The Christmas Lights – Karen Swan

“You need to know that your worst moment can turn out to be your best. In every life, there is a defining moment of surrender where you must make a choice to let Destiny happen.” (Quotation page 421)

Content

Just from a scuba expedition on Upolu Island, Samoa, Bo Laxley and her boyfriend Zac Austen now arrive in Alesund, Norway, to pass December and a romantic Christmas in a rural farmhouse, hidden in the breathtaking nature of the fjord. Sharing their free-spirited, exciting life as “Wanderlusters” with more than nine million followers, every step is documented by their own photographer and manager Lenny, and now also Anna Rem, marketing head of Ridge Riders, the famous clothing brand sponsoring their stay in Norway. The price for this dream-come-true life is missing every possibility of privacy and private moments, but with Christmas coming nearer and the more Bo thinks about her daily life, she begins to doubt, if the price could be too high.

Theme and Genre

This Christmas story is about modern Social media, influencers, bringing their personal lives into the public, family, love, hidden secrets, heartbreak and, of course, about Christmas.

Characters

Bo knows that their followers need exciting, perfect pictures of her perfect days with her perfect boyfriend Zac and therefore every step of their risky trekking and climbing tours has to be well documented and immediately shared. As she longs for some privacy, Zac just does not understand her, he is happy with exactly how it is. Their host Signy, ninety-six-years old, after three years in Oslo, when she was young, had come back and never left again. In her opinion, there could be no life richer than hers, surrounded by the breathtaking beautiful nature.

Plot and Writing

The plot switches between two different storylines. The main story takes place in December 2018; meanwhile Signy’s story is set in summer 1936. The vivid description of spectacular Norwegian fjord landscape accompanies both strands. This book is an almost perfect Christmas read, full of love, snow, dark winter days and secrets hidden in a far away and nearer past. There are enough twists to keep the story interesting, but then Karen Swan in my opinion wanted too much, maybe searching for still more different themes and deepness, she brings not only one, but more hidden past dramas into the lifes of her main figures, and for me the story lost some plausibility and feels too intentionally constructed.

Conclusion

Enjoyable Christmas read, making us dream of romantic winter-days, hidden in the beautiful, snow-covered nature of Geirangerfjord.