Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This was a beautiful, touching story, told through the letters of a young girl. Luna will quickly find her way into your heart, with her innocence and deep feelings, as she tries to cope with everything life throws at her. Getting to know her, and the people who touched her life through her writing, made for a story that was difficult to put down. This book certainly isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for a wonderful, emotional coming of age story then you'll want to pick this one up. ~ Liliyana Shadowlyn (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. This is a deceptively profound story which, while relatively short, will make you want to take your time over it. It is told in the form of letters written by 12 year old Luna to her father, imagining what she might say to him if he were in her life. Her mother is dying of cancer and Luna is going to live with her uncle in Norway when the time comes. The characterisation is particularly well drawn and you get sucked into the tale almost without realising it. ~ Alethea Lawton (Reviewer), NetGalley

5 Stars. “For three months now, instead of studying for my exams, I have been sitting at my white desk, alternating between staring at the ghostly landscape outside and sifting through the words of a twelve-year-old me.” Luna receives a box containing letters she wrote to her unknown father back when she was twelve years old. As she reads these letters, she unravels long-forgotten memories and discovers the true gift of connecting with others. The more she delves into her younger self, the clearer she understands life, both physically and spiritually. This Is All He Asks of You is a beautiful poetic story of a young girl who deals with life’s hardships the only way she knows how: by writing letters to her father, whom she’s never met. The letters are authentic and heartfelt. I connected with Luna right away. The writing flows well and is written in a poetic prose style I found appealing. The themes are mostly spiritual and dealing with life’s ups and downs. Poignant, illustrative, emotional, This Is All He Asks of You is a must-read, especially during these uncertain times. It amazes me this is Anne Egseth’s debut novel. I look forward to reading more from her. Highly recommend! ~ N.N Light's Book heaven Bookreview

All He Asks of You by Anne Egseth is a beautifully written debut novel, and I read it in one sitting. The poetic fluidity of her style reads like art, making it an effortless immersion into Luna's world. The poignancy and dedication to story weaving is lovely. I especially resonated with the spirituality of connecting to self, internal guidance and framing what was...with what remains, through unsent letters to her father. This is a moving fiction novel that will linger in your mind and heart long after it is finished. I personally believe All He Asks of You leaves the reader better than when we began this journey. One of my favorite sentences is: "I am a boat in the dark sea, following the red tulip of hope." Beautiful imagery. Highly recommend this book. ~ R.W Patterson, author of Solace From Shadows, Dark Night Of The Soul and Light Over Dark Water

This book is one that I was skeptical about since the synopsis didn’t really tell me much of what to expect. Now, after reading it, it is challenging for me to put into words the genius I read. I suggest going in blind to the magic that is written in the short amount of pages. Each chapter is a short snippet or letter from Luna to her father. It always astounds me the connections and observations of young children from every sense they experience. Furthermore, Luna writes of the simplest of things but has profound realizations to us as readers. With her mother taking ill, she finds solace in her imagination and the mysterious and methodical next door neighbor. She is an unique child who wants love and acceptance from her parents. Luna finds that connection through writing and we experience the heartfelt and genuine thoughts and feelings she has as she experiences her young life. She makes her own path and does not apologize for it. ~ incessantbookworm.com

Luna’s creative and whimsical soul fills the pages of Anne Egseth’s book. Brought to life from a play about an autistic child, Anne created This Is All He Asks of You with pieces of her own life, including her Norwegian roots. While originally described to us at LQ as for those who liked Where The Crawdads Sing, I actually didn’t feel that these books were connected in my heart. Rather, I feel this book is for fans of Backman, particularly My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. Or alternately, for those who prefer more of a philosophical read, Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder is another that pairs nicely with Egseth I make these comparisons because right off the cuff, Egseth pulls the reader in with Luna describing how she likes to swim-fly in the air through the light. Honestly, I don’t know how an author can think of things like this, but it’s truly a beautiful thought. Continuing through this little novel, Luna takes us with her – it’s not quite an adventure, though she does get into some trouble. And of course, the path to her freedom is through a very dark corridor. What I found curious through the story is Luna’s passion for veterans and refugees; a strong sign to us today that we could do with some empathy for our fellow humans who are suffering. And of course, there’s no good authorship without a little foreshadowing!! ~ Caleigh at literaryquicksand.com

An impressionist painting of a book with gossamer sentences and delicate descriptions reminiscent of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things. This is a story about death from multiple angles: in its imminence, its immediacy and its permanency. It is also a coming-of-age story, told from the perspective of Luna, a 12-year-old Norwegian girl living in the US who shares more than a few personality traits with the kid from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Structured as a kind of diary/set of letters, Luna is responsible for the beautiful turns of phrase on love, life and death that make the prose sparkle - this is ultimately what sets This Is All He Asks of You apart from the many other novels that employ a similar storytelling framework. I kind of wish I'd bought it as a paperback instead of on Kindle, because I could open it up at any page and find a sentence to elicit a smile. Split into two parts, Part I drifts by in a Virgin Suicides-esque dream until it comes to an abrupt, crushing end that had me swallowing hard, while the much briefer Part II is brave in that it doesn't offer a typical happy ending; this is real life, a tapestry of alienation and emptiness, albeit with strands of joy and human connection woven into it. ~ Grant Price, author of By The Feet Of Men and Static Age, 5 stars on Goodreads

An impressionist painting of a book with gossamer sentences and delicate descriptions reminiscent of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things. This is a story about death from multiple angles: in its imminence, its immediacy and its permanency. It is also a coming-of-age story, told from the perspective of Luna, a 12-year-old Norwegian girl living in the US who shares more than a few personality traits with the kid from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Structured as a kind of diary/set of letters, Luna is responsible for the beautiful turns of phrase on love, life and death that make the prose sparkle - this is ultimately what sets This Is All He Asks of You apart from the many other novels that employ a similar storytelling framework. I kind of wish I'd bought it as a paperback instead of on Kindle, because I could open it up at any page and find a sentence to elicit a smile. Split into two parts, Part I drifts by in a Virgin Suicides-esque dream until it comes to an abrupt, crushing end that had me swallowing hard, while the much briefer Part II is brave in that it doesn't offer a typical happy ending; this is real life, a tapestry of alienation and emptiness, albeit with strands of joy and human connection woven into it. ~ Grant Price, Goodreads. 5 out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars This Is All He Asks of You is my kind of quiet story! It’s the kind of story that spoke to me in a quiet, inspiring way. It’s the kind of story that needed me to quiet my mind and take in the words I am reading.........There are a few themes explored while packed into the 134 pages. Anne Egseth knows how to use words to deliver us a profound, beautifully written story........“It is a story about how sad it would be if everything became like everything else.” The story explores human connections, connections with each other and also with nature. The first part of the story is told through unsent letters from 12-year-old Luna to her father she never met. She longs for a connection with her father and a connection to someone who see the world as she does..........In the second part of the story, Luna is 22 years old and she goes on a journey to find that 12-year-old girl’s light she has lost in herself. What she finds is not what she expects and the story wraps up well. I felt like my heart stopped as I breathed in the words I was reading! I will be thinking about this one for a long time! I highly recommend it! ~ Brenda Ireland (Reviewer), NetGalley

Captivates the Beauty of Life. I'm shocked that this was a debut novel, so meticulous was the story telling. Though I am hardened and old, the carefully crafted tale pulled me along from one scene to the next. Every pre-teen should read this novel, and pick it up again when he or she is at mid-life--before the crisis. Don't wait until near one's end to read the magic in Luna's narrative. Strongly recommended for all ages. ~ John Bauer, Amazon.com 5 stars

Beautiful and Poignant. In the midst of hard times it is refreshing to discover beautiful little treats like THIS IS ALL HE ASKS OF YOU. It is sweet and poignant. You lose yourself to the flighty ruminations of the narrator. The language is clean and poetic without coming off as striving too hard to achieve beauty. It reminds a bit of Janet Fitch's WHITE OLEANDER, only this is a cleaner work. Thank you for letting us glimpse the everyday lovelies of life. ~ John Cutter, Amazon.com 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This story is unusual. In it, 12-year old Luna writes letters to a father she never knew. She lives with her mother, who is dying of cancer and will soon live with an uncle in Norway. Meanwhile, she has befriended her next-door neighbor, Vietnam Vet Garrick. The letters are interesting and poignant, reflecting thoughts of a serious 12-year old. As time passes, she begins to correspond with Garrick, who will ultimately give her what she needs most. The story is told mostly through the letters, which was something different for me. As I read farther and farther into the book, it began to take hold of me and draw me right into these lives................This is beautifully done but a different story that will grab hold of you once you get into it and will stay with you throughout and probably afterwards...... ~ Kathy Talley (Reviewer), NetGalley

It has been a while since a story really transported me into a different world. A world previously unknown to me, that becomes a part of me, and stays with me. As if I had experienced something in real life itself. Beautiful book. Great read. ~ Alan D., Amazon.com 5 stars

Literary balm for the soul! This beautifully written book introduces us to young Luna, who has lost so much but has not lost her connection with the energy of the world around her. Luna feels, and sees, the energy of human connection, trees and the golden light that fills the world. Her unsent letters to her unknown father are both achingly beautiful and filled with hope. In the midst of a global pandemic characterized by social distancing and disruption, Anne Egseth has written a love letter to the resilience of the human spirit, the magic of the natural world, and the beauty of connection. ~ Lanja Fletcher, amazon.ca 5 out of 5 stars.

Anne Egseth’s endearing literary work, This Is All He Asks of You, features letters written by an imaginative twelve-year-old girl to her absent father. Now twenty-two, Luna looks back at her twelve-year-old self through the letters she wrote then which remained unsent. In 2007, Luna is just getting acclimatized to life in Washington, D.C. after moving from Norway with her mother. To keep herself from getting bored, she begins to write about her experiences through the letters. Despite the changes, Luna’s ability to identify the magical moments in her life and in nature remains. She wishes her mother would slow down and notice these moments too, but her mother is pragmatic and burdened by multiple responsibilities. Still, Luna’s devotion to her mother is steadfast and together they share some beautiful moments. This Is All He Asks of You is a heart-warming epistolary work that celebrates the beauty in the simple things in life. As the main character, Luna’s curiosity, perceptiveness, and loving nature are inspiring. Though imperfect, Luna’s relationship with her mother is heart-warming. The supporting characters are equally eccentric and interesting. I loved that the book is written through Luna’s perspective, hence her opinions are highlighted. The letters also reveal Luna’s intimate thoughts, including her wishes, struggles, and musings. The end of the novel is powerful and moving. It explores Luna’s fears and dreams and culminates in a compelling scene. Heart-breaking yet still filled with hope, This Is All He Asks of You by Anne Egseth is an unforgettable story told through the words of a charming main character. ~ Readers' Favorite. Rating: 5 Stars

