Book Review Policy

Review Policy

A note before you reach out

Books are at the heart of what I do here. I read slowly and deliberately, I take notes in the margins, and I write reviews that are honest, geniunely honest, not just politely postive. If you´re considering sending me a book, I´d love for you to read through this page first so were a good fit before either of us invests the time.

How I review:

I review books the way I do most things — slowly and with intention.

When I’m reading for review I take notes as I go, mark favourite passages, write questions in the margins, and sometimes reread a chapter just to sit with it a little longer. My reviews are detailed and as spoiler-free as I can make them. I look at both what worked and what didn’t, because an honest review serves the reader, and that’s always who I’m writing for.

Every book I review receives a rating from 1 to 5, along with a summary written in my own words and a full written review posted here on Way Up Nord and on Goodreads.

If for any reason I’m unable to finish a book I will give it a DNF (did not finish) rating of 2. In that case I’ll include the publisher’s description and a few honest paragraphs about why the book didn’t work for me. I won’t simply disappear — you’ll always hear from me one way or another.

What every review includes:

Book cover
Author and publication details
Series information
Page count
Book summary in my own words
My rating (1 to 5)
Book trailer if available
Full honest review posted here and on Goodreads
Links to purchase

What I accept:

My reading life sits at the intersection of Nordic literature, slow travel, cultural storytelling and the occasional deep dive into something completely different. Here’s where I spend most of my time:

Fiction

Nordic and Scandinavian fiction — this is my sweet spot
Historical fiction
Southern fiction — yes, really. The Delta never really left me.
Literary fiction
Contemporary fiction
Mystery
Mythology based novels
Young Adult and New Adult fiction — fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, urban fantasy, contemporary and historical

Non-Fiction On occasion I swap out fiction for non-fiction. I’m particularly drawn to personal finance, self-help, time management and slow living. If you have something that fits that world, I’m open to hearing about it.

Children’s and Middle Grade I read with my kids every night and we are happy to consider review requests for children’s books and middle grade novels in both English and Norwegian. If you have something we might explore and discuss together, please do reach out.

Self-Published Books I do accept self-published titles but I am selective. Please include at least one sample chapter along with your synopsis and a personalised note about why you think your book is a good fit for Way Up Nord.

Formats I accept:

Physical copies — hardback, paperback or ARC
Ebook formatted for Kindle

Timing and expectations:

Accepting a book for review means I will genuinely consider it however it doesn’t guarantee that a review will be published or a specific timeline.

Life at 69 degrees north keeps me busy. I work as a guide coordinator, I run this blog and a design business, and I have two teenagers who need me present. My schedule is real and sometimes unpredictable.

That said, my typical timeline from receiving a book to publishing a review is around eight weeks. If your book has a release date you’d like me to work around, please let me know upfront and I’ll do my best to accommodate it.

Other ways we can work together:

If your book isn’t quite the right fit for a full review, or my schedule doesn’t allow it, there are other ways I’d love to feature your work on Way Up Nord: