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Fjord Blue
After a year of partying, getting into fights, and finally crashing his father’s vintage Bonneville in a car chase, seventeen-year-old Benjamin has pushed his parents to their limit. It’s not like he can tell them why he’s so angry at life, or that he’ll do anything to distract himself from the lust he feels toward his best friend’s sexy cousin, Dino. He can’t even protest when he’s sent away from Miami to spend the summer working on his grandparents’ farm in the desolate fjords of Western Norway.
The farm is isolated and old-fashioned, and so are Ben’s religious grandparents. It’s cold and wet, and Ben is miserable and restless. Relief comes in the form of Even, the eighteen-year-old blond Viking farmhand who offers Ben friendship and a new outlook on his situation. But Even is hiding issues of his own.
Ben’s grandparents want him to inherit the farm, but the only thing keeping Ben there is his desire to know Even better. As the feelings between the two young men grow, things kept hidden are slowly revealed—for good and ill—and they must turn to unlikely places for encouragement.
The farm is isolated and old-fashioned, and so are Ben’s religious grandparents. It’s cold and wet, and Ben is miserable and restless. Relief comes in the form of Even, the eighteen-year-old blond Viking farmhand who offers Ben friendship and a new outlook on his situation. But Even is hiding issues of his own.
Ben’s grandparents want him to inherit the farm, but the only thing keeping Ben there is his desire to know Even better. As the feelings between the two young men grow, things kept hidden are slowly revealed—for good and ill—and they must turn to unlikely places for encouragement.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2016
3 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Nina Rossing
6 books183 followersNina Rossing lives in Norway, where the winters are long and the summers short. Despite the brilliant nature surrounding her, she spends more time in front of her computer, or with a book in her hands, than in the great outdoors (though you may find her out on her mountain bike if the weather is good). She works as a high school teacher, which in her opinion is probably the best job in the world.
Nina is an avid and eclectic reader whose bookshelves are bursting (and so is her e-reader). After thinking about writing for many years, she now finds time to live out her dream after her kids are in bed. She prefers creating young adult stories where obstacles are overcome and endings are hopeful.
Nina is an avid and eclectic reader whose bookshelves are bursting (and so is her e-reader). After thinking about writing for many years, she now finds time to live out her dream after her kids are in bed. She prefers creating young adult stories where obstacles are overcome and endings are hopeful.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 2, 2016
And the meaning of life is…
What? Did you actually think I’d tell you? Ha!
I’ll tell you a secret instead. When I requested this book I immediately regretted it. I was not able to forcefully start it ever since, above all when shinning beautiful novels kept drawing my attention here and there.
I feel bad. Now.
Because it ended.
And it shouldn’t have. It should have gone on and on and on. But it didn’t.
When I was at 20% of the book I thought there was still a 80% to be read. When I was at 80% I saw the same filled glass upside down. And then I got to 95% and I had to hold my horses and repeat myself again and again that I still had a 5%. But then I got to 98% and… it ended. Just like that, I almost didn’t feel it. It was not painful.
But it was traumatic.
Now I feel like screaming, crying, and kicking like a baby.
I’m not ashamed.
Benjamin is a 17-year-old and is mad at the world. He can’t control it and he wouldn’t hold it, and much less tell the source of such behaviour. So he sets all his anger and frustration free in reckless performances like a rebel with a cause. He fools around with stupid girls, gets into brawls with stupid guys, breaks the speed limits in stupid car races. Such actions have their consequences. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when the straw that breaks the camel's back becomes the perfect trigger for his parents to buy a plane ticket directly to Norway, and a return ticket in a 10-weeks-time. It means a summer to help his grandparents in the farm, accompanied with an adamant prohibition to get into problems: no alcohol, no parties, and of course, no cars.
Benjamin doesn’t want Norway, rural anything pales in comparison to the cheerful life in Miami. This is a punishment he can’t help but be impatient to get over with. Heidi’s bucolic lifestyle has never drawn him. Being far from the maddening crowd is indeed not cool. He sees no attractiveness in scything or in rolling in the hay.
At least not alone.
Because, Even.
Benjamin is blunt, rash and unworried in his arrogant and showoff attitude. But Even is confident and solid and trustworthy and upright. Everything Ben is not. Also, Even is too handsome for his own good and Ben foresees a hellish existence keeping his hands to himself. Above all when they sleep in the same room, sharing part of the bed and apart from the adults in a cottage all for themselves.
Ben’s grandparents and Even don’t take any shit from Benjamin, simply because they are unaffected and Ben’s tricks wouldn’t do a thing on them. I loved how rural Noway was displayed. The farm, the small cities, the rain, the teenagers, the tourists, the sky, the fjords, the everything. When the big secret is out, the reaction from both families are revealing at least, bringing more mysteries out into the light. The grandparents are indeed an interesting couple, and there is more than meets the eye. Even’s friends are totally worth the time they appear on scene. And when the shit hits the fan with Even parents, I could do no other thing than be on Ben’s side of the situation. Let’s say ome people simply don’t deserve to share a meal on the table.
Subtly, Benjamin begins to see Norway in a way he would never have expected. Little by little, he discovers he has everything he could ever want.
It all felt real and believable, and, more important, Benjamin’s growth and evolution is also undeniably real. The arrogant spoiled brat who flies from Miami is not the same person once he comes back. Not only because he found love, but also his own feet and, therefore, is beginning to learn how to stand on the ground he’s on.
And the scene came when I was totally sold. Yes, I know, I shouldn’t have, because it’s nearly close to bribery. #MomentoEmpanadas.
I’m so easy.
I actually rolled my eyes at the inquisition hint. What was the last fuckery I heard? Oh yes, when that journalist told Donald Trump: “This is not Spain, the Church doesn’t hold control over the Estate”. Or that other one? “Spain wants to abolish the 3-hour siesta”.
No comments.
And then:
I laughed at this. In a good way, of course. It was not the only time I broadly smiled at all. You expect a slow burn book from this, and it is. You expect sweet and optimistic and innocent romance, and it is, in a way. But teenagers are much more clever than adults, so when Even and Ben finally make the step, they make it for real. A big step forward and not looking back. It’s a funny book but it’s not a hilarious one, because heavy situations go by and that implies heavy conflicts sometimes, but also great resolutions where at first only problems seemed to exist. And there is always the pending doom of an end. In general, I can conclude it was easy and fun to read, with all its depth and little of drama, which always fit right.
Also, I really liked how Ben’s background in Miami is portrayed. The Spanish was ok. It wasn’t perfect. The mistakes I found were in names mostly. Ben’s family is Cuban. Did you know what Cuba is the country with the highest percentage of people who speaks native Spanish? 100%. It’s only logical, right? So you should expect “flawless” Spanish, in a way. At least in names. He mentions a relative called “Consuela”, and another one called “Manuelo”, another called “Oscar” and two girls called “Lucia”. Well, the correct names are Consuelo (female), Manuel (male), Óscar (male) and Lucía (female). I forgive the lack of accents because in USA the accents tend to disappear. I guess you can write anything you fancy on the birth registration, too. There was a moment that left my scratching my head in confusion: when I read “qué bolá?” with no initial “¿” but with accents. Then I realized it was a chat conversation and God knows nobody writes correctly in those. In my case, I don’t waste my time in writing “¿” and capital letters and I very rarely use accents. For the sake of fluidity, of course. So it was spot-on after all. To sum it up, in general, the Spanish was very good. At least, not worse than I’m used to, which is always a win.
The writing style is stunning. It sounds like music on my ears and every sentence encouraged you to read the following one. Even coming from a “tough guy” like Benjamin, it was suitable and poetic. It made me want a repeat.
This young adult/coming-to-age novel made me swoon and it made me truly happy for a while. And I started this regretting my decision, you see.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
What? Did you actually think I’d tell you? Ha!
I’ll tell you a secret instead. When I requested this book I immediately regretted it. I was not able to forcefully start it ever since, above all when shinning beautiful novels kept drawing my attention here and there.
I feel bad. Now.
Because it ended.
And it shouldn’t have. It should have gone on and on and on. But it didn’t.
When I was at 20% of the book I thought there was still a 80% to be read. When I was at 80% I saw the same filled glass upside down. And then I got to 95% and I had to hold my horses and repeat myself again and again that I still had a 5%. But then I got to 98% and… it ended. Just like that, I almost didn’t feel it. It was not painful.
But it was traumatic.
Now I feel like screaming, crying, and kicking like a baby.
I’m not ashamed.
Life is too short to wait for things to happen to you. I decided to make them happen to me.
Benjamin is a 17-year-old and is mad at the world. He can’t control it and he wouldn’t hold it, and much less tell the source of such behaviour. So he sets all his anger and frustration free in reckless performances like a rebel with a cause. He fools around with stupid girls, gets into brawls with stupid guys, breaks the speed limits in stupid car races. Such actions have their consequences. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when the straw that breaks the camel's back becomes the perfect trigger for his parents to buy a plane ticket directly to Norway, and a return ticket in a 10-weeks-time. It means a summer to help his grandparents in the farm, accompanied with an adamant prohibition to get into problems: no alcohol, no parties, and of course, no cars.
Benjamin doesn’t want Norway, rural anything pales in comparison to the cheerful life in Miami. This is a punishment he can’t help but be impatient to get over with. Heidi’s bucolic lifestyle has never drawn him. Being far from the maddening crowd is indeed not cool. He sees no attractiveness in scything or in rolling in the hay.
At least not alone.
Because, Even.
I did what any sane and lust-struck teen would do when stuck in a depressing situation that went nowhere, hour upon hour: I acted. On impulse.
I ran up to Even from behind, tackled him, and flattened him to the ground on his back, before I crushed his startled yelp with my mouth.
Benjamin is blunt, rash and unworried in his arrogant and showoff attitude. But Even is confident and solid and trustworthy and upright. Everything Ben is not. Also, Even is too handsome for his own good and Ben foresees a hellish existence keeping his hands to himself. Above all when they sleep in the same room, sharing part of the bed and apart from the adults in a cottage all for themselves.
“I don't want you to leave,” he said, the words rushing out his mouth. “I don't want you to fucking leave. I don't want you to pick up handsome dudes in Miami, or stupid girls, and do stuff with them that you should be doing with me. I didn't think I would be sunk like this. You're not what I bargained for.”
Ben’s grandparents and Even don’t take any shit from Benjamin, simply because they are unaffected and Ben’s tricks wouldn’t do a thing on them. I loved how rural Noway was displayed. The farm, the small cities, the rain, the teenagers, the tourists, the sky, the fjords, the everything. When the big secret is out, the reaction from both families are revealing at least, bringing more mysteries out into the light. The grandparents are indeed an interesting couple, and there is more than meets the eye. Even’s friends are totally worth the time they appear on scene. And when the shit hits the fan with Even parents, I could do no other thing than be on Ben’s side of the situation. Let’s say ome people simply don’t deserve to share a meal on the table.
Subtly, Benjamin begins to see Norway in a way he would never have expected. Little by little, he discovers he has everything he could ever want.
“Fast cars-check. Partying-check. Friends-check. A special someone-check. What else do you need?”
It all felt real and believable, and, more important, Benjamin’s growth and evolution is also undeniably real. The arrogant spoiled brat who flies from Miami is not the same person once he comes back. Not only because he found love, but also his own feet and, therefore, is beginning to learn how to stand on the ground he’s on.
And the scene came when I was totally sold. Yes, I know, I shouldn’t have, because it’s nearly close to bribery. #MomentoEmpanadas.
“Is this a Cuban dish?” he asked.
“Not really. Spanish, I think. Empanadas are common for lunch among Cubans.”
“What about tacos?”
“Mexican. They serve tacos at school all the time.”
“Have you ever been to Cuba?”
“What’s this? The inquisition?”
I’m so easy.
I actually rolled my eyes at the inquisition hint. What was the last fuckery I heard? Oh yes, when that journalist told Donald Trump: “This is not Spain, the Church doesn’t hold control over the Estate”. Or that other one? “Spain wants to abolish the 3-hour siesta”.
No comments.
And then:
“I’m your father. You follow my orders. Capisce?”
“That’s Italian.”
“Basically the same as Spanish.”
I laughed at this. In a good way, of course. It was not the only time I broadly smiled at all. You expect a slow burn book from this, and it is. You expect sweet and optimistic and innocent romance, and it is, in a way. But teenagers are much more clever than adults, so when Even and Ben finally make the step, they make it for real. A big step forward and not looking back. It’s a funny book but it’s not a hilarious one, because heavy situations go by and that implies heavy conflicts sometimes, but also great resolutions where at first only problems seemed to exist. And there is always the pending doom of an end. In general, I can conclude it was easy and fun to read, with all its depth and little of drama, which always fit right.
Also, I really liked how Ben’s background in Miami is portrayed. The Spanish was ok. It wasn’t perfect. The mistakes I found were in names mostly. Ben’s family is Cuban. Did you know what Cuba is the country with the highest percentage of people who speaks native Spanish? 100%. It’s only logical, right? So you should expect “flawless” Spanish, in a way. At least in names. He mentions a relative called “Consuela”, and another one called “Manuelo”, another called “Oscar” and two girls called “Lucia”. Well, the correct names are Consuelo (female), Manuel (male), Óscar (male) and Lucía (female). I forgive the lack of accents because in USA the accents tend to disappear. I guess you can write anything you fancy on the birth registration, too. There was a moment that left my scratching my head in confusion: when I read “qué bolá?” with no initial “¿” but with accents. Then I realized it was a chat conversation and God knows nobody writes correctly in those. In my case, I don’t waste my time in writing “¿” and capital letters and I very rarely use accents. For the sake of fluidity, of course. So it was spot-on after all. To sum it up, in general, the Spanish was very good. At least, not worse than I’m used to, which is always a win.
The writing style is stunning. It sounds like music on my ears and every sentence encouraged you to read the following one. Even coming from a “tough guy” like Benjamin, it was suitable and poetic. It made me want a repeat.
Tough guys can feel too, you see.
This young adult/coming-to-age novel made me swoon and it made me truly happy for a while. And I started this regretting my decision, you see.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
June 21, 2017
Si valoro el libro en sí, quizás serían 4, si valoro lo que a mi me ha gustado, 2, así que le pongo 3.
Me encanta el YA y el blurb prometía mucho. Sin embargo, no he conseguido conectar con la historia. Ben es un personaje difícil de gustar, fundamentalmente al principio, pero no ha sido ese mi problema, mi vida ha girado en torno a adolescentes y es fácil para mi empatizar con él. Tampoco el plot, me ha gustado la historia. Simplemente, la forma de contarnos todo la autora no me ha gustado, me ha parecido todo muy frío y también es una de las ocasiones en las que creo que ha influido el que el inglés no sea mi primera lengua.
No es un mal libro, pero no me ha emocionado, no me ha dicho nada, una pena.
Me encanta el YA y el blurb prometía mucho. Sin embargo, no he conseguido conectar con la historia. Ben es un personaje difícil de gustar, fundamentalmente al principio, pero no ha sido ese mi problema, mi vida ha girado en torno a adolescentes y es fácil para mi empatizar con él. Tampoco el plot, me ha gustado la historia. Simplemente, la forma de contarnos todo la autora no me ha gustado, me ha parecido todo muy frío y también es una de las ocasiones en las que creo que ha influido el que el inglés no sea mi primera lengua.
No es un mal libro, pero no me ha emocionado, no me ha dicho nada, una pena.
January 23, 2016
The fjord, the skies, the boxers, the towel, the car, the eyes. Blue, everything shades of blue.
Loved it. A wonderful story. I had such a big smile of my face reading the last few chapters, as everything comes together perfectly.
For the beginning third I did have my reservations about Ben--he's arrogant and full of himself-- but he grows, and it filled my heart to read it.
When his mother looked at me, I saw she didn’t know the real me—the boy who slept with her son and held him tight every night.
I loved Even. This story is a real slow burn, but their falling in love is beautifully depicted.
Kudos^^
Loved it. A wonderful story. I had such a big smile of my face reading the last few chapters, as everything comes together perfectly.
For the beginning third I did have my reservations about Ben--he's arrogant and full of himself-- but he grows, and it filled my heart to read it.
When his mother looked at me, I saw she didn’t know the real me—the boy who slept with her son and held him tight every night.
I loved Even. This story is a real slow burn, but their falling in love is beautifully depicted.
Kudos^^
May 9, 2016
Quizás un 3,5, pero es que no he conseguido que la historia me termine de llegar.