Anne Egseth's fine debut novel, This is All He Asks of You, is a remarkable piece of fiction. Told mostly over a period of a few months in 2007, the novel is narrated by sensitive, twelve-year-old Luna in letters she's written to her father, a man she's never truly known. On the outside, Luna lives a normal life in Washington DC, where she does many of the things children her age does. But Luna is not normal on the inside; she is spiritual and interested in philosophy and the meaning of life. During the course of the novel, her mother becomes increasingly sick, and Luna has to come to terms with the fragility of life. She becomes close friends with a Vietnam vet named Garrick, who is also an enlightened soul, and a life-long bond forms between them. Egseth is an excellent writer. I loved Luna's voice from the first page to the last, and Egseth's prose is the kind of prose I like best, thought-provoking. "Swim-flying" and the "golden liquid light of being" are phrases I will remember for a long time. Overall, this is one of my favorites reads of 2020. I read it in one day and couldn't have liked it more. I highly recommend the novel and have already added Egseth to my list of novelists to track. ~ Rich Marcello, amazon.com- 5 stars

Anne captures the beauty of divine grace with so much richness through her protagonist, Luna. With innocence, straightforwardness, and depth she reconnects us to aliveness, wonder, and love. I was moved by so many stunning poetic phrases in the book that it is now full of highlights! Thank you for stirring a deep and profound contact with the magic of life. This is a work of art. I highly recommend it! ~ Mansi Jain, amazon.com. Rating: 5 stars

A book to open your eyes! This is a lovely book, clear and visionary. I felt I was looking at the world differently after encountering Luna, the young narrator who is writing to her lost father. Like others with this rare capacity, she is gifted to be able to see with more than her physical eyes, and the reader begins to share this translucent way of seeing. I was soon drawn into the story, with its amusing incidents and poignancy, and enjoyed it right to the end. ~ Oliver, amazon.co.uk - 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. It's like reading one long poem written in free verse. The imagery is so beautiful and the girl protagonist is obviously an Empath who feels everything around her intensely. I love her term "swim-fly" and other unusual ways of describing things. This is a book I highly recommend to poetry lovers, to introverts, to teens and adults who appreciate fine writing that evokes strong emotions. I wish I could give this book six stars! ~ Susan Gabriel, amazon.com - 5 stars

Reading this prose work was like reading a poem. Anne Egseth skillfully uses language to create moods and feelings of the protagonist as a child and as a grown woman, as she struggles to grasp the meaning, the essence, of her own existence as well as the world around her. The narrative floats between stream-of-consciousness and reality. You enter into a world of sound and sense, that is to say, a poem that relates a journey--a child moves from youth to maturity; from the mother, she loves--to the father, she has never known. I highly recommend this work. ~ amazon.com -5 stars, Paul Broome

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. What an extraordinary and thought provoking book. A young 20 something Luna reads through letters she wrote as a child to a father she never knew and relives the memories of that painful yet precious and formative time in her life. Her mother is now dying and still refuses to give Luna the answers she needs. But Luna is a child who sees the world differently to others and is guided by the buzz in her head and the golden liquid light of being. This is a book to read again and again and again - just fabulous ~ GILLIAN MECHAN (Reviewer), NetGalley

5 Star rating: What a treat to be able to spend time with Luna! The protagonist of “This is all he asks of you” has the invaluable skill to feel with all of her being, for betters or worse, and her being so incredibly close with what she feels, is contagious. I read this book while quarantined, and my wish is to be able to be more like Luna, when I’ll experience the world “as we knew it”, once again. The author has the unique talent of putting into words feelings that are so pure and simple, and yet so complex and overwhelming, such as those lived by her protagonist. There are so many lessons to learn from Luna and from the immersive experiences she describes. ~ Alessia Evi, Goodreads

5 Star rating: This is All He Asks of You is a beautiful story that follows twelve year old Luna’s introspective journey of the fullness and complexities of life. Through letters to her estranged father, this quirky and perceptive pre-teen shares her winding journey of self discovery and processes profound loss. Anne Egseth’s story is inspiring particularly because this unassuming teenager experiences life fully, in both the spiritual and physical sense, and her journey reminds us that healing light can be found in the porous seams that connect us to one another. ~ Christina Hade, Goodreads

5 Star rating: Anne Egseth has beautifully captured the importance and necessity of connection (to oneself, to others, and to the world around us) in this heartfelt story. Her gift of bringing a felt sense of our humanness into words that are accessible shines through this story. This story offers us another perspective and intimate experience to life and stays with you long after the last page. ~ Sara Chang, Goodreads

