I absolutely LOVED "Anxious People." It was so witty yet full of sarcastic humor. It was also light while at the same time making some very deep observations about what it means to be human. "Anxious People" will make you laugh, it might make you cry, and it will definitely make you not want to put the book down. I would say that it is an absolute must-read for the fall.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read one other Fredrik Backman book (A Man Called Ove), but I have heard such good things about his writing that I wanted to check this book out. This book was very quirky but I liked it! It centers around a bank robbery gone wrong, where the robber then takes a group of people touring an apartment hostage. The writing was very witty, and while the characters at first seemed a bit silly and over-the-top, as the book went on I started to see the ideas about human nature that Backman was trying to showcase.

I LOVE Fredrik Backman. I just have to start by screaming that from the rooftops.

This book is definitely different and has a quirky style of storytelling. Anxious People is the story of a truly wacky and interesting group of characters. The people in this story are why they say you can't judge a book (or person) by their cover - or first impressions in this case.

I highly recommend this book. It made me cry, but it also made me laugh out loud. It was witty and full of love. It left me in tears and sad to say goodbye.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Fredrik Backman!

I am a huge fan and this book just reinforced that ten-fold. At first, the stories and people feel disjointed but as the book progresses, those loose threads magically knit together. A near suicide, an unlikely bank robber who ends up an unlikely hostage taker, a father/son police team and a group of odd balls who came to view an apartment for rent and end up as hostages. What do these people all have in common? Each chapter dissects what is happening at that moment and gives you insight into the character. In true Fredrik Backman fashion, they are all unusual yet very ordinary and have a story with a twist and they are all very anxious. Funny, heartbreaking, insightful and extremely clever - the adjectives could go on forever. Once again, Fredrik Backman has made us appreciate what it means to be human and has allowed us to laugh at ourselves just a little. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Anxious People is about a group of random people who get caught up in a hostage drama and end up making friends. It's very precious and contrived and I had to force myself to finish so I could write a review in good conscience. I'm not sure if Backman's style is wearing thin or I'm just in a bad mood these days but it felt like this book was trying too hard to emotionally manipulate me. I've loved several of his past books but this one didn't work. Because there were so many characters, you never really got to know any of them and when they appeared it was back to back tear-jerking revelations page after page.

After a failed bank robbery, a banker robber on the run accidentally ends up with a room full of hostages at an open house. After letting all of the hostages go, the police storm the apartment, only to find it completely empty. Now the police must interview the dysfunctional group to figure out what exactly happened.

Less mystery and more character study, Backman does an excellent job purposefully playing with your assumptions about the character. However, I didn't love the book, partly because the unusual narration kept everything at an arm's length. You don't even learn the characters' names until partway through the story. In all, Backman basically preaches to the reader about how we need compassion because we are all flawed, which some people will love but I found a bit offputting.

I've read other books by Fredrik Backman, and although this isn't one of my favorites, I did enjoy it. It's funny, heart-warming, and incredibly moving. My biggest critique is that I struggled with the beginning, and the ending seemed to have multiple "this must be the last page" feelings only for me to swipe my Kindle and find another chapter. The book didn't seem to follow an organized plot structure. Although normally that doesn't bother me, I did feel a little lost at first. Other than that, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a story about mistakes, second chances, loving people despite their flaws, relationships and human connection, and living in a world full of heartbreak.

There are some potential triggers involving suicide and suicidal ideations.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is a book about idiots. No really, that’s one of the first lines! When a bank robbery goes bad, and the robber mistakes someone outside for a cop and runs into the building across the street, they end up locking themselves in an apartment that’s for sale with several perspective buyers. Once the hostages have been let go, the cops enter the apartment to find it empty? How did the robber escape?

If you know me, you know I have been itching to get my hands on this book since it was first announced! Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I flew through it in one day and adored it. It’s not quite Beartown, but still brings the lovable quirkiness that Backman is known for. Fedrik has a rare gift, at least in my mind, of making you love characters, but also sort of wonder why you love them so much. You never outright hate them, but I can just never put my finger on why I love them as much as I do either. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone besides me, but let me know if you agree! I think it has something to do with all of his characters coming across as real people, with real issues, with good sides, bad, beautiful, and ugly. They all just feel so real, I can easily say I have felt most of the emotions the characters face in this one, not being good enough, wanting to do the right thing but not having the means to do so, depression, anxiety, joy, love, grief, etc. Hell, I think I have faced most of this just in 2020 alone! In the end, this book is about friendship. About meeting strangers, learning a lot about them in a short time, and learning to love them for their flaws. The ending had me in tears, and wishing that the book would go on. There were several quotes I jotted down in this one and wanted to share in my review but didn’t want to give parts of the story away. I foresee that this one is going to stick with me for a long time.

