happening and I wanted to find out how it worked and how I could do it. I wanted to find out everything about it.
Norway, 1939. When young Einar Halvorsen first meets his new teacher, he does not yet know that this man will introduce him to a profound love of words. He cannot guess how he will teach him that stories can open up your world and bring joy in the darkest of times.
Or how the new teacher will change his family forever.
As war comes to Einar's town, this man ignites a pride in Einar that the Nazis cannot steal. Seventy years on, he will also teach Einar that some sorrows are never left behind.
Poetic and brutally tender, One for Sorrow is a timely novel of family and love in a world deeply divided. Like Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These, there is truth and power in its telling and its characters. It is masterful, exquisite and unforgettable.
Praise for the award‑winning work of Favel Parrett
'Beautifully crafted . . . sings with humanity' SARAH WINMAN
'So real, so true . . . sweeps you away in its tide' ROBERT DREWE
'Moving and masterful' MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE
'There is a deceptive simplicity to Favel Parrett's writing . . . Beguiling' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'The richness of Parrett's characters and her descriptive powers will capture your heart' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'That rare thing, a finely crafted literary novel that is genuinely moving and full of heart' THE AGE
'Tender, absorbing' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
'Wintonesque' HERALD SUN
'Rich and atmospheric' AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW
'Parrett's writing is exquisite in its simplicity and eloquence' KIRKUS REVIEWS
'Stark, but unforgettable' MARIE CLAIRE UK
The rhythm drew me in, so even though I did not understand all of the words, I felt like I understood the feeling of the story. And that shook and excited me at the same time. For it was not only words that told a story. There was a kind of magic happening and I wanted to find out how it worked and how I could do it. I wanted to find out everything about it.
Norway, 1939. When young Einar Halvorsen first meets his new teacher, he does not yet know that this man will introduce him to a profound love of words. He cannot guess how he will teach him that stories can open up your world and bring joy in the darkest of times.
Or how the new teacher will change his family forever.
As war comes to Einar's town, this man ignites a pride in Einar that the Nazis cannot steal. Seventy years on, he will also teach Einar that some sorrows are never left behind.
Poetic and brutally tender, One for Sorrow is a timely novel of family and love in a world deeply divided. Like Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These, there is truth and power in its telling and its characters. It is masterful, exquisite and unforgettable.
Praise for the award‑winning work of Favel Parrett
'Beautifully crafted . . . sings with humanity' SARAH WINMAN
'So real, so true . . . sweeps you away in its tide' ROBERT DREWE
'Moving and masterful' MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE
'There is a deceptive simplicity to Favel Parrett's writing . . . Beguiling' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'The richness of Parrett's characters and her descriptive powers will capture your heart' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'That rare thing, a finely crafted literary novel that is genuinely moving and full of heart' THE AGE
'Tender, absorbing' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
'Wintonesque' HERALD SUN
'Rich and atmospheric' AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW
'Parrett's writing is exquisite in its simplicity and eloquence' KIRKUS REVIEWS
'Stark, but unforgettable' MARIE CLAIRE UK
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One for Sorrow by Favel Parrett is a beautifully written novel set in Norway during World War II. Parrett explores the themes of family, love and betrayal and the lasting effects of choices. This was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed even if it wasn't a book that completely blew me away. I was left feeling like I wanted a little more from the storyline.
Overall I enjoyed this read. A good choice if you're after a quick, easy historical read rather than something with a lot of twists and layers. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.
Overall I enjoyed this read. A good choice if you're after a quick, easy historical read rather than something with a lot of twists and layers. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVE everything Favel Parrett writes, and One for Sorrow was no exception.
Set in Norway during the Second World War, it tells the story of a young boy who is navigating an unknown time. His foundation lies in his relationship with his new teacher, a man who won't be dictated to by the new 'regime' and speaks life into his students. But when Einar finds out there is more to his teacher's life than he could ever have imagined, he makes a decision that changes the course of everyone's lives.
Beautifully written. It is so refreshing to read a book set during World War 2 that isn't centred around the atrocities of the Holocaust - that helps us remember that the conflict was wide reaching and affected people in ways we could never understand.
Set in Norway during the Second World War, it tells the story of a young boy who is navigating an unknown time. His foundation lies in his relationship with his new teacher, a man who won't be dictated to by the new 'regime' and speaks life into his students. But when Einar finds out there is more to his teacher's life than he could ever have imagined, he makes a decision that changes the course of everyone's lives.
Beautifully written. It is so refreshing to read a book set during World War 2 that isn't centred around the atrocities of the Holocaust - that helps us remember that the conflict was wide reaching and affected people in ways we could never understand.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Great writing with believable characters. Very restrained yet haunting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Favel Parrett is an Australian author who has perfected the art of writing a heartfelt story from the point of view of a child. Her books are poignant and tender and explore childhood vulnerability with themes of fractured families, trauma and the impacts of war. Her writing is restrained with the emotions felt just below the surface.
Her latest book, One for Sorrow, is set in 1939 in Norway. Einar Halvorsen has a new teacher and he is immediately drawn to him. Johan inspires him to love words and writing but Einar is not aware of just how much his teacher will impact his family and his future. And then Norway is invaded by Germany and life changes for everyone in Trondheim.
