Book Review: Escape to the Northern Lights by Carrie Walker

I’m pleased to be welcoming Carrie Walker to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Escape to the Northern Lights.

Packed with humour, romance and a love affair with nature, Escape to the Northern Lights is a story of transformation, second chances and finding home in the most unexpected places.

High-powered lawyer Sara thought she had life figured out – until her whirlwind marriage ends in divorce, her dream promotion slips away and a burnout diagnosis forces her to take a break.

Desperate for a reset, she books a four-week spa retreat in Norway, imagining a luxurious escape. Instead, she finds herself in the rugged wilderness of Firefly Forest, knee-deep in reindeer droppings and stuck with an annoyingly bohemian – and ridiculously attractive – outdoorsman, Henrik.

What starts as a nightmare turns into a journey of self-discovery as Sara swaps designer heels for bare feet, legal briefs for tree-hugging, and fleeting flings for something far deeper…

*****

When Sara misses out on a promotion and has a health scare, she is forced to take time off work. She finds herself booking a spa escape in Norway. If could be fun – a place of luxury, rest, and relaxation. If it was good enough for celebrities, it was good enough for her. Things don’t go as planned but in being somewhere she wasn’t intending to be, could she find something she wasn’t aware she was looking for?

I have a bit of a love affair with the Northern Lights, so I jumped at the chance to read Escape To The Northern Lights by Carrie Walker. Going to see the lights has been on my bucket list for such a long time. I know we had the chance to see them in the UK a while back, but there’s something romantic about seeing them in a beautiful country like Norway. With this novel, I had a chance to see them vicariously through Sara’s story.

Sara is an interesting and compelling character. From the beginning, I could see that her work/life balance had gone off kilter. There’s nothing wrong with going for something you want professionally but I couldn’t help but feel she was trying to escape the parts of her life that weren’t in her control, like her divorce. It was so lovely to see how she changes throughout the novel. How she does this isn’t something I am going to give away.

The supporting cast were a great mix. There was one character I wanted to slap and if you read it, you’ll know who. Henrik was wonderful. He’s a very unassuming character. He and Sara played off each other well.

The author did a great job of creating the setting and making me feel like I was surrounded by the stunning scenery. I have never wanted to step into a book more than I did with this one. The novel made me feel like I was properly escaping, and I didn’t want it to end. The plot unfolds well but it also has a calming feel to it. I am hoping that makes sense.

I am not sure what else I can say about this novel without giving too much away. There’s warmth, humour, and heart to this book. It’s a life affirming tale that reminds us to not get so caught up with things that we forget to stop and take in the beauty of the world. We can change our lives; we just need to be open to new experiences.

I loved Escape to the Northern Lights. If you’re looking for a cosy novel to read under a blanket or are planning a last-minute autumn break, this book is a great companion.

(Thank you to Aira and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

About Carrie Walker –

Carrie Walker is a Brummie born rom-com lover with a lifelong passion for travel.

She has lived in a ski resort, by a beach, in the country and the city, and travelled solo through Asia, South America and Europe.

Her own love life was more com than rom until she met her husband a few years ago and settled down with him and her dog Ziggy in a small pub-filled village in Essex.

Say hello to Carrie via her website, Instagram and X. 

Escape to the Northern Lights was released by Aria on 6th November 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.