Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver is a sweet story about following your dreams and reconciling long-lost love. We meet Mona Miller, a travel magazine writer that is stuck doing small-town fluff pieces instead of her dream job of traveling internationally to exotic locales. When she is offered the chance to prove herself with an assignment to Iceland, she grabs it. The only caveat is that she is paired with freelance photographer Benjamin Carter, her long-lost childhood love, and tasked by her boss to convince him to work for their magazine, or else.

This is not a smooth, happy reunion. Benjamin was her best friend and first real love before he left without so much as a goodbye. But Mona is determined to make the trip memorable, despite her hurt feelings, and prove herself worthy enough to become an international reporter. Benjamin is equally determined to explain what happened all those years ago and make amends with Mona.

The angst and animosity that Mona feels for Benjamin are palpable. Ms. Oliver does a good job of showing how torn Mona is between unresolved feelings towards Benjamin and her desire to do the best she can on this assignment. The characters’ pasts are intertwined, and the author does a great job of relaying their history and relationship in small doses, giving the reader a deep sense of connection and backstory without overwhelming their current-day situation..

One of the standout elements of this novel is the setting. The descriptions of Iceland and the natural wonders therein are beautifully done. (So much so that it made me want to take a trip there myself!) I felt like I was along for the trip most of the time, and seeing it through Mona’s eyes, a novice traveler, made it more realistic.

Overall, Secret Nights and Northern Lights is a sweet and scenic read about forgiveness, chasing dreams, and finding your way back to love even when the path takes you across continents and years of silence. Perfect for fans of emotional romance and armchair travel alike.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, the author, Megan Oliver, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.