Read
December 19, 2015I wrote this book, so I won't rate it, but I'd appreciate it if you read it :)
March 24, 2016
3.5 stars
This is a YA romance/coming of age story.
There were a couple of things I loved here. I loved that Ben (from whose perspective the story is told) had a very unique background -- he's an American boy from Miami, but he's half Cuban and half Norwegian. I also really enjoyed the setting -- most of the story took place in the Norweigian countryside which I found very interesting and different in the m/m genre.
When the story starts, Ben has just crashed his dad's car while street racing. His parents send him off to Norway to spend the summer helping his grandparents with their agro tourism farm. While there, he gets to know Even, one of the other farmhands, and one thing leads to another ...
What I didn't love about this was Ben. He's not likeable at all in the beginning. He kind of reminded me a little of Alex from Silent with his whole acting macho thing and sleeping with girls to hide his attraction to guys. Except Ben seemed like much more of an asshole about it especially since he didn't have the same excuses for his actions. He also never really takes much responsibility for any of the things he does. I kept waiting for him to grow throughout the story. And he did grow ... a little bit ... but not nearly as much as I felt that he needed to. I liked Even more than him but I felt that even some of his actions were hard to understand.
Overall, I enjoyed the setting and appreciated that the MCs had more diverse backgrounds but, in the end, just couldn't love Ben and Even. There are a lot of great reviews out there so I suspect that most others won't have the same issues with Ben and Even that I did.
This is a YA romance/coming of age story.
There were a couple of things I loved here. I loved that Ben (from whose perspective the story is told) had a very unique background -- he's an American boy from Miami, but he's half Cuban and half Norwegian. I also really enjoyed the setting -- most of the story took place in the Norweigian countryside which I found very interesting and different in the m/m genre.
When the story starts, Ben has just crashed his dad's car while street racing. His parents send him off to Norway to spend the summer helping his grandparents with their agro tourism farm. While there, he gets to know Even, one of the other farmhands, and one thing leads to another ...
What I didn't love about this was Ben. He's not likeable at all in the beginning. He kind of reminded me a little of Alex from Silent with his whole acting macho thing and sleeping with girls to hide his attraction to guys. Except Ben seemed like much more of an asshole about it especially since he didn't have the same excuses for his actions. He also never really takes much responsibility for any of the things he does. I kept waiting for him to grow throughout the story. And he did grow ... a little bit ... but not nearly as much as I felt that he needed to. I liked Even more than him but I felt that even some of his actions were hard to understand.
Overall, I enjoyed the setting and appreciated that the MCs had more diverse backgrounds but, in the end, just couldn't love Ben and Even. There are a lot of great reviews out there so I suspect that most others won't have the same issues with Ben and Even that I did.
February 18, 2017
Captivating
It took me several months to read this book after I purchased it. I had so many others in my queue. When Fjord Blue made it to the top of the stack I knew it would be something special. I read the story in two sittings. I was just blown away with how well crafted the story of Ben blossoming. Ben and Even...yeah. YEAH! 5.0 for finding love.
It took me several months to read this book after I purchased it. I had so many others in my queue. When Fjord Blue made it to the top of the stack I knew it would be something special. I read the story in two sittings. I was just blown away with how well crafted the story of Ben blossoming. Ben and Even...yeah. YEAH! 5.0 for finding love.
March 13, 2016
Hurray for the anti-hero. I haven't read a book in a long time where I was meant to dislike the protagonist from the beginning--I must say it was refreshing. The novel also takes place in my mother's ancestral land of Norway. It was a pleasure to read about Benjamin's transformation through his feelings for Even and his conflicts working on the farm.
December 3, 2016
3.5 stars.
Things I Liked:
- The setting. I mean, how many YA books are set in Norway?!
- Chill farming grandparents.
- Even. He's pretty adorable.
- A trilingual Latino protagonist.
- Supportive friendships.
Things I Wasn't So Keen On:
- Ben, particularly in the early stages of the book. Like, DUDE. I know you're a teenage boy. But PLEASE stop being such a teenage boy. And stop having sex with girls you're not interested in as a way of processing your realisation that you're gay. They don't deserve that shit.
- How flippant Ben was about the accident and the fact that the guy he was racing against LOST A FUCKING LEG.
- Ben's parents placing bets on him being gay? Like...I liked that they were supportive. But...no.
- How fast Ben and Even's relationship moved. I mean, it's a first relationship for either of them. You have no idea what you're doing. MAYBE WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE PROTECTION AND LUBE OH MY GOD. (Although I remain unclear about whether or not they actually had penetrative sex?? Ben says constantly that they're having sex, but the way it's written doesn't read like they're hitting home runs. IDK IDK.)
Ben did come good in the end, but for a lot of the book I was like "DUDE, YOU NEED TO STOP", so...I'm bumping it down half a star for that.
Things I Liked:
- The setting. I mean, how many YA books are set in Norway?!
- Chill farming grandparents.
- Even. He's pretty adorable.
- A trilingual Latino protagonist.
- Supportive friendships.
Things I Wasn't So Keen On:
- Ben, particularly in the early stages of the book. Like, DUDE. I know you're a teenage boy. But PLEASE stop being such a teenage boy. And stop having sex with girls you're not interested in as a way of processing your realisation that you're gay. They don't deserve that shit.
- How flippant Ben was about the accident and the fact that the guy he was racing against LOST A FUCKING LEG.
- Ben's parents placing bets on him being gay? Like...I liked that they were supportive. But...no.
- How fast Ben and Even's relationship moved. I mean, it's a first relationship for either of them. You have no idea what you're doing. MAYBE WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE PROTECTION AND LUBE OH MY GOD. (Although I remain unclear about whether or not they actually had penetrative sex?? Ben says constantly that they're having sex, but the way it's written doesn't read like they're hitting home runs. IDK IDK.)
Ben did come good in the end, but for a lot of the book I was like "DUDE, YOU NEED TO STOP", so...I'm bumping it down half a star for that.
Read
July 13, 2017yayyyy it arrived :D thanks bookdepository...anyway im way in over my head with books to read right now but YOLO
February 4, 2017
3.5 rounded up for the pleasantly frequent use of Norwegian and Spanish in both narrative and dialogue (and the Spanish, with the exception of a minor thing here and there, was quite correct!)
If the expression "coming of age" had a spot in the dictionary, the cover of this book would have its pretty picture next to the definition.
The protagonist of the story, Benjamin- Cuban/American/Norwegian- lives such a charmed, privileged life that he constantly engages in activities (some he enjoys, some not so much) to consciously get the attention of his parents who seem to let him get away with everything and anything. I'm blaming the parents here, yes. It took this child to put his life (and a friend's) in danger for his parents to remember they needed to parent.
And when they did, the full force of Thor's hammer fell on Ben's head.
Initially with all the reluctance you can imagine, Benjamin gets shipped (via airplane, mind you) from the sunny jolly land of Miami to the volatile and apparently uneventful (oh the pun I could get away with here) life at his grandparent's farm in Norway.
Although he's not even (heh) remotely happy to be there, this 10-week deal of work and life in his grandparents' farm turns out to be the experience our guy Ben was needing to take the reins of his life in his own hands and make along the way some decisions and discoveries about how he wants to live from then on. The (anti)hero himself describes the whole experience as mind-blowing (his actual words). And it was. It is. And it was glorious to read.
The writing is brilliant. The descriptions are so colorful that they pull you in with such force that you can almost feel the wind and the rain and the sun and the heat wash over you. It's beautiful.
HOWEVER. Oh crap, and trust me I wish I didn't have to be writing this: there were some things that rubbed off the wrong way with me. Details, if you will, but that didn't escape my notice. And it sucks that I have to point it out.
Namely two main things I didn't like: first, the more general one. Ben's voice, while generally honest and authentic, could get very ridiculous. What I mean is- it is PAINFULLY OBVIOUS sometimes that this is a guy's voice being written by a girl/woman. It tries too hard to sound "manly". To be the kind of dudebro voice that you could see in the jock from a parody of a high-school flick. And it wasn't necessary. And it didn't help anything. It just got plain annoying.
Second downside: Ben's parents are a joke. They have been parents for almost 18 years and they have not only one but three kids (Ben's younger siblings are twins) and they could fail with the opposite of flying colors (?) the "Parenting 101" test. They mean so well that they're almost two thirds of the way to Hell (and not the one in Norway). They are a joke. I couldn't take them seriously until almost the very end. it didn't help that at a certain point, when their son is revealed to be gay, the father also reveals that he and his lawfully wedded wife (?) had made a bet about their firstborn sexuality. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Other than that (which, I know, it's plenty), the whole thing runs rather smoothly and coherent and realistic. but yeah.
