The bookseller’s recommendation was a hit. The pizza was brilliant. After that we consulted him for each evening meal on our book club trip. The last night the festival had organised a big Icelandic feast in the Irish bar, booking out the entire place and we got to try reindeer, local fish, and plenty of the local craft beer. I’m not a fan of beer, but we’d been advised to avoid drinking alcohol in Iceland as it would blow our budget so free beers proved irresistible. Even Kitty knocked one back.

“Nina, you’ll get me back to the hotel, right?” asked Julia.

I stared at her. “I know it’s cold out there, Julia, but it’s literally like ten doors away.”

She sipped her beer. “I’m such a lightweight on alcohol now. I gave it up entirely...

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