A beautifully written book about a man in the final stages of his life.
A story about Bo, who lives alone with his dog Sixten. As he grows frailer and struggles to take care of him, his son Hans decides it will be for the best if they find him a new home.
A story about growing old, of losing your independence and having to rely on others to take care of you.
The way Bo’s life was told in between the notes left by his carers after each visit was so powerful and effective. A man who found it so difficult to share his emotions - I’m so glad he was finally able to tell his son how proud he was of him.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is one hell of an emotional read — raw, reflective, and deeply, deeply sad. It’s a quiet but powerful story about love, loss, ageing, and the painful reality of losing control over your own life.

The novel centres around Bo, an elderly and vulnerable 89-year-old man whose health and independence are steadily declining. His son Hans, convinced that it’s time, decides to rehome Bo’s beloved dog, Sixten — a decision that becomes symbolic of everything Bo is losing.

Bo spends most of his days napping on his daybed, visited by a rotation of carers who prepare meals and check on his well-being. Through Bo’s inner monologue and memories, we’re invited into his past — full of vibrant, joyful moments with his wife (now in a care home with dementia) and their son Hans as a child. These memories are warm and full of life, providing a painful contrast to the quiet loneliness and helplessness Bo feels in the present.

Lisa Ridzen writes with subtlety and care, never over-dramatising but letting the heartbreak speak for itself. It’s a story that doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths of getting old — the grief of losing a partner bit by bit, the frustration of frailty, and the heartbreak of no longer being seen as capable. But it’s also a story about dignity, about memory, and about holding on to the small things that still bring joy.

A beautifully written, poignant novel that will stay with you long after the final page. Not an easy read emotionally, but an important one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest, unbiased review.

"I see two majestic birds flying low overhead. The first cranes of the year. I pause to watch them. Their powerful wings, rhythmically beating the air and carrying their large bodies forward. Before they fly south again, I promise myself, I'll have left this place."

Pretty sad but strangely calming, I love Bo and Sixten so much. Reminds me of A Man Called Ove, my favorite book, in a way.

This book will definitely pull at your heartstrings. Bo is portrayed as such a wonderful old man who has so much love for his family, his best friend and most of all his faithful companion his dog. It was very well written/translated and I especially enjoyed the diary entries of Bo’s home help/carers. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

I cried boy I cried so much reading this book. The emotion attached to it. It made me think about all the relationships I have with parents, children and friends. It’s such a heartwarming emotional sad lovely book all rolled into one.

This book brought back memories of caring for my mother-in-law at home until she died aged 99. It’s easy to become impatient with the elderly and not listen and recognise their fears and concerns. Bo’s story resonated with me. This is not a cheery story but it is an important one.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of When the Cranes Fly South by Liza Ridzén
A gentle story beautifully written about old age, families and relationships.
I could not put this down and sobbed when it ended.
A lovely read.

A deeply emotional and introspective journey, When the Cranes Fly South is a tender, aching portrayal of grief, change, and the silent beauty of letting go. This book sneaks up on you—soft and quiet at first—but before you know it, you’re caught in the storm of its emotion. With lyrical prose and profound depth, Ridzén crafts a story that lingers in your bones long after the final page. A must-read for lovers of raw, reflective literary fiction.

An intensely moving book about a man at the end of his life when everything he values is being stripped away from him. As a work of fiction, there is a great sadness at how his family and friends, his health and independence all fall or are taken away. Underpinning this storyline there is also a strong and equally moving sense of the importance of the way in which people at this stage of their life should be listened to and accommodated. An inevitable but beautifully written ending.

I knew, as soon as I read the synopsis, that this book would put me through the wringer emotionally, but I requested an ARC anyway. I wasn't wrong folks. I read parts of this book through eyes that were blurry with tears. By the end of the book, I was bawling like a baby. 😪
When the Cranes Fly South is a far cry from the type of books I usually read. (If you follow my reviews you'll know what I mean.)
This is a story of growing old, losing your independence and slowly losing control of your own body. Having nothing but time on your hands to reflect on your past life, the things you did, and the things you wish you had done. It's a tale of love and loss, through dementia rather than death. And it's the tale of one man's love for his dog and the sense of loss he feels when his dog is taken away from him. 😔
On a personal level, this book made me realise just how important it is to let those around us know how we feel about them so that we have no regrets come end time. I'm glad I got the chance to do that with my father before he passed. 😔
This book won't be everyone's cup of tea. I'm a sucker for books with dogs in them, even when I know they're going to make me cry like this one did. For all my tears though, I still enjoyed this beautifully written book, which read like an inner monologue interspersed with notes from the old man's caregivers.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This book is a must read! It will play with your emotions, make you feel all sorts of happy and sad and then leave you bereft when you finish it!

Set in Sweden, Bo is an 80 something man living in a care home. His only visitors are the carers and his son, Hans and, occasionally, his granddaughter. Left with his memories Bo occasionally chats by phone to his old friend Ture to reminisce about the old days.

With his beloved dog, Sixten, by his side everything is ticking along but, as Bo becomes more tired and forgetful;, suddenly Hans decides that Sixten needs to go to a new home.

This is a short read and an excellent one. It's descriptive, poignant and a book I won't ever forget. I have to say this did reduce me to tears and I have only ever cried in two books previously (and I'm in my fifties!). It's magical, eloquent and will stay with you a long time after you turn the last page. Five stars and a huge thank you for the advanced copy!

"...𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚, 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔."

A poignant tale of an elderly man’s battle to maintain independence near the end of his life. Our protagonist, Bo, often feels that the only one who truly understands him is his beloved dog, Sixten. However, his well-intentioned son believes Bo has become too frail to properly look after Sixten and wants to rehome him.

I defy you not to bawl like a baby reading this book. I found myself crying again just writing the above synopsis. This book was brought to my attention on Twitter (before I left it a couple of months ago) - someone shared a video of themselves saying it was the best book they’d ever read. Call me easily influenced but if someone says a book is the best thing I’ve ever read, I’m very inclined to read it myself. Not long after that, I noticed the book on NetGalley so of course I requested it.

When I tell you I ugly cried several times reading this, to the point that my husband suggested maybe I not put myself through it anymore! It is just a stunningly beautiful story, not only of the unparalleled love between a dog and its owner, but also of the heartbreak that aging can be. The story is told from Bo’s point of view, and while he often feels his son Hans is the villain, it is plain to see Bo’s best interests are what Hans always has in mind. What little comfort Bo gets besides Sixten’s companionship is when he allows himself to think of his wife, and the woman she was before Alzheimers made her forget both Bo and Hans.

Sometimes we read a book because we know we need to cry - this one is a guaranteed tearjerker. Highly recommend. One of my favourite books this year.

A touching story about a man at the end of his life. Bo’s beloved wife has dementia and is living in a home, and Bo now is alone with Sixten, his dog, and his memories. But Bo’s son Hans feels Bo is no longer capable of looking after the dog and, heartbreakingly, says he must be rehomed. Bo reflects on fatherhood- his own father was a brute and, although Bo was close to Hans when he was little, distance grew as his son grew older. Now, as he nears the end he has little strength to repair the relationship. His wife, who no longer knows who he is, is always in his thoughts. His friend, Ture, is also ageing but they keep in touch on the telephone and this is an occasional pleasure. The chapters are bookended by the notes his carers leave for each other (whether and what Bo has eaten, did he have a shower etc). It did make me reflect on Sweden’s state system (higher taxes and better care than you would receive in Britain), as the carers visit several times a day. Lisa Ridzén has written a compassionate and poignant novel which, despite the potentially depressing subject matter, manages to be both life affirming and joyful.

This story is about an elderly man who lives on his own and is attended several times a day by caregivers. He has a dog that is his companion and he worries that the dog will be taken away from him.
A sad, slow moving tale about what it’s like to be alone and unable to care for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Transworld Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 3⭐️ 15 May G

Aftertaste by Darin Lavelle.
After the death of his father Kostya started getting the taste of of his father’s favourite food in his mouth without eating it. As he grew older this kept happening.
He found that he was getting tastes from ghosts in the afterlife.
A story unlike anything I have read before.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book touched my heart in a way I didn't know a book could. It is a gentle, slow book. The relationships between the main characters are beautifully written. The character of Bo is written with such attention to detail one cannot help but come care for him as his health deteriorates and he loses his strength and independence. His love for Sixten had me in tears. The relationship between Bo and Hans was written with such poignancy and care. Reflecting on the rough as well as the smooth. Added to this the descriptions of the changing Swedish scenery during Bo's last few months were amazing. Anyone who has lived through the death of parents or a close loved one could not fail to be moved by this book. I cried buckets. A wonderful if very sad book I don't hesitate to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

When the Cranes Fly South broke my heart. I read it in one sitting as I could not bear to put it down. What a beautifully written, poignant and touching story. Elderly Bo can no longer manage to care for himself or his dog Sixten. His wife has dementia and lives in a care home and his son thinks it best if Sixten is re-homed. As Bo reflects back over his life we learn of his growing up and his relationships with both his father and his son. The book is also interspersed with diary details from his carers. Many thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for gifting me an early read of this wonderful book. Highly recommend this 5star book...and also that you keep the tissues nearby.

Since his wife was moved into a care home, elderly Bo has lived alone in his house on the outskirts of a village in Sweden, his only companion his dig Sixten. Unfortunately, his son now thinks looking after the dog is too much for his father and wants to re-home Sixten, setting father and son at loggerheads.

Oh my, I do hope that when When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen is published each purchase comes with a free packet of tissues because they'll certainly be needed.

Bo is eighty-nine and fiercely independent, determined to see out his days in the home he's known all his life. Acknowledging his fathers ever-increasing limited mobility his son has arranged for carers to visit throughout the day to see to Bo's personal needs.

My heart went out to Bo, the frailties of an aging body are so sad. He hates the revolving door of carers, some are familiar and respectful, others temporary, young and distant. Alongside this is the loss of dignity as they bathe and dress him.

The only things Bo has for company are his dog and his memories. As he whiles away the hours alone he reflects on his life; the strict upbringing he had as a child, his love for his wife and the fractious relationship he has with his only child, Hans. Unfortunately, even the good memories can bring heartbreak. Bo hasn't slept in the marital bed since his wife was moved into a care home, he now sleeps on a day bed in the kitchen. He keeps a scarf that belonged to his wife in a jar to preserve her perfume but his hands no longer have the strength and dexterity to open the jar.

Bo's faithful companion is his dog, Sixten, an elkhound (imagine something similar to a Husky/German Shepherd cross). As Bo dozes, lost to his memories, the dog lies next to him. Hans is worried that the dog has become too much for his father to look after, concerned that he'll fall and be unable to seek help. The suggestion that Sixten be re-homed does not go down well and puts pressure on an already strained relationship. It was clear that the suggestion was made from a place of love and concern but lacked a real understanding of Bo's motivation. Having Sixten around helped to overcome the loneliness and looking after the dog's needs were the only thing keeping him active and determined to get out of bed each day.

As time moves on we see Bo become frailer and frailer. I was very surprised that I managed to hold back the tears at one poignant moment. Having survived this point in the story I thought I was going to be ok, and then the final few pages were my undoing. I gave up fighting back the tears as the story reached its natural conclusion, an emotional and sentimental one. This is a story that is going to stay with me for a very long time.

Emotional, emotive reading.

As a dog lover I knew I would need the tissues at the ready, and boy I was not wrong. A story taken from a totally different angle. An elderly mans story told by the person as to his feelings and disappointments throughout his life.

Bo was such a strong character that asked for nothing apart from the love of his dog Sixten. The humiliation he felt with having the careers come in to wash and feed him was heart rendering.

A novel that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this excellent book..

A tender, thoughtful depiction of the end of life of a man still living in his own home with the help of carers. He reflects on his life and still enjoys his routine and the seasons but is frustrated by the gradual deterioration of his body. His end is peaceful and filled with love. An emotional read as I lost my elderly mother recently.

Bo lives with his dog Sixten and has carers four times a day. He can do some things for himself but is getting slower and his son is concerned about him , having said it would be easier without Sixten. As any dog lover knows, this is a very hard decision and Bo is fighting against it- Sixten is his constant companion. Bo remembers when his wife was alive and his son was small and takes us through some of his memories.

Oh be still my beating heart. My heart was in my mouth all the way through, desperately wanting Bo and Sixten to stay together.. Companions mean the world, whatever age or ability as has been proven and the end reflected this. It’s a beautifully descriptive read, telling of more than just Bo’s life. A reflective, powerful, emotive tale that had me in bits at the end leaving me speechless. One that blew me away and one most certainly to remember. Wow, just wow.