If the expression "coming of age" had a spot in the dictionary, the cover of this book would have its pretty picture next to the definition.
The protagonist of the story, Benjamin- Cuban/American/Norwegian- lives such a charmed, privileged life that he constantly engages in activities (some he enjoys, some not so much) to consciously get the attention of his parents who seem to let him get away with everything and anything. I'm blaming the parents here, yes. It took this child to put his life (and a friend's) in danger for his parents to remember they needed to parent.
And when they did, the full force of Thor's hammer fell on Ben's head.
Initially with all the reluctance you can imagine, Benjamin gets shipped (via airplane, mind you) from the sunny jolly land of Miami to the volatile and apparently uneventful (oh the pun I could get away with here) life at his grandparent's farm in Norway.
Although he's not even (heh) remotely happy to be there, this 10-week deal of work and life in his grandparents' farm turns out to be the experience our guy Ben was needing to take the reins of his life in his own hands and make along the way some decisions and discoveries about how he wants to live from then on. The (anti)hero himself describes the whole experience as mind-blowing (his actual words). And it was. It is. And it was glorious to read.
The writing is brilliant. The descriptions are so colorful that they pull you in with such force that you can almost feel the wind and the rain and the sun and the heat wash over you. It's beautiful.
HOWEVER. Oh crap, and trust me I wish I didn't have to be writing this: there were some things that rubbed off the wrong way with me. Details, if you will, but that didn't escape my notice. And it sucks that I have to point it out.
Namely two main things I didn't like: first, the more general one. Ben's voice, while generally honest and authentic, could get very ridiculous. What I mean is- it is PAINFULLY OBVIOUS sometimes that this is a guy's voice being written by a girl/woman. It tries too hard to sound "manly". To be the kind of dudebro voice that you could see in the jock from a parody of a high-school flick. And it wasn't necessary. And it didn't help anything. It just got plain annoying.
Second downside: Ben's parents are a joke. They have been parents for almost 18 years and they have not only one but three kids (Ben's younger siblings are twins) and they could fail with the opposite of flying colors (?) the "Parenting 101" test. They mean so well that they're almost two thirds of the way to Hell (and not the one in Norway). They are a joke. I couldn't take them seriously until almost the very end. it didn't help that at a certain point, when their son is revealed to be gay, the father also reveals that he and his lawfully wedded wife (?) had made a bet about their firstborn sexuality. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Other than that (which, I know, it's plenty), the whole thing runs rather smoothly and coherent and realistic. but yeah.
February 14, 2017
This review can also be found at http://fortheloveofbooksreviews.blogs...
Benjamin arrives in Norway after crashing his father's car, expected to work on his grandparents' farm for the summer. After acting out because he has discovered that he is gay, he spends his days getting up early and working with the other employees on the farm, including Even.
Benjamin soon develops feelings for Even, feelings that only become more distracting when they move into the same bedroom. What starts as a friendship might turn into something more, if Benjamin is willing to take a risk. Benjamin isn't the only one dealing with his own problems, and he'll soon learn that love can come from the most unexpected of places.
Most young adult books that I read take place mostly in North America, so reading about rural Norway provided a pleasant change from the usual American setting. This was one of my favourite things about this book, reading about the way of life for those living in rural Norway, the descriptions of the landscape, it all seemed so different, and at times beautiful.
Benjamin, the main character, seemed to clash with the beautiful scenery described in the novel. Rebellious, angry, and uncertain of the future, his mind is filled with worries and fears. While I connected with his struggle concerning his sexual orientation and I really understood that part of his story, that was where my positive feelings for him ended. As a character, he wasn't truly likeable. I don't expect all main characters in books to be likeable, but sometimes, it affects the way that I perceive a book overall, and for Fjord Blue, that was definitely the case. Benjamin was, to me, quite immature for a seventeen year old, and his first person narration gave me insight into some of his thoughts, often riddled with sexism and judgement. I found myself cringing at some of the things that he said and thought, and while I wished him well, I really wanted him to evolve as a person. He did evolve a bit, but not as much as I'd have liked. To be perfectly honest, his thought processes reminded me of those of fifteen year old boys trying to be edgy upon entering high school.
Even, his roommate and crush, was much more mature and likeable. He had his own struggles, some of them similar to Benjamin's, and reading about them broke my heart. His family situation reflected real life far too vividly, but I really appreciated the discussion of bigotry and judgement from one's family that was present in this book. As for Benjamin's parents and grandparents, I can't say that I truly liked them, but I didn't really hate them, either. Some of their actions made them seem like positive role models for Benjamin, but others had me shaking my head. Either way, the cast of characters, whether I liked them or not, provided a decent way for the author to convey Benjamin's journey of self-discovery and change.
As I mentioned, I loved reading the pieces where the author describes the landscape and scenery in rural Norway, however, other parts of the writing style didn't quite reach my expectations. Mainly, I had an issue with the way that Benjamin's narration would trail off and go on and on about the different experiences he'd had and the things that he had dealt with. I feel like these aspects of Benjamin's life could have been added into the story in much more effective ways, honestly I felt like I was reading somebody's diary at times and it threw me off. I'd forget what was actually going on in the present, and when I finally emerged from the paragraphs of Benjamin's personal thoughts, I'd have to go back a bit to remind myself of what the current situation had been.
Overall, this story offered some great insight on the struggles that LGBTQ youth may experience, but the main character wasn't very likeable. I loved that this book took place in Norway, but Benjamin's thoughts often trailed off and interrupted the flow of events.
I recommend this book to readers looking for LGBTQ books that take place outside of America. If you're interested in young adult books about gay teenagers and family problems, you may enjoy this book.
February 9, 2016
For the most part I had fun reading Benjamin’s story, especially his slowly growing friendship with the local Even was lovely to witness.
The book opens with Benjamin on his way to Norway, upset and annoyed about the prospect of spending ten weeks of his summer working on his grandparents farm. I got the impression he was glad in a way to postpone all legal affairs, community service and such which followed his car accident. Illegally speed racing on the streets of Miami wasn't smartest thing.
Benjamin’s attitude and behavior bothered me a little at first. How easily he brushed off the accident and how little he seemed to care about acting up, getting into trouble and cause his parents all sorts of problems and worries.
It took me a few chapters until he grew on me. Slowly, it became more and more obvious how much he’d suffered from his realization that he was attracted to boys, or very specifically his best friend’s cousin, and his way of dealing with it was by acting up, more or less. I felt a little sympathy for him for the first time when he realized the car accident had effected him after all…
While I adored Even right from the start, it took me longer to accept and understand Benjamin. They’re almost polar opposites but that made for great, bantering friends and watching them grow closer was obviously the highlight of the story. There were some fun bits, sweet scenes and a couple of touching moments.
Pretty much all of Even’s friends were super likable and great side characters. They didn’t dominate the story though, and I liked that.
Ben’s relationship with his grandparents, and his dad especially, was very nice and I also liked that it didn’t dominate the book. At least it didn’t feel like it.
What I felt was missing were actual emotions and deep feelings, those moments that give you the shivers or make you feel you are Ben. We get to see the world through Ben’s eyes, yeah, and we know he’s upset about certain things and worried about others. He cared for Even at some point and it was all nice, but I didn’t feel much, if that makes sense?
I wish there’d been more showing than telling and a more palpable connection between the MC’s.
That said, in the end I did care about Ben and Even (obviously, very much!) Loved how all worked out, sort of - I mean it’s still all in the stars what’ll happen in the future but it’s a promising HFN ending. I’m curious if Ben will end up with the farm and Even in ten years or so. That’d be a wonderful "ending".
Fjord Blue is well-written and I loved the setting and scenery. Being from Germany & Austria I’ve seen a lot of mountains, lakes, and other beautiful scenery. Norway has never been on my radar or seemed particularly attractive to me, simply because I expected it to be very similar to where I’m from. While reading the book I did a lot of googling and realized there’s something special about those fjords after all, and I’d love to visit some time!
There is that bit in the book where a bunch of the boys take a hiking trip to Trolltunga and it just looks so lovely! I was able to paint a good picture by reading alone, and especially those scenes up on the mountain was funny and very, very lovely.
