I’ve read and enjoyed several Backman novels, but I had a hard time with a big slice of this one, as I’ll explain.

Poor Jim and Jack, father-and-son police officers, are investigating a failed bank robbery-turned-hostage-situation, which ended with the release of the hostages and the disappearance of the perpetrator. Much of the book is taken up with their interrogations of the hostages. Almost all the interviewees are either extremely rude to Jim and Jack, treating their questions as if they’re offensive or nonsensical, or they argue among themselves or go off on self-absorbed tangents and passive-aggressively don’t answer questions. Each interview is like some kind of obnoxious 21st-century version of the “who’s on first” comedy routine. The problem for me is that I can’t stand this type of humor. Jim and Jack are so unfailingly polite to these jerks, which actually just made me more annoyed, since I couldn’t help thinking that maybe these people wouldn’t be such jerks if somebody straightened them out. But I know that a lot of people enjoy this type of humor, maybe even the majority, so I kept going.

Putting aside the patter that was obnoxious to me, there is much to like in the book. At bottom, it’s about being human, and how that can be a source of so much pain but also happiness. And, as usual in a Backman book, the end is full of schmaltzy uplift. (For some people, that is an affirmation, for others it may be a warning.)

My rating is largely based on my personal distaste for the type of humor in the book. For those who have a different taste, this could be an enjoyable read throughout.

Somehow, every Fredrik Backman book seems to be a lighthearted, fun, easy read that, in reality, is filled with deeply philosophical, emotionally charged wisdom. In Anxious People, we meet a motley group of folks who are viewing an apartment, a failed bank robber, and a father-son police team, all of whom have their own anxiety-ridden stories that become expertly woven together to make a whimsical story about human nature.

Anxious People throws a group of strangers together under unusual circumstances at an apartment showing, right after a bank robbery gone wrong. In a quirky, staccato, voice, this book is written in true Backman style. Each character is quite distinctive from the other characters and will have you feeling both amused and empathetic as they delve into their individual lives while being held hostage by a hapless burglar. What can I say? This author draws me in with every book he writes and leaves me feeling good when I put the book down for the last time. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy, it was a joy to read.

Being an anxious person, I wanted to pick up the latest book by Fredrick Backman. This is the second book I’ve read from this author after Beartown. I enjoyed the social commentary about the difficulties of adulthood. I was surprised by the author’s ability to make you sympathize with a bank robber. It was interesting to read about the relationship between the father and son cops and their interviews with the witnesses. At first I wasn’t sure where this book was going or what its purpose would be in that it simply seemed to be an exploration of different people. Every single person in this book was so unique and quirky. I liked how the characters connected with each other in various ways. As a prospective new home owner, it was funny to read all the banter between the hostages about the housing market and the intricacies of selecting and bidding for a home. The writing was clever and quick-witted. The whole plot was rather comical and humorous, however, I can see how some readers will find this book to be depressing too. About halfway through there is a reveal I wasn’t expecting in terms of who the bank robber was, and you could see the hostages becoming attached to their captor (hence why Stockholm was mentioned repeatedly). Everything wrapped up nicely with a positive and hopeful ending.

5 Powerful Stars

“Anxious People” is a thought provoking, heart-wrenching, comical novel that leaves you in wonderment. It’s Fredrik Backman at his best. At its heart, this book deals with human connection and the impact people have on each other. It showcases Mr. Backman’s talent in an entirely new way and it is another reminder as to why he is one of my favorite authors.

Fredrik Backman is an author who has an innate ability to capture the human spirit, get under his characters’skins, and relay his characters thoughts and feelings in a way that makes us feel as if we know them, as if we are friends with them and at times, as if we are them.

“Anxious People” is different from Backman’s other novels, there are no quirky curmudgeons like Ove or Britt-Marie and there are no Benji’s. This story features a Bank Robber, a Hostage Situation, a Real Estate Agent and an entire cast of other extremely complicated characters. This is a character driven novel and it delves into the trials and tribulations of each individual whose lives are affected by the situation that they are in. I had no idea what I was in for when I dived in - what I will say is that each and every character will steal your heart. It’s that thing called human connection.

