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A Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale
Amber Tate is about to lose her job at a London publishing house. And it’s nearly Christmas.
Her boss gives her one last chance. Sadly, it’s the impossible task of obtaining the rights to the popular Lund Collection of fairy tales.
The rights to the fairy tales are held by the author’s granddaughter, Emilia Lund, who lives a reclusive life in Sweden and has steadfastly refused to talk to anyone about the rights for the last several years.
However, in order to convince her one and only friend that she can be sociable, Emilia agrees to invite Amber - under strict conditions - to the cosy setting of wintry Sweden.
They both agree to this vital meeting for their own separate reasons. Except… things never pan out quite as planned, do they?
Her boss gives her one last chance. Sadly, it’s the impossible task of obtaining the rights to the popular Lund Collection of fairy tales.
The rights to the fairy tales are held by the author’s granddaughter, Emilia Lund, who lives a reclusive life in Sweden and has steadfastly refused to talk to anyone about the rights for the last several years.
However, in order to convince her one and only friend that she can be sociable, Emilia agrees to invite Amber - under strict conditions - to the cosy setting of wintry Sweden.
They both agree to this vital meeting for their own separate reasons. Except… things never pan out quite as planned, do they?
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2018
139 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Radley
30 books467 followers***While I have a profile here on Goodreads, it is only to administer my books when necessary (add them, change covers etc).
I do not answer messages on here, I do not engage in groups, and I do not read the reviews.
I believe Goodreads is a place for readers and not authors and so I stay away for the most part. If you do want to contact me, please go to my website***
A.E. Radley is an entrepreneur and best-selling author living and working in England.
She describes herself as a Wife. Traveller. Tea Drinker. Biscuit Eater. Animal Lover. Master Pragmatist. Annoying Procrastinator. Theme Park Fan. Movie Buff.
When not writing or working, Radley indulges in her third passion of buying unnecessary cat accessories on a popular online store for her two ungrateful strays whom she has threatened to return for the last seven years.
I do not answer messages on here, I do not engage in groups, and I do not read the reviews.
I believe Goodreads is a place for readers and not authors and so I stay away for the most part. If you do want to contact me, please go to my website***
A.E. Radley is an entrepreneur and best-selling author living and working in England.
She describes herself as a Wife. Traveller. Tea Drinker. Biscuit Eater. Animal Lover. Master Pragmatist. Annoying Procrastinator. Theme Park Fan. Movie Buff.
When not writing or working, Radley indulges in her third passion of buying unnecessary cat accessories on a popular online store for her two ungrateful strays whom she has threatened to return for the last seven years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
November 29, 2018
1 star.
One big NOPE! The first third of the book is spent on the recluse country bumpkin Emilia conning the big city socialite Amber in a very childish manner while Amber is plotting how to make Emilia sign the contract to keep her job. There was no chemistry and no interesting content what so ever. Amber's boss from hell gets too much screen time and so do musings about Swedish people who turn out to be modern and not stuck in Viking age. No shit.
It was not entertaining and it was not romantic, in fact, the situation made me uncomfortable. Amber hates everything about Sweden or so she says, she's there for business only while Emilia naively lies and tries to make a new friend like you would in primary school. Combined with the completely one dimensional Amber's boss from hell, a random shitty coworker and an equally one dimensional Emilia's what's his name friend, I almost dropped the book then.
But suddenly Amber finds feelings for Emilia in the second third of the book for absolutely no reason. The book just spent one-third of it telling me how she hates everything about the place and the only intention for her was to get the contract because her job is on the line. The mystery why she likes Emilia at all was never solved in this book.
Then follows the obvious conflict and Emilia somehow also suddenly loves Amber. The book so far told me she wanted to make a new friend. Not even a tiny thought about being lovers. So she makes up with Amber through a grand gesture and everything's all right in the world. Except, there's still no chemistry and no reason what so ever for both of these ladies to like each other.
Maybe that's why they never get to the bed together. There are like two kisses at the very end and that's it. It's as if author themselves understood that this is not actually working. Emilia is so naive that at times it feels like Amber is literally robbing the crib despite them being around the same age. They are nowhere near equals socially. So I didn't actually miss the intimacy or sex scenes because it all would feel wrong.
And then the book doesn't even properly explain why Emilia is such a recluse in the first place. Some vague "reason" is mentioned offhandedly once and then forgotten. Such a major part of the character just glossed over so the chemistry lacking sweet romance can continue unobstructed by something actually meaningful.
This is opposites attract romance done wrong. My guess is that it was rushed out to cash in on the holiday spirit and increased sales such events tend to bring. I hope I'm wrong. Either way, this read didn't work for me at all.
A Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale is also the 5th full-length book A.E. Radley has published this year. With 2.4 months per release, it's no wonder the quality suffers.
One big NOPE! The first third of the book is spent on the recluse country bumpkin Emilia conning the big city socialite Amber in a very childish manner while Amber is plotting how to make Emilia sign the contract to keep her job. There was no chemistry and no interesting content what so ever. Amber's boss from hell gets too much screen time and so do musings about Swedish people who turn out to be modern and not stuck in Viking age. No shit.
It was not entertaining and it was not romantic, in fact, the situation made me uncomfortable. Amber hates everything about Sweden or so she says, she's there for business only while Emilia naively lies and tries to make a new friend like you would in primary school. Combined with the completely one dimensional Amber's boss from hell, a random shitty coworker and an equally one dimensional Emilia's what's his name friend, I almost dropped the book then.
But suddenly Amber finds feelings for Emilia in the second third of the book for absolutely no reason. The book just spent one-third of it telling me how she hates everything about the place and the only intention for her was to get the contract because her job is on the line. The mystery why she likes Emilia at all was never solved in this book.
Then follows the obvious conflict and Emilia somehow also suddenly loves Amber. The book so far told me she wanted to make a new friend. Not even a tiny thought about being lovers. So she makes up with Amber through a grand gesture and everything's all right in the world. Except, there's still no chemistry and no reason what so ever for both of these ladies to like each other.
Maybe that's why they never get to the bed together. There are like two kisses at the very end and that's it. It's as if author themselves understood that this is not actually working. Emilia is so naive that at times it feels like Amber is literally robbing the crib despite them being around the same age. They are nowhere near equals socially. So I didn't actually miss the intimacy or sex scenes because it all would feel wrong.
And then the book doesn't even properly explain why Emilia is such a recluse in the first place. Some vague "reason" is mentioned offhandedly once and then forgotten. Such a major part of the character just glossed over so the chemistry lacking sweet romance can continue unobstructed by something actually meaningful.
This is opposites attract romance done wrong. My guess is that it was rushed out to cash in on the holiday spirit and increased sales such events tend to bring. I hope I'm wrong. Either way, this read didn't work for me at all.
A Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale is also the 5th full-length book A.E. Radley has published this year. With 2.4 months per release, it's no wonder the quality suffers.
December 1, 2018
The idea of the book is actually very interesting.. the delivery of it though is just sooooo wrong for me! I didn’t believe a single thing while reading! Not a single emotion, action, connection or plot! This is such a weird book to be honest I’m quite surprised it was even published.
December 7, 2018
I have enjoyed most of A.E.Radley's book's in the past... but im afraid this one wasn't for me. Mainly, because one of the main characters irritated the shit out of me. I understand why she was portrayed like this, anyone who is recluse and didn't mix with modern day society would act in this manner, but the child like behavior I just couldn't get passed.
2.5
2.5
December 22, 2019
I've listened to this audiobook as part of my 12 Lesbian Audiobooks of Christmas Challenge
Amber Tate works for as a children’s book acquisition manager in a London publishing house, but as Christmas is approaching her job is threatened. Her surly boss gives her a last chance: get the rights to the Lund Collection of fairy tales or else find another job. Running out of options, she travels to Sweden to try to convince the reclusive and guarded author’s grandaughter, Emilia Lund. When both women meet, they have completely different intentions to get to know each other but an underlying current of attraction simmers between them. Will their budding friendship end up in disaster or will it develop into something else?
This is a sweet and fluffy lesbian Christmas tale, very light on the romance. Don’t expect much on the love department but, as a character-driven book, there is a very good building of the main characters’ relationship and subsequent chemistry. Both leads couldn’t be any more different, while Amber is outgoing and sociable, Emilia is guarded and suffers from social anxiety. They say that opposites attract, and Ms. Radley makes their relationship seem plausible and highlights the characters’ differences, not only in personalities but also in their language, culture and places of residence.
My only concern is that Emilia’s anxiety, in my opinion, doesn’t seem very realistic. I’m definitely not an expert in mental health issues but, the way it was presented at the beginning of the novel seems at odds with the last parts of the plot. Maybe the book would have benefited from more development at the end to make it more credible and to make the most of the couple’s chemistry potential. Having said that, it wasn’t hard for me to get invested in the story as I think this is more about achieving the holiday spirit than an authentic account of a person’s struggle with mental health.
