Did not finish, didn’t like the start or protagonist.

Wanted to like it but sadly didn't. Felt it was trying too hard to be funny.

This is s well paced, entertaining read and I was glad to have come across it. The characters are not as they might seem to be on the surface and with some skilful writing and twist you grow to learn more about what makes her characters tick.

I wasn't a big fan of the jokes and one liners on almost every other line, I don't think they were necessary to show this writer has a funny and sometimes dry, sense of humour.

I like to discover something new about a subject or a country and I think the writer certainly did her research here.

I am likely to look up other work by this writer. Well done!

The story of two sisters, Alice and Melissa, who arrange to go on a foreign trip together. Alice thinks is is a spa break, but Melissa has arranged for them to go on an adventure, called Let's Go Viking. Run by two hippy dippy sorts, they have their mobiles and their shoes confiscated, and struggle to get enough to eat. The characters in this book are well-drawn, and the plot is just about believable.
\however, there is serious shortfall in the plot, it takes more than half the book to explain why Mel chose this type of "adventure"; and the epilogue seems rushed, as though the author suddenly thought she must finish the book quickly.

Gone Viking by Helen Russell is a story of two sisters on a Viking Retreat and their relationship with each other. This book did not appeal to my sense of humour and I found it more ridiculous than funny. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone who has read Helen Russell's book, 'A Year of living Danishly' will understand her take on Nordic culture, her way of writing and sense of humour so when I saw this was available via Netgalley in return for an honest review, I was very excited!
(Also if you haven't read the above book, it seriously is well worth checking out too!)
It's funny, light hearted but also pokes gentle fun at the pressures women put on themselves and how sometimes you really need to tap into your inner Viking and release a warrior yell.
2 sisters, 1 in desperate need of a break from trying to keep on top of things and 1 who wants to give her release from her life go to Denmark, literally getting back to basics in an attempt to connect with her primal self. It will either bring them closer together or drive them further apart and 'Gone Viking' not only reaffirms my lifelong wish to move to Demark, it is a story of family, life, and how is easy it is to lose your sense of self..and how good it is to find it again.

It took me a while to get in to this book, but once I did I enjoyed reading it.

You can recognise in the central character a lot of the struggles of modern life, and the antidote in Melissa who seemed to shun mobile phones etc for a simple life in the country.
Overall I think it was a story of friendship and re-connecting with old friends whilst making new ones.

I loved Russell's last book 'A Year of Living Danishly' and want to like this one but after reading about half I realised I just wasn't enjoying it and I didn't like any of the characters and so stopped. I think it is just me however and that it will easily find a market.

This book was a refreshing change from the usual ‘retreat’ and ‘self -improvement’ stories that I’ve previously read. It was funny and yet at the same time had a poignant message to share about how appearances are deceptive and we can tend towards comparing ourselves to one another and think that everyone else has it all sorted and yet underneath we’re all carrying hidden secrets and scars from life. I found that it wasn’t too sickly sweet and twee (which I have to say I often like in my chic-lit). I certainly don’t think that I’d find myself signing up for an adventure like the one Alice found herself on, but I liked the idea of getting back to nature and all that it has to teach us.
I’d just finished reading ‘A year Living Danishly’ by the same author and had really enjoyed that which is why I was drawn to this one. I did think it was going to be more about hygge and candlelight cosiness but it did have elements of this – just on a more rugged scale. An enjoyable read over a few wintry days.

A fun read with a simple message.

I think we can all recognise someone we know, or even ourselves, to one degree or another in the main character in this story, Alice, who is living life on the edge of burnout and in complete denial of that fact. A messy incident at an industry conference doesn't even bring home to her the true depth of her disastrous home life: cover it up, make it go away and move on - a mantra so many live by! For most of us, a Viking retreat isn't on the cards though, so thank goodness we can live it vicariously through this funny/unfunny tale.

I say 'unfunny' as so much of it actually makes for slightly uncomfortable reading: am I too just a tad addicted to my phone? Am I a little more judgmental than I should be? Who do I know that takes the Tiger Mum to whole new levels and could possibly do with a shake? Should I encourage my friend to put a rocket up her husband's bum or just allow her to hide the reality away as this is what she seems to want?

The 'funny' is, however, easy to read and a treat to visualise - semi-naked Nordic hipsters prancing through the forests of Scandinavia really deserve everything they get, and in this novel, that's a lot. Even poor Alice's most embarrassing moment raises a smile - possibly of gratitude that this hasn't happened to us.

The best part however is the way the women's friendships are developed, with not an unlikely moment or eye-roll inducing cringing moment. There's a part of each of our four unlikely shield maidens in each of us and each of us can learn something useful here. As Inge (who happily celebrates her own imperfections) says: 'Everyone needs to learn how to be the captain of their own ship. And if you know how to sail, you're not afraid of the storms.'

A funny book about life, love and relationships. An easy read which made me laugh throughout.

"To find yourself first learn about yourself."

Four women go on a Viking retreat to Scandanvia and find themselves on a voyage of discovery.
It is a book about finding yourself and is well written and funny. I think it will appeal to readers of Sophie Kinsella, Freya North and Patricia Scanlan.

Sometimes you come across a book that you absolutely adore. This is one of those books for me. Highly recommend it! 5 stars *****

This book had zany characters and hilarious situations, but also some tender, heartfelt moments. It also made me want to craft a sword and build a boat and be a Viking!

Alice is a very uptight woman who has a tragic past. Her way of dealing with that--with anything really--is to push it deep down and carry on. However, that path has led her to a place where she isn't happy. Her sister Melissa is the complete opposite of Alice, personality wise. Joining them on their Viking expedition are two other women, older and big buxom Tricia, and rich, beautiful overachiever Margot. Together they find themselves in the Danish wilderness--barefoot--learning how to be a Viking.

I enjoyed learning a little more about Viking culture, both historic and modern. While Magnus, the instructor, is totally absurd, after he falls to some mild berry poisoning his wife Inge steps in, and the women really begin to thrive and develop as characters. There are nine principles of being a true Viking, honesty being the most important, and the one with which Alice struggles the most.

While experiencing some truly ridiculous situations that had me literally laughing out loud, Alice and her sister Melissa must come to terms with their shared tragic past, and grow together again as new challenges face them. I thought their relationship, conversations, and growth were really well done (even though I felt like Melissa was kind of a jerk a lot of the time).

This book is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella. Overall, I thought it was a quick and easy, sweet and fun book that has sisterly love and encourages you to live your most genuine life and to be strong!

I will always remember this book, the writing was faultless and the story memorable. I finished reading this in one session and still have thoughts about the characters who feel, a month later, like people I have actually met.
Thank you Helen, thank you Netgalley, thank you publisher.....I need, and probably a lot of others need, fiction like this that can take us into another life if only for a few hours.

I did not like this at all. I hated the quippy, supposedly funny style of writing - very chick-lit. The characters are shallow and even though there are a couple of serious themes, they are treated in the same flippant way. The Viking experience is ridiculous. Also, there is way too much throwing up.