Top ten bestselling autofiction about a young city-dweller’s chase of happiness (and crisps).
Author: Sisko Savonlahti
Finnish original: Ehkä tänä kesänä kaikki muuttuu
Publisher: Gummerus, 2018
Genre: autofiction
Number of pages: 304 pp.
Reading material: Finnish original, English sample, German Sample, French Sample
Rights sold: Sweden, Norstedts
“I know that I have to do something about all of this, and I have to do it kind of soon. But right now I want to lie on the balcony a little longer and think about my ex boyfriend.”
These are the thoughts of a young woman in her flat, overhearing the people squealing in the nearby amusement park. It’s almost summer, and it’s about time for her to get over her breakup. She has to get up from the doldrums, find a job, fall in love, kickstart a spiral of positive thinking.
But should she fulfil other people’s expectations or act according to her heart’s desire? How do you know what is your heart’s desire? So many questions, often much less tempting than examining the soil in your plant pots, texting friends or mixing the dip for crisps. Will she ever be able to handle this thing called life?
Sisko Savonlahti’s praised first novel has its finger firmly on the pulse. It’s a frank, sharp story of a young city dweller, a woman with a looming fear of failure, need to achieve, relentless chase for happiness and an attempt to initiate a spiral of positivity.
The novel is a Top Ten Bestseller and was nominated for the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize, given to the best debut novel of the year.
“Maybe This Summer Everything Will Change is not sad but instead amusing and hopeful. Savonlahti has anchored the story of the quotidian of her everywoman into acute perceptions, minimalist repetitions reminiscent of Philip Glass’ work where the change is noticeable only when it’s already occurred. After all the decisive businesswomen and romantic plot twists in chick lit today, this book feels fresh and honest, even rebellious. The thought that a regular woman’s life warrants a story!”
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper
Also available:
I Must’ve Wanted This (2021)
About the author:
Sisko Savonlahti