In Christmas Island by Natalie Normann, Holly has spent most of her life either wanting to be a doctor or training to be one but when something happens one day at the hospital where she works and she is suspended from her beloved job her brother, Jack suggests she spend Christmas and New Year away from London and travel to Christmas Island on the Norwegian coast. Expecting to see pretty, snowy scenes and beautiful vistas, Holly reluctantly does as he suggests aware that Jack and his girlfriend have taken their little girl away and she will be staying by herself for a while. Holly arrives to a dark, bleak place where the biting wind and driving rain do nothing to cheer her up. She is rescued from falling off a cliff in the darkness by an enormous fluffy, yellow-eyed cat Frøy and his sullen, bearded owner, Tor, a Norwegian from Oslo who has rented a house on the island. Tor prefers to keep to himself and Holly soon discovers that the locals refer to him as The Hermit.  

Holly is intrigued by this Viking-like man of mystery and the longer she spends on the island the more interested in him she becomes. Tor has been satisfied to spend his time working from his rented house, fishing, or walking on the island with Frøy and finds to his dismay that this Londoner is rather more appealing than he had expected.

I hadn’t read the previous book, Summer Island, and although I now feel compelled to read it and discover Jack’s story, the fact that I hadn’t read it prior to reading Christmas Island didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book.

Told from both Holly and Tor’s point of view, it was compelling to follow both their thoughts and intentions. I also loved Frøy, a huge and enjoyable character; the unusual setting, and also discovering the different Nordic Christmas traditions and food that is enjoyed by the locals. I really enjoyed Natalie’s storytelling and look forward to reading her next book.

Christmas Island is out now and you can get your copy here. Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.