Fredrik Backman, you NEVER disappoint. There are many circles in this book, and some connections are just not what you expected. Every single one is beautiful though. Such a special novel, I fully expect to read this book many more times in my life!
Thank you Atria Books for the opportunity to read this prepublication edition in exchange for an honest review.

I know that the novels of Fredrik Backman have been incredibly well received by readers, yet I had never read one of his novels before coming to Anxious People. This book is an excellent read with a unique authorial voice and an understanding of both its characters and the universality of some aspects of the story. There are so many quotes that I will remember from this book.

The novel’s story arc has to do with a robbery, but one that never really happened. It is more about the people who happened to be affected by it, simply because of where they were at a particular moment in time. Readers get to know each of them well. There is humor and tugging at heart strings as readers make their way through the short chapters.

One of my favorite books is Bel Canto which also has as its premise the taking of hostages. This one is quite different but both are memorable and worth the reader’s time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

While it does not compare to A Man Called Ove, this was a sweet story. At times it was confusing and difficult to follow. Perhaps the author tried to develop too many characters ... tried to introduce too many storylines. But overall, it was a good read.

Wow! I have been a fan of Fredrik Backman for a while so my hopes were high for this book and it did not disappoint! I laughed and I cried while reading this! I love the emphasis on mental health and how much of an impact each person can have on someone else's life, whether they ever know or not. The beginning felt long and a little confusing. But when I got the end I was able to think back and see how all of the "confusing" parts were tied in and they all made sense. I loved this book!

Fredrik Backman is one of my all-time favorite author’s so I knew I had to request this one for review. I’m more than happy to say I was not disappointed in the least. Per usual Fredrik has set us up for a wonderful ride in this equally plot and character driven novel.
The characters in this book, like all of the author’s others had me falling in love immediately. I can’t even pick one favorite character, I love them all equally, quirks and all. The plot line of this one really brought it home for me though, it was such a strange scenario that was written perfectly in my opinion.
This was definitely my favorite Backman novel, I wish I could read it for the first time again. I was enthralled with the character’s and roller coaster ride we were taken on. I’m so thrilled I got the chance to read and review this book!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from Netgalley and I am freaking out. Fredrik Backman is one of my favorite authors, hands down. He has a way of speaking truth about the most basic facts of life in the most eloquent yet basic ways.

Take this quote for example, "“Expensive restaurants have bigger gaps between the tables. First class on airplanes has no middle seats. Exclusive hotels have separate entrances for guests staying in suites. The most expensive thing you can buy in the most densely populated places on the planet is distance.”

We are living this truth every single day in this pandemic. Well, Anxious People is full of gems like this while telling an immensely entertaining story.

After getting hooked from the first chapter, I was never able to let go of this story. Unique, funny, whimsical, and witty, are just some of the words I could use to describe Anxious People. I can't recommend this book enough.

I love Fredrik Backman. He is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read everything he's written yet, but I every book of his that I read makes me want to read another. In his latest release, Anxious People, Backman tells the story of a bank robbery turned hostage drama and all the people involved. Understandably, there is a fair amount of anxiety involved in the situation, but we learn that they all had their own share before the day even began. The robbery occurs on the day before New Year's Eve and the hostages include an older couple, a pregnant couple, a very old woman, a woman who certainly doesn't belong, a man whose whole purpose is to be disruptive, and a terrible real estate agent who are all at an apartment showing. When the bank robber comes in looking for somewhere to hide, no one is sure if this is really happening or not.

Backman's characters are always absolutely wonderful with their own distinct personalities and storylines that somehow all converge with one another. These Anxious People are no exception. It begins with this brilliant line:

This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.

If you've read Backman before you know that he refers to idiots quite frequently, but you also know that it usually ends up being with some measure of affection.

In these difficult times, when we have all likely been feeling a little more anxious that usual, a Fredrik Backman novel is one of the best medicines you can take. His writing is wonderful, his storylines neat and tidy, even if they appear the complete opposite at times, and his message is always something we need to hear. I highly recommend this one and I'll leave you with this last quote which I feel perfectly illustrates the beauty of a Backman novel:

Some people accept that they will never be free of their anxiety, they just learn to carry it. She tried to be one of them. She told herself that was why you should always be nice to other people, even idiots, because you never know how heavy their burden is.

Is this a story about a bank robbery? A hostage situation? An apartment open house? Someone jumping off a bridge? A father and son? Marital problems? Or just a bunch of idiots trying to get through this life the best they can? The answer is all of the above—and so much more. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such quirky characters! I will admit it took me a while to get into this book. However I loved the story about the older cop and his son, and how everything tied together with the man on the bridge and the sons decisions.

Fredrik Backman’s writing displays such profound empathy for humankind that he must be an ‘old soul’ in a young man’s body. His writing elevates a quirky and sometimes farcical little story into something that moves you and makes you think.