5 Star rating: It has been nearly two months since I finished 'This is All He Asks of You' and Luna’s beautiful presence is still haunting me. I find myself longing to embody her commitment to her inner guidance, even (and especially) when it wasn’t convenient. She encourages me to remember a time when it felt like magic was all around me. To remember that I can feel clarity even if it has been overcrowded by expectation, sadness, necessity, reality, grief…I think of Luna often. Thank you Anne Egseth for writing her into existence. ~ Alicia Baskel, Goodreads

5 Star rating: I have never read a book quite like this. Yes - I was drawn into this account given by a young girl in a difficult situation. It is told in simple words that carry a lot of meaning. At times I found it amusing, and a lot of the time I found it strangely moving. But in an unusual way, the book also made me think about the world we live in, who I am, and what kind of human being I could be … And like many a good story, it made me anxious to know how it all ended! ~ Dag Bernhard, Goodreads

Through the clear and untarnished honesty of a twelve year old girl, Luna, Anne Egseth reminds us of ways of being that we may have forgotten as adults, ways of being that added richness and depth to our childhoods, ways of being that can be restored, if we let ourselves be touched by life and those around us. This beautiful story provides inspiration to take little steps in each moment to regain our deep connection to ourselves and others. ~ Tracie Barham, Goodreads

5 Star rating: In 1997 I became captivated by ‘Spoonface Steinberg’, a dramatic monologue featuring a young autistic girl dying of cancer who believed that God created a world made of ‘magic sparks’ which He put into people, and when they were happy, these sparks would fly between them and be set free. The play resonated so deeply with BBC Radio 4 listeners that it was repeated by public demand the same week! In this book the author, a former actress who has performed in the ‘Spoonface’ play, skilfully explores and expands the concept of how a person can find light through human connection, by means of the letters of a 12-year-old girl to a father she has never known. Like ‘Spoonface’, ‘This is All He Asks of You’ speaks to my soul, leaving me wiser – more enlightened, even – than before. ~ Carolyn Mathews, Goodreads

5 Star rating: Not my usual read; I bought the book for my wife as she was interested in it, and she loved it so much that she made me read it as well! I'm glad that she did. The story is unconventional, but in a good way. It drew me in, and I found myself more and more intrigued and curious about Luna’s thoughts and predicament. It made me think about my own childhood experiences and struggles. I was kind of sad that it ended, because I would have wanted to spend more time with Luna. Read it! ~ Kris, Amazon

I just loved this. Luna has a unique and lovely voice and is an irresistibly odd bird of a twelve-year-old girl. She is facing her mother’s decline in health and exploring her own identity and meaning, and she shapes her sometimes practical but often mystical thoughts and reflections through writing letters to her father, who she has never met, in the conversational tone of a pen pal writing to someone who will love her and her words unconditionally. Luna stumbles into encounters that shape her life dramatically, in unorthodox and heartbreakingly meaningful ways. I simultaneously wanted to scoop her up and take care of her and to follow the lead of this wise-beyond-her-years, intensely spiritual young person. ~ Amy Brittain (Reviewer), NetGalley

Twelve-year-old Luna is trying to make the world light in the midst of darkness, darkness caused by her mother’s illness and her father’s absence. Born in Norway, she now lives in Washington with her mother. Her father, who she never knew lives on the other side of the world in Greece – the father her mother called “a waste of space, a useless wannabe artist and a crazy-maker”, ironically also what she calls Luna when her imagination runs away with her. In a series of letters to her father we are drawn into Luna’s vivid, imaginative world – one where she can swim in the air, where trees bring her comfort and she sees golden threads between people who love each other. There’s no doubt that Luna is a sensitive soul, wise beyond her years……….. Her mother’s illness makes her realise that she needs her father more than ever, but she also knows that he will never answer her letters or turn up. Luna has to carry the weight herself and watch as her mother slowly slips away. At the age of twelve she has become the carer, not the other way around. Although a comparison might be unfair, the story of a young girl attempting to understand a complicated world through letters reminded me of Sophie’s World by fellow-Norwegian Jostein Gaarder. Make no mistake, This is all he asks of you stands successfully on its own and deserves more attention than it’s understated presence might demand. In essence it is a beautiful story told in a simple way about a young girl’s search for meaning and the unlikely connections we make in the world and their importance in our lives. ~ Sonja van der Westhuizen (Reviewer), NetGalley

'This is All He Asks of You by Anne Egseth: If you liked Where The Crawdads Sing, you’ll love this story on human connection. It’s incredibly unique in its storytelling and captivates you from the start.' ~ Samantha Welker of The Glitter Guide. (Recommended summer reading.) , Author sourced.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Luna is twelve-years old living in Washington, D.C. with her mother. She is very spiritual and experiences life more in depth than other people. She skips school one day to see a Saint from India. She sits in bliss most of the day and her mother is frantic when she finally returns home. The book is written as letters to her father. She has never met him but still wants to contact him. When her mother becomes sick and goes to the hospital unexpected, she stays with her neighbor, Garrick, a Vietnam war veteran. This book is a fast read and I finished it in one sitting. The characters are well developed and the story flows well. The majority of the book is written from the perspective of a young girl. The scenery is very descriptive, and I was completely hooked. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes books about experiencing life. ~ Dawn Thomas (Reviewer), NetGalley

The description of This is All He Asks of You drew me in and I devoured the book in just two days. Anne Egseth’s debut novel is written through the voice of 12 year old Luna, it is written with passion, love, fear, strength and innocence............ ~ Alisa Ambrose, NetGalley/Goodreads

This is a sweet, funny and warm coming of age story about a 12 year girl called Luna who has a very sick mother and an absent father. Luna and her neighbour Garrick are beautifully drawn characters. She's trusting, brave and straightforward; he is quiet, kind and wise. Overall, there is a lot of kindness in this book. It reminded me a lot of 'My Name is Leon'. This is All He Asks of You is a lovely and quietly uplifting read - definitely recommended. ~ Sally Wray (Reviewer), NetGalley

4.5 Very moving... 12 yr old Luna tells her story mostly in letters that she writes to her father who is unknown to her..she doesn’t remember ever seeing or knowing him, but knows he lives in Greece from what she’s been told. As she continues writing these letters we learn more about her life. She feels as she is different from others and she’s always searching for “the light” When something feels right to her, she gets a beeping in her ear. Her mother is ailing and she becomes friends to a Vietnam Vet who lives next door, Garrick.. he seems to be fighting some demons himself, but this ends up being such a beautiful friendship and he is real rock for her as parts of her life crumble, he is there to see her through. This is a story that encompasses nature, loneliness, and the power of light and love in our lives. ~ Karen Roseville, GoodReads

Anne Egseth’s captivating epistolary novel This Is All He Asks of You is about growing up and finding light in the darkness. Luna is Norwegian; when she is twelve, she spends time living with her single mother in the US. The book’s two distinct sections encompass her time in America and her early adulthood in Europe. She narrates both sections—first through letters to the father she never met, and then in journal format. As a child, Luna exhibits an array of unusual gifts: she can commune with trees and physically see people’s inner lights. Because of her spiritual sensitivity, Luna wants to understand everything about identities and reasons for being. Her joy is tested, though, by her mother’s devastating struggle with cancer. Through the guidance of Garrick, an elderly neighbor, and through Jacques Lusseyran’s And There Was Light, Luna copes with impending orphanhood and learns about courage, kindness, joy, and individuality, reflecting like a mantra that “it would be so sad if everything in the world became like everything else.” Luna’s voice is distinctive and strong, and though her writing style changes as she grows, its poetic, ethereal quality ties her work together, from her early inquisitive sensitivity to her later, jaded weariness. Her language is a highlight, packing a great deal of meaning into a limited word count. Each word precise and evocative: “We get flung apart ... and then we have to find our way back, again, and again... to wholeness.” This delicate style balances with spiritual expressions. Much is implied, and the text is resonant for its openness. This Is All He Asks of You is a stirring metaphysical novel about exploring life, loss, and spirituality. ~ Foreword Reviews Magazine, Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. A story that travels back and forth through time, from Norway in 2018, to Washington, DC in 2007 where it remains for the majority of this story. A story told mainly through the letters that twelve year-old Luna writes to her father, a father she has never met. A story of a young girl that is not only profoundly poignant, lovely, it has a sense of poetry and grace that seems so true to what this young girl is going through in her life...........Living next door to Luna is a Vietnam Vet, a man she watches as he snail walks…very, very slowly, a man her mother, who is frequently not feeling well, dislikes. When her mother’s illness sends her to the hospital, he takes care of Luna, and eventually they become friends, a temporary, guardian / friend. Luna is such a remarkable child, and her story is shared through beautiful prose, but this is a story that deserves to just be experienced for what it is - a lovely, moving story, one that I couldn’t, didn’t put down, and one I highly recommend. ~ Cheri Stephens (Reviewer) , NetGalley

.................This is a remarkable first novel by Egseth, one that I know will keep on giving with a re-read. I haven’t stopped thinking of Luna since, to be honest. I really look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future. ~ Leanne Torres (Reviewer), NetGalley

