When the Cranes Fly South

By Lisa Ridzén | Publisher: Transworld

About the book

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES WORD-OF-MOUTH BESTSELLER. A profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.

A WATERSTONES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2026

‘So heartbreaking and funny and beautiful and wise… an extraordinary book’ RICHARD OSMAN

'You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to buy twenty copies and give them to everyone you love’ FREDRIK BACKMAN

‘The most moving book I’ve ever read.’ JACQUELINE WILSON

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize & Waterstones Book of the Month

______

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son. Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice...

'A novel anyone will take to heart' Patrick Gale, Guardian

'A magical reading experience; among the most moving things I’ve ever read' No.1 internationally bestselling author Camilla Läckberg
____

Readers love When the Cranes Fly South:

'What makes this novel truly remarkable is the way it explores universal themes...readers will find themselves deeply connected to [Bo's] journey of emotional reckoning'

‘It is impossible not to be moved by this book’

'This is not just a story about a man and his dog; it's a story of family, of relationships tested by time and distance, and the effort to find peace within the limits of one's existence'

'A story that will connect to all of us in some way'

'Not only touches the heart but also invites deep reflection on what it means to truly live and love'

* COVERS MAY VARY

Editions of When the Cranes Fly South

Hardcover
ISBN 9781807842192
Paperback
ISBN 9781529942200
Paperback
ISBN 9781804995808
Paperback
ISBN 9781837321087
EBook
ISBN 9781529942224
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9781529944259

Read an Excerpt

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES WORD-OF-MOUTH BESTSELLER. A profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.

A WATERSTONES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2026

‘So heartbreaking and funny and beautiful and wise… an extraordinary book’ RICHARD OSMAN

'You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to buy twenty copies and give them to everyone you love’ FREDRIK BACKMAN

‘The most moving book I’ve ever read.’ JACQUELINE WILSON

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize & Waterstones Book of the Month

______

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son. Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice...

'A novel anyone will take to heart' Patrick Gale, Guardian

'A magical reading experience; among the most moving things I’ve ever read' No.1 internationally bestselling author Camilla Läckberg
____

Readers love When the Cranes Fly South:

'What makes this novel truly remarkable is the way it explores universal themes...readers will find themselves deeply connected to [Bo's] journey of emotional reckoning'

‘It is impossible not to be moved by this book’

'This is not just a story about a man and his dog; it's a story of family, of relationships tested by time and distance, and the effort to find peace within the limits of one's existence'

'A story that will connect to all of us in some way'

'Not only touches the heart but also invites deep reflection on what it means to truly live and love'

* COVERS MAY VARY

Frequently Asked Questions

What is When the Cranes Fly South about?

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES WORD-OF-MOUTH BESTSELLER. A profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.

A WATERSTONES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2026

‘So heartbreaking and funny and beautiful and wise… an extraordinary book’ RICHARD OSMAN

'You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to buy twenty copies and give them to everyone you love’ FREDRIK BACKMAN

‘The most moving book I’ve ever read.’ JACQUELINE WILSON

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize & Waterstones Book of the Month

______

Bo is determined to live his own life in his own way. But his son has other ideas...

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son. Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice...

'A novel anyone will take to heart' Patrick Gale, Guardian

'A magical reading experience; among the most moving things I’ve ever read' No.1 internationally bestselling author Camilla Läckberg
____

Readers love When the Cranes Fly South:

'What makes this novel truly remarkable is the way it explores universal themes...readers will find themselves deeply connected to [Bo's] journey of emotional reckoning'

‘It is impossible not to be moved by this book’

'This is not just a story about a man and his dog; it's a story of family, of relationships tested by time and distance, and the effort to find peace within the limits of one's existence'

'A story that will connect to all of us in some way'

'Not only touches the heart but also invites deep reflection on what it means to truly live and love'

* COVERS MAY VARY

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in When the Cranes Fly South?

Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general

Where can I read a sample of When the Cranes Fly South?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781807842192

Who is/are the Author/s of the book When the Cranes Fly South?

Lisa Ridzén

Who is the Publisher of the book When the Cranes Fly South?

Transworld

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

When the Cranes Fly South is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781807842192) and paperback(ISBN 9781529942200) and paperback(ISBN 9781804995808) and paperback(ISBN 9781837321087) and ebook(ISBN 9781529942224) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781529944259)

Where can I buy When the Cranes Fly South online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy When the Cranes Fly South from below

Where can I buy When the Cranes Fly South?