Starts a little slow, but eventually hits a nice groove all the way to a very strong finish. Backman's signature blend of humor and pathos is on full display here, this time with a dash of mystery thrown in regarding the bank robber's identity. Although it takes a while to fully introduce the many quirky characters, both hostages and those on the immediate periphery, I found myself increasingly drawn into the tale as their backstories unfolded and relationships with each other developed. Only Backman can make a man clad in only his underwear and a rabbit head completely endearing.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Net Galley for this book. I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for a truthful review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book releases September 8th.

"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 book is about a robbery gone wrong but as the author will tell you, it's not about the robbery at all. It is difficult to explain what the book is about without giving too many spoilers--but overall I believe it is a book about human connection and shared experiences. A group of strangers all experiencing different anxieties from their lives are pulled together due to a series of events becoming connected to one another as they work their way through their anxieties. Although this book deals with some heavy topics, there are also so many parts that make you laugh out loud. Which balances the book extremely well.

Quality of Writing 10/10

The quality of writing in this book was a ten for me. Every page there was not only lines but paragraphs I wanted to highlight because the author did such a great job with connecting words to emotions.

Pace 9/10

I think the author did an amazing job at matching the pace to the overall feeling of the book. This book is all about pace--a slow pace. While I am not a fan of slow paced books I still had to give the author a nine on pace because he uses pace to make you feel the anxieties of the characters. The author would go off on tangents and stories and I would be begging for the story to get back on track so I could know how things were going to play out.

Plot Development 8/10
The plot jumps around a bit with each of the characters which at times I found it a bit difficult to follow but the author did a great job at linking it all back eventually. The plot is full of all these strings and the reader is trying to figure out how they all connect. Again I found this added to the anxious feeling of the book.

Characters 8/10

I personally didn't form a connection to any of the characters in book. I like stories that I at least connect to someone and am rooting for someone, but that just wasn't here for me. I found most of the characters pretty neurotic. However I do feel the characters very well suited the book- they just weren't people I found myself rooting for.

Enjoyability 7/10

There were so many things I loved about this book. I think the author is a genius in the connections he made with all the characters and the different plot lines. I also like I mentioned, found so many passages that were beautifully written that I highlighted and wanted to go back to. But for me the pace and the feeling of anxiousness of reading this style made it not as enjoyable as a read. However I appreciate the novel for the beauty that it is.


Thought Provoking 10/10

There were so many times I stopped during reading this to really think about what the author was saying. There were great passages on human connection, the way we view relationships, technology, and the world around us.
"The truth of course is that if people really were as happy as they look on the Internet, they wouldn't spend so much damn time on the Internet, because no one who's having a really good day spends half of it taking pictures of themselves"

Ease of Reading/ Reading Comprehension 8/10

This is a book that is helpful if you keep a list of the characters and some basic plot points when reading. The characters are all so connected that sometimes it is difficult to remember the small plot points that later connect them. I found myself a couple times having to read back to remember certain plot points and connections.

Ending 9/10
The last 100 pages and the ending is where the book really shined for me. After all the slow pacing you finally get so many details and I feel the author did a great job with not rushing the ending and letting the characters each have their own time to shine in the end.

Fredrik Backman has this remarkable ability to conjure up stories about every day people and present them in such unique ways. In Anxious People, he takes a bank robber who wishes to steal a specific amount of money but when the robbery itself goes awry, the robber runs and winds up at an apartment viewing that seems to have attracted the strangest people ever. Each person, including the bank robber gets to express their story where Backman delves into their background, showing us how they got to be where they are. It's through masterful storytelling that he puts in to perspective human behaviours. With this random group of socially-awkward individuals and by the author's description, idiots, the greater the insight.

One character in particular, Zara, stands out to me. She comes off to me as a cross between two of Backman's most beloved characters - Ove and Britt-Marie - but definitely way more prickly and blunt to the point of rudeness. I was so frustrated with her yet compelled to know more about her. Her sessions with her psychiatrist are so trying that they border on comical because Zara is who she is and even at her worst, she has the most remarkable observations about life.

Anxious People requires a bit more concentration because there are so many characters and POVs, and the chapters tend to jump around so much. I usually have a harder go at reading stories set up like that but it's Backman, and I know he always has something good in store. The payoff is worth it when connections start making sense. This novel is a testament to his craft as he develops mini stories within a grander story and eventually has all the pieces mean something and fit together. The reader wonders what obsucre events have to do with anything but it all becomes clear at the end. Backman also includes a slight twist that deserves a tip of the hat.

Anxious People will have you run the gamut of emotions from anxiety to grief to forgiveness. As with some of his previous works there is mention of suicide. Yet the tone is balanced against all of the quirky details and tangents throughout the story. (Oh, just you wait until the rabbit comes into it!) Backman is simply incredible and he's gifted us with another impactful novel. All these characters feel real and I know they've resonated with readers who feel that there's a bit of them in here. As for me, I was charmed by everyone in the end, none more so than Zara.

~ Bel

A wonderful book that made me laugh and cry. If you like books that impact you emotionally, I would definitely recommend Anxious People. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. A more detailed review will be posted on Goodreads and my Instagram very soon.

A would-be bank robber tries to rob a cashless bank, accidentally takes a group of people hostage, then mysteriously disappears.

That is a one-sentence summary of Fredrik Backman's new novel, Anxious People. I'm a huge fan of Backman's work, so I was very excited to get my hands on his newest - and I wasn't disappointed. Once again, he knocks it out of the park with his storytelling prowess and unique insight into the human condition.

Part irreverent comedy, part serious drama, and part mystery, Backman introduces the reader to a group of people that you grow to love: retired couple trying to hold on to their marriage, a young couple about to start a family, a lonely old woman, a high-powered executive with a hidden secret, a naked man wearing a bunny head, and a bank robber that you can't help but root for. He expertly weaves a narrative through twists, turns, truths, lies, and revelations as he brings these seemingly random strangers through a Clue-like locked-room mystery.

The story is revealed through various alternating viewpoints: the father and son police team investigating the incident, police interviews with the hostages after they've been released, and flashbacks to what was happening before and during the hostage situation. Each person's backstory is slowly revealed throughout the story, adding depth and insight into their characters and revealing another piece of the mystery to the reader.

Sharp-witted observations about life and human nature by the omniscient narrator pepper the prose with a satirical-yet-sophisticated feel, reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Anxious People is filled with moments that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make your jaw drop. Another highly-recommended novel by this modern-day master storyteller!

A fabulous story about how we are all idiots who are just trying our best one day at a time. Anxious People is funny, heart-warming, and incredibly meaningful, and I am so excited for other people to read this book. This is my first Fredrik Backman book that I've read, and it will not be my last.

I requested this book because I kept hearing rave things about it and wanted something different than my usual read. Anxious people did not disappoint, it captured me from the first chapter. The writing was intriguing and almost comical but in a dark way. I have not read anything else by Backman but he is definitely on my list of authors to must read now! If you like a book that touches on social issues in thought provoking ways and also has a side of comical relief. I highly recommend you add Anxious people to your list!

This was my first Fredrik Backman book and I truly enjoyed it! The build up from the first chapter was amazing. The writing was so unique and dare I say comical! What starts off with a man jumping off a bridge, fast forward to a bank robber bursting into an apartment open house after running from the police, he holds the people hostage, they order pizza and he releases the hostages and it appears he just disappeared. The book bounces back and forth between police officers a father and son duo questioning the hostages, then back to when the hostages being held by the robber and we get the back story of each hostage. There is so much going as the police try to uncover where the robber is hiding. I loved how each character have their own anxieties, Ro is worried, Julia is tired and pregnant, Roger is hurting and wounded, Anna Lena wanted to just go home, Zara is in pain and dealing with inner demons, and Estelle well who really knows.. this is so much more than a robber and hostage book it dives into mental health, divorce, betrayal and father and son relationships and the ups and downs. Soon these eight strangers find they have more in common than they realize! I give this book five stars!!

