Little orphan Heidi goes to live high in the Alps with her gruff grandfather and brings happiness to all who know her on the mountain. When Heidi goes to Frankfurt to work in a wealthy household, she dreams of returning to the mountains and meadows, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather.

I grew up reading Heidi and watching the many adaptations over the years, so returning to this classic felt incredibly nostalgic and comforting. This time, I decided to experience the story through the audiobook, which gave me a fresh appreciation for Heidi’s world and all of its charm. At only around five hours long, it was such a cozy and heartwarming listen.

I loved revisiting the Swiss Alps and immersing myself in this sweet, timeless story again. Heidi was always one of my favorite childhood classics, and rereading it reminded me exactly why. The loving relationship Heidi forms with her grandfather is still the heart of the story for me. Watching their bond grow from distant and uncertain to deeply caring and familial is so touching. I also loved seeing the connections Heidi creates with the other people around her once she moves to the mountains.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the contrast between the peaceful rural life in the Alps and the busy, restrictive atmosphere of the city when Heidi is taken to be Clara’s companion. There are definitely some funny and memorable moments during her time in the city, but it also broke my heart seeing how deeply homesick Heidi became. The mountain scenes with her grandfather, Peter, and the other villagers were easily my favorite parts of the story. Those sections felt so alive and comforting.

Listening to this during spring was absolutely perfect because of all the beautiful nature descriptions. The story gave me the coziest cottagecore vibes, which was exactly what I was hoping for when I picked it up. Between the mountain setting, the goats, the wildflowers, and the simple way of life, it felt like the literary equivalent of a warm hug.

I truly think this is a classic everyone should read at least once. It’s heartfelt, wholesome, and full of meaningful messages about kindness, compassion, generosity, friendship, and family. There are so many wonderful themes here for children, especially, but it still holds so much warmth and emotional depth for adults revisiting it, too. Highly recommend!