If it wasn’t for his best buddy Mikkel, Jørgen would probably have died of a stomach ulcer. Or loneliness. Or making an absolute fool of himself in front of the prettiest girl at school. But as long as Mikkel has his back, things are mostly fine, according to Jørgen.

Still - it's not easy to be fourteen and living in the shadow of your picture-perfect best friend. During their last days of 9th grade, Jørgen and Mikkel's friendship will be put to the test in more ways than one.

At the same time, Jørgen must navigate his crush on Mikkel's cousin, becoming the joke of a TikTok meme, and some deadly serious family matters.

And in the end, maybe the time has finally come for Jørgen to be Mikkel's lifesaver.

Buddy is an impressive debut by Fabian Christensen, the winner of Cappelen Damm’s New Voices Manuscript competition 2023. It's a novel full of heart, dramatic twists and turns - and plenty of awkward, situational comedy that will have you both cringing and howling with laughter. All the while underscoring the importance of honest conversations.