This audiobook was narrated by Janine Cooper-Marshall and I’m afraid that I’m on the fence regarding her performance. While I liked that the voices of all the characters were distinctive and the accents were acceptable, I wasn’t satisfied by the voice quality that she provides to the leads. They both sound older than their age and somehow at odds with their personalities. Having said that, I have to clarify that this is just my personal taste and it didn’t deter me from enjoying the story. If you are looking for an opposites-attract relationship, with a very light romance and interesting cultural references, this might be for you. Unfortunately, it’s not available in either Audible Escape or Scribd. Duration: 6 hours, 24 minutes.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Amber Tate works for as a children’s book acquisition manager in a London publishing house, but as Christmas is approaching her job is threatened. Her surly boss gives her a last chance: get the rights to the Lund Collection of fairy tales or else find another job. Running out of options, she travels to Sweden to try to convince the reclusive and guarded author’s grandaughter, Emilia Lund. When both women meet, they have completely different intentions to get to know each other but an underlying current of attraction simmers between them. Will their budding friendship end up in disaster or will it develop into something else?
This is a sweet and fluffy lesbian Christmas tale, very light on the romance. Don’t expect much on the love department but, as a character-driven book, there is a very good building of the main characters’ relationship and subsequent chemistry. Both leads couldn’t be any more different, while Amber is outgoing and sociable, Emilia is guarded and suffers from social anxiety. They say that opposites attract, and Ms. Radley makes their relationship seem plausible and highlights the characters’ differences, not only in personalities but also in their language, culture and places of residence.
My only concern is that Emilia’s anxiety, in my opinion, doesn’t seem very realistic. I’m definitely not an expert in mental health issues but, the way it was presented at the beginning of the novel seems at odds with the last parts of the plot. Maybe the book would have benefited from more development at the end to make it more credible and to make the most of the couple’s chemistry potential. Having said that, it wasn’t hard for me to get invested in the story as I think this is more about achieving the holiday spirit than an authentic account of a person’s struggle with mental health.
This audiobook was narrated by Janine Cooper-Marshall and I’m afraid that I’m on the fence regarding her performance. While I liked that the voices of all the characters were distinctive and the accents were acceptable, I wasn’t satisfied by the voice quality that she provides to the leads. They both sound older than their age and somehow at odds with their personalities. Having said that, I have to clarify that this is just my personal taste and it didn’t deter me from enjoying the story. If you are looking for an opposites-attract relationship, with a very light romance and interesting cultural references, this might be for you. Unfortunately, it’s not available in either Audible Escape or Scribd. Duration: 6 hours, 24 minutes.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
December 11, 2018
This was a nice christmas story... but not on par with A.E. Radley's previous books. Barely three stars.
November 27, 2020
A very sweet story, sort of opposites attract. Kindle Unlimited. But a lot of WHAT THE? moments.
Emilia is desperately lonely in her secluded life. Struggling with anxiety and the pressures of her grandmothers legacy of fairy tales that haven't changed in decades. But still bring in a steady income stream, but that is slowly declining too.
In comes Amber sent from a British publishing company to obtain the rights to the stories, to revamp them. Emilia doesn't want a big corporation to change them, at all. But Emilia is so desperate for friendship and enjoys the time she does spend with Amber, that she tells a lie to lead her on with the possibility of a business deal just to keep her around longer.
They are both very sweet and caring together, but many times it was very much polar opposites, and Emilia especially came off incredibly naive and sheltered, and actually stunted in a lot of ways - which made me worry for her character and that Amber was taking advantage of her, which it sounded like she was more than willing to do a few times, which put me off. Therefore makes the ending even more teeth-clenching when you think about the ramifications there.
Amber is showcased as miss popularity, with many friends, always going out and enjoying the city life of London and doing lots of things to keep busy and connected online or IRL. While Emilia hides away in the off-grid house (without wifi or even a TV) where she grew up in the South of Sweden and literally only has 1 childhood friend.
I just don't think the author ever really did meld the two worlds or personalities properly enough for me to believe in their connection. Plus Emilia's whole outlook and personality and lifestyle ended up making me feel really sad... Like depressing! This is not what you want from a Holiday read.
Emilia is desperately lonely in her secluded life. Struggling with anxiety and the pressures of her grandmothers legacy of fairy tales that haven't changed in decades. But still bring in a steady income stream, but that is slowly declining too.
In comes Amber sent from a British publishing company to obtain the rights to the stories, to revamp them. Emilia doesn't want a big corporation to change them, at all. But Emilia is so desperate for friendship and enjoys the time she does spend with Amber, that she tells a lie to lead her on with the possibility of a business deal just to keep her around longer.
