Ottawa-born author Eliza Reid details life as former first lady of Iceland in new book

The Canadian-born former first lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, has penned a memoir about her experiences on the world's stage.

A new book details the unexpected journey of Ottawa-born author Eliza Reid, who went from living a modest life as a mother and author to within weeks, becoming the first lady of Iceland.

Reid spoke with CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa about her new memoir, The First Lady Next Door: A Canadian Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure, detailing how she adapted to her role, from meeting world leaders to learning to curtsy.

“I feel like I’m a pretty grounded, regular person, and maybe not exactly the kind of person that you expect a first lady to be and part of that reason, I think, is because the whole adventure is rather unexpected,” she said.

Her husband, Gudni Johannesson, a former historian and university professor, served as president of Iceland for two terms from 2016 to 2024.

The book details some of her experiences in the role, one she never expected having grown up in rural Ottawa, including going to the White House to have tea with Jill Biden and visiting Buckingham Palace.

“There was a lot of pinch me moments, I think really, I just wanted to make the most of it,” she said.

Reid says she hopes the book emphasizes the importance of embracing unexpected moments in life and making small differences along the way.

“I think what I’m hoping to say with the book is to remind people that when one is thrust into these utterly unexpected moments, somehow, through our lives, we’ve all developed the tools to know that actually, we really can make a difference and we can do something.”

Reid grew up in Kanata until she was ten years old before her parents moved to Ashton, a community just on the southwestern city limits of Ottawa.

She credits her roots in Canada with helping her serve in the role in her adopted homeland.

“Canadians were so, just to generalize a lot, friendly, grounded, down to earth. Like the people next door, the people who can kind of take change as they come and roll with it and be friendly,” she said.

The book is available at indie bookstores and online.

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