Meg Ryan Narrates “Big in Sweden” — Here’s a First Listen! (Exclusive)
"I laughed out loud, I ugly cried, and I never, ever wanted it to end," the actress said, of the novel on reality TV
Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty;Harper Collins
Meg Ryan; the book cover of 'Big in Sweden'Meg Ryan is swapping the big screen for the audiobook for Big in Sweden!
The actress and director, 62, not only lends her iconic voice to Sally Franson’s second novel — which is inspired by the author's own experiences in the Nordic country — she also loves it.
“Deft and delicious, this book is a flat-out delight machine,” Ryan said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “A heart-opener, a page-turner, and a true ‘originell!' I laughed out loud, I ugly cried and I never, ever wanted it to end.”
The When Harry Met Sally star also had good things to say about Franson herself, dubbing the author “a world-class entertainer” who “can finesse a serio-comic moment in a way that leaves you catching your breath.”
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty
Meg RyanReacting to Ryan’s high-praise for Big in Sweden, the A Lady’s Guide to Selling Out author shared a side-by-side of the star and herself — and shared a sweet message to both Ryan and her younger self.
“If you would have told 16-yr-old Sally w the Meg Ryan haircut that one day Meg Ryan would read and like and AND BLURB a novel SHE WROTE, she wouldn’t dare believe you,” the author wrote on Instagram, adding, “This is the same 16-yr-old who met a car manual writer on Career Day bc no one knew any authors.”
“It’s so easy to keep moving the goalpost as an artist (a human), for ‘more more more’ to rule (ruin) the psyche, when actually paradise is right here!” she continued. “I’m grateful to Meg for so many things, but my greatest gratitude is for her reminders that the work itself is the true reward…for when it comes from a deep and genuine place it might (might!) connect with the deep and genuine in others.”
Big in Sweden follows Paulie Johansson who lets her best friend convince her to audition for Sverige och Mig, a Swedish reality show “where Swedish-Americans compete to win the ultimate prize: a reunion with their Swedish relatives,” per the book's synopsis. “Much to her shock, her drunken submission video wins her a spot on the show, and against [her boyfriend] Declan’s advice Paulie decides to go for it.”
The book grapples with long-held notions of family, friendship and love and yes, there's a hot Swedish crew member in play.
Harper Collins
'Big in Sweden'Franson took inspiration from Big in Sweden from her own unexpected stint on Allt för Sverige, a Swedish game show that follows Swedish-Americans returning to the country to discover their roots.
But, according to the author, the crux of the novel isn’t about Paulie’s roots at all. “This novel that I thought was going to be about Paulie’s past and biological family turned out to be a novel about Paulie’s present and found family," Franson said, in a statement. "Specifically, her relationships with her cast members, crew and her partner and best friend.”
For a first glimpse of Ryan’s narration, listen below.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Big in Sweden came out on July 2 and is available now, wherever books are sold.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