They are both very sweet and caring together, but many times it was very much polar opposites, and Emilia especially came off incredibly naive and sheltered, and actually stunted in a lot of ways - which made me worry for her character and that Amber was taking advantage of her, which it sounded like she was more than willing to do a few times, which put me off. Therefore makes the ending even more teeth-clenching when you think about the ramifications there.
Amber is showcased as miss popularity, with many friends, always going out and enjoying the city life of London and doing lots of things to keep busy and connected online or IRL. While Emilia hides away in the off-grid house (without wifi or even a TV) where she grew up in the South of Sweden and literally only has 1 childhood friend.
I just don't think the author ever really did meld the two worlds or personalities properly enough for me to believe in their connection. Plus Emilia's whole outlook and personality and lifestyle ended up making me feel really sad... Like depressing! This is not what you want from a Holiday read.
November 28, 2018
3 1/2 stars
It's well written and flows nicely.
The story was a little bit too unbelievable and I have to say I would have wanted a bit longer ending.
As the book finishes there are a lot of unfinished threads and you kind of have to guess that they actually get together.
It's well written and flows nicely.
The story was a little bit too unbelievable and I have to say I would have wanted a bit longer ending.
As the book finishes there are a lot of unfinished threads and you kind of have to guess that they actually get together.
December 4, 2018
Very enjoyable warm-hearted and fluffy story. True, the storyline is far fetched and implausible, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment in the least. Recommend. 4 stars
March 29, 2020
Curiosity got the better of me, I needed to know if it was as bad as some of the reviews. Well, that's several wasted hours I won't get back and I've never skimmed so many pages.
I've been a fan of Radley since reading the Flight series but her last couple are seriously missing something, but to me, this has to be the worse
The story had some promise but nothing at all seemed to fit with the characters, plot and certainly the emotions, it all lacked the glue to hold them together
From the blurb, at the end of the book, Radley is now a full-time author having given up her job in marketing and I'm starting to feel like she's pushing books out as quick as she can without much thought and its a shame :(
I've been a fan of Radley since reading the Flight series but her last couple are seriously missing something, but to me, this has to be the worse
The story had some promise but nothing at all seemed to fit with the characters, plot and certainly the emotions, it all lacked the glue to hold them together
From the blurb, at the end of the book, Radley is now a full-time author having given up her job in marketing and I'm starting to feel like she's pushing books out as quick as she can without much thought and its a shame :(
December 3, 2018
I have enjoyed this author's previous books, particularly the Flight series. This book didn't click with me. To me, it could be a children's story except for the lesbian aspect to it. Otherwise, it lacks passion, depth of character. It is a bit farfetched but maybe possible; however, for an adult, lesbian novel, it is lacking in everything. I know the author does not include sex scenes in her novels which is fine, however, we are left wondering if they even became lovers or just kissed. No conclusion as to their future, the reader is left wondering if their business venture will work, how it will work, where would they live, etc. It abruptly ends. Maybe it's like the author named it, a fairy tale. I outgrew them many years ago.
February 20, 2019
It's an okay reading I guess
I didn't feel their chemistry
And I don't know, it felt like a waist of time
It's cute, but I was hoping to be a lot better
I get Emilia, social interaction is not easy and I think it got too much too soon
The book is slow but she suddenly get "over" her anxiety issues and IT'S SO UNREALISTIC
The end come into a rush and you don't get time to actually believe in their love
I didn't feel their chemistry
And I don't know, it felt like a waist of time
It's cute, but I was hoping to be a lot better
I get Emilia, social interaction is not easy and I think it got too much too soon
The book is slow but she suddenly get "over" her anxiety issues and IT'S SO UNREALISTIC
The end come into a rush and you don't get time to actually believe in their love
December 22, 2018
An enjoyable read!
A tastefully done story about two women (polar opposites) who become friends. About social anxiety, coping with a boss from hell and a little white lie. The setting is charming and I love that we get a taste of the Swedish culture. The story is well executed but the ending was ok. I just wanted it to be longer.
A tastefully done story about two women (polar opposites) who become friends. About social anxiety, coping with a boss from hell and a little white lie. The setting is charming and I love that we get a taste of the Swedish culture. The story is well executed but the ending was ok. I just wanted it to be longer.
December 17, 2018
Nice Christmas story but it seemed to be missing some of the A.E. Radley flare.
I liked the second half of the book better than the first. The ending was kind of sudden for me and would have liked to seen how the MC's worked together and if they truly did get together in the end.
Rating: 3.5-4
I liked the second half of the book better than the first. The ending was kind of sudden for me and would have liked to seen how the MC's worked together and if they truly did get together in the end.
