The All-Night Sun: A Novel

Lauren Cress’s life is a lonely one. She teaches writing to international students at a small college in Washington, D.C. and lives in an apartment with her dog. Having lost her parents in a tragic accident when she was eighteen, Lauren has no surviving family and few friends to speak of. But a student in her class, Siri, is friendly and kind, able to connect with Lauren about life and loss. She invites Lauren to come home with her over the summer to Sweden, and Lauren agrees. In The All-Night Sun, Diane Zinna tells the story of this trip to Sweden and its aftermath—what it means for Lauren and for Siri, and for how Lauren understands her life.

The All-Night Sun is a quiet, touching portrait of a woman dealing with loneliness and grief. Lauren and Siri’s friendship is complex and dynamic, as are Lauren’s relationships with Siri’s brother and sister and with Siri’s friends. Zinna renders these relationships with profound emotional clarity and sensitivity to weave a compelling story about friendship, art, and loss.