There's a lot of buzz about this one but it ended up being a DNF for me. I could not get over how stupid all the characters were acting and sounding. Not for me. I think perhaps something was lost in translation, but other people seem to love this one so probably just not for me.

Anxious People, (Atria Books) is Frederik Backman's "newest novel." Truth is it came out in the fall, I had to cancel my wedding for the second time thanks the the pandemic, so I am late to review it. Nevertheless we're here.
This was the book I would read on my lunchbreak the days we both were home. And I would laugh out loud, a lot during the first half. Is the theme of this novel funny, not quite, but Backman pulled off that witty style of his in just the right way to get you to keep turning the page.
This story is about a failed bank robber? A hostage situation, an apartment viewing, and you guessed it..a bunch of Anxious people. I loved how the novel slowly unwound and brought together everyone's stories. The characters were real if a little neurotic. And the who done it was a nice twist. I actually had to flip back as I realized I had made assumptions that the book didn't give.

I know this novel is controversial as in people either seemed to love it or hate it but I'm in the like it department. Backman hasn't don't me wrong yet.


A copy of this book was provided to me for review by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

There were many things to love about this book. I think the author has created a great cast of characters, and I loved the premise of the story that brings them all together.

I have already suggested it to many readers who absolutely loved it.

For me personally, I thought the twist was a predictable, and the end was too neatly wrapped up.

However, I enjoyed reading it, and I know I will be handing it to many readers looking for something with a happy ending and a lot of heart.

Everyone knows this, but Fredrik Backman is just beyond brilliant. The way he weaves his stories with such vibrant, real characters and such powerful, visceral words about the human experience never fails to astound me. I loved this story. I cried several times throughout it. The way he brought all of these wonderfully different people together and showed the impact each life has on each other was so beautiful. This is a story that reminds us that it’s okay not be okay. That you aren’t the only one struggling to get through the day. Backman’s writing has a way of reminding us of our shared human experience and that we all have something in common with each other. He reminds us to give grace to one other because people are rarely all you see in a glance. And in the beautiful symbolism with the bridge, he reminds us that we all need a little help on our journeys. We all need help making it across. We are all connected. And it truly is a beautiful thing.

I didn't know what to make of this book at first, but it is so, so good. It is so carefully and skillfully plotted so that a bunch of intersecting threads come together nicely at the end. It's also funny and very poignant at the same time. Backman explores anxieties in every character, fully fleshing them out, while keeping a very light touch. This is a book that I'll be thinking about for a while.

3.5 stars! This book was pretty good. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would at the beginning of the book. I stopped reading for a while because I wasn't a fan of the writing style, but I am glad I picked this up again.

The themes are relevant to every adult and really it was a truly heart-warming story. Do I think this book is for everyone? Probably not. The writing style and sense of humor really are unique. However, I do think a lot of people would appreciate and enjoy it, too.

Not impressed. Rambling, lacking any way to gain my attention. I couldn’t connect with the characters. Wouldn’t recommend.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE is an unusual story - the premise is straightforward enough: A group of people are looking at an apartment when they are interrupted by someone fleeing after robbing a bank, who takes them hostage. It’s a slow start - in the early pages I found all the characters odd and shrill. But the book does not go where you expect, and that’s what makes it rather genius. Blackman weaves in endless twists and unexpected turns, and it’s a much more emotional journey than I expected in the beginning. Not my favorite book this year, but a very interesting read.

I read the first quarter of this book and just couldn't get into it. I had a hard time following the story or caring about the characters. It was the wrong book for me at this particular time.

Another fantastic novel by Fredrik Backman. The story is engrossing and pulls the reader in from the very first page. I would absolutely recommend this book!

Ok wow! WORTH THE HYPE!!!! I loved the tone and writing of this book - it touched on many serious topics but in a perfectly light-hearted way. This story has some of the most real characters of anything I’ve ever read. You love them all despite their many flaws. I laughed and wanted to cry at so many different parts, never sure what was going to happen next.

Another excellent story by Fredrik Backman. A bank robber flees a bank (without any money) into an open house at a nearby apartment and takes the eight strangers hostage. During the time spent together, the strangers find connections and learn about one another. While we become familiar with the hostages, we also get to know a father-son detective team working on finding the bank robber who has seemingly disappeared into thin air.

All the stars!!!!!

I have read a few of Fredrik Backman’s previous novels and really enjoyed them. However, this one is definitely my favorite. I had the audiobook and ebook. I thought both were excellent and I enjoyed alternating between them.

This was a story about many different things. This story starts with a bad idea, an almost robbery, and an unintentional hostage situation.

But I mustn’t forget…

It is also a story about idiots.

The day before New Year’s Eve, a 39-year-old wannabe bank robber attempts to rob a bank. When things don’t go as planned, the “robber” hurries away and runs up the stairs of a nearby building and into the first open door they see. An apartment that just happens to be filled with people. An apartment viewing has now turned into a hostage situation. The almost robber is very apologetic and tries to reassure the unintentional hostages that this wasn’t how it was supposed to go….

“I’m very sorry about that! I’m having quite a complicated day here!”

Time passes and the tension in the apartment grows. The people inside start to share things about themselves and these revelations will have readers wondering what could possibly happen next!

Did I already say how much I LOVED this book?

Fredrik Backman has a terrific understanding of people and the things that connect us all. A writer who makes me laugh about the everyday things in life.

To really enjoy this novel, readers may have to overlook things that seem unlikely.

Some parts felt like they were written specifically for me. I am an anxious person and I’m occasionally an idiot who is just trying to get their chaos under control too.

“Those of us who aren’t twenty can probably agree that most twenty-year-olds are wrong so often that most of them would have just a one in four chance of answering a yes or no question correctly.”

My twenty-year-old daughter didn’t find that quote as hilarious as I did…

Thought-provoking and intelligent with some excellent twists. A story about connections. A story about how one life affects another in a single moment. I frequently found myself laughing out loud and also got choked up a time or two (or five). It also has many unforgettable characters.

I’m thrilled that there are books from this author that I haven’t yet read. I honestly can’t wait to check them out too.

A unique, heartwarming, and unforgettable novel!

I’d like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

As with all of Backman’s books a seemingly simple story ends up with so much depth. A bank robbery goes wrong, and as the robber looks for a place to hide out a real estate agent, two women, two couples and a rabbit become hostages when the apartment they are viewing becomes the bolt hole. Not a good day for any of them. Or the police carrying out the investigation - a father and son who have a lot of issues. You see there is a mystery to be solved, when the hostages are rescued there is no robber and none of the hostages seem to be able to tell the police where the robber went.

To start out with I felt no sympathy with any of the characters, they were all unlikable - but as the story progresses Backman reveals the innermost motivation for each character and I gradually got to get to know them better. I could laugh with them, indeed laugh at them, care for them, and yes, eventually sympathise with them.

Anxious People is an emotional read, I sobbed for the last bit of the book - but understood why things happened. The story is balanced though there are lots of laugh out loud moments to break the drama such as “...The bank robber stamped the floor in frustration. ‘No one’s listening to me! You’re the worst hostages ever!’..”

And the rabbit? You’ll just have to read the book for yourself.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for my copy to review

I will officially read anything Fredrik Backman writes! Such a great read! Loved this one with my whole heart!

Another hit by Frederik Backman. His writing always captures me and this was no different. I loved the intertwining storylines and web of character histories. I feel like one of the “twists” was a little predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have recommended it to multiple friends.

The story is told in a fragmented way, which bothered me a bit during the beginning of the book. It was harder to connect with the characters and understand what was going on. There is shifting points of view, with a cast of people, and some shifts in time too. I stuck with it and after a while the group of strangers become known to each other, and to the reader. I’m glad I kept going and happy to have read the book.

This is a light-hearted tone about some heavy-hearted issues, and you may find some profound statements about life.

Our library purchased several copies of the book.

All I have to say is that within fifty pages of this book, I was entirely hooked and never looked back. The moment I finished, I spoke to many coworkers and friends, telling them they needed to pick this up immediately.

I have read each book that Fredrik Backman has released, and will continue to do so. This one is by far my favorite, which is very hard to accomplish considering I loved each one for different reasons. I think this is a book that will forever be top of the list for favorite fiction books for many many people. In my opinion, whenever someone wants to start reading Backman's books, this one is a must. It encompasses everything that makes Backman a phenomenal writer.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great plot! I love the pacing. It is very well written

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

Someone runs into a bank and attempts to rob it. They then take hostages in a nearby building. Sounds like all the makings of a blockbuster action novel, doesn't it? But Fredrik Backman's Anxious People is just the opposite -- you think you're getting one thing, but it turns out to be quite different.

You may know Backman as the author of a little book called A Man Called Ove. His books do not rely on plots so much as they do character studies -- Backman is a master of characterization. In Anxious People, a group of strangers are attending an open house for an apartment when they find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation. Only this isn't your normal crime scene. None of them is really who they appear to be, including the bank robber. Add to that two police officers who do things you would not expect them to, and you have a book that is nowhere near what I thought it would be.

I found a few parts of Anxious People bogged down with details, but that doesn't get in the way of what it is -- an unexpected tale of compassion, empathy, and forgiveness with characters you won't soon forget.

MY RATING - 3.5