4.5 stars

If you are a fan of Backman's work, you probably know the real power of his stories are the people and the human connection between them - more so than the plot itself. This is absolutely the case in Anxious People - if the story of a heist gone hostage situation seems outside of your realm, fear not, as this is the Backman we all know and love - the Backman that reminds us of the good in humanity and in the kindness of strangers - where words jump off the page and you wish the characters did as well so that you could hug them tightly and hold on to them forever. If you have yet to read any of Backman's books, I highly recommend you start now and enjoy the magic.

This was my first Fredrik Backman book and it will not be my last! What happens when a bank robbery goes awry and the bank robber ends up holding people hostage at an apartment showing? I adored the premise of this book, and the buildup to finding out how everything went down was amazing. I absolutely loved the fact that the robber was a woman! Especially since that is not the norm in the real world. This book was hilarious and emotional and one of my favorites of the year! I cannot wait to read more of Fredrik Backman's books!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary copy of this one!

I'm a huge fan of Backman's writing, and I love that each of his books has the same reliable things: extremely relatable and interesting characters, excellent representation of aging characters, a plot with whimsy, and writing that pulls at your heartstrings throughout.

I laughed so much, and cried a little, while reading this one. As usual, his characters are just wonderful and cause the reader to be so invested in the book. While I loved all the characters, Zara stole my heart. She's like Ove and Britt-Marie.... she will be a character I think about for a long time and who lives on off the page.

I love that with Backman's books you know what you're getting and they're so consistent in quality that it's a safe bet to preorder his books ahead of time. This one, in my opinion, was no exception.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE-Fredrick Backman
I am a big fan of his previous work.This book starts slowly and for me initially confusing, but stay with it-I think it is his finest yet.At times I found myself laughing out loud, at other times misty eyed.Several-in fact multiple paragraphs I read and reread several times.Perhaps this phrase sums it up:” this is a story about a bridge, and idiots, and a hostage crisis, and an apartment viewing. But it is also a love story, in fact several of them.”
Suffice to say that it is a serious contender for my “ read of the year”.

I think this is the best book I’ve read in 2020 so far. It’s funny, honest and really touching. Kind of everything we’ve all come to expect out of this author. This is the best novel he’s written thus far, in my opinion. Backman has a really amazing ability to know people and it makes for some really powerful and deeply moving writing.

I really enjoyed this clever book. It is a funny, warm-hearted whodunnit. Lots of twists and fun plot devices. More in the vein of “Man Called Ove” than “Beartown”. It’s going to be a big hit. Thank you for the ARC!

Anxious People shows Backman’s humor and heart page after page. I laughed out loud, held my breath, and devoured this heartwarming comedy that explored the absurd, the connection of people, and the ripple effect of decisions in the most down-to-earth way. I’m already looking forward to his book!

Wow! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before it comes out. I love every book I have by Fredrick Backman. This one is no different. I love the story of Anxious People and the way the characters’ own stories and past are woven in through out the book. I cried and I laughed and I didn’t want this book to end. Such meaningful messages in this book that really made me think and will stay with me. Everyone should read this book! Thank you NetGalley!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming novel about desperation, forgiveness, and acceptance. An suicide, a suicide attempt, and an attempted bank robbery bring a group of people together. Their interactions are unexpected and inspiring. I love this novel.

While I struggled to get into this one, I did like how all of the characters were connected. The story was heartbreaking (needing to rob a bank to pay rent to not lose children), yet there were lighthearted moments and some pretty funny ones as well. The ability to interconnect so many characters and make it seem plausible is the mark of a good writer. Backman is still one of my favorites and I look forward to his next book.

This was the second book I’ve read by this author and I’m definitely curious to read all of his others at some point. It’s a quirky, unique story about the human condition that makes you think, laugh, and want to cry all in the same chapter. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

No one writes with beautiful prose and knowledge of human nature like a Frederick Blackman. With the usual cast of rich characters and insight that staggered me time again, Eight people held hostage examine their lives and open up to each other, and you will find yourself resonating with these anxious people.