I am, admittedly, a fan of everything Fredrik Backman has written. This book was no different. He finds a way to encompass the full range of human emotion in an average-length book, and I enjoy his words so much. I followed the journey of the multiple (12?) perspectives in this book with ease and loved all of them by the end. One of my favorite things Backman does is weave together seemingly unrelated subplots without it feeling like too much. He's just so talented. The resolution provided much-needed catharsis. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a study on the human condition that doesn't feel heavy.

Backman is one of the BEST writers out there. An auto buy author that never disappoints. Anxious People was no different. We are taken into a highly emotional situation that is leveled out with annoying (and yes, anxious) people. The timing of moments to make you laugh are perfectly added. I would highly suggest this story to anyone looking for a day of real moments.

I loved Ove and really liked Backman's following 2 novels but after that it's just gone down hill for me. Sadly I don't think I'll be lining up to read his next one.

The story is so whimsical you think it is comic, then it becomes tragi comedy, then you get serious stuff thrown in and then you get down to earth stuff so the whole cycle is represented.

I would not call it laugh out loud funny but it is quirky definitely. The story is about a bridge, attempted suicide and actual suicide, then it devolves into an apartment viewing, an idiotic hostage situation and then how it is resolved, a family tension on the side between a father and son due to miscommunication more than anything else and it all dovetails neatly.


A lot of strange, strong characters somehow mesh. You have to work your way through this story.

"The whole thing is a complicated, unlikely story. Perhaps that's because what we think stories are about often isn't what they're about at all ... This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots."

Failed bank robbery. Hostage drama. Police trying to solve the case and know the truth behind.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE is filled with layers of intertwined stories in which Backman does a profound study of the characters and allows us to understand better the complexity of human nature. The author offers a realistic depiction of everyday-life conversations with a brush of dry humor. Each analysis of the situation gave me "Sherlock-Holmes-meets-the-Office" vibes and I felt like the narrator was speaking to me while building up the mystery. There were many inspiring and hilarious quotes that I highlighted and wished to immediately share. With a balance of humorous moments and serious monologues, I appreciated that this book conveyed deeper messages about suicide, trauma, depression, grief, mental health and relationships. The well-written storyline and unique characters made me want to devour this book; on the other hand, I didn't want it to end. I thought that the ending wrapped up perfectly, leaving me entirely satisfied.


ANXIOUS PEOPLE warmed my heart and I was ultimately moved.
Through witty and quirky writing, Backman is masterful and writes like no one.
If you are deciding whether to pick this book up or not, just read it!

[ I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review ]

Having recently finished “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and Atria Books!
This story made me slow down to focus and follow along. At times I felt like I was watching the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in my mind, while trying to keep up with all the lovable "idiots" and their lives. I will not soon forget the journey that Mr. Backman took me on, and the magic of the voices in his head (and heart) that created the emotions I felt while reading Anxious People.
Tack själv!! ❤❤❤

Thanks to Libro.Fm and Simon Books for my review copy. All opinions are my own. Jackie went on and on about Anxious People last month, so I knew I needed to give it a listen. I just adore Backman and his writing style. I was laughing at times, and choking up at others. If you liked A Man Called Ove or Beartown, you will once again love his latest work. Trigger warning for suicide and attempted suicide themes. 4.5 stars.

This story was quite unique. I wasn't sure where it was going, but it kept my interest so much that I just had to keep reading. This was my the first book I've read by this author, even though I've been received many, many recommendations to read his previous books. After enjoying this quirky, yet touching story I'll have to read his other books. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to discover the wonderful writing style of Fredrik Backman.

A book about a bank robbery and a hostage situation that isn’t at all what it seems on the surface. It’s actually about bridges, parents, apartment hunting, trying to do what’s right, a costume rabbit head, and finding friendship and love in the most unlikely places. Backman never fails to warm our hearts, make us smile, and believe in the goodness of our neighbors.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. Fredrik Backman is adept at writing stunning and poignant stories, and this is no exception. As I've found with most of his novels, this starts SLOW. The characters are unlikable and the book seems to lack direction. But as the book goes on, the characters become more fleshed out and lovable, and the book is very heartwarming. Loved this.

Blackman does it again! The way he writes is so unique and I love how it often just feels like a stream of consciousness. This novel is not a “sit down and speed through” kind of read. It’s one you want to take your time with and make sure you soak up every thoughtfully planned sentence. I loved every second and would highly recommend this one! Thank you Atria and Netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is really difficult for me to review. I have tried to read Backman’s books in the past and I just cannot do it. This is not an exception. While there’s funny moments, it’s just too long and downright silly and unbelievable for me to give more than three stars. Things pick up and come together by the end, and the messaging is an important one. But I couldn’t really buy into the package. If you’re a fan of Backman then you’ll likely love this, but it wasn’t a winner for me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This book frustrated me to no end. I rarely finish books I don’t enjoy but I was so confused through this whole book I just had to know how it ended and what the heck was even going on. The whole book was just so bizarre to me.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At an open house for an apartment, a failed bank robber bursts in and takes the people at the viewing hostage. As the day goes on, the eight strangers discover that they have more in common than they could've imagined.

With the police surrounding the building and the story being aired on live TV, the tension escalates. But the robber has a choice to make: surrender to the police, or stay inside the apartment with this group of impossible people.

Eight people's lives intersect in Anxious People, a novel about a crime that never took place by an aspiring bank robber who vanishes into thin air.

Basically...Fredrik Backman is a magician. His slight of hand throughout is absolutely brilliant. In typical Backman fashion, he diverts his reader's attention, almost dropping the plot, and then blindsides them with startling revelations as well as how he's connected the characters.

Last year I attended an event for Us Against You where when asked what he had been working on, Backman spoke about Anxious People which had just been published in his native Sweden. He also mentioned that there would be another Beartown book (jumpy claps).

Anxious People is hilarious and heartbreaking, both a comedy and a drama. It is about how a shared experience can change multiple lives, no matter someone's background or social standing—ultimately we are more alike than we are different. Backman fans will love this book. It is heartfelt and moving, and filled with his signature quirky dry wit.

A humorous novel about a not-really-a crime that was committed and results in 8 strangers being held not-hostage. Attempting to rob a bank was just one bad decision. We all make bad decisions sometimes. The bank robbers actions lead into a hostage situation at an apartment viewing. As our hostage situation progresses the strangers begin to share their lives with each other and the robber is left with decisions to make.

This book got me in the heart. The aches of adulthood, loss, parenting and just dealing with life. I thought this book was witty, funny while also being heartfelt. Fredrik has written other books that I've enjoyed. But, this one I really found to be enjoyable but it educated me on life and how we are all idiots sometimes.

A big thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for my ARC of this book!

Anxious people is available now!

This story is about a bank robbery and all of the things that lead to it and the investigation surrounding the hostage situation that followed the bank robbery. You learn the background stories about the hostages and the two police involved. There is humor in the book sometimes the writing can be maddening with the flow of it but it is worth it. Like Dickens it all weaves together. The tidbits of wisdom are great, I enjoyed the book. Finish it!

I want to start by saying that I have loved everyone of Fredrick Backman's books, up until this one. I always try to finish a book, even when I am not enjoying it because I think it is only fair to the writer who has invested so much time and energy into it. I just couldn't carry on with this one. It was very dark, depressing and too introverted for me. I needed more dialogue. I will not totally discount it though. Maybe because I am feeling a little uncheery at the moment the bleakness is too much.
However his writing is still beautiful and I was intrigued to know what happened to the robber. One day I hope to find out.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.

I loved this book. The topic was deep and the human connection got me thinking, but I loved the quirky characters and the humor. Bachman is such an amazing author with such a range of characters, from Ove to the Beartown Hockey teammates to these characters in this story I am amazed by what he writes.
I think my favorite characters were Jack and Jim the police officers, I love their thinking and reasoning but I also felt for them. This is a highly recommended book!

I received this advanced reader copy from NetGalley! Thank you for th opportunity.
This is a book about a bank robbery gone wrong, not in a scary, everyone dies sort of way, but in a humorous, Abbott and Costello sort of way.
Backmans books always show a side of humanity that we all look for in a good book, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Extra kudos to Neil Smith for translating the text and being able to capture the essence of Backmans story. I can’t wait to share this in Book Club!
5*

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Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (translated by Neil Smith) is a crime comedy about eight strangers in a hostage situation, taking place in a small Swedish town. Mr. Backman is prolific, award winning, writer from Sweden.

In a small Swedish town, a bank robbery has taken place. The bank robber is, obviously, not a professional for trying to rob a cashless bank. The robber stumbles into a showing for an apartment, on New Year’s Eve no less, and accidentally turns the incident into a hostage situation.

The small town’s two cops arrive the scene, they are father and son and have to deal with the circus they did not want. Through post even interviews, flashbacks, and history of the hostages the police is trying to weave together what exactly happened.

I knew I was going to like this book from the first line: “This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots”. That’s actually not true, I’ve read several of Mr. Backman’s works and liked them all so I knew there would be a good chanced I’d like this.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is another story taking place in a small Swedish town, where residents could live a peaceful life, unknowingly interacting and changing one another lives forever. I always enjoy the author’s heartwarming story, told with sarcastic wit and quirky, seemingly unrelated events which come together at the end.

Mr. Backman understands human relationships, anxieties and emotions. He knows how to write about them and how to squeeze them so the reader will be able to feel, or at least understand them. In this book the relationships between total strangers who got into a bad situation just amplifies everything involved.

This is a quirky, funny book with a big heart. It does takes a few pages to get used to the author’s writing style and narrative. When telling the story his style is choppy, short sentences to make a point. Dialogue, of course is a different story altogether especially when the characters are interacting.

Even though the book follows the lives of several people, the tone is still very intimate, the quirks, jokes and sarcasm only enhance the sense of loneliness many of them feel, even though they are together with others. The topics the author explores are heavy, but he does so with delicacy and sensitivity which comes across even in a translated form (kudos Mr. Smith).