Luna reads through letters she wrote as a child and relives the memories of that painful yet precious and formative time in her life. She never knew her father and her mother is now dying, still determined to not share the name of Luna’s father. I loved the fond memories Luna has of her mother but I can’t forgive her for not being forthcoming, especially while on her death bed. That aspect aside, the walk down memory lane will trigger memories with anyone who has a heart. The eloquent writing, the perspective through a young girl’s eyes, the inevitable end that you know is coming all make this a heartwarming yet difficult read. The ending was a bit of a surprise, no spoilers here, but I really thought we would end with a nice warm soft blanket wrapped around us. We didn’t. This makes this story so much more relatable. Life isn’t always fair, and Anne Egseth portrays this motto in such an eloquent way. ~ Catherine Thomas (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Two things drew me to this book. I love epistolary novels and child narrators always affect me with their combination of innocence and wisdom, but what sealed the deal, and made me request an advanced copy of this book was the mention in the brief description of “human connection”. That’s what so much of life is about all of the time, but it feels especially important during this time when it’s difficult to be with family and friends. We visit in driveways and open spaces sitting apart with our masks on or touch the screen wishing we could hug. Virtual hugs and air kisses don’t seem enough, but they offer us a bit of the normal. I may be digressing, but it was hard not to think about this while reading. Twelve year old Luna’s letters written to the father she never knows, beautifully and painfully express that need for connecting with each other. I’m not sure this one will be for everyone. It’s sometimes hard to believe that these profound thoughts are those of a twelve year old girl, but at the same time, there is something so genuine and innocent here . She’s lonely and afraid , grieving, needing someone to connect with. Her only friend was back in Norway until she meets her next door neighbor, Garrick, a Vietnam vet, who walks and walks around his backyard. The gift of friendship that he and Luna share when she is in Washington, DC and then continuing when she returns to Norway where she was born was touching and brought some light to this otherwise sad story. The beautiful gift that Garrick gives to Luna in the end brought tears, but they were good ones. ~ Angela M (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. "Have you ever noticed how many kinds of quiet there are in the world?" There is a certain amount of beauty and pain in letters not sent. The letters are not sent because she didn't want to send them, they were not sent because she didn't know where to send them... Luna is twelve years old and writing letters to the father she never met. She lives with her Mother who is dying from Cancer. Soon, she will be living with her uncle in Norway but until then she lives with her Mother, befriends her next door neighbor, Garrick and writes letters to her father. The letters in themselves are quite lovely. They felt like the realistic thoughts of a twelve year old girl who is forced to cope with her Mothers illness. I loved some of her thoughts, especially "I know he is a house cat, but seriously, how can a cat be so out of touch with his instincts." The book subtly drew me into Luna's world. I loved her friendship with Garrick, her next door neighbor who walked slowly around his lawn. How they both were there for each other and were just what the other needed in their lives. As Luna grows older, she begins corresponding with Garrick, who has become a dear friend and in the end gives her what she needs most. I'll admit, I was skeptical after I read the first letter, but this book gently and subtly won me over and stole my heart. Highly recommend! ~ Debra Cohen, NetGalley

I thought this was beautifully poetic in its simplicity and writing. Something about the blurb drew me in as I would not normally engage with this type of book. I absolutely loved it and read it in one sitting pretty much. It manages to capture poignancy, heartbreak whilst being uplifting at the same time. Recommended for something different. ~ Charlotte Pattison-Rideout (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Even though the main character has some strange mental processes, I had no problem relating, and even better, the writing is so good that there's no problem following. In addition, the book really gets better and better, and is very hard to put down. ~ Terje Olsen (Reviewer), NetGalley

Anne Egseth’s first novel, This Is All He Asks of You, is a coming of age story for all ages. It is poignant, profound, and beautifully written. Egseth’s style is suitably simple for an adolescent narrator, yet subtle enough to capture the nuances of one awakening to the spark of the divine within all things. It is told through letters written by twelve-year-old Luna, re-read 10 years later by her twenty-two year old self. Luna wrote the letters to the father she never met, knowing they would never be sent. At twelve, Luna is tuned in— to nature, to the people around her, and to the world of energetic forces that envelope us. She sees golden Light all around her, follows the guidance of beeping in her ears, and ponders what happens to the Light she sees in people’s bodies after they die. She befriends the strange man next door, who practices walking meditation in his backyard. They discuss the way neighboring trees talk to each other through a net of fungi, and how they share their resources in difficult times. He helps her through the death of her mother from cancer. At twenty-two, Luna is closed off, wearing a thick shell. She sees black snow outside her window. For ten years she has done what is expected of her, but has not recovered from the loss of her mother. She has not been able to find the golden light she knew before. Then her friend sends her the old letters of her younger self. Spanning Egseth’s native Norway, Washington DC and Greece, this short visionary novel shows us we are all in the same boat. We are all refugees, we are all seeking our father, our mother, our homeland, our connection to the greater whole. But Egseth assures us “the longing in our hearts will make the path appear out of nowhere.” At twelve, Luna discovers a book in her mother’s purse that proves she is not crazy to see the world as she does. Jacques Lusseyran, who wrote And There Was Light, lost his sight at age seven, yet nevertheless saw the radiance in all things. Young Luna is overjoyed, as we all are when we realize we are not alone in our awakening. “I read the words of the title of the book…” she writes, “…and it was as if I had eyes in my heart, as if I could look from my heart, and the book was luminous. It was light.” I say the same of This is All He Asks of You. It is luminous. ~ Gerald R Stanek, Visionary Fiction Alliance, Author sourced from Visionary Fiction Alliance, https://visionaryfictionalliance.com/this-is-all-he-asks-of-you-a-visionary-fiction-book-review-by-gerald-r-stanek/