Although much in line with Backman’s style, Anxious People was definitely different from my past Backman reads. Not as heartwarming as Ove, but filled with a lot of snarky humor. Social commentary and observations are woven throughout. I absolutely love how Backman can truly get in to the human psyche. And he can make all of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly, humorous.

Thanks to Netgalley and Libro.fm for the e arc and audio of Anxious People. ⁣
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The premise of this- an attempted bank robbery that ends up with people viewing an apartment being held hostage, and the resulting police investigation, sounds kind of amusing but wouldn’t normally be my favorite thing either. In this case, this book was so much more and I loved it!⁣
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You get to know all the people being held hostage and their stories, as well as the father and son policemen investigating the case. The book touches on loss and grief. The audio was so good too! ⁣
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Backman had a very short novella out a few years ago called And every morning the way home gets longer and longer. It’s a story about a family losing their grandfather to dementia. That story is one of my favorites and made me cry like a baby when I read it the day a relative died. ⁣
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This one evoked some similar feelings although not as intense for me. I’ve enjoyed Backman previously but haven’t read all his books. I think I want to go back and read more of his books now. The way he describes feelings and relationships is so accurate. ⁣
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Easily one of my favorites this year! This comes out Tuesday so check it out. ⁣
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This is the best book I've read in years! I've read most - if not all - of Fredrik Backman's books and each one is different from the last. And each one is special and magical in its own right.

There's a lot of dialogue in this book and I read it carefully so not to miss a bit of the hidden gems. There was humor and wisdom and insight and surprises. The characters are all uniquely wonderful and I would love to see future Backman books dealing with each one of them.

The writing is Backman at his best; the plot is unusual and impossible to guess all the outcomes. A lot of topics are covered - and covered well. I found myself laughing out loud in some places, crying in others as I nodded in recognition.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time and it's sure to become a well-deserved best seller!!

I have absolutely adored the three Fredrik Backman’s novels that I have read. Backman writes with warmth but also can write with a bite. Some sentences can make me laugh while the next makes my heart physically ache. He switches between vulnerability and depth to irony and lightheartedness. This was definitely shown in his most recent book. I struggled to get into it at first, but once it hooked me I couldn’t stop! ⁣👏🏻
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This book is definitely not actually about a robbery. As Backman says, it’s about some idiots. Hilarious, broken, sad, intense, thoughtful, complex and lovable idiots. Part of the intrigue of this story was to see how they all connected! Without spoilers, I loved seeing what happened to them.⁣😊
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I think this book is read differently by people with depression and anxiety. Backman has some really relevant points about mental illness and being an adult in general, including social media, how we relate to each other, falling in love, etc. He focuses a lot on being a parent which made me think but I do think a lot of his writing would’ve influenced me differently if I was a parent. It made me want to hug my parents and see life through their eyes. He does a phenomenal job writing in a bittersweet way that reminds us of the joy in this world but reflects on the melancholy parts as well. I think it’s obvious Backman is reflective of his own parenting. ⁣
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Overall this is a sentimental, touching, funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming read. Backman does it again but in a different style. A touching book full of idiots.❤️❤️

One day, a bank robbery goes wrong and ends up as a hostage situation in an apartment set up for viewing and the police scramble to identify the so-called “bank robber”. But it is not just that as it deals with all the people at this apartment viewing and how they are handling their lives. This book is so deep and throws light on how pretty much everyone in this world is trying adult life without really any master-plan, how everyone is dealing with their own stuff.

This book is Backman to the T absolutely! His writing style is so witty even when dealing with some profoundly philosophical stuff. Touted as one of the most anticipated reads of this year doesn’t disappoint! It has a perfect dose of humor and also leaves the reader with something to ponder over as well. The first few pages are absolutely gems of wisdom for everyone to follow in their lives! This was a book that I had no idea what to expect as it has a completely different plot.

Definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

This was a nice story that ultimately felt like it was made for a film opportunity. All told, there were SO MANY "quotable" moments in this book that just felt like an author seeing all the golden moments of every piece of fiction. This is good, mostly, though it gets a bit tiresome when a book just needs to be a story rather than a piece of self-help wisdom. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but the *wisdom* was a bit drawn out, and the story felt a bit stretched beyond its apex. The author clearly has the profound skill of human observation, able to analyze what makes a relationship, what makes happiness, what makes a life worth lived. But, again, all those things combined fells a bit less like a story than it should, for me. I did laugh out loud several times, which I appreciate.

Ultimately, about grief, loss, love, happiness, forgiveness, acceptance. I'm sure you'll see it in a film very soon.

I was really looking forward to this one but it just didn't work for me. I've enjoyed some of Backman's other books so fully expected to love this one and I'm disappointed it didn't work for me. It took some time for me to get into the rhythm of this style of writing/storytelling but once I did, while I thought it would end up being fine, I just never fully connected with the characters or the 'unique' style. I was ready for it to end. One of the big factors for me was the really weird, negative representation of the two cops throughout the story but especially during the witness interviews. Not sure if the author was solely trying to be funny but it definitely didn't work for me.

I love Fredrik Backman books; Beartown is one of my top 3 favorite books of all time. So I have been so excited to read this one. When a bank robbery goes wrong, a group of people looking at an apartment are taken hostage. This is the story of what did, and didn’t happen, and the two police officers in charge of the case. This story is full of humor and, in usual Backman style, leaves you with a lot of feelings and things to think about.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Anxious People begins with a failed bank robbery that brings the criminal at hand to run away into a nearby apartment building. Inside the building is an open house for an apartment recently listed. When the bank robber suddenly closes everyone up inside and holds them hostage, the events that spiral showcase many different issues.

Anxious People was the second novel I have read by Fredrik Backman. I am always impressed with his keen awareness of the human condition and how well he expresses life through humor and insight. This novel is no different. I found the writing style to be interesting and all of the characterizations to be extremely on point. The highlight of the story was the slow burn of events that reveal the purpose of the novel.

This book was suggested to me. It starts off slightly confusing. Like where is this going? But then it takes off! It makes you think. It makes you guess. You are wrong. Everything goes together. I really liked it. I need to re-read it!!! It has so many thoughtful moments. Thanks Netgalley!

"We're more than the mistakes we made yesterday"
This book was a masterpiece.
Anxious people by Fredik Backman is about a bank robber who fails to rob a bank and to try to escape, the bank robber enters an apartment where accidentally takes hostage the 8 people who are trying to buy the place.
As Fredik Backman says this is more than a story about a bank robber is a story about love, an apartment viewing, and a hostage drama.
The way the characters' stories link with one another was one of the things I liked the most about this book.
This book teaches the reader that we deserved second chances and that sometimes it is better to talk to someone about our problems because we are not alone.
"I learned that you don't have to be happy all the time. But I'm happy ... enough"
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend it
5 stars

Before I start talking about Anxious People, I must confess that I had not read anything by the author and now I know I should have and I regret not doing so sooner.
Anxious People seemed like a peculiar read. I mean is not common to find books about bank robberies gone wrong or at least to in this genre – or that I know of- and from the moment I started reading, I knew that not only the topic was unique but also the way is written.
The style is light, fresh, and humorous and that helps to make the story fast-paced. The other part that makes this story compelling is the plot and characters. We have plenty of characters but each of them has a part in the story and each of them has its own personality. I cannot say I liked the all, sometimes they were exasperating and acted like, well…idiots (although, that is kind of the point). However, it is hard not to feel related to them, in some way and as you continue reading, you can start to understand them.
I liked the plot twist and I enjoyed the ending. I do not know exactly what I was expecting from the book; I read a big amount of praise for the author, thus I did have some expectations, but the story surprised me. I laughed, I cried, it was thought-provoking and riveting and I ended up liking it much more than I thought. I finished the book at 1:00 am and just stared at the horizon, thinking: wow!. Yes, it was that good. And yes, I do recommend it.