My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There’s Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there’s the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.

Kindle Edition, 448 pages

Published May 6, 2025

 by Atria Books

4/5 stars

Fredrik Backman’s new book released last week, it's a tad different in writing style, but the story has his signature wit, one-liners and heartbreak.

There are alternating perspectives, even changes within a page or scene and Backman makes it work. The common denominator throughout is a painting, as the story alternates between present day and 25 years previous. It revolves around this painting and 4 teenagers, their unique friendship and their life.

A unique story by an auto-read author, it was full of memorable quotes that had me pausing to reflect on them. It took me back to my teen years and those carefree summers by the water.  It was filled with memories that explored many themes and the repercussions years later.   With authentic characters, a slow burn weaving of the past to the present, Fredrik Backman has again pulled at heartstrings.

Released just last week, I recommend both the print and audiobook.

My thanks to Atria Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

Kindle Edition, 68 pages 

Published December 1, 2024

 by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

Fredrik Backman is one of my auto-read-authors, this was a bonus since it's been awhile since he has published something new.  Available both on Kindle and Audio. 

This was a fun short story (novella?)  It was quirky and a quick read.  Lucas just wants to be left alone but there are people that don't agree with him.  The story very much had that Backman vibe with some great banter, silly scenario and a plot that was out there.  All coming together nicely at the end.

My thanks to Amazon First Reads for a digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and “writer of astonishing depth” (The Washington Times) comes a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.

Paperback, 336 pages

Published September 8, 2020 

by Simon & Schuster Canada

5/5 stars

Fredrik Bachman is a favourite author of mine for a number of reasons.

Firstly, his unique writing style.  He can weave the story between multiple characters though different time lines without this reader feeling any jarring affects.  And this happens multiply times within a chapter and it totally works.

Secondly, he doesn't do character dumps.  His characters are introduced in such a way to really get to know them.  No note taking or struggling to remember facts as the story progresses.

Thirdly, the plot is intricately woven that keeps me engaged as the story and characters take a life of their own within the pages.  The story is told in pieces where all the pieces come together perfectly at the end.  It reminds me of a puzzle and sometimes seeing the big picture at the end draws everything together nicely.

Lastly, the banter and dialogue is spot on.  I have laughed out loud, written quotes and even shared them.

Anxious People is a multilayered story about the hurting, silent people, and healing. I highly recommend it!!

After reading the Beartown Series last year and meeting Backman, 2023 is devoted to one of his books a month until I get caught up on his back-list.  

January - A Man Called Ove (5 stars along with 5 stars for the movie.)

February - Anxious People (5 stars)

March - Britt-Marie Was Here (maybe, I am a mood reader so might change my mind.)

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman,

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Hardcover, 337 pages

Audiobook, 9 hours, 12 minutes 

Published July 15, 2014

 by Atria Books

5/5 stars

I am definitely a mood reader, and this book is a testament to that. I first started reading it when it was released back in 2015, but set it aside because I felt it was a bit too grumpy. Recently, however, I watched the movie adaptation of A Man Called Ove and loved it, so I figured it was time to revisit the novel.

A Man Called Ove is one of my favourite reads of 2023. It is a beautiful novel by Fredrik Backman and was his debut, that sets the bar pretty high for his subsequent books.

A Man Called Ove is the story of a 59-year-old recent widow. He is angry and intolerant of other people's stupidity, and isn't afraid to call them idiots when they don't follow the rules he tries to enforce. When a new family moves in across the street, things slowly start to change for Ove, and what follows is a madcap story that had me laughing out loud, feeling Ove's pain as he goes back in time, and learning of his relationship with his wife. This is an incredibly well-written story that will tug at your heartstrings, make you shed a few tears of joy and sadness, but ultimately leave you with a warm feeling in your heart. 

I am now reading the author's backlist, and I have already read the Beartown trilogy, which has two of my favourite reads of 2022.  Be on the lookout next month for a review of Anxious People.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#9.)

The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman

The long-awaited conclusion to the beloved New York Times bestselling and “engrossing” (People) Beartown series—which inspired an HBO series of the same name—follows the small hockey town’s residents as they grapple with change, pain, hope, and redemption.

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

Paperback, 688 pages

Published September 27th 2022

by Simon & Schuster CA

5/5 stars

The Winners is Book 3 in Fredrik Backman's Beartown series. Although Books 1 and 2 continue right after each other, there is a two-year gap between them and The Winners. However, it doesn't take long for Backman to fill in those gaps and write an emotionally compelling finale. Even five months after reading the final pages, I still vividly remember the story.

When The Winners was released, I had the privilege of attending an author event. It was one of my favourite events, with Backman baring his soul as he talked about his writing, the emotional impact it had on him, and how it affected his personal life. This made the story even more fascinating.

The Winners is a story about community, family, and invisible hurts. It is wonderfully written and hard to put down. Because of the book's mass size, I did a combo read and audio. I highly recommend both options; the story is so good that the time just flies by. The audiobook is 21 hours and 22 minutes long, and it is a worthy investment of time.

This is a series I can see myself rereading but for the time being I will get caught up on the author's backlist.

This book was part of my 2022 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Us Against You (Beartown #2) by Fredrik Backman

Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did.
Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too.

A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don’t expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they’ve always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it’s a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback.

Soon a team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the town’s enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big game approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt intensifies. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you.

Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With immense compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days.

Paperback, 448 pages

Published March 5th 2019 

by Washington Square Press

3.5/5 stars

Last month I had the awesome opportunity to meet Fredrik Backman, in anticipation of that author event I began this series.  Us Against You is book 2 and continues where Beartown left off.  It felt like going home when I began reading with familiar characters and getting caught up.

While hockey still is an obsession for the towns of Beartown and Hed this book is also about friendship, family and devotion.  There is alot of reminders of what transpired in Beartown, maybe a tad much or it could be that I started reading this as soon as I finished Beartown and all was still fresh in my old brain. But it does work for those who haven't read Beartown.

Fredrik Backman has a unique writing style, poetic at times while being mesmerizing.  As with Beartown Us Against You evoked a range of emotion.  This turned into a combo audio/read. Marin Ireland was the reader for the audio and again she did a stellar job breathing live into this story.

I probably should have done a combo review for this series.  The Winners will be posted next week, even though this book was really good, I enjoyed Beartown a tad more and you will have to wait for my thoughts on The Winners.

This book was part of  my 2022 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge. 

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world. 

Paperback, 432 pages

Published 2016 

by Simon and Schuster

4.5/5 stars

Being Canadian I know all about the hype around hockey, and even the junior tournaments are a big thing. What I wasn't expecting with Beartown was the direction this book would turn and ultimately mimic current events.

Going into this book knowing it was the first in a trilogy made much more sense as so many characters were introduced thereby producing a relatively slow plot for the first half. The slower pace made it easier to get to know the characters, their drive and ambitions along with the importance of hockey in this town called Beartown.

I am a new reader of Fredrik Backman, his writing style takes a bit of getting used to. I alternated with the audiobook because once I got to a certain place I had to keep on reading. The twist came, the emotions flowed, not just on the pages but within myself. And I was anxious to see what would happen.

Beartown is the story of family dynamics, obsession, friendships and power. I am glad that I have book 2 in this series, Us Against You that I can read before book 3, The Winners is released at the end of this month.  I guess you could say that I am really late to this party, but I am glad to have arrived.

This book is part of my 2022 reading off my shelf challenge (#63) and I purchased it in anticipation of an author event next month here in southern Ontario