This is a short and moving story told alternatively from Einar and Johan’s points of view. Johan gives us the more adult perspective while Einar’s voice highlights his youth and naivety. One for Sorrow’s story is bookended by Einar as an adult visiting his home town and reflecting on his childhood. The impact Johan makes on Einar is clearly felt both at the time and as an adult.
This was a beautifully written story which showed a time during World War 2 in a country I hadn’t realised was impacted. It was a book with love at its heart but one which is quietly devastating in its simplicity. While I enjoyed this story a lot it didn’t quite blow me away as much as I had hoped but I think it will always be hard to beat her debut novel Past The Shallows for me!
Thank you @netgally and @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
Her latest book, One for Sorrow, is set in 1939 in Norway. Einar Halvorsen has a new teacher and he is immediately drawn to him. Johan inspires him to love words and writing but Einar is not aware of just how much his teacher will impact his family and his future. And then Norway is invaded by Germany and life changes for everyone in Trondheim.
This is a short and moving story told alternatively from Einar and Johan’s points of view. Johan gives us the more adult perspective while Einar’s voice highlights his youth and naivety. One for Sorrow’s story is bookended by Einar as an adult visiting his home town and reflecting on his childhood. The impact Johan makes on Einar is clearly felt both at the time and as an adult.
This was a beautifully written story which showed a time during World War 2 in a country I hadn’t realised was impacted. It was a book with love at its heart but one which is quietly devastating in its simplicity. While I enjoyed this story a lot it didn’t quite blow me away as much as I had hoped but I think it will always be hard to beat her debut novel Past The Shallows for me!
Thank you @netgally and @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I have loved Favel Parrett's writing ever since reading Past the Shallows more than a decade ago, and there is something about her gentle, quietly beautiful prose that stays with me. She has a remarkable ability to place the most devastating themes within such delicate, restrained writing, and One for Sorrow is no exception.
I have read a number of novels set during this period, but the story of Norway under Nazi occupation was an eye-opening one.
At its heart, this is one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful love stories I have ever read. There is a tenderness to it that makes the inevitable heartbreak all the more devastating. I found myself reading with a growing sense of dread, almost willing the story not to go where I knew, deep down, it was heading. And yet, even with that awful anticipation, I wasn't prepared for the emotional weight of it.
Favel Parrett has once again reminded me why I love her writing. Beautiful, quietly powerful and utterly heartbreaking. A story that will stay with me long after turning the final page.
I have loved Favel Parrett's writing ever since reading Past the Shallows more than a decade ago, and there is something about her gentle, quietly beautiful prose that stays with me. She has a remarkable ability to place the most devastating themes within such delicate, restrained writing, and One for Sorrow is no exception.
I have read a number of novels set during this period, but the story of Norway under Nazi occupation was an eye-opening one.
At its heart, this is one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful love stories I have ever read. There is a tenderness to it that makes the inevitable heartbreak all the more devastating. I found myself reading with a growing sense of dread, almost willing the story not to go where I knew, deep down, it was heading. And yet, even with that awful anticipation, I wasn't prepared for the emotional weight of it.
Favel Parrett has once again reminded me why I love her writing. Beautiful, quietly powerful and utterly heartbreaking. A story that will stay with me long after turning the final page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2026
I could not interrupt my reading of this beautifully constructed novel, so read through it in one sitting. The author portrayed the close relationship between a boy and his teacher at the outbreak of WW2 in Norway. Written in short chapters, each focusing on an aspect of the characters involved in trying to make sense of their disrupted world, the novel was both "poetic" and "brutally tender".
November 9, 2026
Quiet & emotional. Beautifully crafted writing. Wonderfully developed characters. Has a certain quiet charm despite being set in Trondheim during Nazi occupation. Partly a coming-of-age story and partly a love story. Quite devastating ending - but I guess the word "sorrow" in the title plus the events in the prologue chapter are give aways?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you were ever a young reader who devoured Hermann Hesse, Knut Hamsun and the Americans, Sherwood Anderson, John Steinbeck, Willa Cather and Ernest Hemingway, then this book will delight you as it did me. A beautiful piece of work.
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November 1, 2026Reserved for Cheryl ✅
November 10, 2026
Favel Parrett remains one of my all time faves. Her writing is so spare and yet so spellbinding. Devoured this in a single day.
August 17, 2026
Another outstanding masterpiece by Favel. Gut wrenching and beautiful.
How can she say *so* much in *so* few words?.
One of my favourite things about Favel’s writing is not a single word is wasted. There is no skipping sentences that are filled with flowery explanations - every word is important, every word is essential to capture a moment in time. To build a picture of this devastating time in human history and the small lives that are forever changed by it. I am bereft that it’s over, I could have read a thousand page epic of this time and place, these characters. I just know Johan and Einer’s stories will haunt me for a while to come.
How can she say *so* much in *so* few words?.
One of my favourite things about Favel’s writing is not a single word is wasted. There is no skipping sentences that are filled with flowery explanations - every word is important, every word is essential to capture a moment in time. To build a picture of this devastating time in human history and the small lives that are forever changed by it. I am bereft that it’s over, I could have read a thousand page epic of this time and place, these characters. I just know Johan and Einer’s stories will haunt me for a while to come.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews