This is definitely a unique and quirky story filled with interesting and "real" characters.

It starts with a bank robbery attempt and ends with a heartwarming story of eight strangers (AKA hostages or AKA idiots) who all had stories to tell and connections were made.

In addition to the digital arc, I also listened to this, which I highly recommend. The narrator is fantastic at all the different voices and attitudes of the characters. I laughed out loud more than once during the interviews of the hostages. It also brought out some tears in the end. Backman has a way of bringing all the "idiots" together and making it a wonderful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the digital advanced copy and to Libro.fm for an advanced listener copy.

Great book. I always like Backman's stories. They have an element of realness and often sadness to them somewhere which makes the character seem of this world and not fictional. But he also spreads in humor and this one had some hilarious moments. I think I may start hiding wine in my closet haha.

Anxious People is a beautiful book with tidbits is wisdom throughout.. Fredrick Hackman knows how to relate to many readers.

My first thoughts on this review have simply been deleted and I start anew. If you have ever had one of those coincidences, those moments where are you chance to meet someone, or understand the six degrees of separation sometimes isn’t six, this novel is for you. As I started reading this story I was so frustrated by the conversations of the characters. It felt like a bad dream where you couldn’t get ahead in the story. But that lessened as a plot went on. There are many moments of sweetness, of kindnesses, and have people taking care of people. This book is not at all like Beartown. This book is not at all like A man called Ove. I believe Mr. Backman has much to tell us and I for one will continue to read all of his works. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

It took me a long time to get into this book, and for a while it was not the one I wanted to pick up first at the end of a busy day, but eventually my head cleared and I absolutely fell in love with this story. Fredrik Backman sure knows how to pack a punch and the last 10% of this had me flipping pages frantically while tears spilled down my cheeks.

Thee characters, and this unique situation are definitely a bit of a slow burn but I loved the way the puzzle pieces fit together at the end. There were so many lines I intend to copy out and refer to. The author's note was phenomenal. Backman makes the human condition so universal here and it is incredible to experience it.

Thank you to the publisher for the complementary copy.

This was such a wonderful book. I loved
how the story wove between the investigation and the hostage situation. The characters are unique and each storyline is a fun study into their lives.

Definitely recommend this newest Backman.

Anxious People
352 pages
Genre: fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unread shelf since: August 2020
**Thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

SYNOPSIS: This is 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 that they ever imagined. Viewing an apartment doesn’t normally turn into a life or death situation, but this open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As pressure mounts, the strangers begin opening up to one another and 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.

“We plant an apple tree today, even if we know the world is going to be destroyed tomorrow.”

REVIEW: Wow. I was looking to get my hands on this book since it was announced, because Backman has become one of my favorite authors, and he did not disappoint. I flew through this in a few hours, because it was so wonderful. This book encompasses friendship, quirky people, depression, anxiety, love, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, grief, and so much more. This story bounced around and the narrative seemed a little scattered at times, which is true to being anxious. Every word has a place by the end, and you realize none of it was random like it may have seemed. This story had me laughing out loud at parts, and a broken heart at others. I grew to love every single character, and will carry their stories and experiences with me for a long time.

Author Fredrik Bachman has become so adept at creating multi-layered dramatic set pieces that become something other than what they appear the farther into the story the reader moves. His characters are also like onions, with their motives, beliefs, backstories and emotional handicaps wrapped tightly around their core personalities. Slowly peeling away the layers will also involve most of the book. ANXIOUS PEOPLE is and is not a tale about a bank robbery and a group of people held as hostages. This is inspired storytelling that engages readers on every level. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A story about a bank robbery. Or about an apartment viewing. Or about a bridge. Or about a hostage drama. Or about a father and his son. Or about a mother and her daughters. Or people who make a poor decision. Anxious people who are not sure if they will see tomorrow and if so, what tomorrow will bring. After the bank robbery went totally wrong, the bank robber storms into an apartment viewing and takes all the prospective buyers hostage. Unsure of what to do since this wasn’t planned at all, the situation gradually gets out of control since the captives are prepared to do a lot, but not being kept hostage, at least not by a failed robber. On the opposite side, two policemen, father and son, have to cope with the situation which becomes highly complicated when they realise that the robber has obviously vanished into thin air after the captives have been freed. Some of them must have helped the robber to escape, but who and, more importantly: why?