Rating: 3.5-4
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
I'm really sorry but I have to admit that I am disappointed in this one, and I was so looking forward to it. I like Radley's work, her prose is generally sharp and well-considered and the characters are always interesting in a good way.
This does not read at all like Radley's work. repetitive phraseology, repetitive plot points, characters that are not as nice as they could have been, all based on miscommunication (actually lies) and long series of exposition.
This does not read at all like Radley's work. repetitive phraseology, repetitive plot points, characters that are not as nice as they could have been, all based on miscommunication (actually lies) and long series of exposition.
December 30, 2024
2.5⭐
This didn't read like a romance book.
There basically wasn't any romance, except for like the last 20 pages.
The characters were fine, I probably won't remember their names by tomorrow.
I could relate to Emilia with her anxiety and rarely leaving the house.
I didn't really mind that Emilia was so naive and childish, but sometimes it just got too much and she read more like a child.
And at the end she decides she's now "brave"? Your anxiety doesn't just magically disappear.
There was so much description on things that simply weren't important.
I skimmed so many pages because simply nothing was happening.
This is the kind of couple, if you'd check on them in a few months would they still be together? No.
This didn't read like a romance book.
There basically wasn't any romance, except for like the last 20 pages.
The characters were fine, I probably won't remember their names by tomorrow.
I could relate to Emilia with her anxiety and rarely leaving the house.
I didn't really mind that Emilia was so naive and childish, but sometimes it just got too much and she read more like a child.
And at the end she decides she's now "brave"? Your anxiety doesn't just magically disappear.
There was so much description on things that simply weren't important.
I skimmed so many pages because simply nothing was happening.
This is the kind of couple, if you'd check on them in a few months would they still be together? No.
December 30, 2018
.
I enjoy books written by A.E. Radley but this one was her weakest one in a while. Maybe I'm just used to getting more enjoyable characters from this author but good god Emilia was annoying me from the get go. No amount of loneliness can explain away her behaviour. She came across more like a psychopath than anything else. I didn't enjoy the relationship development either, I had no idea were their sudden strong feelings came from, maybe because I didn't feel there was much chemistry between the main characters.
I enjoy books written by A.E. Radley but this one was her weakest one in a while. Maybe I'm just used to getting more enjoyable characters from this author but good god Emilia was annoying me from the get go. No amount of loneliness can explain away her behaviour. She came across more like a psychopath than anything else. I didn't enjoy the relationship development either, I had no idea were their sudden strong feelings came from, maybe because I didn't feel there was much chemistry between the main characters.
December 2, 2018
It was a really sweet book. Completely implausible, in the way that it would have been super absurd, inapropiate, reprehensible and worrying in the real world but works for a silly fluffy romance.
Pretty enjoyable
Pretty enjoyable
December 2, 2018
Sweet
Another amazing book by A. E. Radley! This was a very cute sweet story and a very quick read. I can’t wait to see what else A. E. comes out with.
Another amazing book by A. E. Radley! This was a very cute sweet story and a very quick read. I can’t wait to see what else A. E. comes out with.
December 30, 2019
Because we're still in the Christmas season, I thought to listen to this Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale. Although I had a good laugh when listening to Huntress, this book did not make that happen for me. After listening to this book, I think you'll either like or dislike it. I do not believe it is possible to leave your opinion in between. I disliked it, but because I always want to know how a story ends, I finished listening until the end.
Let me start with the potential this book could have had. Two women, one from Londen and one from Sweden, the latter living like a hermit and the former needing her for a book deal.
Emilia, the gal from Sweden, worked on my nerves. (I have to explain that the way the narrator chose to voice this character made her, for me at least, sound like a childish 90-year-old) She comes across as unworldly as if she was stuck in a certain day and age. That, however, can not be an excuse for the way she acted towards Amber (the gal from Londen). Although not interested in a book deal what so ever, she does invite her to stay over because "she doesn't do business with people she doesn't know on a personal level".
During her stay with Emilia, Amber doesn't seem to like the woman. There is no chemistry, nothing that connects them and no physical attraction. And then all of a sudden there is, wow, didn't see that coming. Totally unbelievable! How can you be attracted to someone who acts like a five-year-old? You lose your job because of that behaviour, but hey, she had a rough childhood so it's oke? That's another thing, Emilia's childhood would have been an excellent character-building opportunity, but it wasn't used.
I would seriously consider taking this novel back to the drawing table, fixing the childish character of Emilia would make it a much nicer read (and more realistic). This story really has potential and after Huntress, I know Radley can do way better. On the bright side, this was a free audible and it helped me through the awfully boring task of clipping a hedge down to the ground. So I am very thankful for that.