Within just a few minutes of reading this, tears pricked my eyes and I knew from that moment on that this book was special. It is wild and crazy and unlike anything you’ve ever read. At times you will be exasperated and yet you will keep reading. One minute you will be laughing and the next you will be in tears. For me, it happened and happened often.

Once again, Fredrik Backman does something special here and I’m so very grateful for it.

“Anxious People” is a must read and it will most certainly be on my Goodreads Best of List for 2020. This novel reminded me that everything I do can potentially impact others and therefore, I must think before I act. It also reminded me how important human connection is and how grateful I am for the relationships I have built with all of you. Though times are difficult right now, I am thankful that we have each other. I wish you all good health, peace and safety. Namaste.

A huge thank you to Ms. Ariele Friedman at Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc. Thank you also to Fredrik Backman for continuing to write such incredible words. You inspire me.

Published on Goodreads on 5.9.2020.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

My favorite Swedish writer is back with a series of quirky characters and one heck of a very strange scenario. But as I have realized in reading Frederik Backman's books, it's better to tighten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride than to ask serious questions. I was more than ready to read one of my eagerly anticipated novels of the fall.

A bank robbery. A hostage drama. A stairwell full of police officers on their way to storm the apartment. It was easy to get to this point, much easier than you think. All it took was one single really bad idea. This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots

I don't know about my fellow readers but I enjoy a story in which several flawed individuals manage to make a situation even crazier than it originally was. No doubt Backman was amazed by what police officers Jack and Jim had to encounter during the interview of the witnesses. All I know was I couldn't stop laughing.

But I don't want people to walk in thinking it's just straight-up comedy. Rather there are some fairly serious topics that Backman tackles- infidelity, suicide, mental illness, etc. These are handled with the most care and as the storyline progressed I became increasingly attached to Zara, Jules and Ro, Roger and Anna-Lena, Estelle, and even the rabbit ( you'll see)!

Fantastic unforgettable read!


Goodreads review published 03/08/20
Expected publication date 08/09/20

An absolutely wonderful story that is not really about its main premise, a hostage taking. Instead it is about faith in humanity, resilience and how one small thing can change someone’s life. The characters are believable, relatable and will make you believe that goodness still exists in this world and that you never really know anybody. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

This is Frederik Backman at his best. This novel is in a word, beautiful. It is at times laugh at loud funny, and at times so heartbreaking you feel it in your soul. In the end it is a story about what it means to be a human in this world we live in. It explores how we interact with each other, when we are both at our best, and our worst, and really just in our everyday lives. It is a story about compassion and the power of kindness.

When a group of strangers is thrust together in a stressful situation, they seem to have nothing in common other than being in the wrong place at the same time. Each character is introduced, and the reader sees them on the surface of who they are. Then, with his amazing talent, Backman peels back the layers and you learn the true motivations and characters of each person. The story moves, and surprises you with each chapter. It will leave your breathless and touch your heart. This is a story that the world needs right now. Whether you are a fan of Backman or not, Anxious People is a must read!

Heartwarming, incredibly relatable, and just a captivating story. I loved this just as much as Ove. Loved the characters, narration, and the writing was just fabulous. I will recommend this to everyone.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE will make you believe that life is worth living, no matter the challenges. And that Stockholm is not just a city in Sweden. I plan to buy multiple copies for friends and relatives. "Nuff said.