I have totally adored all novels written by Fredrik Backman and also his latest did not disappoint: a brilliantly constructed plot with highly lovable characters and – as expected – a wonderful narrator who puts the story into the right perspective. Backman is one of those authors who creates those characters at the fringe, who are a bit different, maybe even strange, who do not easily socialise but who, if you take a closer look, are adorable and at the core, just good people.

It is all but easy to tell a story full of human drama with a light-hearted tone which makes you laugh out loud and keeps your spirit high even though the characters’ lives are actually a sequence of disappointments and failures. Their ways cross several times, not too unexpectedly in a small Swedish town, and with each encounter, if they are aware of it or not, trigger a slight change. The exceptional circumstances provide them with a chance of opening up, of telling their story and secrets and realising that they are actually not alone with the ghosts who haunt them.

Fredrik Backman surely is an outstanding writer with not only an eye for the fascinating detail which is easily overlooked but, first and foremost, an advocate for the seeming odd characters who deserve a closer inspection because they actually have great stories to tell.

The plot of this book sounds outlandish: the worst bank-robber ever accidentally takes hostages and finds out they are the worst hostages ever. A father and son, who work together in law enforcement, try to figure out what happened to the bank robber, who has mysteriously disappeared. Truly, though, the topic is conveyed in its title – it is about anxious people, and also about depressed people, suicidal people, and those that think they are not “good enough” or worthy of being loved. It is hard to explain this book without spoilers. It is like a big puzzle that is gradually assembled, all coming together at the end.

Backman takes serious topics and examines them through the lens of an absurd situation. It is a very unusual mix of elements, but somehow, he pulls it off. The characters are quirky, each expressing one or more insecurities. Backman uses humor to illuminate human frailties. I felt empathy for these people. I chuckled a number of times at the author’s wry observations on our society. It is off the beaten path, clever, creative, and insightful.

I have had mixed feelings about Fredrik Backman's novels in the past. Some I have loved (like Beartown) and some I have really struggled with, (a Man Called Ove). So when I saw he was publishing a new book this fall I was interested but didn't want my expectations to be too high.

I decided to give it a go the other day because I have been in a bit of a reading rut- and it ended up being what I didn't know I needed right now in my reading life! It's totally quirky, a little dark, terrifically witty and the character development is really what makes this one shine. I could feel these characters coming to life through the pages and it encompasses something that we can all connect with right now, being human.

It's a tough one to explain because when I first read the summary, I didn't think it sounded like anything I would normally like to read. But the reviews from some of my trusted sources were raving, and if there is anything 2020 has taught me, is that sometimes things do not go like you initially expect. And boy were they were right! It covers some heavy hard-hitting topics while at the same time being totally heartwarming and sometimes laugh out loud funny.

We meet a slew of eccentric and complex characters (and if you get the chance to read this via audiobook, Marin Ireland is amazing at portraying them all!) who are all strangers and ultimately become connected. The story is narrated through short chapters consisting of therapy sessions and police interviews that share the nuances of these individuals while also unraveling a mystery. It sounds like a lot but it is masterfully written and one I know I won't ever forget.

I know it is only September, but I already know this will be one of my top books of 2020. I highly recommend going in blind with this one because it is so much more than what you might first assume, a lot like being human right?

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and LibroFM for the gifted copies. As always, all thoughts are my own. You can read this and other book reviews at genthebookworm.com

I loved this book SO much. It was laugh out loud funny while still being incredibly sensitive. Suicide is a subject that hits close to home and can be difficult, but Backman addressed it in a contemplative way and I appreciated that.
I loved the entire cast of unique characters. It was just a really lovely read.

This man, I tell you what! I am a longtime fan of Backman. I have read all of his books, and some multiple times. This has been my most anticipated book of the year. I have had it for a few months but I held off until September to read it as a reward to myself, and to not annoy my followers with too much talk of it knowing that they didn't yet have access.

Well, I finally read it and I binged the heck out of it. I was phenomenal. I loved everything about it. The slow start as we are trying to get to know the characters. The spoon-fed information that feels like a tease. The wit, oh the wit. I laughed out loud so many times! I loved the basic sense of humanity here. This book indeed gives me all the feels!

I highlighted atleast 92 different quotes that I just adored and need to have easy access to! I will definitely be reading this one over and over. It has made it's way to my top Backman book, and it will be hard to take it's place.

Thank you a million to the Atria team and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you Atria Books, Netgalley, Libro.fm, & Simon Audio for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

OKAY, why, no HOW, is Fredrik Backman such a genius?! Prior to this, I’ve only read the two BEAR TOWN books, which I LOVED. I also have A MAN CALLED OVE, but have been nervous to read it because how can it possibly, also, be that good?! After reading his newest release, I’m a forever fan. I need to read everything he’s written!

I was also a skeptic about ANXIOUS PEOPLE just based on the title. I was like why do I want to read about people with anxiety? What does that even mean? Well forget about the title, because I’m still not entirely sure what it means, but all you need to know is that it’s incredible.

Backman has such a unique way of writing, and it certainly takes some getting used to, but it’s beautiful and it’s brilliant. He puts so much foreshadowing into his writing, but without truly spoiling the story. He can also intertwine and weave together an intricate storyline like no ones business. I’m always floored by the little connections between characters.

Marin Ireland is the perfect narrator. She puts so much emotion into each character. I was truly impressed by her interpretation of the bank teller. I wanted to reach through my earbuds and strangle her because she was so obnoxious.

Besides the one annoying character (and even she was somewhat endearing), I fell in love with all of the characters and I never wanted this story to end. Read the book. Or better yet, listen to the book. The end.

Wow. What an odd book! I've only read Backman's Beartown duo, so the dark comedy in this one caught me off guard. I've been told by other readers that many of his other novels are similar in style to this one, so I guess in all honestly Backman is probably not for me. He has an important message here, (all of his novels do), but the delivery didn't work for me. I thought the humor was incredibly awkward, the characters unbelievable (with the exception of Estelle, who was adorable) and I just found myself wishing I could read faster so it would end. Not how I expected to feel! I have to say that more than a few moments felt reminiscent of Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, (hostage situation, unlikely people thrown together ultimately learning something about themselves and others) - the books are fundamentally very different of course but the situation similar. I have to say that I'm somewhat shocked by the many 5 star reviews on this one!

3.5 I have read everything Backman had published (in English). This was, I feel, his weakest offering. The story is so disjointed. It has almost none of the charm of his quirkier novels without the hard hitting themes of Beartown and Us Against You. It's just kind of a phone in. For him. And I think he has done and will continue to do better than this.

Wow! Wow! Double Wow!

What an interesting, well written story, wrought with emotion! When I first started the book, I was a bit confused and it took a minute to adjust to the writing style, but I was hooked.

No spoilers here......do yourself a favor and run to the bookstore!

This is bound to be a top book of 2020!

A special thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Fredrik Backman for providing me with an ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. I have been highly anticipating this author’s next book, and my expectations were so high. He lived up to every one of them. I will be recommending this book to everyone. Well done!

I don’t know how Fredrick Backman does it, but every damn time he does it!!! This is maybe my 4th Backman book and I’ll be honest and say that at the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep reading it because it was a bit confusing. However, once the story started getting good, it got reallllll good!! The characters stories were all so well written and the way everything ties together is like poetry. Well done Sir, Well done.

Brilliant! There aren't enough stars to give this book. I loved it. Clever without being pretentious. All the characters are so fleshed out, and there are quite a few, so that is amazing in itself.