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I read this story...a collection of letters... like drinking a large glass of delicious spring water. The writing is pure - simple - heart wrenching and luminous....Anne Egseth inspired me with her debut. Told through the eyes of a twelve year old girl...Luna. She writes letters to her Dad....to wherever he may be in the world...The bulk of the story is about a young girl trying to understand and find meaning in the world she lives. Thousands of books have been written from a child’s perspective- their longings, hopes, despair, struggles, connections to others and our natural world....But....There is only one book written about Luna! PURE LOVE! The warmth, and complexity of this story is gorgeous. ~ Elyse Walters (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.............This is simply Master class from Anne Egseth. This book has a mix of emotions of a twelve year old girl and a spiritual message for love and life. The narration and writing style of Anne is so simple yet so lyrical and beautiful, that it leaves a life-long impression on the reader...... ~ BOOKTUBERBUDDY . (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I was surprised when reading the book that this is the author's debut novel. She is a really good writer. She captured my attention and told the story in such a way that I lost all track of time. There is so much to this story that flows right along to the very end. Anne, I enjoyed your first book and look forward to reading many more. ~ Joan Wright (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Oh, what to say about this hauntingly beautiful and lyrical novel? I'm teary-eyed writing this as I just finished, and the book touched me deeply. I love it when John Hunt Publishing sends me an ARC as they seem to intuit what I will like even when I might not have requested the title! This is the story of twelve-year-old Luna who is an enigma; she sees the world differently to other girls her age. There's a humming in her brain that guides her to examine people/things that others don't see or hear. She speaks of the "light" that somehow defines her life and sets her apart from others. Estranged from her father and living with a mother who is ill, she often feels isolated and writes letters to her father even though she has no idea where he is. Meeting a neighbor, Garrick who's a mentally broken Vietnam Vet, we witness her finding solace in the often-unspoken compassion of someone so different from her young self. So many poignant moments as we see her later as a twenty-two-year old who is still searching for answers but finds a way to accept life the way it is. So the heart of the message--especially in these uncertain times when we are all struggling to find meaning in light of tragedy--is to look for that "golden, liquid light" wherever you can find it; embrace and live your life knowing that "this is all He asks of you"! ~ Anne Foster (Educator), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Excellent! This was a totally different read to my norm and cannot recall ever reading anything even remotely similar. It is beautifully written and one which draws you in right from the beginning. It is touching and thought provoking. I have wondered over the years with some of the thoughts that went through 12 yr old Luna's head. This is a story that will stay in my mind for some time to come. Hopefully it will not be too long before there is another book by Anne Egseth. A well deserved five stars. Recommended. ~ Jeanette Styles (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. A book and characters I will not soon forget. I sat down to read for a little while and found myself reading late into the night. This is a very special story, I Highly recommend this book. ~ Abby Siverman (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Amazing writing!!! I haven't read a book this good in such a long time!........You have to read this one to feel it. It feels so real and genuine... ~ Tam Tamishly (Reviewer), NetGalley

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so real that it sucked you in and made you feel a part of the story. You didn't want it to end! ~ Alicia Goeser (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This is the kind of story I've been waiting for for a long time. This isn't a typical story and breaks so many boundaries. It truly was a page-turner and though I tried to be reasonable, I couldn't literally put it down. Read it in one sitting. The writing style most particularly was deep and touching. I must admit I cried during one particular scene but I won't speak of it here because of spoilers. ~ Hugo Castillo (Reviewer), NetGalley

I feel like words cannot do this story justice - it's poetic nature and beautiful imagery is too hard to describe and do justice with. It is a story that is true to the soul. Egseth's narrative is powerful whilst at the same time being subtle in it's approach to how the World should be viewed, and how it's beauty lies everywhere. Her words remind us of who we once were, and what we can now be.....The imagery is poetic, both haunting but also magical within pages of each other. Luna's depression is masked as a cloud that shrouds her playful childhood thoughts, and are a shocking and stark reminder of the sadness of her story and that fact that Luna is but a child. The events that happen in her life are hard at the best of times, let alone when you do not have a full perception of the World. Simply put, Egseth makes the sadness of life beautiful through the eyes of innocence. A fitting reminder that childhood is beautiful despite the worst of times...This book is thought provoking and haunting, but positively so. It will stay with me for a long time...... ~ Shannon Clarke (Reviewer), NetGalley

A 5 Stars review: A stunning poetic journey, as told through letters by twelve-year-old Luna, that will make you laugh, cry, and crave the feeling of light. Anne Egseth’s debut novel, This Is All He Asks Of You, is a page turner that pulls readers in from the first paragraph. This Is All He Asks Of You will make you smile and cry. It is unlike most novels on the market today, but in its simplicity and illustrative prose, it captures the importance of human connection and the life-sustaining need to belong. Readers won’t be able to put this one down. ~ Catherine Miele, Reedsy Discovery, Author sourced

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.It's like reading one long poem written in free verse. The imagery is so wonderful, and the girl protagonist is obviously an Empath who feels everything around her intensely. I love her term "swim-fly" and other unusual ways of describing things. This is a book I highly recommend to poetry lovers, to introverts, to teens and adults who appreciate fine writing that evokes strong emotions. ~ Susan Gabriel, bestselling author of The Secret Sense Of Wildflower, Temple Secrets, True Luck Summer, Lily's Song and The circle of The Ancestors., author sourced

Anne Egseth's fine debut novel, This is All He Asks of You, is a remarkable piece of fiction. Told mostly over a period of a few months in 2007, the novel is narrated by sensitive, twelve-year-old Luna in letters she has written to her father, a man she has never truly known. On the outside, Luna lives a normal life in Washington DC, where she does many of the things children her age do. But Luna is not normal on the inside; she is spiritual and interested in philosophy and the meaning of life. Egseth is an excellent writer. I loved Luna's voice from the first page to the last, and Egseth's  prose is the kind of prose I like best, thought-provoking.  "Swim-flying" and  the "golden liquid light of being" are phrases I will remember for a long time. Overall, this is one of my favorites reads of 2020. I read it in one day and couldn't have liked it more.  I highly recommend the novel and have already added Egseth to my list of novelists to track ~ Rich Marcello, author of The Color of Home, The Big Wide Calm, and The Beauty of the Fall, The Latecomers, and The Long Body Th, author sourced

