For a deeply moving December edition of the Service95 Book Club, Dua Lipa sits down with Norwegian writer Ingvild Rishøi, whose celebrated novel Brightly Shining follows two young sisters and their loving but alcoholic father as they navigate the fragile hope and quiet heartbreak of the holiday season. A contemporary reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, the book blends social realism with a touch of magic, offering both tenderness and emotional truth.
Told through the eyes of 10-year-old Ronya, Brightly Shining reveals the resilience of children who grow up in the shadow of addiction. As Dua notes to Ingvild, “You write completely without judgement... and by the end, I cared so deeply about the sisters and their dad.” Ingvild describes the delicate balance within the family: “Melissa has had to take care of everything... she’s losing hope. And Ronya, she is hoping all the time.”
Because The Little Match Girl is Norway’s most iconic Christmas story, Ingvild felt compelled to weave it into Ronya’s world. Children, she explains, often reinterpret even the saddest tales with a kind of innocent optimism. But unlike Andersen’s fragile heroine, Ronya is tougher and more resourceful – even strategic. “She even plays the Little Match Girl at the Christmas tree market to get the middle-class customers to buy her stuff.”
Ingvild’s empathy for each character is grounded in her understanding of how addiction shapes families. “There are always lies,” she says. “I’ve never seen a family with addiction where there aren’t lots of lies. Sometimes the kids don’t even know what’s true.” Her intention was never to preach, but to offer recognition and compassion: “It’s complex. I can’t offer any solution to those kids – only comfort that someone has been there before them.”
The result is a story that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary – a portrait of poverty, addiction, and the quiet heroism of children whose instinct lies with hope.
Watch Dua’s full interview with Ingvild Rishøi here, or listen to it as a podcast here.
Want even more from the story? Brightly Shining has also been adapted into a film, check out the trailer below for more context on the story...
Al‑Anon/Alateen is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. You can find details of their meetings around the world here.