I love Fredrik Backman's books because they always have such amazing characters--they're so real to life. He has this fantastic way of creating dynamic, totally believable characters, complete with flaws and strengths. He also has a way of inviting the reader to almost become a character, thinking about whether you would react and respond the same way his characters do or in different ways. What I love most about Backman's books, however, is how they make me empathize with others. At the outset of Anxious People, I had the thought that I might have to read it in small doses because several of the characters were annoying or abrasive. But as I continued reading Backman skillfully pulled back the layers on each character, taking me past their outward actions to their hearts. I found myself not only wanting to reread the book when I finished it but wanting to restart right in the middle of the book with my new understanding of and appreciation for the characters so that I could erase my earlier annoyance with them and instead read every moment with my newfound insights into their true characters. These sweet, beautiful, totally flawed, and totally relatable people stole my heart--and also reminded me of how often in real life if we would stop being annoyed with people and see who they really are, our hearts would melt and we would do whatever we could to help them.
Besides the wonderful cast of characters, Backman's plot and the setting were so interesting--the majority of the book takes place in one apartment--and there were several twists that I did not see coming at all. It was a fascinating read that was so thought-provoking. I adored it, and I want everyone I know to read it so we can talk about it!
5 stars. Definitely one of my favorites for 2020.
I read an ARC of #AnxiousPeople provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

For fans of Fredrick Backman, Anxious People doesn’t disappoint. Backman’s newest title boasts his fantastic prose: beautiful written, slowly unraveling, and always with a twist or two that you don’t expect. The premise of a botched bank robbery turning into a hostage situation of the friendliest sort is a bit improbably, but of course, Backman lays out a scenario in which it could be entirely probable.

Some parts of this book left me confused, and I don’t feel that my questions were answered as I’ve come to expect of this author. The book deals with serious subject matter, but Backman’s point in writing it doesn’t seem to land home quite as well as with his other books. On one hand, this is a good read, and on another hand, it doesn’t seem to quite live up to the high bar that he’s set.

Reservations aside, Anxious People is a great pick for fans of Backman and slow-burning fiction. It’s an essential purchase for libraries, and will make a great gift or rainy Sunday read.

‘They may not have had much in common, but they all knew what it was like to make a mistake’.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED... however it didn't begin that way. I have to admit that as much as I ended up loving this I did struggle getting into it. The personalities in the beginning ‘interviews’ seemed to run together and felt too similar. ‘Idiots’. But, as the story hit about the 1/4 mark the characters began to separate into their own voices. Backman has a real talent in his ability break through and touch on feelings/emotions every reader can relate to in some way. I don’t know how he was able to make such an intricate story move so flawlessly.

There were so many moments in this that had me laughing and the next wanting to cry. This is also chocked full of amazing quotes... I have a whole ‘note’ on my iPad filled and I will be referring to them often. Another favorite of 2020.

What a delightful romp! The stage is set: a robber in a black ski mask walks into a bank waving a gun and demanding six thousand and five hundred kronors .... however, this bank is one of those newfangled "cashless" banks ... oops! The robber quickly retreats across the street in an attempt to get away. The robber stumbles into an open apartment ... in the midst of a group of people "viewing" the apartment in consideration of buying. The group consists of two couples.... older married couple of Anna-Lena and Roger and much younger couple of two women ... Julian ("Jules") who is pregnant and her wife, "Ro". We are to learn much about their lives ... both their strengths , foibles and idiosyncrasies. Then there is Estelle, an 87 year-old that tells all her dead husband, Knut, is parking the car. Definitely standoffish is Zara ... a fifty-something sarcastic and successful bank executive ... and any interaction with her is punctuated with derision. And lets not forget , the real estate agent ... who hides in the bathroom to gain courage before the "showing"
This is vintage Fredrik Backman ... he initiates his complex interwoven narrative in the form of a slapstick-like screwball comedy ... that would rival the Abbot and Costello "Who's On First?" routine. And, just when the reader is getting into the rhythm of slapstick and tomfoolery, Backman punches you in the gut with poignancy and deep observations of life. He manages to explore and comment on such diverse constructs of life as: love, friendship, addiction, marriage, parenthood, suicide and even the ramifications of death. Just a few pearls: "the ones who make you laugh last a lifetime" ... "we're doing the best we can"/ (we're all idiots to some degree) .... this narrative is littered with gems and absurdities in consideration of the human condition. Be prepared to shed some tears
along the way!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an electronic Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com)

