Combining quick dialogue, staccato style writing and a sort of silly storyline, I wasn't sure if this novella/short story was going to be for me, The premise seemed so wildly absurd (a lonely man and a mysterious case of an abandoned frying pan?) but since it was penned by beloved Backman, I figured I would give it a go. Overall, it was fairly amusing and ended up containing a bit more depth than I had originally anticipated. I think if you're a fan of Backman you will enjoy this quirky, off-the-wall story.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lucas is happy because happiness is effortless for him; it’s everything he already has, minus humans.

All he did was to “ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚, 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆. “

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨. “

But one day, Lucas’s doorbell rings, and nothing good ever happens, and “𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞. “

The answer is No. It is the perfect read for introverted people like me; it is a powerful read humorously. Almost everything is so relatable.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗳𝗳 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀?”

Lucas, our main protagonist, wants to be left alone to play video games and eat pad Thai with peanuts (ugh, I hate peanuts 🥜 ). Yeah, but this is what Lucas loved: that he doesn’t have to make meal choices depending upon other person likes and dislikes

It’s a short read of 67 pages where every page and every part is filled with humor and wittiness.

“𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.”

Fredrik described the human mind and the impact of social media on our lives in a humourous, intelligent, and unique way.

This hilarious short story impacts the dark side (political )of our lives in a very witty way and makes you laugh out loud.

A quietly powerful novella that perfectly captures Fredrik Backman’s signature mix of humor, melancholy, and deep emotional insight. In just a few pages, it delivers a gut-punch of reflection on grief, regret, and the choices we make—or don’t make—when life demands an answer. It’s simple, yet profound, and as all of Backman's works will leave me thinking about it for long after I read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short piece by Fredrik Backman. I always look forward to Backman's books, and this story surpassed my expectations.

In "The Answer is No," we meet Lucas. Normally content to keep to himself, he notices someone left a frying pan next to the building's recycling room.

When he alerts the building's management authority, he inadvertently tasks himself to find the guilty tenant. Despite himself, he feels boxed in by the increasingly absurd situations the other tenants throw it him.

This goofy short story will lighten your day. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

The writing, the humor and the characters of Backman are present on this short story! Despite being only 68 pages I got attached to Lucas and his challenges. Who doesn't want to stay at home all day and eat pad thai?
In here we can find a different perspective of what it means to be happy 😊

I really enjoy Lucas an his new acquaintances, and special the message behind the frying pan and hill.
I'm glad that I read this story ❤️

Fredrik Backman never disappoints me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

At first, this seems like a funny short story about a man who wants to be left alone and a frying pan, along with his ridiculous neighbors, start to ruin all of that. But what I love most about Backman’s writing is you’ll be reading what you think is a funny short story full of silly characters, and then he hits you with this:

“It’s so silly, but I miss another thing, too, from when the kids were very young. They used to come running and jump into my arms when I came home. Jump into my arms. Have you ever experienced that?”. . . “It’s . . . unbelievable. You never forget how it feels. Sometimes I think that children should be teenagers first, and become small afterwards, because it’s unbearable for parents to get used to the fact that they don’t jump anymore.”

Ugh. His writing is so good and poignant and full of empathy for the human condition and I love reading whatever he decides to write! Such a sweet story!

This was super short and enjoyable (it’s only 60 pages). It’s a good way to start your Fredrik Backman journey!

- the title of the book maybe be "the answer is no", but if you were to ask me if you should read this, "the answer is yes".
- fun, light-hearted, witty short story that really gets you emotionally involved in each character.
- lucas and his colour friends, the ninjas, the not angels and pad thai all gave me a great laugh.

5/5

A great place for people starting with Fredrik Backman, and I enjoyed this one. The book went in a bit of a different direction than I was expecting based on the description but I still recommend this one!

I would definitely recommend that those who want to read a Backman book to start with The Answer is No. It's a quick, funny read. Easy to follow. Do I wish it was longer? of course!

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

n The Answer Is No, Fredrik Backman presents a humorous and insightful short story that delves into the life of Lucas, a man who cherishes his solitude and meticulously maintains a routine centered around video games, wine, and pad thai. Lucas's preference for isolation is disrupted when a seemingly trivial incident—a discarded frying pan in his apartment's recycling room—draws him into the complex dynamics of his neighbors and the apartment board.

