Wonderful, wonderful story about two women, one young and one old, who meet in Sweden. Both deal with terrible tragedies they have not recovered from. Simple things and time together nurse them back to "health."

Beautifully written, captivating novel about a surprising friendship that develops between 2 women who seem very different on the surface, but are actually quite alike.

This is a very thought provoking novel. It tells the story of two very different women who have turned their backs on life for different reasons, but somehow they connect and create a beautiful permanent friendship in a very short time. It is heartwrenching, yet heartwarming at the same time. Beautifully written. Totally loved it! I couldn't put it down. I love that this version has an interview with the author, as well as discussion group questions at the back. Great!

Although I truly enjoyed the story of Astrid & Veronika's friendship, of their mutual healing of very separate tragedies, I never truly was taken in by the book. I probably could have stopped reading midway through and not felt too bereft of not finishing it. The book is poignant, however, and thought provoking, and well worth the read.

This was a lovely written story of two women who have lead totally different lives and have come together as friends. Beautifully written,this author has a great talent for describing everything that is being seen, heard, tasted and felt. The story itself was a bit on the slow side and it took me awhile to get through it despite the fact that it's only 246 pages, but it was a truly lovely story and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys descriptive, melancholy, and emotional stories.

This is one of the best "women as friends" books I've read. Don't miss it.

This was my first experience with listening to a book instead of reading, and what an introduction it was. I was totally swept away by the story of the friendship between these two women. The writing is lyrical and the descriptions of the landscape are vibrant and beautiful. I usually see the story as a movie playing in my head, but this time it felt like I was there. Ms. Olsson's writing is so vivid that I saw and touched and felt everything, and cried when Astrid and Veronika recounted their stories of love and loss. I found it hard to let go of the characters once I had reached the end of the discs, and have since ordered it in paperback to keep and reread. Very highly recommended.

A delicate story of friendship. How best to describe this book? Set in Sweden, a young woman rents a house to grieve the loss of her fiance. Next door, a woman has been alone for years, perhaps decades, perhaps her entire adult life. How they gently find one another and enter into a strong and loving relationship is beautifully told and moving to read.

I love this book. It is a story of the frienship between an older and younger lady with the Power of love to heal past wounds being the predominant them.

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This beautifully written novel needs a sequel! I wanted to know where Veronika's journey in life takes her next. It was a sad tale in so many ways but poignant and joyful in so many others.

Touching story of friendship between a young woman and an older woman.

I loved this book! At first it started a little slow, but the more I read the better it got. It is the story of friendship between a young woman and an older woman regarded as the town witch. Both are recovering from tragedies, most of the novel centers around their pasts and the secrets they have. After revealing their stories to one another they develop a lasting friendship. This would make a great beach read!

I really enjoyed this short novel. Wonderful story!

This is one of the sweetest, most tender love stories I have ever read. It is sure to touch your heart.

I enjoyed the story of the developing friendship between Astrid and Veronika . The somewhat stark background creates a vivid picture that made me want to pick up my brushes and paint .

Veronika, a young writer, moves to a small village in Sweden to come to terms with the tragic loss of her fiance and complete her novel. Veronika meets Astrid, her elderly and reclusive neighbor, and an unlikely friendship begins. Astrid helps Veronika through her grief and reveals her own secrets to Veronika. This a beautifully written story of the sustaining power of female friendship.

Book Description
With extraordinary emotional power, Linda Olsson’s stunningly well-crafted debut novel recounts the unusual and unexpected friendship that develops between two women. Veronika, a young writer from New Zealand, rents a house in a small Swedish village as she tries to come to terms with a recent tragedy while also finishing a novel. Her arrival is silently observed by Astrid, an older, reclusive neighbor who slowly becomes a presence in Veronika’s life, offering comfort in the form of companionship and lovingly prepared home-cooked meals. Set against a haunting Swedish landscape, Astrid & Veronika is a lyrical and meditative novel of love and loss, and a story that will remain with readers long after the characters’ secrets are revealed.

A litle dark and Scandanavian, but a quick and interesting read.

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