Once again he delves deeply into the parent child relationship while at the same time exploring the themes of loss, loneliness, anxiety, happiness, economics, suicide, how one person’s life affects another persons, and doing the best you can…

Highly, highly, recommended!

Fredrik Bachman always makes me smile and leaves me a little smarter. Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read and review another wonderful story by this author.

This is my second Fredrik Backman book---I LOVED A Man Named Ove so much and this one sounded interesting to me. I did listened to the audiobook for this one and that may have been a mistake. Some of the characters WERE SUPER ANNOYING especially during the police interviews, but once you get past that and into the meat of the story I really enjoyed the characters and their different backgrounds and connections to one another. It took me a bit to get into the way the story was told in different timelines that jump back and forth and following so many characters but I found that by the end I really enjoyed that format. I found the plot predictable but not in a bad way as this is more of a character driven story, and Backman is great at writing endearing characters. I think this would translate really well to a mini series or movie and I saw that there are already talks for that so I'm excited to see this adapted. Overall, this one took me a bit to really get into it but once I did I found the characters and their interactions with one another so endearing and enjoyable.
I received and ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of Backman's books and this book does not disappoint. What is Backman great at? His writing is so inviting and honest, you find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. Backman does not hesitate to discuss the difficult topics, in this case loneliness and depression. He brings heart into these issues through humor, exposing poignant stories. I have to sit back and take a moment to breathe at his masterful coverage of how people just want to be understood and loved. The world can be very isolating and heart wrenching and this book opens you to the other world also, where one can be the hero and be there for people, to help.

This book started slow for me but I love other titles by this author and to be honest I never don’t finish a book. I’m so glad I continued. The relationships that develop between the people being held hostage in the apartment are sweet. The relationships between couples transform and are seen through a different lens. And an imperfect relationship between father and son still reflects love.

Anxious People was completely heartwarming. It was quirky at times, but so human. Backman does a fantastic job at entertaining his reader, keeping a large cast of characters easily identifiable, and pulling directly at my heartstrings.

I know people really love Frederick Backman, he is a very interesting author to listen to-I recently saw him speak and was very intrigued with his description of his writing process and life. However, this book was so hard to slog through.....I am sure it ends well, but in times of such unrest and negativity, I couldn’t stand any of these characters. I couldn’t believe how rude they are and I didn’t even finish it.

"Anxious People" gets off to an awkward start with two cops who turn out to be son and father. They love each other but are thoroughly exasperated with each other: The son because the father wants to protect him and the dad because his son does not appreciate his efforts. Then, there's an attempted bank robbery that ends up as a hostage situation, and this is where it all goes to pieces. I began to feel as though I was stuck in a version of "The Ransom of Red Chief", the O Henry story about the guys who kidnap a kid who is so horrible they end up paying the parents to take him back.

Backman has the gift of being able to bring moving moments of empathy to even the most despicable character, but after three stabs at getting caught up in this book I gave up.

Fredrik Backman does it again! Another great work by this wonderful author. What starts off as a hostage situation quickly turns into an examination of humanity, the consequences of choices we make, and the strength in numbers. I found myself bookmarking so many powerful quotes. I definitely recommend this title.

I have read and have enjoyed all of Fredrik Backman’s books so I was looking forward to reading ANXIOUS PEOPLE. It did not disappoint.
It is the day before New Year’s Eve and a group of people are viewing an apartment that is up for sale. During the viewing the group is interrupted by a bank robber. The bank robbery did not go as planned and the bank robber was forced to flee. To avoid immediate capture the bank robber enters the apartment that is being viewed. Desperate without a plan the robber ends up taking the group hostage. The group is an eclectic mix of people including a retired couple who buy only to end up flipping the properties they purchase. There is a bank director who appears impervious to others as well as a young couple who are expecting their first child and are constantly bickering.
Also in the group is an eighty-seven year old woman who has seen enough of life not to be rattled by gun toting robber. Of course there is a real estate agent and a bit later an unknown man who appears in the apartment.
The two police officers who are investigating the crime happen to be father and son. Thinking it might be too much too handle for a smaller police force Stockholm has been called in to take charge. The son desperately wants to solve the case before the Stockholm comes on the scene.
I expected to love this book and I did. I laughed, I had “Ah Ha!” moments and I shed a few tears here and there.
ANXIOUS PEOPLE entertains and captivates. One of my top five of the year. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced ebook.

For anyone considering putting this book down, keep reading; the last third of this book ties everything together. Not that I disliked the beginning, but the end really demonstrates the power of Backman's writing. When describing the plots of his books, people often give me funny looks because they sound so depressing on the surface, but he's hilarious and one can't help but fall in love with the characters. With Anxious People, he once again takes a dark and often taboo topic and tells a heartwarming story.