Rounded up 3.5.
The book opens with Benjamin on his way to Norway, upset and annoyed about the prospect of spending ten weeks of his summer working on his grandparents farm. I got the impression he was glad in a way to postpone all legal affairs, community service and such which followed his car accident. Illegally speed racing on the streets of Miami wasn't smartest thing.
Benjamin’s attitude and behavior bothered me a little at first. How easily he brushed off the accident and how little he seemed to care about acting up, getting into trouble and cause his parents all sorts of problems and worries.
It took me a few chapters until he grew on me. Slowly, it became more and more obvious how much he’d suffered from his realization that he was attracted to boys, or very specifically his best friend’s cousin, and his way of dealing with it was by acting up, more or less. I felt a little sympathy for him for the first time when he realized the car accident had effected him after all…
While I adored Even right from the start, it took me longer to accept and understand Benjamin. They’re almost polar opposites but that made for great, bantering friends and watching them grow closer was obviously the highlight of the story. There were some fun bits, sweet scenes and a couple of touching moments.
Pretty much all of Even’s friends were super likable and great side characters. They didn’t dominate the story though, and I liked that.
Ben’s relationship with his grandparents, and his dad especially, was very nice and I also liked that it didn’t dominate the book. At least it didn’t feel like it.
What I felt was missing were actual emotions and deep feelings, those moments that give you the shivers or make you feel you are Ben. We get to see the world through Ben’s eyes, yeah, and we know he’s upset about certain things and worried about others. He cared for Even at some point and it was all nice, but I didn’t feel much, if that makes sense?
I wish there’d been more showing than telling and a more palpable connection between the MC’s.
That said, in the end I did care about Ben and Even (obviously, very much!) Loved how all worked out, sort of - I mean it’s still all in the stars what’ll happen in the future but it’s a promising HFN ending. I’m curious if Ben will end up with the farm and Even in ten years or so. That’d be a wonderful "ending".
Fjord Blue is well-written and I loved the setting and scenery. Being from Germany & Austria I’ve seen a lot of mountains, lakes, and other beautiful scenery. Norway has never been on my radar or seemed particularly attractive to me, simply because I expected it to be very similar to where I’m from. While reading the book I did a lot of googling and realized there’s something special about those fjords after all, and I’d love to visit some time!
There is that bit in the book where a bunch of the boys take a hiking trip to Trolltunga and it just looks so lovely! I was able to paint a good picture by reading alone, and especially those scenes up on the mountain was funny and very, very lovely.
Rounded up 3.5.
March 26, 2017
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Admittedly, Fjord Blue is somewhat slow compared to your average YA (though faster than Supermassive), but this pacing works just fine for me, and so do the writing style and the humour. The narrator's voice feels authentic, sincere. Ben is sometimes not a likeable character and he knows it — he is an irrational and impulsive teenager, after all. A closeted gay teen, in fact, sent to a farm in el culo del mundo to straighten himself out because his inability to cope with his own feelings is beginning to take a dangerous turn. He can sometimes be hard to relate to, but I've also found him hard not to root for.
It would be too spoilery to take the novel apart and overthink every little piece of it as I usually do. We could write about, say, Ben's character development, but Suki Fleet's excellent review here beat me to it, so go read her and then let me tell you why I loved this book so much.
Now, while certainly enjoyable, inserting oneself into a story can be treacherous for a reviewer. This book made it hard to avoid, though. Fjord Blue felt real to me in ways I did not expect. When it comes to LGBT YA, I've read lots of sweet/cute/hot/awkward/steamy romantic stories () from many different authors, and enjoyed most of them. But there's something different here. Nina Rossing gets it. She gets me, at least, in a way I haven't read elsewhere. Am I too quick to assume she has never been a gay teenage boy? Maybe it's because she is a teacher and a mother herself, or perhaps she possesses an unfathomable writerly mind-exploring ability an autistic person like me could never expect to understand. Either way, her writing skews my reviews, for lack of a better word. I can never review her stories as I'd do with anyone else — I can only talk about my feelings while reading them.
The thought of drinking off his bottle seconds after he had touched it with those ripe lips raged like a global pandemic through my one-track mind. I wanted ’s bacteria to invade me and win me over completely. … I grabbed the bottle, drank heartily, and handing it back to him, I kept the last of the liquid in my mouth to savor the feeling of being ridiculous and enjoying it.
I've done this myself. We've all done it, a friend once said to me. I'd never seen a gay teen do that in literature.
Finally, I will echo Rez Delnava's comments on a setup for a sequel, and also point out that the author recently said in an interview that she has “high hopes” for the main character. I intend to lobby for it.
I'll probably visit Norway one day. When I do, I want to find Nina Rossing and give her a hug.
Admittedly, Fjord Blue is somewhat slow compared to your average YA (though faster than Supermassive), but this pacing works just fine for me, and so do the writing style and the humour. The narrator's voice feels authentic, sincere. Ben is sometimes not a likeable character and he knows it — he is an irrational and impulsive teenager, after all. A closeted gay teen, in fact, sent to a farm in el culo del mundo to straighten himself out because his inability to cope with his own feelings is beginning to take a dangerous turn. He can sometimes be hard to relate to, but I've also found him hard not to root for.
It would be too spoilery to take the novel apart and overthink every little piece of it as I usually do. We could write about, say, Ben's character development, but Suki Fleet's excellent review here beat me to it, so go read her and then let me tell you why I loved this book so much.
Now, while certainly enjoyable, inserting oneself into a story can be treacherous for a reviewer. This book made it hard to avoid, though. Fjord Blue felt real to me in ways I did not expect. When it comes to LGBT YA, I've read lots of sweet/cute/hot/awkward/steamy romantic stories () from many different authors, and enjoyed most of them. But there's something different here. Nina Rossing gets it. She gets me, at least, in a way I haven't read elsewhere. Am I too quick to assume she has never been a gay teenage boy? Maybe it's because she is a teacher and a mother herself, or perhaps she possesses an unfathomable writerly mind-exploring ability an autistic person like me could never expect to understand. Either way, her writing skews my reviews, for lack of a better word. I can never review her stories as I'd do with anyone else — I can only talk about my feelings while reading them.
The thought of drinking off his bottle seconds after he had touched it with those ripe lips raged like a global pandemic through my one-track mind. I wanted ’s bacteria to invade me and win me over completely. … I grabbed the bottle, drank heartily, and handing it back to him, I kept the last of the liquid in my mouth to savor the feeling of being ridiculous and enjoying it.
I've done this myself. We've all done it, a friend once said to me. I'd never seen a gay teen do that in literature.
Finally, I will echo Rez Delnava's comments on a setup for a sequel, and also point out that the author recently said in an interview that she has “high hopes” for the main character. I intend to lobby for it.
I'll probably visit Norway one day. When I do, I want to find Nina Rossing and give her a hug.
March 12, 2016
I got through this entire story, and it wasn't easy. I really did not like it very much.
The main character of this story is unnecessarily rebellious, obnoxious, sexist, and just an overall asshole for literally no reason. His parents are great. It's really just him being a dick unnecessarily. I just hated him the entire book.About half way through the book I realized there was no level of change that he could do that would make up for his behavior or just the way he thought. Some reason I kept reading it, though.
This book did have it's good moments. Good side characters with the grandparents, Brigit, Ben's parents, and some other character as well. Ben's grandparents surprised me. I liked how you could see the way they raised Ben's dad by the way Ben's parents act actually.
I honestly wish the story was from Even's perspective because while there are things I hate about him as well, he had a more interesting story. His background, and his situation with his family. He's a compelling character. He made me really like the moments where his relationship was developing with Ben, but every time Ben would just say or think something that put me off. That problem for sure happens when they first sleep together. I almost completely dropped out of the story then.
Ben really made the story not work for me, but if your a person that wouldn't mind a character like this then maybe it will work for you.
The main character of this story is unnecessarily rebellious, obnoxious, sexist, and just an overall asshole for literally no reason. His parents are great. It's really just him being a dick unnecessarily. I just hated him the entire book.About half way through the book I realized there was no level of change that he could do that would make up for his behavior or just the way he thought. Some reason I kept reading it, though.
This book did have it's good moments. Good side characters with the grandparents, Brigit, Ben's parents, and some other character as well. Ben's grandparents surprised me. I liked how you could see the way they raised Ben's dad by the way Ben's parents act actually.