Let me start with the potential this book could have had. Two women, one from Londen and one from Sweden, the latter living like a hermit and the former needing her for a book deal.
Emilia, the gal from Sweden, worked on my nerves. (I have to explain that the way the narrator chose to voice this character made her, for me at least, sound like a childish 90-year-old) She comes across as unworldly as if she was stuck in a certain day and age. That, however, can not be an excuse for the way she acted towards Amber (the gal from Londen). Although not interested in a book deal what so ever, she does invite her to stay over because "she doesn't do business with people she doesn't know on a personal level".
During her stay with Emilia, Amber doesn't seem to like the woman. There is no chemistry, nothing that connects them and no physical attraction. And then all of a sudden there is, wow, didn't see that coming. Totally unbelievable! How can you be attracted to someone who acts like a five-year-old? You lose your job because of that behaviour, but hey, she had a rough childhood so it's oke? That's another thing, Emilia's childhood would have been an excellent character-building opportunity, but it wasn't used.
I would seriously consider taking this novel back to the drawing table, fixing the childish character of Emilia would make it a much nicer read (and more realistic). This story really has potential and after Huntress, I know Radley can do way better. On the bright side, this was a free audible and it helped me through the awfully boring task of clipping a hedge down to the ground. So I am very thankful for that.
December 15, 2018
Amazing
Amazing story, sweet, and romantic. The characters are charismatic, Emilia and Amber are very different, two worlds apart, but love found a way and they fell in love. Emilia is my favorite character, she is a gorgeous, naive, and lonely recluse, afraid to live until Amber came into her life, and she date to give herself a chance, now she is braver and happy. I definitely recommend all A. E. Radley books.
Amazing story, sweet, and romantic. The characters are charismatic, Emilia and Amber are very different, two worlds apart, but love found a way and they fell in love. Emilia is my favorite character, she is a gorgeous, naive, and lonely recluse, afraid to live until Amber came into her life, and she date to give herself a chance, now she is braver and happy. I definitely recommend all A. E. Radley books.
December 21, 2018
Actually loved how this book started and progressed. Extremely interesting.
December 12, 2019
Perfect Christmas entertaining escapism. I read it quite quickly, enjoyed the different setting. It is not a documentary so if you are looking for realism then maybe this isn’t for you but if you want a book that will transport you out the daily grind for a few hours then this is the book for you. Yes it could be longer, yes there could be more depth but sometimes a Cadbury’s selection box in front of the telly hits the spot rather than an exquisite box from Hotel Chocolat!
December 9, 2024
🇸🇪 Suck. Jag tycker inte om den här boken.
🇺🇸 Sigh. I didn’t like this book.
As someone with strong Swedish ancestry and ties to that culture, I was SO EXCITED to find a sapphic holiday book set primarily in Sweden! I thought this was going to be an easy 5 stars for me, but I was disappointed pretty much immediately. The writing style is lazy and juvenile. 90% of the first chapter was presented like a quick recap of things that had already happened - almost as though this was a sequel to a previous book and the author wanted to jog your memory about what happened before - but that’s not the case. She just didn’t want to take any time to actually write any of that part of the story. Instead, she opted to spend almost three hundred pages making the same points over and over again with slightly different wording. If you took out all of the redundancy, this book could’ve been under 100 pages.
Furthermore, the characters were rough. Clearly not well thought out. Their personalities and motivations aren’t clear and you could get whiplash from how quickly they change their minds about things.
The only thing I really enjoyed about the book were all of the Swedish influences and references. I learned that the author’s wife is Swedish so surely that helped with the authenticity. I personally would’ve liked more Swedish language incorporated (there are a few short sentences and phrases sprinkled in here and there) but I know the average reader would probably disagree with me there. Amber was right to pass on the herring, though. I’m sorry Sweden, please don’t revoke my Swede card! 😅
🇺🇸 Sigh. I didn’t like this book.
As someone with strong Swedish ancestry and ties to that culture, I was SO EXCITED to find a sapphic holiday book set primarily in Sweden! I thought this was going to be an easy 5 stars for me, but I was disappointed pretty much immediately. The writing style is lazy and juvenile. 90% of the first chapter was presented like a quick recap of things that had already happened - almost as though this was a sequel to a previous book and the author wanted to jog your memory about what happened before - but that’s not the case. She just didn’t want to take any time to actually write any of that part of the story. Instead, she opted to spend almost three hundred pages making the same points over and over again with slightly different wording. If you took out all of the redundancy, this book could’ve been under 100 pages.
