Midsummer Magic, Nordic Traditions & Sneak Peeks from New Books
As the longest days of the year arrive, my thoughts turn to the light-filled midsummer nights of my native Finland — and especially to how Juhannus (Midsummer) is celebrated on the Åland Islands, one of my favourite places in the world.
While I now live and write in London, this Friday I’ll be celebrating Midsummer’s Eve with Finnish friends — enjoying a little taste of home in my adopted city. If you’re curious about how Midsummer is marked in the Nordics, or looking for your next summer read, you’re in the right place...
Midsummer in Åland: Tradition, Light & Community
In Åland, Midsommar (or Juhannus in Finnish) is rich in tradition and full of charm. Islanders gather to raise the midsommarstång — a towering maypole decorated with flowers and greenery — while choirs sing, accordions play, and bonfires blaze by the sea.
The celebration continues with long tables piled high with new potatoes, gravlax, and strawberry cake, all washed down with local beer or a splash of apple brandy (Ålvados, for those in the know!). It’s a communal celebration of light, love, and nature — and it’s the kind of Nordic magic that often finds its way into my fiction.
Two Novels Set at Midsummer
If you’d like to experience a midsummer celebration from the comfort of your favourite reading chair, I have two novels that might transport you:
The Young Heart
Prequel to the Nordic Heart Series
Set in 1970s Helsinki, this coming-of-age love story begins during Midsummer — when one fateful party changes everything for Kaisa, the book’s young heroine.
An Island Summer
Book 4 in the Love on the Island series
Set in Åland during the white nights of summer, this novel captures both the heartbreak and healing that come with love, loss, and second chances.
👉 Find all my Nordic novels here
👉 Or shop signed paperbacks via helenahalmebooks.com
Sneak Peeks from To Love Again + Other New Books!
I’ve also teamed up with a group of bestselling authors to offer you a collection of sneak peeks from our upcoming novels — and they’re available for a limited time only.
You can read the first chapter of my forthcoming second-chance romance, To Love Again, the much-anticipated sequel to To Melt a Frozen Heart.
👉 Browse the free sneak peeks here
Wishing You a Joyful Midsummer
Whether you're dancing around a maypole, enjoying a quiet evening outdoors, or escaping into a good book, I wish you a peaceful, joyful Midsummer — and perhaps a little Nordic light to carry with you.
With love and light,
Helena x