“The mightiest power of death is not that it can make people die, but that it can make the people left behind want to stop living, she thinks, without remembering where she heard that. ”

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To be frank, the book is such a freaking chore to finish it. I was exhausted by it. Sure, the loss of a grandparents is an incredibly significant experience, as the relationship between a grandchild and their grandparents is rich with love, warmth, and treasured memories. For those who’ve grandmas knew that grandmothers occupy a unique and cherished position in their grandchildren's lives, providing constant support and affection. The fact that they are getting older and withered every year highlighted that the idea of their absence getting closer every year. It is honestly difficult to bear, and every moment we have with our grandparents shared is held dear. Hence the premise of this book revolved around the relationship between Elsa and Granny.  In this story, the relationship between Elsa and her grandmother was unconventional but still heartwarming and precious . Throughout the story, it was clear that Elsa's grandmother showered her with deep (and sometimes tough) love and care. However, i felt nothing towards both of them. I dislike Elsa and I am annoyed with Granny. The constant return to fairy tale elements made the book irritating for me. This happened right after Granny Passed away, I was tempted to abandon it several times. The story had potential but was overshadowed by many distractions and repetitive details that I didn't enjoy. I appreciate Frederick Backman's portrayal of elderly characters in his books, particularly how he explores their lives. However, the trope of "granny acting like a child and a child acting like an adult" did not resonate with me, bringing similar themes I've seen before in Backman's works like 'The Man Called Ove', albeit with gender roles reversed and infused with fairy tales. I struggled to connect with the characters and found the eccentric behaviour of older characters around Elsa and Elsa herself choose to act like she is way mature than her current age. I understand the book's intent—to celebrate imagination, childhood, and the importance of family—but ultimately, I found it tedious. The characters felt bland, and despite the potential for life lessons on bullying, loss, and family dynamics, the execution fell short of my expectations. It pains me to say this as I did somewhat love ‘The man called Ove’ but this one felt like a chore to read.