Furthermore, the characters were rough. Clearly not well thought out. Their personalities and motivations aren’t clear and you could get whiplash from how quickly they change their minds about things.
The only thing I really enjoyed about the book were all of the Swedish influences and references. I learned that the author’s wife is Swedish so surely that helped with the authenticity. I personally would’ve liked more Swedish language incorporated (there are a few short sentences and phrases sprinkled in here and there) but I know the average reader would probably disagree with me there. Amber was right to pass on the herring, though. I’m sorry Sweden, please don’t revoke my Swede card! 😅
December 18, 2021
I thought this short story is cute. I listened to it so it probably added more to it than I would have felt with reading it. I feel like when the characters are not a nuanced as they could be be, a good narrator can add a lot to the story.
I'm rather fond of the recluse, cool-ish character mixing it up with an outgoing social person. But my thing is the big thaw when it's a romantic story.
In this case it was less about the big thaw and more about innocence opening to a wider view. Emilia has led a sheltered life in the country and although theoretically she is open to travel and exploring outside of her little world, she hasn't done so.
Amber is just the opposite. She's very social and is always going out and hanging with friends. They couldn't be two more different people.
Amber's job brings them together and Emilia is forced to come out of her shell even though on the surface it's more about her trying to please a close friend. Discovering their feelings for each other is not rushed, but not dragged out either.
Anyway.... if you're in the mood for a quick, holiday romantic story this might hit the spot.
I'm rather fond of the recluse, cool-ish character mixing it up with an outgoing social person. But my thing is the big thaw when it's a romantic story.
In this case it was less about the big thaw and more about innocence opening to a wider view. Emilia has led a sheltered life in the country and although theoretically she is open to travel and exploring outside of her little world, she hasn't done so.
Amber is just the opposite. She's very social and is always going out and hanging with friends. They couldn't be two more different people.
Amber's job brings them together and Emilia is forced to come out of her shell even though on the surface it's more about her trying to please a close friend. Discovering their feelings for each other is not rushed, but not dragged out either.
Anyway.... if you're in the mood for a quick, holiday romantic story this might hit the spot.
August 3, 2019
Radley plunges readers head-first into the world of publishing, setting us alongside Amber Tate and her desperate need to keep her job. The likability of the protagonist draws the reader in from the first chapter, taking you on a journey that crosses into a new country, a new culture, and a new character that has quirks of her own.
Emilia may be socially awkward and a reculse, but her character had flaws that enhanced her good traits, and subsequently allowed her flaws to be relaistic to her situation. The tenderness to which anxiety is handled in this book is a refreshing change from what is displayed in media otherwise. Emilia's character grew, and was aptly challenged by the protagonist with only a few bumps in the road that were overcome in their unique ways.
Overall, a feel-good story with friendship and stepping out of your comfort zone at the forefront. All characters were equally important, and wonderfully interwoven into this world.
Emilia may be socially awkward and a reculse, but her character had flaws that enhanced her good traits, and subsequently allowed her flaws to be relaistic to her situation. The tenderness to which anxiety is handled in this book is a refreshing change from what is displayed in media otherwise. Emilia's character grew, and was aptly challenged by the protagonist with only a few bumps in the road that were overcome in their unique ways.
Overall, a feel-good story with friendship and stepping out of your comfort zone at the forefront. All characters were equally important, and wonderfully interwoven into this world.
December 14, 2020
Es ist die Zeit im Jahr für ‘Hallmarkbucher’. Dieses Buch ist mehr oder weniger süß (wie sagt man ‘fluffy’ auf Deutsch?) und nur ein biiiiiiiischen unmöglich, aber das ist immer noch besser als Hallmarkfilme.
Positive Punkte:
-Schweden!
-Vielleicht gibt es ein bisschen ‘Neurodiversity’? Niemand sagt ‘spectrum’, aber das ware für Emilia eine Möglichkeit, oder?
Fragen:
-Ich glaube die Beziehung nicht. Emilia ist interessant (und ich mag, dass sie ziemlich peinlich ist), aber am Ende muss sie komplett andern, um eine Beziehung zu haben. Was wird passieren, wann Amber einen Job in London findet? Wenn, für Emilia, Sexualität etwas neues ist?
-Emilia weiß nicht von der Welt, aber sie versteht, dass (oh crap how do I say this in German) es nutzbar für Leute mit Behinderungen sein kann, die Möglichkeit einer Orange ohne Orangenschale zu kaufen?