Backman's narrative skillfully explores themes of introversion, community interaction, and the unforeseen consequences of minor events. The story highlights how a single, insignificant object can unravel a person's carefully structured existence, leading to unexpected social entanglements.

The author's characteristic wit and sharp observations are evident throughout the story, offering readers both laughter and reflection. Backman captures the essence of modern life, where the desire for personal space often clashes with communal living's inherent unpredictabilities.

While the story is concise, it effectively portrays the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. Lucas's journey serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between maintaining personal boundaries and engaging with the world around us.

The Answer Is No is a testament to Backman's ability to blend humor with poignant insights into human behavior. It's a delightful read for those who appreciate stories that reflect on the quirks of daily life and the complexities of social interactions.

I love Fredrik Backman. The Answer is No was a great short story that I devoured in one sitting. Loved it!

This is a wonderfully absurdist short story about human nature and relationships set in an apartment building where a growing pile of junk is wreaking havoc. Fredrik Backman really knows how to write a great story.

I fell in love with Backman’s writing when I listened to My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry and A Man Called Ove. While I’m also going to be reading the upcoming Backman, I couldn’t resist this short story, too, and it was well worth the read.

In true Backman fashion, the characters are quirky and interact in hilarious, though sometimes usual, ways. The nonsensical moments add humor to the story and sometimes a fun bit of irony.

For the protagonist, the simple night of video games and solitude he desires is not in the cards when the apartment board members come demanding answers about a mysterious frying pan that has appeared in the recycling area of the building. As the situation heightens, he finds himself even more inexplicably involved.

Like all Backman stories, there is a lesson interlaced with the antics. This was a fun and warming read I’d recommend to anyone!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my copy of The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman (Author), Elizabeth DeNoma (Translator) in exchange for an honest review. It published December 1, 2024.
This was true Backman form, in a small package. Naturally, with it being a short story, you don’t get a lot of character development. However, I enjoyed how zany these characters were, and it definitely kept my interest.
I do prefer his long form stories.

The premise of this novella was extremely absurd, but was surprisingly funny and entertaining. It is a story of loneliness, friendship, and “something” happening (the what doesn’t really matter, but the impact does).
Not one of Backman’s best, but a fun read nonetheless.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really did like this book! I was worried it would go over my head but after a page or two I was locked in. People looking for a quick read that has meaning, this will be the book for them.

Who can resist a story by Fredrik Backman? His soothing tone and positive message about the nature of humanity is balm for the soul. So although I seldom read stand alone short stories, I leapt on this one right away. My thanks go to NetGalley and Amazon for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

This is one of those stories where you can see what’s about to happen, in broad strokes, right out of the gate. The blurb gives us the contours, telling us that our protagonist, Lucas, is about to have his life ruined by a frying pan; his life is perfect, single with no entanglements. He has no friends that he owes favors; no girlfriend; his life is simple and uncomplicated. He has a nice little apartment that’s his alone; after work, he can eat his Thai food and play his video games without harassment. He doesn’t bother anybody, and nobody bothers him.

Then there’s a knock at the door, an insistent one; it’s a small klatch of people that introduce themselves as “the board.” Someone has disposed of a frying pan in an unauthorized spot, and they are determined to root out the culprit and penalize them. Everyone is considered guilty until proven innocent! Lucas protests his innocence and makes a few hapless suggestions in hopes of mollifying them, but instead, they draft him to head a committee, and they won’t let him out of it.

This is a pleasant enough story, consistent with Backman’s usual style, but at the same time, because it is a short story, it lacks some of the most agreeable aspects of a Backman novel. In his full length books, Backman creates and develops a massive collection of characters, and he always juggles them brilliantly, developing several and keeping each of them so distinct that the reader can’t forget who is who. Here he is forced, due to the limited length of the thing, to keep it down to a small handful of characters, and while some will likely appreciate this, I miss the complex stories with infinite character backstories and interrelationships. So, as short stories go, this perfectly fine, but for those of us that are fond of Backman’s epic tales, it feels just a trifle anticlimactic.

Recommended to those that read everything Backman writes, and to those that prefer a more streamlined story.

A short story of only sixty pages but the author does not need any more to convey the night that Lucas is having when he just wants to be left alone to do what he was planning on. But why do people always have to make a big deal over something so small, here it is a frying pan. An excellent book that I enjoyed and will look for other books by this author.