I honestly wish the story was from Even's perspective because while there are things I hate about him as well, he had a more interesting story. His background, and his situation with his family. He's a compelling character. He made me really like the moments where his relationship was developing with Ben, but every time Ben would just say or think something that put me off. That problem for sure happens when they first sleep together. I almost completely dropped out of the story then.
Ben really made the story not work for me, but if your a person that wouldn't mind a character like this then maybe it will work for you.
February 29, 2016
I received an eARC via NetGalley and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.
I've never read anything written by this author so I picked this book based on the description. I'm happy that I was able to read it as I found it to be a beautifully written story.
Benjamin is sent to Norway to work on his grandparents’ farm after some reckless behavior gets him into trouble. He's a young man dealing with his sexuality as no one knows that he is gay. Once he gets settled in and begins working side by side with Even who is employed by Benjamin's grandfather he starts falling into a routine while secretly fantasizing about this gorgeous eye candy. Unbeknownst to Benjamin, Even has his own secrets and demons. The characters are strong and believable. The use of Spanish and Norwegian words in this story line were excellent and it was a well-rounded read.
I found myself laughing and at times crying but most of all I loved the emphasizes on family and even though they aren't always perfect or always accepting, they are truly an important part of our lives. My only gripe is that the cover should be more appealing.
I've never read anything written by this author so I picked this book based on the description. I'm happy that I was able to read it as I found it to be a beautifully written story.
Benjamin is sent to Norway to work on his grandparents’ farm after some reckless behavior gets him into trouble. He's a young man dealing with his sexuality as no one knows that he is gay. Once he gets settled in and begins working side by side with Even who is employed by Benjamin's grandfather he starts falling into a routine while secretly fantasizing about this gorgeous eye candy. Unbeknownst to Benjamin, Even has his own secrets and demons. The characters are strong and believable. The use of Spanish and Norwegian words in this story line were excellent and it was a well-rounded read.
I found myself laughing and at times crying but most of all I loved the emphasizes on family and even though they aren't always perfect or always accepting, they are truly an important part of our lives. My only gripe is that the cover should be more appealing.
March 20, 2016
This was a great slow burner. I was so glad I googled "trolltunga" to see how beautiful and breathtaking it really is. I would NEVER in a million years be able to journey out to the edge of trolltunga !!!
A great YA novel.
A great YA novel.
May 30, 2016
Awesome book. I hope there will be a sequel!
December 5, 2017
I want to love this because queer and YA-ish and Norway, but mostly I low-key like it. (Which is fine. I'm just happy to have gotten my grubby paws on a copy.)
I'm not sure what genre this best fits in—I went into it thinking it would be YA, but some of the content is more romance-y (which would make this, what, NA? I don't really understand the NA category, which might be part of my problem here). For whatever reason I have an easier time with it as a romance than as a YA story, but I can't even begin to articulate why, so...I'll just leave it at that I probably would have been more hooked from the get-go if I'd realised that it wasn't straight-up YA.
The good, the bad, and the complicated: great use of setting. I learned a couple things about Norway, but Benjamin isn't there for a tourist experience, and for the most part he doesn't get one. ("You do realize you have the tourist approach to it? You see what you think after a few more weeks of rain, working the muddy fields or herding run-away sheep, or dealing with the local gossip mill. It's safe here but isolated. Gets on your nerves." (loc. 1937)) I like the love interest and his more no-nonsense approach to life. I found Ben a little...tiresome...sometimes. As far as I can tell, he was rebelling against having nothing against which to rebel? Knowing that he's a tool (and feeling bad about it) only excuses his toolishness so much, and when he starts ranting about his parents being so great (and how annoying that is) to a guy whose parents have kicked him out...well. Even is more forgiving than I. (Or the 'the other guy lost his leg but I lost my license, poor me' schtick—good god, I can't believe any character in this book lets him get away with whining about that.)
To be fair to Benjamin: he works hard, despite his unhappiness at being in Norway in the first place, and he does so without expectation of payment. It might only be to keep his grandparents thinking of him as a golden boy, but with very few exceptions, he does right by them. By the end of the story, though, I think he still has quite a ways to go in the 'respecting females' department.
Not really a spoiler but a sidebar:
Would read more in this vein. I'd just make sure I knew what genre I was getting into first.
I'm not sure what genre this best fits in—I went into it thinking it would be YA, but some of the content is more romance-y (which would make this, what, NA? I don't really understand the NA category, which might be part of my problem here). For whatever reason I have an easier time with it as a romance than as a YA story, but I can't even begin to articulate why, so...I'll just leave it at that I probably would have been more hooked from the get-go if I'd realised that it wasn't straight-up YA.
The good, the bad, and the complicated: great use of setting. I learned a couple things about Norway, but Benjamin isn't there for a tourist experience, and for the most part he doesn't get one. ("You do realize you have the tourist approach to it? You see what you think after a few more weeks of rain, working the muddy fields or herding run-away sheep, or dealing with the local gossip mill. It's safe here but isolated. Gets on your nerves." (loc. 1937)) I like the love interest and his more no-nonsense approach to life. I found Ben a little...tiresome...sometimes. As far as I can tell, he was rebelling against having nothing against which to rebel? Knowing that he's a tool (and feeling bad about it) only excuses his toolishness so much, and when he starts ranting about his parents being so great (and how annoying that is) to a guy whose parents have kicked him out...well. Even is more forgiving than I. (Or the 'the other guy lost his leg but I lost my license, poor me' schtick—good god, I can't believe any character in this book lets him get away with whining about that.)
To be fair to Benjamin: he works hard, despite his unhappiness at being in Norway in the first place, and he does so without expectation of payment. It might only be to keep his grandparents thinking of him as a golden boy, but with very few exceptions, he does right by them. By the end of the story, though, I think he still has quite a ways to go in the 'respecting females' department.
Not really a spoiler but a sidebar:
Would read more in this vein. I'd just make sure I knew what genre I was getting into first.
June 10, 2018
This book is set in Norway, the end.
I kid of course! (Although I am Norway trash, so that was definitely part of the reason I picked this up)
Fjord Blue follows our main character Ben, a Norwegian-Cuban bilingual American, who is shipped off to stay with his grandparents on a farm in Norway after crashing his Dad's car while street racing.
To begin with, Ben is not likable. He's a moody teenager who hates that he's been taken away from his easy chill life in Miami to go graft from the crack of dawn everyday in Nowheresville Norway. You will be annoyed by him, you will think he's over the top, you will roll your eyes at him, but you will read him as what he is- a privileged teenager who has never had to work hard.
As the book progresses we see his opinions shift, helped along by his awesome grandparents (they are extremely quiet and good-natured but don't take any bull) and our love interest Even (what is it with adorable Norwegian lgbt Evens? I'm looking at you Skam!)
The romance in this book is slow burn, which is great. Too often a story like this would have our main character jumping into the bed of the love interest within the first day of meeting, so it's a nice change of pace.
There are some nice side characters, and because the author is from Norway herself, we get an authentic view of how teenagers act over there (and how different it can be from American teens - the ones we see most in ya)
I kid of course! (Although I am Norway trash, so that was definitely part of the reason I picked this up)
Fjord Blue follows our main character Ben, a Norwegian-Cuban bilingual American, who is shipped off to stay with his grandparents on a farm in Norway after crashing his Dad's car while street racing.
To begin with, Ben is not likable. He's a moody teenager who hates that he's been taken away from his easy chill life in Miami to go graft from the crack of dawn everyday in Nowheresville Norway. You will be annoyed by him, you will think he's over the top, you will roll your eyes at him, but you will read him as what he is- a privileged teenager who has never had to work hard.
As the book progresses we see his opinions shift, helped along by his awesome grandparents (they are extremely quiet and good-natured but don't take any bull) and our love interest Even (what is it with adorable Norwegian lgbt Evens? I'm looking at you Skam!)
The romance in this book is slow burn, which is great. Too often a story like this would have our main character jumping into the bed of the love interest within the first day of meeting, so it's a nice change of pace.
There are some nice side characters, and because the author is from Norway herself, we get an authentic view of how teenagers act over there (and how different it can be from American teens - the ones we see most in ya)
March 11, 2016
Comment on the cover:
I was browsing Netgalley and this cover caught my eye. I was intrigued with the spectacular background and the campfire as the subject - and more with the title. The fonts complemented and worked well with the background. Nothing too extravagant but soothing - my kind of cover.