Ich glaube, dass die Beziehung nicht dauern wird, aber für eine Weihnachtsgeschichte? Warum nicht.
Positive Punkte:
-Schweden!
-Vielleicht gibt es ein bisschen ‘Neurodiversity’? Niemand sagt ‘spectrum’, aber das ware für Emilia eine Möglichkeit, oder?
Fragen:
-Ich glaube die Beziehung nicht. Emilia ist interessant (und ich mag, dass sie ziemlich peinlich ist), aber am Ende muss sie komplett andern, um eine Beziehung zu haben. Was wird passieren, wann Amber einen Job in London findet? Wenn, für Emilia, Sexualität etwas neues ist?
-Emilia weiß nicht von der Welt, aber sie versteht, dass (oh crap how do I say this in German) es nutzbar für Leute mit Behinderungen sein kann, die Möglichkeit einer Orange ohne Orangenschale zu kaufen?
Ich glaube, dass die Beziehung nicht dauern wird, aber für eine Weihnachtsgeschichte? Warum nicht.
December 23, 2018
One of the things I love about A.E. Radley's books is the uniqueness of each one. You never know what you're going to get, although you can be assured it will be good. A Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale is no different. (Some quite good authors write cookie cutter romances, and while I read and enjoy them, they are a different level than Radley's books.)
I marveled at the naivete of Emilia. Really, at times, I wondered "is this too much?" In other words, are people going to buy it? I think it was well done. Certainly, while it seems there are not many people like her, it doesn't mean they don't exist. I loved how, almost from the start, even though she and Amber were at odds in their goals, they treated each other's differences with respect. And how they brought out the best in each other.
I marveled at the naivete of Emilia. Really, at times, I wondered "is this too much?" In other words, are people going to buy it? I think it was well done. Certainly, while it seems there are not many people like her, it doesn't mean they don't exist. I loved how, almost from the start, even though she and Amber were at odds in their goals, they treated each other's differences with respect. And how they brought out the best in each other.
January 3, 2019
Technically well written story with a few loose ends and quick finish. Emilia is a low-tech, complicated recluse. Amber is geeky businesswoman in fear for her job. They meet in dead of winter in Sweden under the pretense of business - for Amber to get Emilia to sign a contract for her company to acquire the rights to Emilia's grandmother's children's stories - but as Christmas approaches, lack of communication on both women's parts and ulterior motives complicate their growing feelings for one another.
There is a villain in the form of Amber's bitchy boss, a loveable friend of Emilia's, named Hugo, who complicates the story even further, and insights into Swedish culture. It's a fairly light seasonal story that's just right for a holiday season read.
There is a villain in the form of Amber's bitchy boss, a loveable friend of Emilia's, named Hugo, who complicates the story even further, and insights into Swedish culture. It's a fairly light seasonal story that's just right for a holiday season read.
February 11, 2020
I listened to this audiobook and was very disappointed. It's pretty challenging to find lesbian Christmas stories every year so I was very excited to start this one. My excitment quickly dwindled.
I didn't like one of the main characters at all. And she barely redeemed herself at the end. It was supposed to be a Christmas romance, but I honestly couldn't tell without looking at the title.
The book seem to drag on and on without much happening at all.
It took me 3 months to finish the book because I just couldn't get into it. I only finished it because I don't leaving books unfinished.
The ending seemed somewhat abrupt. I actually said "oh" when it ended.
I didn't like one of the main characters at all. And she barely redeemed herself at the end. It was supposed to be a Christmas romance, but I honestly couldn't tell without looking at the title.
The book seem to drag on and on without much happening at all.
It took me 3 months to finish the book because I just couldn't get into it. I only finished it because I don't leaving books unfinished.
The ending seemed somewhat abrupt. I actually said "oh" when it ended.
December 12, 2022
I'm oddly fond of this one despite the fact that it's... not the best? Awkwardly written and the choices made by the characters often aren't believable. But there was something in the way Amber keeps being mad at Emilia and actually expresses it once the secrets are all revealed that I really enjoyed.
Be warned that the resolution involves a situation that could be read as a 'magically cured of anxiety' ending, though I found it relatable that a character with intense anxiety might, in a crisis, find themself able to do things otherwise out of their reach and might THINK 'holy shit, everything's different now I can do ALL THE THINGS'. Doesn't mean they're right.
Be warned that the resolution involves a situation that could be read as a 'magically cured of anxiety' ending, though I found it relatable that a character with intense anxiety might, in a crisis, find themself able to do things otherwise out of their reach and might THINK 'holy shit, everything's different now I can do ALL THE THINGS'. Doesn't mean they're right.
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