Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
Shortlisted by Helsingin Sanomat for the Best Debut Novel Prize in 2021
What kind of woman lives alone on a bird island?
Holly is a strikingly narrated and increasingly intense debut novel about two women struggling with the tides of attention-seeking, shame, and secrets.
Eva, a nature magazine journalist, arrives on the island in pursuit of a rare bird sighting. She doesn’t know the woman who made the discovery—Holly. As she circles the island searching for the elusive bird, her focus gradually shifts toward the women themselves. Why does a renowned actress live alone on the island? And is Eva searching for more than just the bird?
A week as Holly’s guest upends Eva’s life. A transformation begins.
Maisku Myllymäki’s Holly is a thrilling and tension-filled novel about two very different women. It is also a deeply perceptive exploration of an island where solitude is never silent.
English sample translation & synopsis
Finnish edition
German: Kampa Verlag
Nominee — Helsingin Sanomat newspaper’s Best Debut of the Year Award 2021
“Myllymäki’s psychological insights are sharp and her prose refreshing … Quite possibly one of the best debuts of the year.” —Helsingin Sanomat newspaper
“HOLLY could even be compared to Ian McEwan’s Saturday, which is probably the most accurate observation of detail in literary history. Myllymäki creates concise prose that hypnotises the reader.” —Kauppalehti newspaper
