Marge K. from Royal Palm Beach, FL
I truly loved WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH. As someone in my 60s with a mother in her late 80s, this book felt deeply personal --- especially as my family recently faced her transition from living independently to moving in with my brother when she could no longer care for herself. We tried everything to help her maintain her independence --- periodic in-home care, pill packs, Meals on Wheels --- but in the end, it wasn’t enough.

Because of that, I connected with every aspect of this story. At times, it felt less like reading a novel and more like watching scenes from my own life unfold. I recognized the son’s frustration, the emotional complexity of balancing his own capacity with Bo’s growing needs, and the quiet, often unspoken tensions that come with caregiving. I was especially moved by Bo’s relationship with Sixten. It was portrayed with such tenderness and authenticity.

The writing overall was beautifully done --- capturing not just one family’s story, but an experience that so many people share. And like life itself, the ending left me wanting more. I found myself wishing for something neatly resolved, something that might reassure me that my own story will unfold just as cleanly. But of course, that’s not how life works --- and the book honors that truth.

Thank you for writing such a deeply human and moving novel. It resonated with me on so many levels, and I believe it will resonate with readers in ways both personal and universal.

Annette J. from Austin, TX
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH is a wonderfully nuanced depiction of aging from multiple perspectives --- the older adult who is simultaneously resistant to and grateful for the attentions of his family and caregivers, the adult son who is trying to find balance between honoring his dad's independence and taking care of practicalities, and the various personalities and skills of the father's paid caregivers.

As a social worker who has worked with aging adults and their families, I especially appreciated that the dilemmas the family faced weren't resolved with "right" or "wrong" decisions. Decisions were right AND wrong, depending on the vantage point of the person impacted. I was fascinated by the Swedish social programs for supporting older adults in their homes. How wonderful that Bo had short visits four times per day from professional caregivers! That level of service is unaffordable for most Americans and unheard of with our Medicare and Medicaid systems.

Overall, this was a great reading experience! Once I understood the structure of the caregiver notes punctuating Bo's inner thoughts and reminiscences, I found that the narrative flowed smoothly and logically. I was moved by Bo's life and plight more than I have been by other characters in a long time. In fact, I finished the novel on a flight home from vacation with tears running down my face. Bravo to Lisa Ridzén for writing a compelling, timely and moving novel!

Katie S. from St. Louis, MO
I loved this story. I finished it just moments ago, and I’m sitting here sobbing as I type this. What a beautifully written story, one that is deeply moving, and I will think about it for many years to come. Bo and Sixten will always have a special place in my heart, and I was truly touched by his reflections in his heart throughout the entire story. Lisa Ridzén did a phenomenal job of writing and capturing such an incredible character. Her writing really made it feel like Bo was somebody I knew and loved personally, and she touched a special place in my heart for the people we love in the lives we all lead with her beautiful words. A story incredibly told!

Mary V. from Massapequa Park, NY
This book truly touched my heart, and I was in tears by the end of it.  To me, the mark of a good book is when the reader can get so emotionally invested with the characters that you actually feel what happens to them.

On a personal level, I really related to this book. Like Bo, my dad is 89 and in failing health. He also doesn’t speak much and sleeps a lot. This story gave me so much insight into what he is going through. He also grew up in a generation where men didn’t talk about their feelings and mainly saw themselves as breadwinners and the head of the household. 

I also was so sympathetic to Hans, because much like him, my siblings and I are trying to do our best by our father. When I finished the book, I immediately passed it on to my brother to read. This was a five-star read for me and one I will be enthusiastically recommending to my book club and reading friends.

Abigail L. from Pittsburgh, PA
This book was overwhelming and stunning at the same time! I was very emotional reading about Bo’s experience with aging, losing his independence, and his relationship with his son. His precious relationship with Sixten really had me emotional as it was evident it was Bo’s attempt to maintain independence and show that he was still capable of living. I was extremely drawn to how Ms. Ridzén showcased Bo’s thoughts in relation to the reality of his situation.

By utilizing the caregivers’ notes, we see a different perspective of Bo’s experience, and I truly appreciated it. For me, his relationship with Hans was difficult to read, knowing he loved his son and in all the years of his life was still struggling to give him the love he felt in his heart. I thought Ms. Ridzén did an incredible job of highlighting Bo’s emotional recognition of the end of his life journey.

Chris W. from Charlotte, NC
My two most recent rescue dogs were available because their masters died. One took quite some time to love me fully. My sister said that Sue kept a small pinch of her heart for him, her first love. Tessa adores me. My son and his family had to let their love, Maggie, go this week. She was unexpectedly very ill with no hope of recovery. We all cried and are still mourning. 

This book? Of course, I disliked the separation of boy/man to pet dogs. So I therefore hated the parts when Bo was cruel and Hans insisted that the dog had to go. I ached for Bo’s mother and was thrilled he knew a good love, a powerful love in his wife. He needed her. Luckily Hans got the best of his mom and his dad. Even better, Hans and Bo recognized their mutual love while they could. It would have been too trite to have a PS from Ingrid writing that the residence had called Bo’s phone to tell him that Fredrika was gone, but surely she joined him shortly. For Bo to understand and accept versus the many questions the adult Hans had wasn’t quite right.

Thank goodness for the good care people, the delightful granddaughter, and those who knew that the love of a dog doesn’t drift away. That love, because it’s usually shorter than our human loves, is more concentrated and defined. We know from the start that it will never be long enough. 

Good friends have died, along with my parents --- Momma when she was 95 and Daddy recently at 101. I keep them and my pets, as well as all those dear friends, swirling around in my memories with their stories, their ways, their love. I may put one of Momma’s scarves into a jar. It might not work now, but it wouldn’t hurt! I once told an older lady to go to her son’s bathroom and swipe his bar of soap. She could take it home with her after the funeral and sniff it whenever she needed his scent. The connections within this story worked, but I worried.

Julie H. from Rye, NY
Have a box of tissues ready for this honest and descriptive story of life, love, aging and family struggle as depicted in WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH. Amidst flashbacks to his own childhood and his relationship with his father, Bo revisits his feelings while relating them to how things are currently with his son, Hans. Everyone in the story has valid concerns and reasons behind their thoughts and actions, and both sides think the others are wrong. Yet both sides can be right and true. The quote "How can something as natural as starting a family be so complicated?" (p. 160 in the paperback) perfectly captures the complex relationships woven throughout this well-written story.

Debbie M. from Myrtle Beach, SC
I found the story to be a very interesting and heartwarming tale about what all of us who are lucky enough to live a long life will experience, or have experienced, as we get older. People you love and have always taken care of decide that you can't do things on your own anymore or that you’re unable to do the things you’ve been doing for 50+ years --- taking care of your pet, going for a walk, driving a car. Apparently, you also aren’t able to make your own decisions, so they’re going to do all of that for you. 

In addition, like Bo, as we get older, we have more time to reflect on our lives and know that our time to make amends is limited for those we have hurt or have not loved enough during our lives. We hope that we will have time to tell those we love how we didn't always get it right, and we hope they will forgive us.

Hannah M. from Fond du Lac, WI
I read the first 60 pages of this book and then had to set it down for a few days. The writing stirred up some big feelings for me despite being a 35-year-old woman in relatively good health. My mother is aging and has expressed how impotent and vulnerable she feels at times. Seeing the world through Bo’s eyes really drove home for me just how easy it is for our aging loved ones to feel disregarded, disrespected and out of control. Bo’s anger towards his son was visceral and almost violent at times, but you really empathize with him.

This book was a moving portrayal of what it’s like to be near the end of your life, losing pieces of yourself bit by bit. I can’t remember how many times I found myself crying at a perfectly worded sentiment. Most importantly, I was deeply moved by the dedication Bo had to Sixten and how much comfort he found in Sixten’s presence.

Sue S. from Loveland, CO
This simple yet powerful book is about the end of life, regrets, the things that are left unsaid, and how we navigate relationships. Anyone who has witnessed a parent age will relate to this book --- how the roles change and how difficult that can be. It’s also implicitly about love: love for a partner, love for a friend, love for a child or grandchild, and love for a dog. The Swedish countryside lends warmth to the story, even though it also can be harsh. 

Bo, the main character, is a simple man who has led a life of hard work and has tried to be a better father to his son, Hans, than his father was to him. He has lost his wife, Fredrika, to dementia, and that leaves a huge void in his life. His caregivers can be a help and a hindrance. Bo and Hans have conflicts, particularly when Hans insists that Bo’s dog, Sixten, be rehomed because Bo can no longer take care of him. You understand the conflict. It is too much for him to take proper care of Sixten, but you also know that Sixten is his only comfort at this point. 

I loved looking up the references to Swedish food, the Storsjön monster, Swedish architecture and politics, all unknown to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the writing style, which was simple but detailed.

Rachel B. from Glenshaw, PA
This was an insightful coming-of-age story from the perspective of the last chapter in our lives. The main character, Bo, is not just reflecting back on his life in order to make sense of his life. He is bringing forward the most meaningful parts of his relationships to ensure that he heals the most important relationship in his life: the relationship he has with his son. Bo shows us how we can mean one thing and say another through the years, how that is shaped by our generation and history.  He asks us if we can overcome our shortcomings and flaws, even if our anger is truly justified.

Lesley P. from Gilbert, AZ
I loved it. It is a heartfelt story with so much truth in it about aging and saying goodbye. I found myself wanting Bo to find a way to keep Sixten, yet all the while knowing it wasn't possible. There is so much to explore in this quick read, and I couldn't put it down: the aging process, loss, communication, types of men and how they change through generations, what gets passed on, parenting, love, and not being able to express feelings, especially at the end.

Ashley B. from Colfax, NC
I am always somewhat hesitant to read a book with an aging protagonist. I do not know why this is --- especially when I always end up loving them and the story! I adored Bo, Sixten, and really all of the characters. The addition of the notes from his caregivers was an appreciated touch. I always enjoy a (for lack of a better word) format in a story. I am so glad I read this quiet, moving, heartwarming novel.

Karen B. from Louisville, KY
I loved this story. It was beautifully written, and each time I put it down, I could not wait to pick it up again. For the past two years, I have been dealing with aging parents who are in similar circumstances to the characters, so it was very on point. I thought it would depress me, but it was truly uplifting by the way Lisa Ridzén wrote the story. It was so tender, loving and sweet. All the characters seemed real to me.

Elizabeth C. from Mount Marion, NY
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH felt quiet in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s one of those stories that doesn’t try too hard but still leaves a mark --- soft, a little bittersweet, and reflective. I loved how it leaned into themes of change, letting go, and finding meaning in the in-between moments of life. It made me pause more than once, which is always a sign that it’s doing something right. It is definitely one of those reads that lingers with you after you close it.

Cathy J. from Auburn, CA
I thought it was a beautiful and touching story about someone facing his last chapter of life. I was really touched by the honesty of the book. We were brought so personally into Bo's thoughts and frame of mind.  It was hard not to fall for Bo as his world becomes smaller and he is faced with so many changes that are not within his control. All readers walk away with an honest picture of the struggles, regrets and acceptance that play such a strong role in one's end-of-life story.

Linda L. from Canton, GA
I loved this book! The father-adult son relationship, the pet-owner relationship, and the old friend relationship were all so on point. It evoked so many emotions --- love, loss, sadness, frustration and helplessness.

Michele G. from Rutland, VT
I enjoyed the narrative from Bo and felt the emotion of his wife being put in a care facility, his dog being taken away, his friend passing, and his multiple health issues. I was glad he reconciled with his son as there were hard decisions made that impacted their relationship.

Paula S. from Bolingbrook, IL
I loved WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH. It is about a man at the end of his life. It is so well written (and translated). It is sad but well done. It would be a great book club book, too.

Teresa S. from Middletown, CT
This book really digs into the heavy, unspoken stuff between fathers and sons. And honestly? I was a total mess. I cried so much reading this.

Andi G. from Grandville, MI
Five stars! I had to go hug my dad after I read it.