Reviews

• “The classrooms, the school hallways, the bus stops – they all form the backdrop in Moa Backe Åstot’s intimate portrayal of a fumbling infatuation’s rising and fall. After two acclaimed novels, the Jokkmokk-based author turns to the direct voice of lyrical prose to illustrate a rocky relationship. You’re the One I Write About is a pure yet winding text about longing, love, and betrayal, cutting straight through the hierarchies of the high school.”

• “In terms of form, Moa Backe Åstot’s novel stands out from the crowd. First of all, the narrator’s perspective is unusual. The story is written in the second person. The narrator addresses a “you,” making me as the reader, the main character. This creates a strong sense of intimacy, and at times it feels as though I’m reading someone’s secret love letters. /…/It’s a bold narrative choice, especially considering that Backe Åstot is praised for her complex settings and original characters. /…/ I find myself wanting to read it over and over again to discover everything hidden between the lines. As a love story for a lower high school audience, it’s a true gem. /…/ It’s quite possible that You’re the One I Write About is the perfect classroom text, it’s easily accessible, engaging, and supports identity development.”

• “A must-read. Such a beautiful book that I hope many, many people get the chance to read. Every line evokes emotion.”

• “With that being said, the airy lines, compressed into intense moments, create a format that works surprisingly well. There is so much between the lines and it forms an opportunity to fill in the blanks yourself. This is a book to read slowly and gladly reread.”

• “It’s very powerful, both on the surface and between the lines, a very beautiful portrayal.”

• “But even as you want to know how it will end, the form holds the reader in the narrator’s breath, so one reads and rereads the short texts on each spread. This makes for an unusually intense reading experience. /…/ The written thoughts in the narrator’s book about what happens and what it feels like are captured in flight, stripped down so that only the core remains. /…/ Curiously, I therefore want to read it again. Was there somewhere, between the blank spaces, a glance, a touch, a thought that I missed? Just like in a truly gripping, suspense-driven novel, you are drawn into the story and read on to find out what happens.”

• “I’m impressed. Moved. Feeling speechless and struggling to put my experience into words. You’re the One I Write About is a strong, beautiful and exhilarating read. /…/ The language is poetic, fragile, and powerful. The tone is personal, unique, and timeless at the same time.”

• “The lyrical novel spans about 100 pages, yet holds about as much as a teenage heart brimming with feelings. /…/ You’re the One I Write About is a perfect book to start the year with. You’ll find something in it whether you’re young or older. Read it!”

• “The powerful emotions of longing, closeness, and betrayal appear in very few lines, throwing the reader into the school corridors, to secret glances, and the fear of not fitting in. The language is straightforward and the poetry is easy to absorb, the story is easy to grasp. Backe Åstot zooms in on what truly matters and guides us through the emotions. /…/ It’s a modern book with contemporary, youthful references. /…/ Rating: 4 – Very good.”