Review of The Story of Leif and Hailee

[Natalie Theis de Pareja]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Story of Leif and Hailee" by Anders Eklof.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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What is love? How do you find it? Do you look for someone who looks like you? Or is it better to find someone very different because opposites attract? What happens when you are forbidden to love someone? How far would you go to be with that person? When does it become an obsession? In The Story of Leif and Hailee by Anders Eklof, we meet an intelligent young Swede named Leif. He is not your typical Swede, as he grew up listening to music sung by Black artists and was not attracted to Swedish girls. When he was sent to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1961 as an engineer to learn how to operate an air defense rocket system, he met and became obsessed with a Black girl named Hailee. Segregation was a serious and dangerous situation in the South, and Hailee was afraid of being with Leif. How could she be with a White man if her very life was on the line? Find out if dreams come true in The Story of Leif and Hailee.

Wow!! I could not put this book down! I am so amazed by Anders Eklof's writing. I felt the way Leif was sweating in the hot Alabama heat. I saw how beautiful Hailee was. I could feel the roar of Yellow Bird. I could picture the Black musicians singing their songs. Anders brought the entire book to life, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

There is only one change I would make. I would capitalize black when it refers to Black people. The story is set in the 1960s, but it was written in 2025. Therefore, the author should have conformed to the new standard.

I give the book The Story of Leif and Hailee a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. If Anders Eklof had capitalized black throughout the book, I would have given it five stars.

I recommend this book to mature readers interested in learning about the fight against segregation. The reader should also not mind reading descriptive sexual scenes.

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The Story of Leif and Hailee
View: on Bookshelves

[Kibet Hillary]

It is nice to read that the vivid descriptions were perfectly employed in the book such that the reader can almost feel and see everything being described. The rhetorical questions have definitely piqued my curiosity, especially the first question on what love is. The review is captivating; thank you, @Natalie Theis de Pareja.

[Lorena Soares]

"The Story of Leif and Hailee", by Natalie Theis de Pareja, is a touching romance about pain, healing, and new beginnings. The story follows Leif, an introspective young man shaped by loss, and Hailee, a strong girl who is also emotionally wounded. Together, they build a relationship based on trust, support, and personal growth. The author writes with great sensitivity, addressing themes like mental health, grief, and forgiveness in a delicate and realistic way. Although the pacing slows down at times, the story remains engaging and emotionally rich. It’s a book that moves the reader and invites reflection.
Reating: 4,5 out of 5 stars