We’re all about trying new things in 2026. And with the cusp of a new season comes the need for a refresher in our TBR. Anette Nilsson’s memoir, Soul-Happy, is one such addition.
Soul-Happy tells of the author’s tumultuous life after leaving her home in Denmark. Nette falls for an American and struggles with an unhappy marriage. But even when she sets her sights on a better path for herself, her body develops a life-threatening condition.
We haven’t read nonfiction in a few months, so we welcome this new release with open arms. Here are three reasons to read Soul-Happy by Anette Nilsson!
Book Overview: Soul-Happy
Content warnings: parent death, drug & alcohol use, hospitalization, medical procedures, suicidal thoughts, serious injury, graphic language, vomiting
Summary: Nette Nilsson has big dreams and is in the midst of pursuing them—starting by leaving Denmark to attend university in Toronto, Canada—when she falls for a beguiling but volatile American. Their romance moves fast, and in what seems like no time she finds herself living a privileged but deeply unhappy life in New York with her now-husband, Cal. After suffering for too long, she finally begins to find her way onto a better path—only to be abruptly faced with a life-threatening physical condition. To survive and to heal, Nette must confront dark family lies and her hidden traumas and find her own power again.
In an era of increasing awareness regarding how many strong, intelligent women ignore their gut and lose themselves—and the lives they dream of having—when they become entangled with toxic men, Soul-Happy illuminates the underlying reasons for one promising young woman’s downhill slide after she falls for “the wrong kind of love,” and follows her harrowing battle to put herself back together again.
The Gradual Growth
Soul-Happy takes us on the author’s journey toward healing both her body and soul. Nette’s chronic illness manifests right when she wants to do better for herself and her daughter. She must first dive deep into her family’s secrets and her childhood trauma. She’s been soul-unhappy for far too long. So she wades through her memories and learns how to forgive herself and lift the burden she’s carried for years.
Nette’s Family Dynamics
We appreciate how relatable Nette’s family dynamics are in Soul-Happy. It takes so much courage to be as vulnerable as the author is throughout her memoir. To reveal the imperfections lying underneath. To fully dissect her relationship with her parents and siblings, particularly that of her mother and older sister. And we couldn’t help feeling emotional during Nette’s most crucial time of need.
Her Healing From Within
How does one make steps toward being soul-happy? Though it is a natural state, our choices often lead us astray. Nette’s healing in Soul-Happy is not linear by any means. It can get stressful, suffocating, and straight-up messy on all levels. But Nette doesn’t stop fighting for the life she wants. She removes all the self-blame, shares secrets and burdens with others, and ultimately reclaims her inner Viking strength.
Anette Nilsson’s Soul-Happy is an evocative new memoir detailing a journey of survival, gut instincts, and inner strength. We got the message loud and clear.
Soul-Happy by Anette Nilsson comes out March 24th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Anette Nilsson’s Soul-Happy so far? Are you interested in reading this memoir? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANETTE NILSSON:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE
