This was a beautifully written book and my first read by Fredrik Backman. There was a whole cast of characters with different personalities and stories. They were all well developed, and I didn't feel like I had questions about the characters. There were so many moments in this book that I laughed out loud.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Fredrik Backman's books!

A cast of quirky characters trapped in a robbery gone wrong story that reminds us everyone is on their own journey.

Being a HUGE fan of the author, I had very high hopes for this title. However, I sadly had to add it to my very short “did not finish” list. I gave it a good try, but couldn’t get into the story enough to finish.

This was my first Fredrick Backman book and I enjoyed it. It made me laugh out loud while also touching on some real serious situations and feelings.
I did catch myself rolling my eyes sometimes because it was also over the top but yet somehow it’s still staying with me and I find myself thinking about it.

Backman is a wonderful author. Even with translations, his quirky way of weaving a story. He deals with big life issues and helps bring relatable qualities to these issues and life moments. There is humor and charm, but also seriousness. Highly recommend.

It’s a book about a bank robbery, a hostage situation, a bridge, a father and son, a bunny. And an apartment. What happens when all these things happen on a New Year’s Day ? An absolutely delightful and hilarious tale! I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book!

**I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman from NetGalley. Opinions in this review are completely my own.**

I actually requested this book because I loved some of his other books. Beartown is one of my favourite series. That said, I'm not sure if it was because I was trying to read this book during the middle of the pandemic, but I just could not make myself care about the characters or storyline. I actually abandoned this book around the halfway mark. I hope to go back to this book at some point, and hope to enjoy it more then. If this happens, I will update my review.

I actually did not want to give a star rating since I did not finish the entire book, but the site prompted me to in order to submit. I feel like my own anxiety from the pandemic caused me to just have a really hard time reading this book. I hope to go back to it at some point and enjoy it.

Another great book Mr. Backman!

The characters were brought together under stressful conditions and in real life would not be friends. Yet you get to knows each one and learn their story that brought them to this place.

It is heartbreaking, funny and unpredictable. Another must read from ‘r. Backman!

I am a big fan of Fredrik Backman's work and this one did not disappoint. From the dedication to the last page, I was laughing, crying and loving these characters.

What seems like a standard open house in an apartment goes sideways when it becomes a hostage situation following a bank robbery. Each of the people in the apartment has their own story, their own anxieties and their own reasons for wanting to get out of there.

Fredrik Backman has a way of making me laugh while tearing at my heart strings. These characters all seem so real, as if they are the people in my life. I love the way the characters come together and rise above what they need for themselves to help others.

This was so well written ! I was engaged right from the start due to this authors writing style ! Humorous and suspending all at the same time ! The way the author connects all of these quirky together made me feel like I was watching my favourite show and didn’t want any interruptions !
A gifted writer is one who can make you feel all sorts of emotions and this is exactly what Becckman does - such a gift with transmitting his thoughts into paper and making his reader feel so many emotions !!! Very well done and a super enjoyable read !

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book. It was enjoyable and full of wisdom and heartwarming insights, but the story rambled and jumped quite a bit. Worthwhile and recommended.

This was just what was needed right now, the setup of these disparate characters and the slightly screwball comedy element of the execution. It could have been overly twee but it really worked because the characterization was realistic and the undercurrent of melancholy made even the huge coincidences believable. Was really charmed by it. Delighted to include the novel in the Fall Fiction spotlight of Zoomer magazine’s September/October print issue, as well as on their new digital Books hub Club Zed.
UPDATE:
One of several titles I pressed into the hands, metaphorically speaking, of friends and strangers this past year. And on my Best Books of 2020 list, the annual post of my favourite reads. The full Instagram post with book covers gallery is at the link.

I have to say that this wasn't my favourite Fredrik Backman novel. While Backman's writing is always...well Backman, this novel missed the mark for me. I can understand the truths behind the simpleness of its premise, yet it still remained frustratingly slow and complicated.

This story was thought-provoking and at times emotional because Backman has a way of making quirky, off-beat characters somehow relatable. The hostage drama that involved the police and the bank robber was so unrealistic and strange given that most adults understand that all actions have consequences, regardless of one's motivation. It was hard to feel any empathy for any of the characters, probably because I found none of them likeable - maybe that was the point of the story. I am just honestly surprised that I finished the book, but still happy I did because it ended well.

#Anxious People
During the first part of this book, I wasn’t sure if I would finish it. I was having a hard time figuring out what was really happening. But the characters got me hooked. I had to find out how they were all connected and how it would end. He had me laughing one minute and crying the next.
He did an amazing job of pulling all the pieces of the puzzle together with a heartwarming ending.
A very enjoyable book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterCanada for an eARC for an honest review.

What a cast of characters! Fredrik has a way of writing characters that no matter how annoying or unlikeable they seem; you still care for them. What starts as a sort of bank robbery and then a hostage situation turns into so much more. So many connections and stories to learn about. Trigger warnings for suicide, depression, alcoholism, gun violence.

A bank robbery gone wrong ends in a hostage situation at an open house apartment viewing. The hostages are an eclectic bunch and as they’re stuck in the apartment we begin to learn more about each of their backstories and we realise there’s more to each of them than first appears, including the bank robber. The two police officers investigating the case are also an interesting pair whose relationship we learn more about as the story progresses.

For the first third of this book I wasn’t sure if this one was going to be for me. The writing style felt really different, there were a lot of characters and I was struggling to make sense of who everyone was and why we were getting everyone’s backstory.

For the second third my interest was definitely piqued; I was so intrigued. I saw some of the connections starting to come together and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.

For the last third I was absolutely enthralled and I felt so emotionally attached to this whole cast of characters, flaws and all, that I didn’t want it to end. Everything tied together so wonderfully.
A beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book.

Backman is one of my favourite authors and this title does not disappoint.
By turns laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, and tragic — Backman understands the human condition, Through his writing style and observations he is able to give his readers the gift of empathy and compassion.
Highly recommended .

True to Backman style, this book is full of wisdom and wit. When an apartment viewing turns into a hostage taking that isn't a hostage taking, a group of people begin to recognize their own anxieties and those of the people around them. The story intertwines the police investigation by Jack and Jim, the father-son officers trying to crack the case. Through a complex narrative told through these multiple perspectives, we get a story that truly explores human nature, relationships, mental health, and connections amongst strangers.
I really enjoyed the way the author used humour to lighten serious discussions while still remaining sensitive to the issues at hand. The characters are well developed and likeable, allowing the readers to truly experience a sense of compassion for them. Backman is a favourite author of mine, and this one certainly did not disappoint. This book is a masterpiece that I highly recommend!

First off, when it comes to writing style, nothing makes me smile more than the way Fredrik Backman writes. It's both comedic and sweet, like having a really interesting conversation with a friend over coffee. It's just pure feel good, no matter the subject matter. Anxious People takes us into the depths of a hostage situation, but not your average hostage situation. This is an accidental hostage situation. While I spent half of this book wondering what in the actual heck was going on, the ending all comes together to make you say "Ahhh.. ". I really enjoyed getting to know every character in this book, and found reading this one to be an all together fun experience.

I've always enjoyed Fredrik Backman's books. He seems to have a keen eye for human truths that will resonate with most readers. I think that I am a less typical fan of his work, as his most beloved book A Man Called Ove was not a favourite. However, I loved this one and I hope that it finds a place with his fans and with new readers too.

Anxious People tells the story of a bank robber, who didn't mean to become a bank robber. Over the course of the book, we learn more about the police officers investigating (a father and a son), a group of people at a real estate showing (who become hostages when the bank robber wanders in), and (eventually) the bank robber. Throughout, we are treated to a complicated group of people and various events that have had major impacts on their lives. Again, Backman just has a certain strength in his writing--he can make you cringe, laugh, and feel seen/understood in a matter of pages.

I loved this one and I really appreciate being given the chance to read an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Simon & Schuster Canada.