From the Publisher
"A delightfully quirky mystery … In Lövestam’s remarkable hands, this enigmatic pair lures readers in, slowly, one detail at a time. Hopefully, Pernilla and Kouplan will be back soon for another adventure."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Absolutely compelling. This mystery has a moral center, with a growing bond between two beautifully realized characters, and a gut-clenching depiction of what it’s like to live in constant fear."—Booklist (starred review)
"Impeccable. An anti-hero par excellence...a book that ignites from the first page...Kouplan's story feels incredibly real." —Le Monde des Livres
"The best of novels. Not only because of the topics...but also for the humanity that exhales. And the prose: so delicate and balanced." —Göteborg Posten, Swedish Newspaper
Praise for Wonderful Feels Like This:
"Sensitive and deeply moving: outstanding." —Kirkus, starred review
"Empathy, identity, and the transformative power of music bind this tale of an atypical friendship between a teenage outcast and a jazz musician." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A coming-of-age tale of a young artist...as soulful as it is triumphant." —School Library Journal
Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2019
Kouplan is an undocumented Iranian immigrant living under the radar in Stockholm who is trying to reinvent himself as a private detective. Pernilla has her own reasons to respond to Kouplan's ad, "Need help but can't contact police," and hires him to search for her kidnapped daughter, Julia. Pernilla offers only the barest of clues—the place and time Julia went missing—while young Kouplan invents his detective modus operandi. These two folks avoiding the Swedish authorities for different reasons provide the basis for a captivating "missing persons" thriller. Lovestam (Wonderful Feels Like This) explores the immigrant experience, drug culture, and human trafficking. The narration is shared by Neil Shah and Laura Jennings who bring life to the many characters with varied backgrounds and accents. VERDICT This exciting, issue-driven thriller is highly recommended for adult audio fiction collections. Though set in Stockholm, the book illustrates problems and concerns faced by people around the world.—Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
OCTOBER 2019 - AudioFile
Narrators Neil Shah and Laura Jennings deliver the story of an unusual private investigator, a young Iranian refugee who is living illegally in Stockholm. Kouplan is hired by Pernilla to find her 6-year-old daughter, who was kidnapped while they were walking in the rain on a crowded street. Pernilla and Kouplan, both living secret lives, help each other. Shah portrays Kouplan with a slight accent and convincingly voices Pernilla. Intermittently throughout the audiobook, Jennings delivers Pernilla’s internal dialogue in a voice that conveys a fragile person on the edge. The plot slowly peels away layers, leading to the surprising truths that drive Pernilla and her young private investigator. E.Q. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
