AUFBAU pre-empts German rights and LINDHARDT OG RINGHOF Danish rights in 3-book-deals to VILLA HILDA series!

Exciting news!

We’ve sold the Danish and German rights for Michaela von Kügelgen’s Summer at Villa Hilda, the upcoming feel-good novel, and its two sequels, in pre-emptive three-book deals. . The Danish rights were acquired by Lindhardt og Ringhof, while in Germany the three books will be published by Aufbau Verlage .The deals were closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

These deals follow last weeks auction for the Estonian rights, which were acquired by Hea Lugu.

“I could literally feel the sun, smell the delicious food, and now I’m longing to try the perfect cinnamon buns that Louise bakes for her guests. The writing is so warm and beautiful that it feels as if you’ve been there yourself – a book like a perfect summer vacation.”
– Heide Kloth, Publisher, Aufbau Verlage, Germany

Pitched as Mamma Mia and Badehotellet vibes at the Swedish archipelago, Summer at Villa Hilda follows Louise, a former celebrity chef and Thomas, a journalist, as they both move to the island of Halsterö in the Stockholm archipelago and start working in the Villa Hilda guesthouse. Both have had their fair share of misfortunes on the mainland, so a summer on an idyllic island feels like a chance to start over. Although the villa isn’t going to treat them as easily as they’d expect, the island and its inhabitants eventually help them to find their way back to life.

“Summer at Villa Hilda is exactly the type of feel-good novel, we’ve been looking for. A great summer read with a cozy atmosphere and with a great gallery of characters, who come together at the island Halsterö for the summer. An uplifting story about second chances and finding the courage to make big changes in your life. An absolutely enjoyable read! But be careful: You might end up wanting to leave everything behind, open a guesthouse on a Swedish archipelago island, learn to bake ‘kanelbullar’, and quite possibly, fall in love.”

– Astrid Ellehammer Kristensen, editor, Lindhardt og Ringhof, Denmark

Summer at Villa Hilda is the first title in Michaela von Kügelgen’s series of feel-good novels set on the fictional Swedish island of Halsterö. Scheduled to be published by Schildts & Söderströms in June, and followed by book #2 in February 2026 and book #3 in September 2026. In addition to this feel-good series, Michaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.

Download materials for SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA here!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

This novel is the first part of the Villa Hilda series and will be published in June 2025. The following titles will concentrate on the people living on the picturesque Halsterö island and will tentatively be published in February 2026 and September 2026.

chaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.