ELEONORA VON ESSEN

Eleonora von Essen (b. 1978) was born to be a writer. She has made a name for herself as a cookbook writer and creator of recipes.

In 2022, Eleonora made her fiction debut with the novel Sisters, Regardless – a relationship drama that explores the complexities of sisterhood. The Challenge is von Essen’s second novel, published in 2024.

Eleonora’s cookbook Vi ses i köket (See You in the Kitchen), written with Camilla Läckberg, was published in September 2026. Her third novel, Om jag får vara helt ärlig (If I’m Being Honest), is to be published in October 2026.

Photo Credit: Gabriel Liljevall

Agent: Erik Larsson

WORKS

THE CHALLENGE

Published bazar, OCTOBER 2024
GENRE FICTION
pages 320

rights sold
german: c. bertelsmann verlag
Dutch: Meulenhoff

A relationship drama full of surprises and relatable moments

Cecilia and Robert have been married for almost thirty years, but sometimes it’s hard to remember who they were when they first got together – and who they wanted to be.

The kids have moved out and Cecilia and Robert are left with each other in the big house, standing on opposite sides of the kitchen island, alone in a marriage that is stuck in a rut.

Who is Cecilia writing to late at night, long after her husband has gone to bed? What happened in the neighbour’s garden? Why is Robert hiding in the bathroom at work? And will their marriage survive the challenge the couple exposes it to?

Suddenly, they see each other and themselves clearer than in a long time, and they don’t always like what they see.