Reviews

• “[A] smashingly narrated quality feel-good that could have had the alternative title “50 Shades of Toxic Positivity”. /…/ Thankfully Sandrine gets a nightmare assignment at the home of a misanthropic hoarder, after which the scene is rigged for the most delightful Falling Down-style collapse.”

• “In a chatty form and with irony embedded in most every sentence, Johanna Swanberg confronts her reader with a type of person you can find everywhere. Behind the distanced form one can see the sympathy that [Swanberg] has for her main character, which sometimes borders on tender-heartedness. It’s no wonder she captivates her reader. Soon you’re engaged not only in Sandrine but also the oddballs, decent fellow humans, and bullies who surround her. /…/ It is refreshing to read about such vividly portrayed characters. /…/ The portrayal of the rift between care staff, who take the hit out on the field, a useless boss, and the management whose decisions rest on assumptions, brings to mind the TV series The Office, with its breathtakingly tragic portrayal of an office manager seeking appreciation. Because that is exactly what [All is Well, Always] is about: which concessions people are willing to make in order to be well-liked. /…/ As a whole, [All is Well, Always] offers refreshing reading about ordinary and strikingly vivid characters, recognizable from real life. And if one were to talk about feel-good novels, there is no doubt: All is Well, Always belongs there!”

• “All is Well, Always is an entertaining and pleasant gem. /…/ Swanberg’s language is simple but clever and the characters are warm and vivid. The text flows nicely with lots of twists and conflicts, and it’s hard to put the novel down. Thematically Swanberg move between topics such as grief and life choices, humanity and self-respect, and All is Well, Always is a story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page. I already can’t wait for the next novel from Johanna Swanberg’s pen.”