Book discussion:
Rossing perfectly captured how teenagers react to the world around them, and how can they be in-denial, especially to their sexual preferences. The wordings and conversations flow out naturally and I found myself being amazed by how the author was on point about what a teenage personality was like.
Being 17-year-old like Benjamin, I can somehow relate to his thoughts - 1. how he tends to think situations (and expecting worst-case scenarios) but can be spontaneous too, 2. how he can often be so naive, annoying and reckless (in the perspective of his parents, that is to say), and3. how he occasionally lusts over other teenagers and conjuring those wild sex scenarios in his head (wait did I really say that?). We're teenagers, what can you expect?
Ben struggles to come out of the closet - add that with an attraction to another farm boy! I like how this book addresses the issues individuals and society face today - of course, the struggle of LGBT+. I have read how hard it was for some people to admit that they were gay, and especially hard when their own parents disown them. It was really a sad thought - this book would stir some feels up a reader's sleeves.
The character development was great - I warmed up to the MC's fast. It was truly awesome that I also liked the other characters. They did what their role was - to support the story, and that went well.
I was also deeply in love with the setting. Rossing truly knows her descriptions. I would love to visit Norway someday after reading this book.
I've searched "Trolltunga" and OH MY GOSH PLEASE TAKE ME THERE
My journey:
I do not read this type of genre (LGBT) that much, but I found that I really liked it and would love to read more of it. It taught me to be open to others - and SOME of the characters in the story really exhibited acceptance.
As much as I loved the story - I found it hard to read some parts. The book was considerably slow on the first few chapters. I found that annoying and that led me to postpone the reading until today. Pages 150+ were a fast read - and that was when the story was getting its spice.
There was a part in the book that teared me up. I was so touched by some minor character that I had to fight the urge to bawl my eyes out (it would be very embarrassing because my roommate was just across). It was Grandpa's story of how he lost his brothers.
I can't contain myself - I just have to share this excerpt from pp. 222-223:
It was a very frustrating moment for me. It subtly showed that we should not assume that the perceived "good" is all of the time, good. People who claim that they are in the right side may be the ones who are very judgmental and unforgiving to others - especially in matters like these.
What I like:
1. Ben and Evan's goofy and amusing relationship with each other. Who wouldn't like their sense of humor (usually sexually tainted)?
This was my favorite quote (p. 257). For some reason I hollered my ass off. Don't judge.
2. How SOME of the older ones were so cool. They were very open to new ideas and realities (especially LGBT+)- but it was not obvious, so one just needs to communicate well.
3. The diversity. How I love diversity in books! It was satisfying, intriguing, and definitely exciting.
4. How it ended. It was perfect. I would not spoil, but it was amazing.
What I dislike:
1. It was hard to read at some parts, especially the long descriptions. I skipped some of those. I am contented with just a few flowery words - just enough to make me visualize my own reality.
2. How the party scene was cliché. Got wasted - something happened - changed the course of relationship. Ugh, I got enough of those scenarios.
3. Do Ben and Even have to be all over each other too often? Oh well.
Round up and recommendation:
I recommend this to all readers of the same genre. The words were straightforward and uncensored, so you might wanna consider that. Nevertheless, it was such a great read. My heart ached at some parts. It was at first person POV (Benjamin's), and that might interest you. You might also pick up some foreign words (yay, fun!), check this out.
Sample excerpt:
I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
Full review on my blog: https://geelinlovesconan.wordpress.co...
I was browsing Netgalley and this cover caught my eye. I was intrigued with the spectacular background and the campfire as the subject - and more with the title. The fonts complemented and worked well with the background. Nothing too extravagant but soothing - my kind of cover.
Book discussion:
Rossing perfectly captured how teenagers react to the world around them, and how can they be in-denial, especially to their sexual preferences. The wordings and conversations flow out naturally and I found myself being amazed by how the author was on point about what a teenage personality was like.
Being 17-year-old like Benjamin, I can somehow relate to his thoughts - 1. how he tends to think situations (and expecting worst-case scenarios) but can be spontaneous too, 2. how he can often be so naive, annoying and reckless (in the perspective of his parents, that is to say), and
Ben struggles to come out of the closet - add that with an attraction to another farm boy! I like how this book addresses the issues individuals and society face today - of course, the struggle of LGBT+. I have read how hard it was for some people to admit that they were gay, and especially hard when their own parents disown them. It was really a sad thought - this book would stir some feels up a reader's sleeves.
The character development was great - I warmed up to the MC's fast. It was truly awesome that I also liked the other characters. They did what their role was - to support the story, and that went well.
I was also deeply in love with the setting. Rossing truly knows her descriptions. I would love to visit Norway someday after reading this book.
I've searched "Trolltunga" and OH MY GOSH PLEASE TAKE ME THERE
My journey:
I do not read this type of genre (LGBT) that much, but I found that I really liked it and would love to read more of it. It taught me to be open to others - and SOME of the characters in the story really exhibited acceptance.
As much as I loved the story - I found it hard to read some parts. The book was considerably slow on the first few chapters. I found that annoying and that led me to postpone the reading until today. Pages 150+ were a fast read - and that was when the story was getting its spice.
There was a part in the book that teared me up. I was so touched by some minor character that I had to fight the urge to bawl my eyes out (it would be very embarrassing because my roommate was just across). It was Grandpa's story of how he lost his brothers.
I can't contain myself - I just have to share this excerpt from pp. 222-223:
At eighteen he shared a secret with me, and I foolishly convinced him to share it with the elders at church. I thought they could sort out any problem. I was very naive at seventeen, and that killed him... I blamed myself, and I felt so guilty. I told him our church would guide him. How I regret giving that advice.
It was a very frustrating moment for me. It subtly showed that we should not assume that the perceived "good" is all of the time, good. People who claim that they are in the right side may be the ones who are very judgmental and unforgiving to others - especially in matters like these.
What I like:
1. Ben and Evan's goofy and amusing relationship with each other. Who wouldn't like their sense of humor (usually sexually tainted)?
"Can I taste?" He pointed at the ready dough.
"It's no good until it's fried or baked," I replied, shoving his hand away. "But you can have a taste of me instead."
"Sounds like a bargain,"
This was my favorite quote (p. 257). For some reason I hollered my ass off. Don't judge.
2. How SOME of the older ones were so cool. They were very open to new ideas and realities (especially LGBT+)- but it was not obvious, so one just needs to communicate well.
3. The diversity. How I love diversity in books! It was satisfying, intriguing, and definitely exciting.
4. How it ended. It was perfect. I would not spoil, but it was amazing.
What I dislike:
1. It was hard to read at some parts, especially the long descriptions. I skipped some of those. I am contented with just a few flowery words - just enough to make me visualize my own reality.
2. How the party scene was cliché. Got wasted - something happened - changed the course of relationship. Ugh, I got enough of those scenarios.
3. Do Ben and Even have to be all over each other too often? Oh well.
Round up and recommendation:
I recommend this to all readers of the same genre. The words were straightforward and uncensored, so you might wanna consider that. Nevertheless, it was such a great read. My heart ached at some parts. It was at first person POV (Benjamin's), and that might interest you. You might also pick up some foreign words (yay, fun!), check this out.
Sample excerpt:
Life throws unexpected balls at you all the time, and we took it in stride. The here and now, you know. Life would be boring if everything went according to plan. (p. 255)
I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
Full review on my blog: https://geelinlovesconan.wordpress.co...
September 23, 2017
I have trouble with YA books because I don't like to read about really young people all that much. Sometimes I'm taken by surprise and I really enjoy the characters but this book is exactly why I don't like a lot of YA characters. Ben was immature to a level that astounded me. He was also rebellious and selfish. I never really understood his reasons for being so rebellious. Once he figured out he was gay he seemed to accept it pretty easily. He had loving parents and good friends. He really just decided he was going to be a jerk because he could. He never really took responsibility for his actions and everything is either black or white with him. I did enjoy Even for the most part and I liked the secondary characters. Honestly, the fact that I didn't like Ben just made this book hard for me to get through.
August 19, 2018
"The fjord, the skies, the boxers, the towel, the car, the eyes. Blue, everything shades of blue."
This is a story about an angry boy, a car crash, blond Vikings, loving grandparents and how finding yourself can tilt the words axis by a few millimetres and change your whole worldview.
I loved Ben's sarcastic remarks and Evens calming nature. The fjords may seem cold but only until you get to know them better.
This is a story about an angry boy, a car crash, blond Vikings, loving grandparents and how finding yourself can tilt the words axis by a few millimetres and change your whole worldview.
I loved Ben's sarcastic remarks and Evens calming nature. The fjords may seem cold but only until you get to know them better.
April 9, 2016
This is an ARC review, copy provided by the author through the YA LGBT Books Group.
I was initially gonna rate this at 3-stars because of a nit-picky issue I had in the early chapters, but the resolution was a refreshing blast of realism in a genre overstuffed with HEA and HFN endings.
The first four or five chapters had me cringing as the narrator bounced between tenses. Stylistically, it works for this story. The narrator is a confused and tormented teen trying to find his voice, trying to desperately explain his actions both present and past; it makes sense that the tenses are jumbled and makes the narration relatable and almost authentic. That said, I just don't like that style of writing; it really throws off my sense of pacing. Luckily, the heavy use of tense-jarring only lasts for the introductory chapters, and becomes a subtle tool that explores a major theme--one that many teens and twenty-somethings will relate to--figuring out who they are now while living under the expectation of planning for the future.
The character development was a bit on the shallow side, but it is also authentically human; there are no surprise savior characters, no white knights or saints. Almost everyone in the story is flawed and has subtle human demons. The MC/narrator, Ben, tells you exactly who he is and what his motivations are in the first couple of pages, and while there are subtle shifts to his thinking and mindset, there is no huge personality change that one sometimes sees in the YA genre. Ben is still the same person with the same fears and flaws at the end of the story as he was at the beginning; he just has more information and tools to cope with the cards he was dealt. The character Even is a fairly predictable character; I knew his main issues before they were revealed. Although, there was one curve-ball in his background story that read more like a foot-note than the intended diversion. The granddad character was the most surprising and the big reveal had me tearing up for a moment.
The redeeming ending... I don't like giving out spoilers so I'll just say that the ending just barely makes it into the happy for now category. The story left me with a feeling of uncertainty about the characters' futures, and I think that is a great and realistic moral for a YA book. It is okay to feel uncertain, especially at that age.
There is also a really good amount cultural variety in the story, and the main character's ethnic background strikes me as authentic, albeit a little bit stereotyped (but then again there is a sliver of truth behind every stereotype). One thing to mention would be the need for a pronunciation guide in the release edition, and hopefully the good folks at Harmony Ink will provide one.
I was initially gonna rate this at 3-stars because of a nit-picky issue I had in the early chapters, but the resolution was a refreshing blast of realism in a genre overstuffed with HEA and HFN endings.
The first four or five chapters had me cringing as the narrator bounced between tenses. Stylistically, it works for this story. The narrator is a confused and tormented teen trying to find his voice, trying to desperately explain his actions both present and past; it makes sense that the tenses are jumbled and makes the narration relatable and almost authentic. That said, I just don't like that style of writing; it really throws off my sense of pacing. Luckily, the heavy use of tense-jarring only lasts for the introductory chapters, and becomes a subtle tool that explores a major theme--one that many teens and twenty-somethings will relate to--figuring out who they are now while living under the expectation of planning for the future.
The character development was a bit on the shallow side, but it is also authentically human; there are no surprise savior characters, no white knights or saints. Almost everyone in the story is flawed and has subtle human demons. The MC/narrator, Ben, tells you exactly who he is and what his motivations are in the first couple of pages, and while there are subtle shifts to his thinking and mindset, there is no huge personality change that one sometimes sees in the YA genre. Ben is still the same person with the same fears and flaws at the end of the story as he was at the beginning; he just has more information and tools to cope with the cards he was dealt. The character Even is a fairly predictable character; I knew his main issues before they were revealed. Although, there was one curve-ball in his background story that read more like a foot-note than the intended diversion. The granddad character was the most surprising and the big reveal had me tearing up for a moment.
The redeeming ending... I don't like giving out spoilers so I'll just say that the ending just barely makes it into the happy for now category. The story left me with a feeling of uncertainty about the characters' futures, and I think that is a great and realistic moral for a YA book. It is okay to feel uncertain, especially at that age.
There is also a really good amount cultural variety in the story, and the main character's ethnic background strikes me as authentic, albeit a little bit stereotyped (but then again there is a sliver of truth behind every stereotype). One thing to mention would be the need for a pronunciation guide in the release edition, and hopefully the good folks at Harmony Ink will provide one.
April 9, 2016
What a fantastic book! I am so jealous of the young adult books that today’s teens have access to. Gone are the preachy, condescending books of my own youth and in their place are stories by writers like Nina Rossing. Here, her protagonist isn’t terribly likeable, the adults in his life are flawed but human and this is more a story of the challenges of growing up than a morality tale of any sort.
While it took me a good while to love Ben, I loved the story of the Cuban American/Norwegian boy from Miami who is sent to live with his traditional Norwegian grandparents after crashing his father’s classic car. Ben’s parents and grandparents are refreshingly well developed and surprisingly unpredictable. Even, his co-worker is a complex and confusing love interest for Ben, struggling with his own issues and just as insecure as Ben in many ways.
Fans of John Green and David Levithan will enjoy these complex characters but this is a quieter, more thoughtful book. Neither Even or Ben is inclined towards precocious literary references or clever musings about the meaning of life. For me, the subtlety of the relationships and the stilted conversations here are more real and Ben’s flickering self confidence resonates more deeply.
The Norwegian setting is wonderful. Isolated and austere, the contrast with Miami is sharp and the quiet environs and hard physical labour force Ben to grow up and confront some harsh truths.
And the romance. Somehow, Nina Rossing has perfectly captured the magic of a first crush, a summer romance and all the heightened sensations that come with first experiences. While the sexual content isn’t graphic, it is moving and the relationship between the two young men is just beautiful.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
While it took me a good while to love Ben, I loved the story of the Cuban American/Norwegian boy from Miami who is sent to live with his traditional Norwegian grandparents after crashing his father’s classic car. Ben’s parents and grandparents are refreshingly well developed and surprisingly unpredictable. Even, his co-worker is a complex and confusing love interest for Ben, struggling with his own issues and just as insecure as Ben in many ways.
Fans of John Green and David Levithan will enjoy these complex characters but this is a quieter, more thoughtful book. Neither Even or Ben is inclined towards precocious literary references or clever musings about the meaning of life. For me, the subtlety of the relationships and the stilted conversations here are more real and Ben’s flickering self confidence resonates more deeply.
The Norwegian setting is wonderful. Isolated and austere, the contrast with Miami is sharp and the quiet environs and hard physical labour force Ben to grow up and confront some harsh truths.
And the romance. Somehow, Nina Rossing has perfectly captured the magic of a first crush, a summer romance and all the heightened sensations that come with first experiences. While the sexual content isn’t graphic, it is moving and the relationship between the two young men is just beautiful.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
May 14, 2016
Loved this book.
Starting slow and gradually building, this is a great story of two lads, Ben and Even, finding themselves over the course of a summer spent on a farm in the Norwegian fjords. The story is well written and the meandering pace suits their growing relationship, its a winner all round.
I really didn't want this one to end, and would love to read more about their romance.
I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Starting slow and gradually building, this is a great story of two lads, Ben and Even, finding themselves over the course of a summer spent on a farm in the Norwegian fjords. The story is well written and the meandering pace suits their growing relationship, its a winner all round.
I really didn't want this one to end, and would love to read more about their romance.
I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2016
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really tried to get into this book, and I may come back to it when I have more time, but it just seemed to be a lot of complaining by the main character Ben. Nina Rossing does write beautifully but I think it needs to move faster to pull you in.
I really tried to get into this book, and I may come back to it when I have more time, but it just seemed to be a lot of complaining by the main character Ben. Nina Rossing does write beautifully but I think it needs to move faster to pull you in.
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March 12, 2016Good book. It's one of those reads where you KNOW something in particular is going to happen, but it takes a bit to get there. Hang in there though; it's worth reading! Plus, it takes place mostly in Norway and I love non-U.S. based books!
March 12, 2016
I love this book! The descriptions are incredible, I feel like I am right there and that I know these people :-D
March 13, 2016
i did not expect to like this as much as i did but dang i was so sad when it ended it seems to be a one part story but i am really wishing for a sequel
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