There is no other author that I love quite as much as Fredrik Backman and I knew going into Anxious People that it would most likely make me both laugh my butt off and cry like a baby. I did both of those things and I don't regret a single second of it. This book has a few different viewpoints, and I loved the style in which he wrote this book. I listened to the audio and I have to say it is phenomenal. It is incredibly well done, and I think it was part of the reason this book made me laugh so hard. Marin Ireland was a master with all of the voices, and I love how she changed her voice perfectly for the different characters. Needless to say, I HIGHLY recommend the audio, but also recommend the book overall if you are a fan of Backman.

Once I started this book I just could not stop so I listened to it all in a night. It was such a tear-jerker, but it was also very heartfelt and really makes you think about how what you do and say affects other people. Every time I read a book by Backman it makes me reflect on my own life, and Anxious People was no exception. He has such a way with words, and there are so many nuggets of truth in this fiction novel. I loved so many of the characters, as is true with all his books that I read, and I have a feeling I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon. Such a wonderful new novel by one of my favorite authors of all time!

Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for both my advance listening copy and advance review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Ever read a book and you don’t really have the words to say why you liked it? Or honestly don’t even know if you liked it at all?⁣
⁣
That’s exactly how I feel about Anxious People. I liked it, I think? ⁣
⁣
Aside from owning a good bit of his novels, this was my first Backman book so I had no idea what to expect. While I’m not one to usually enjoy character driven novels, and his writing style is definitely different, there’s something about this one that consistently drew me in. ⁣
⁣
In some ways it was so obscure to the point where I was like “wait, really?” and almost unbelievable, but then at others, the characters were so charming, that I HAD to know their story ⁣
⁣
So here I give you, probably the most poorly written review because I still don’t know what I whole heartedly think😂⁣

Anxious People by Frederick Backman is a very interesting and well written novel. My interest was held from the first page to the last! The characters in this novel were so relatable. So many relationships were unique and very realistic. This novel follows the journey of a group of people who do not know one another but are held hostage when at an apartment viewing. There are so many subplots that are both endearing and heartbreaking. I do not think that you will look at life the same after reading this timely novel. Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Frederick Backman, and netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sometimes I wish I could read a Backman book without knowing he wrote it. Do I love it so much because it's Backman? Or would I really love it so much anyway? (I think the latter is true.) This was my first time listening to a Backman book on audio, and the narrator was fantastic. I did read about 20 percent of the book on my Kindle, but I found I preferred the audio. This story is really about the characters, and I thought Marin Ireland brought the characters to life. Backman is one of the few authors who can write about very mundane, relatable things and make me care so much.

I adored everything about Anxious People! I have read a few books by Fredrik Backman, and this was my favorite by leaps and bounds. It was really a very sad story, but told with so much humor and heart. This is one of those books that I will recommend to all sorts of readers!!

What can I say? Another wonderful book by Fredrik Backman! I don't know how he does it, but he manages to create characters that you want to get to know. When I read his book, I am drawn in and become part of the world he creates. This book tells the tale of a group of people who are accidentally held hostage by a bumbling bank robber. Part how-not-to manual. Part character study. It is one of his best books yet. Keep writing Mr. Backman!!

The beginning of the book started really slow. I hadn’t decided I want to finish the book until I was almost halfway through and that was only because I hadn’t figured out the ending yet. The style of writing isn’t usually what I enjoy as the multiple narratives only make sense at the very end when everything comes together.

Despite this, I think this will be one of the books that I will remember the longest as it had me wanting to cry on the subway. This is definitely a book that calls to people still figuring out life at 20 or 40 or even 90. This has a cathartic release that is worth getting to the end to experience.

I had a little trouble getting into Anxious People, but I was reading it while watching election returns, so I may have been a little sidetracked. Once things started looking more hopeful for Joe Biden and I could concentrate a bit better I was rewarded with Fredrik Backman's wonderful combination of poignancy and humor. There is a robbery gone wrong, and hostages are trapped during an apartment showing. As the chapters progress, secrets from everyone are revealed, including the police investigating. I enjoyed the combinations of comedy and tragedy, believable and absurd, and this may be my favorite of Fredrik Backman's novels so far.

Is the is book optioned for a film yet? If not, it should be! Not a Hollywood production, but an indie film with British actors... I envisioned this comedy of errors inside the apartment as a Britcom as I read it!

I got this as a request *after* I had requested it as a Book of the Month, so I did not wind up reading the ARC. I hear so many good things about Backman, but I just don't think his writing style works for me.

Everyone is entitled to a “bad day”, even bank robbers. So says Fredrik Backman in his latest book, #anxiouspeople.

On the most superficial level, this book is about a botched up bank robbery. A bank robber fails to rob a bank, and the robbery turns into a hostage situation. And there’s a bridge, and different people on a bridge. And there are police 👮‍♀️ officers of course. And the best police officers are from #stockholm.

That is all I am going to say except that this book is a #mustread, it is so convoluted, it will have you laughing out loud. And yet, it is so tender at moments, you will want to cry for Backman’s characters.

I wanted to choose a favorite quote, but that is impossible, because there are too many. So I found the following:

From Shelf Awareness: “Rich with Backman’s pitch perfect dialogue, and unparalleled understanding of human nature, Anxious People is an ingenious constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness and hope - the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.” - Shelf Awareness.

“We do what we can to help whenever we get the chance, sweetheart. We save those we can. We do our best. Then we find to find a way to convince ourselves that that will just have to ... be enough. So we can live with our failures without drowning.” - @backmansk

I highly recommend this book, and the #audiobook, @marinireland! #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ . Thank you #netgalley for the e_ARC in return for my review.
#5👮👮👮👮👮 @backmansk

#housetricks #limes #estateagents #openhouse #pizzacapricciosa #suicide #priests #idiots @audible_ca @shelf.awareness

Thank you for the opportunity to review Anxious People, the most recent translated-to-English offering by Fredrik Backman. As is true for the earlier offerings, this is well-written and compelling read. Quite enjoyable. I appreciate having the opportunity to review this work.

I have nothing really to say except that this was an absolutely amazing read!!! Brilliant from start to finish.

Backman has a very specific way of writing. I've never understood the hype however from a critical eye, I can appreciate his style. I found this book from an objective standpoint to be very good, but I didn't really love it, if that makes any sense. Fredrick Backman is an excellent author and excels at his craft but his books are not always for me.

If you have always enjoyed works by Backman than I urge you to read this one. If you don't really like his style than you can skip it.

Backman does it again! Somehow he has me cracking up on one page and either tearing up or pondering deep thoughts on the next page. This book is not one to be missed. I loved it!

At first, the style of Anxious People really, truly annoyed me. The long paragraphs that seemed to just be endless rants felt random and obnoxious. But once the story started to connect, I really began to enjoy it. I liked the interconnectedness of the entire plot, the seemingly random hilarious rants, and witty societal commentary. I initially thought this would be a book I needed to take in doses, but I ended up reading the last 200 pages in one sitting, completely engrossed in the story and the lives of all the characters. I liked that it was quite a light and funny story but still dealt with some heavy topics such as suicide.

What a beautiful story of hope and humanity. I loved Backman's Beartown books but this one is special in its own way. I highly recommend it.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that Backman is one of my favorite authors. I love his writing style. I love his characters. I love the way he makes a story come together. This book was hilarious and heartbreaking and everything you expect from the author. The worst part of a Backman book is when it’s over. You truly feel like you’re leaving some friends behind. And, this book had the absolute best lines of an ending I’ve ever read: But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well. • • • There’ll be another one along tomorrow..

A bunch of strangers, one bank robber, two idiot cops. When a bank is being robbed around the corner from an apartment viewing, what could go wrong? After trying and failing to rob a bank, a bank robber stumbles into an apartment viewing that inevitably turns into an accidental hostage situation. As the hours pass, strangers become friends and each person realizes there is more that meets the eye about their company and that they all may have more in common than they think.
⁣
Wow, I have never felt more understood about my anxiety than I did while reading this novel. Through each character, all forms of anxiety and depression was explored and it was beautiful how Fredrik Backman weaved their stories together as strangers became friends in a highly stressful moment in their lives and their lives are slowly exposed. Anxiety is no joke and I loved how each character’s shortcomings was brought to light and perfectly developed towards the end of the story. I also loved the comical whodunnit aspect of the story with the “hostages” and policemen.
⁣
*trigger warnings: anxiety, depression, suicide is mentioned
⁣
🍷to sum it up: mental illness, whodunnit mystery, multiple perspectives, heavy but worth it read, comedy, love and family, highly recommend 🙋🏻‍♀️

Author #Fredrik Backman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. It's always nice to know so when you finish the new novel you can backtrack.# 'Anxious People is his new wonderful novel. He is comical, charming and just fun to read. For more on his novel head over to my Instagram blog #Maddie_approves_book_reviews this week please.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Fredrik Backman, and # Atria publishing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🐾🐾