Eliza Reid, the former First Lady of Iceland, talks about her new book ‘The First Lady Next Door’

Former First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid. Photo Credit: Tara Flynn.

The former First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, chatted about her new memoir “The First Lady Next Door,” which will be released on May 5th in the United States.

Background on Eliza Reid

Eliza Reid is also a bestselling author, writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, co-founder of the nonprofit Iceland Writers Retreat.

From 2016 to 2024, Eliza served in the capacity of First Lady while her husband Guðni Th. Jóhannesson was president of Iceland, during which time she was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Synopsis of the new memoir

The synopsis is: “The First Lady Next Door” takes readers from rural Ontario to Timbuktu, and from the White House to Buckingham Palace.

Eliza shows how embracing authenticity in all its messiness can become our greatest strength, even when the world expects polished perfection. After all, our everyday moments are what create the roadmap for making the unexpected count.

What inspired you to write the memoir “The First Lady Next Door”?

I became First Lady of Iceland after a whirlwind, seven-week campaign on my husband’s first foray into public office. In other words, it was an experience I never expected.

I knew from the outset that I wanted to write about it afterwards to share some of the adventures and to encourage others to make the most of the unexpected opportunities they encounter in their lives.

Was it a cathartic process to write this book?

I kept a diary (infrequently) during my time as First Lady and I would say that that process was cathartic because it helped me to process all of the emotions I was experiencing as they happened.

Writing the book itself wasn’t cathartic particularly, but it was an enjoyable process to relive some of the memories and also simply to decide what I wanted to include and how to construct an interesting narrative. 

What did this memoir teach you about yourself?

I begin the book with some of my own history before becoming first lady: growing up in the countryside in Canada, moving to England for graduate school, solo traveling through Russia and West Africa, and finally moving to Iceland, where I had four children, started a business and learned the language.

On the surface, these things might not seem relatable to serving in a role without a handbook but in fact, I learned that simply from living our lives, we acquire the tools we need to make the most of positive, unexpected moments in life.

We just need to lean into any uncomfortable feelings to help us grow our comfort zones.

Writing the memoir also taught me that many stories I find personally interesting are not necessarily so for readers – so I had to cut a lot that I didn’t think would be relevant to this particular story.

How does it feel to be a part of the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology and social media being so prevalent)

I am a proud Gen X-er, so I well remember the world before cell phones, email, and certainly social media. We need to be aware of the challenges it can pose, but also use their benefits. For example, social media helps me reach a much wider audience for my books. 

What is your advice for young and emerging authors?

We have a phrase in Icelandic að ganga með bók í maganum, which means to “walk with a book in your belly” i.e. we all have a story we are waiting to give birth to.

So, one piece of advice is that we all have stories to tell that will help us connect with others; we don’t need to have been the first or the best or the fastest or the strongest to write about something.

Secondly, once you have a story you want to share, prioritize the time to sit at your desk (or wherever) and put the proverbial pen to paper. I think one of the biggest impediments to people to actually writing a book is making the time to do this essential part.



What did serving as the First Lady of Iceland teach you about yourself?

At the risk of sounding like Pollyanna, it actually made me more of an optimist. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel around Iceland – and many other countries – and meet people from all walks of life who are doing amazing things for their communities.

They aren’t changing the world – but they are doing their part to nudge things in the right direction. This reminded me that most people are good people who want to do good things, and that each and every one of us can make a difference.

Were there any moments in your life or career that have helped define you?

I was thrust onto the national stage when I became first lady, but I worked hard to carve out that role for myself, so I was also known as “Eliza” and not simply the president’s wife.

One of the things I’m best known for as first lady was an op-ed I published in the New York Times which talked about outdated assumptions of first ladies.

What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)

For me, success means that I have not squandered my chances. I have tried my best, learned from my mistakes, and challenged myself. I have embraced the unexpected. Whatever the result, if I do that, then I am a success.

What would you like to say to our readers about your new book? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)

I hope readers find the book interesting, smart, and often funny. I hope that they finish it feeling inspired that they too are ready to make the most of unexpected opportunities.

Her new book is available on Amazon by clicking here.

To learn more about Eliza Reid, the former First Lady of Iceland, follow her on Instagram, and visit her official website.