Summer reading – relax and unwind with a book from the north

By Malin Norman | Photo: Ulf Lundin, Imagebank.sweden.se

According to the largest online bookstore in the Nordic region, Adlibris, seven out of ten Swedes feel better when they read, and four out of five see books as a form of mental recovery. For some well-deserved, relaxing moments with a good book this summer, look no further than these recommendations.

Photo: Macmillan Publishers

The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri

Spanning several continents, Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s The Sisters is a story of sibling rivalry and the complexities of mixed heritage. The three sisters in this family saga – Ina, Evelyn, and Anastasia – move into the neighbourhood of Jonas, and he realises their connection to his family. The Sisters was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2025 by New York Times and long-listed for the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction. The recipient of the Cullman Fellowship at the New York Public Library in 2021, Hassen Khemiri is one of Sweden’s most praised authors at the moment, and his novels have been translated into more than 35 languages.

Photo: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Ghost Stories by Siri Hustvedt

Siri Hustvedt’s new book is a deeply moving and unforgettable memoir of love and grief. Described as her most personal work yet, Ghost Stories was written in the aftermath of the death of her husband, writer Paul Auster. One of the most anticipated books of 2026, it includes memories from their more than 40 years together, with a mix of journal entries, emails, notes and love letters. Interwoven in the book is also Paul Auster’s last piece of writing, the first 35 pages of what he intended as a small book of letters to their grandson.

Photo: Bloomsbury Publishing

The Expedition by Bea Uusma

Physician and author Bea Uusma has dedicated decades to solving the mystery of the Andrée expedition – three men who set out in a hydrogen balloon bound for the North Pole in 1897, never to return. Published in 2013, her first book The Expedition became a best-seller and was awarded the August Prize, Sweden’s most prestigious literary award, in the non-fiction category. A deep-dive into the failed expedition, the book is also about Bea herself and why she became obsessed in following in its footsteps. Uusma’s standalone continuation, called Vitön, was published last year and also won the August Prize for non-fiction.

Photo: Hachette Book Group

Beasts of the Sea by Iida Turpeinen (translated from the Finnish by David Hackston)

Considered the most internationally successful Finnish debut novel, Iida Turpeinen’s Beasts of the Sea has already been translated into 28 languages. The book is an adventure through three centuries of scientific exploration – more specifically Steller’s sea cow, which went extinct only 27 years after its discovery. A tale of grand ambition and the quest for knowledge, it also dives into the urge to resurrect what has been destroyed by human ambitions. “Reading Beasts of the Sea is like finding a dusty, forgotten book in an attic and opening the Narnia wardrobe straight into history,” says writer Sandra Beijer in her review.

Summer reading – relax and unwind with a book from the north

Ultravåld by Tone Schunnesson

Ultravåld by novelist, playwright and cultural commentator Tone Schunnesson is one of the most hyped books this summer. Set in the late 1990s, Schunnesson’s third novel tells the story of a dysfunctional family in a run-down castle. Whilst older brother Jarl dreams of glamour, younger sister Eddie dreams of spending time with her brother. When their father walks out, their mother loses her footing. A distinctive literary voice of her generation, Schunnesson explores inheritance, trauma and loyalty. In the wait for an English translation, check out her second novel, Days & Days & Days (translated from the Swedish by Saksia Vogel). This study of success and destruction, dependence and betrayal, celebrity and anonymity was shortlisted for the EU Prize for Literature in 2021.

Photo: Bloomsbury Publishing

The Swedish Cookbook by Niklas Ekstedt

In The Swedish Cookbook, Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt brings fuss-free Scandinavian recipes to our kitchens. Following the philosophy of lagom, meaning balanced or just right, Ekstedt shares some of his best recipes, for both classic everyday meals and more special occasions with a modern twist. You will find for instance Swedish meatballs with potatoes and pressed cucumber, gravlax, pickled herring and Danish open-faced sandwiches, as well as more unexpected combinations, such as cabbage salad with blueberries and shaved frozen feta cheese. And for anyone with a sweet tooth, there is a whole chapter on the art of fika.