A twelve-year-old girl writes letters about her life to her long-gone, unknown father. This is a simple, yet deeply moving story about the power of love and light in our lives. Spiritual at heart and authentic in form; this is a slow-paced account of the importance of our connection to the natural world, and to each other. ~ Anne Synnøve Simensen, author of The Woman behind the Nobel Peace Prize: Bertha von Suttner and Alfred Nobel

Anne Egseth offers us an existential song from the heart of a 12 year old girl who chooses to live by her own graces rather than subscribe to the limits of her family’s difficult circumstances. We are treated to living with Luna as she inhales the universe in her unique way of tasting the fullness of life through her never ending curiosity. Estranged from her father, she is able to honor him daily to keep him in her life. Even her mother's health problems do not stop her from living fully with her innocent wisdom that matches many a sage. As a psychotherapist I can see what an amazing lesson we are given in how we could all live if we, like this 12-year old, respected the universe to give us the strength to do what we are asked. Many thanks to Anne Egseth for taking us into Luna’s heart to live intimately with her as she persevered in all that was asked of her. ~ Tom Walsh, poet, author of 'Insights Along the Way', 'Innate Rapture' and 'Awakening As Light'., Community of Washington Center for Consciousness Studies

When I was young I often sought refuge in nature. During those times I felt enveloped in something sacred that is difficult to name. The feeling I got reading this book was a similar experience. This is all He Asks of You is a beautiful story of realizing that sacred aspect of life. Anne Egseth's poetic writing captivated me from the start and held me throughout. ~ Sebastian Slovin, author of Ashes In The Ocean

Anne Egseth has written a touching story that makes both the tangible and the spiritual as real as the grief of the young protagonist, Luna. A small girl of Norwegian origin, she writes to her faraway father about the radiance and truth that illuminate her existence, but which nobody around her seems to comprehend. With a tragedy looming, it is as if the child refuses to accept the horror and wants to record who she is before the emptiness of death leaves her a hollow shell. To what degree can a child’s words influence a disillusioned adult woman? This is All he Asks of you is a very poetic and intriguing book that will make you mull over where your own life has taken you. ~ B.R. Wilkerson, author of A Glance at My Other and winner of the 2018 NY Big Book Award

This story collection celebrates the joyful intimacy of being alive. Anne Egseth writes from her heart and her words simply flow. This book is a treasure! ~ Johanna Baldwin, writer, producer & author of the Dr. Raymond Moody inspired novel All (Wo)men Desire to Know

This is All He Asks of You' is as an evocative account of a young woman’s struggles to reclaim what we’ve all lost ‘the day the light went out’ as I’ve ever read. You will never forget Luna, and hopefully she will help you reclaim that light as well. ~ John Nelson, author of The Miracle of Anna, I Human, The Magic Mirror, Winner of the 2008 COVR award for Best Book

A poignant tale of despair and hope, traced through the eyes of a young girl, This is All He Asks of You delves deep into the psyche of 12 year old Luna, who is somewhat 'different' - or so she believes - than her peers and friends. This warm and complex story of tears, laughter, friendship and love, explores the devastation that so often occurs when sensitive souls have to deny the very core of their being. Is Luna the only one who understands the light? Or, as we grow, do too many of us lose it somewhere along the way? ~ Ashley Costin, author of Emajen

Seldom have I read such an extraordinary and thought provoking tale as Anne Egseth's debut novel, This is All He Asks of You. Egseth has a beautifully evocative and unique style of writing. This is particularly noticeable when the intuitive protagonist Luna ponders the mystery of being human, and expresses profound and quirky sensations like, 'swim-flying' and the 'golden liquid light of being'. This is an enchanting and imaginative story that will engage readers of any age - a book that drew me in so completely that I just couldn't put down. ~ Veryan Williams Wynn, author of The Spirit Trap

In This Is All He Asks of You, Anne Egseth unpretentiously weaves symbols and images together to create an alluring, luminous tale of a young woman's search for understanding and meaning. It is an all at once haunting and captivating reflection on relationship, not just with others but with the self. Written in a classic, quiet Scandinavian style, it distills great wisdom and the redemptive energies of grace and acceptance, so urgently needed in our world today. ~ Dielle Ciesco, author of The Unknown Mother: A Magical Walk with the Goddess of Sound

A tender story about human connection that shines with compassion. ~ Jenny Downham, award winning author of Before I Die, You against Me and Unbecoming

I so love this child, Luna, who writes with a heart intimacy, who endures, who grows, maybe because she stays so close to her light. I celebrate Anne Egseth’s strong and sensitive offering -- so much deep intention, so much fine writing. ~ Janet Adler, author of Arching Backward and Offering from the Conscious Body

This lovely book is delightful, funny, and at the same time genuinely profound. Wisdom runs through the narrative like a vein of gold through quartz, evoking an inner sense and capacity which is both real and desperately needed in our troubled, heedless times. An authentic voice, a story which lingers in the mind like a fragrance. ~ Lucy Oliver, author of The Meditator's Guidebook