Brightly Shining

DUA LIPA'S BOOK CLUB PICK FOR DECEMBER 2025 'The perfect Christmas read, full of wonder, hope and magic' DUA LIPA Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's father is out of work. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job selling Christmas trees, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food and their father comes home smiling, covered in spruce needles. But the local pub has an irresistible pull and he quickly abandons his responsibilities. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school, and bringing Ronja with her. On rare breaks in the dark of a Norwegian December they dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty - and find there are some people in the world who might help them. Small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, Brightly Shining has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

DUA LIPA'S BOOK CLUB PICK FOR DECEMBER 2025 'The perfect Christmas read, full of wonder, hope and magic' DUA LIPA Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's father is out of work. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job selling Christmas trees, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food and their father comes home smiling, covered in spruce needles. But the local pub has an irresistible pull and he quickly abandons his responsibilities. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school, and bringing Ronja with her. On rare breaks in the dark of a Norwegian December they dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty - and find there are some people in the world who might help them. Small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, Brightly Shining has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's father is out of work. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job selling Christmas trees, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food and their father comes home smiling, covered in spruce needles. But the local pub has an irresistible pull and he quickly abandons his responsibilities. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school, and bringing Ronja with her. On rare breaks in the dark of a Norwegian December they dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty - and find there are some people in the world who might help them. Small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, Brightly Shining has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's father is out of work. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job selling Christmas trees, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food and their father comes home smiling, covered in spruce needles. But the local pub has an irresistible pull and he quickly abandons his responsibilities. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school, and bringing Ronja with her. On rare breaks in the dark of a Norwegian December they dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty - and find there are some people in the world who might help them. Small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, Brightly Shining has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

Beautifully told with humor and tenderness, a Norwegian Christmas tale of sisterhood, financial hardship, and far-off dreams, acclaimed by reviewers and beloved by readers across Europe, where it has been a major bestseller. Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's dreamer of a father is out of work again. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job at a Christmas tree stand near where the family lives in central Oslo, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food, and their father returns home with money in his pocket and a smile on his face. But one evening he disappears into the night under the pretense of buying Christmas giftsand the daughters know he has gone to his favorite local pub, Stargate, and they come to terms with the fact that he may lose his wonderful new job. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school in the December afternoon dark, and brings along Ronja, who quickly charms all the middle-class customers. On rare breaks the sisters dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty, and find help from some of those around thembut both understand that their family structure is a precarious one, and that they are going to need luck and strength to transcend their circumstances. Skillfully told, evoking the delight, misunderstandings, and innocence of a child's voice, Brightly Shining is small in stature but with an outsize impact on the listener, and has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

Beautifully told with humor and tenderness, a Norwegian Christmas tale of sisterhood, financial hardship, and far-off dreams, acclaimed by reviewers and beloved by readers across Europe, where it has been a major bestseller. Christmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa's dreamer of a father is out of work again. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job at a Christmas tree stand near where the family lives in central Oslo, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food, and their father returns home with money in his pocket and a smile on his face. But one evening he disappears into the night under the pretense of buying Christmas giftsand the daughters know he has gone to his favorite local pub, Stargate, and they come to terms with the fact that he may lose his wonderful new job. Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school in the December afternoon dark, and brings along Ronja, who quickly charms all the middle-class customers. On rare breaks the sisters dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty, and find help from some of those around thembut both understand that their family structure is a precarious one, and that they are going to need luck and strength to transcend their circumstances. Skillfully told, evoking the delight, misunderstandings, and innocence of a child's voice, Brightly Shining is small in stature but with an outsize impact on the listener, and has all the markings of a magical modern classic.