I was not that fond of a Man Named Ove, but I loved this book. This book needs to be a book club book bc you will want to talk to someone about it!! A set if people come to all look at an apartment for sale one day. Little did they know, a bank robbery that never really exists, begins to come into the apartment space. I would say that each character has been plauged with anxiety for some reason and that day brings it all out them. What happens when individuals who don't know each other quickly bonds over something happening to them all.

This book was clever, witty, poignant, and all-around brilliant! I hadn’t read a Fredrik Backman novel prior to this, but I know now that I need to change that! Backman weaves together his humor with fascinating and relatable reflections regarding the human condition. I found myself need to pause after re-reading a few passages to revel in the profoundness of his writing. i decided to give this 4 1/2 rather than 5 stars only because I found the first 100 pages to be a bit redundant with his manner of storytelling. Once I was introduced to all of the characters, I couldn't put this book down!

Situations have an uncanny ability to careen out of control quickly, complicating matters and Fredrik Backman's Anxious People highlights the intricate ways lives overlap.

An attempted bank robbery, of a cashless bank, turns an apartment viewing across the street into an impromptu hostage situation, bringing together a collection of people who may never have otherwise interacted with one another. As these eight strangers spend time held at the uncertain-how-to-proceed whim of the failed bank robber, they begin to reveal deeply held truths about themselves and their lives to one another; in doing so, they realize that there are commonalities that connect them and their various anxieties and behaviors. As the situation develops, the bank robber wrestles with the decision to turn themselves over to the police or remain in the apartment with this impossible group. 

This quirky and entertaining story that reads like a comedy of errors reveals truths in a layered manner, pulling back an obscuring layer to present new details that help progress the story in a way that demonstrates that the quirks and intricacies of human interaction are complicated, yet can stem from the smallest and most unconscious of exchanges. Written in a style that is purposefully ambiguous, the narrative has a moderately choppy, complicated nature, which leaves some questions or issues with a few plot points; however, the text is witty and introspective in equal measures, making it an enjoyable adventure and easy to reflect upon the larger message of humanity conveyed. There are touching and thought-provoking sentiments portrayed through the experiences that the characters relay to one another, offering both heart-warming and heart-wrenching moments.

I didn’t love it. I’m sorry. I wanted to. I loved a few of his older books, like Ove and his short story And Every Morning the Walk Home Gets Longer and Longer. I did not like Beartown. So judge for yourself if you’ll like this. I just felt like what could have been an interesting fairly short story turned into a very long drawn out story about a bunch of people with anxiety who are thrown into a situation together and how it is resolved. I’m still glad I was able to read it. Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

This book was amazing. It really made you think about morality and that things aren't as black and white as they seem. You'll experience so many different emotions and keep guessing till the end. Every single character was very relatable...I could see pieces of myself in them. This is probably one of my favorite books of 2020.

I am actually struggling with how to write this review as I just finished read Anxious People and my eyes are welled up with tears. This is a book about being human, the struggle of being an adult and the connections that are around us (some obvious and some hidden). This is a story of idiots, as the reader is told numerous times. It is a story of a failed robbery and the people who are held hostage, as well as the police who are investigating. This is a story of stories filled with pain, regret and love. This novel is woven together in a beautiful way and Backman writes in a very specific manner that is different and unique, adding to the strength of the themes within the story. Reading this novel I wasn't sure what to expect and finishing it, I am thinking about when I will reread it. This book is going to touch on different emotions for different people (as most truly good books can) and for me it left me thinking of an old friend who was gone to soon from this earth. Backman's beautiful words have the ability to make you think and feel and this story is worth a slow, thoughtful and reflective read about the connections in our own lives. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.