This short story is so powerful. It manages everything that a complete novel sometimes cannot. The characters are interesting and relatable, the main character goes through such a good character development without completely changing, the interpersonal connections in this are so heartwarming, and the plot is just so funny. I for sure will be reading more by fredrik backman.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This short story was a delightful and humorous read. Truly a nod to all introverts who find happiness within their own company.

"Absolutely zero people go to therapy because yesterday they were sitting in a comfortable chair, eating a perfect pizza, drinking a good glass of wine, and watching a really funny movie."

This book was heartwarming and hilarious. Lucas was a bit of a grump and loaner by choice. All he wants is to be left alont to play video games and enjoy his pad thai (honestly, relatable). But then someone leaves a drying pan on the floor next to the recycling room and all hell breaks loose. This was a great palette cleanser full of Backman's known wit and humor.

The secret to happiness may just be learning to say no.

Back man really nails human nature.in this book.. A quick read which really pit a,smile on my face with its ending. Not that the book was over but the way it ended. I am thrilled to recommend this book to everyone.

Only Backman can make a story revolving around a frying pan and a pile of junk and be totally brilliant!
He is one of my favorite authors because of his unique sense of humor and the subtle way he mocks things and topics that surround us every day.
That short story is no exception, with a lot of fun but at the same time, makes your brain go through serious topics and questions.
This short story is about our main character, Lucas and his happy peaceful life, the key to which is….avoiding people, of course 😂 But one frying pan is the sole culprit of derailing his blissful solitude in no time.
Lucas's “hermit” mentality is so relatable at least to me and find his motive so true and close that the whole story feels so personal😂 And that's the other amazing gift that Backman has is that he always makes his characters so real and so relatable that your reaction is “That is so like me, I feel that”.
Absolutely loved it, and he never disappoints!

As usual, Backman's characters feel completely zany while being wholeheartedly relatable and realistic. I enjoyed this quick story about things spiraling out of control, chuckling along the way. A quick and funny read, it feels so happy to step back into the charming world Backman creates.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a perfectly funny short story. So many hilarious nuggets. It reminds us all to not take things so seriously and also that people are weird. Sometimes we just need to be “in a coma”. IYKYK. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

Lucas is so happy to spend time alone. He doesn't need friends to complicate his solitary lifestyle. He loves to drink wine, play video games, and eat Pad Thai. Life is great!

When a group of residents upset his perfect evening alone by demanding to see his frying pan, the mayhem unfolds.

An entertaining short read full of wit and humor.

Thank you Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of The Answer is No! All opinions in this review are my own.

The Beartown series by Fredrik Backman is one of my favorites so I was excited to read a shorter (and lighter) story by him. Backman is able to expertly describe the human condition in a way that many people can relate to. In The Answer No, it is trying to ignore you neighbors so that you can get back to what you want to do.

All Lucas wants to do is play his new video game but because one of his neighbors left a frying pan in the recycling room, he gets roped into finding the culprit by members of the HOA. The story gets more and more ridiculous as the time goes on until finally Lucas actually steps in.

Overall, this was a light and fun read by a fantastic author.

Lucas has figured out how to maintain happiness... avoid all people. This seems to be working for him, until he unintentionally becomes the center of social attention at his apartment building. Suddenly, avoiding people seems impossible, but maybe Lucas has some things to learn about his beliefs about happiness.

This is a heartwarming, quirky short story from Fredrik Backman and it did not disappoint. I think Backman has such a way of developing characters that evoke emotion in a reader. It's a quick one, but nonetheless a story that will stick with you!

This book is not what I was expecting at all but probably one of the most highlighted books on my Kindle. “You don’t need that much appreciation as a mother. Just a little bit. You don’t need that much validation. Just…a little.”

Another excellent short story/novella from Fredrik Backman. Every time I read another one of his stories, I wonder why I haven't already read his entire backlist because his writing is excellent. This was entertaining, witty and just a delightful ride from beginning to end. I adored it!

Fun, witty, and adorable - this short story was actually my first read by Fredrik Backman but won't be my last, for sure! This is the story of a loner, Lucas, who enjoys staying at home with his pad thai and his video games, when an incident involving a frying pan changes his life. I won't go into any more detail because this story is best when going in blind - and what a story it is. Enjoy!

“Just to be clear: It’s not that Lucas hates other people. He just really enjoys being where other people aren’t.”

It's only fitting that my 100th book of the year is by one of my favorite authors.

I don't read a lot of short stories, but I'll read anything by Fredrik Backman.

Thank you, Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories, for the eARC. This was a fun read that was perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I love Backman's quirky mind and the characters he is able to create. Even at 70 pages, I found all the characters well developed, enabling me to immerse myself in this novella. Another Fredrik Backman win..

Cute and quirky and reminds you of why I need a Fredrik Bachman book! A fun, quick read with great characters.

This author's style is clear, direct, witty, and dry. Enjoyable story and characters! I enjoy the humor and observations made by Lucas and others.

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman is a quirky and heartwarming short story that showcases the author's signature humor and deep understanding of human nature. It's the kind of quick read that feels light yet full of those little life truths we all need. The story follows Lucas, a man who values his privacy and quiet moments above all else. When a bizarre situation involving a frying pan forces him out of his comfortable solitude, the result is both hilarious and surprisingly insightful.

If you're a fan of Backman's work, especially A Man Called Ove, you’ll likely enjoy this short story. It's funny, relatable, and offers an unexpected emotional punch despite its brevity. It’s perfect for those moments when you just want a quick, entertaining read that still leaves you thinking.

This story might not be as deep as some of his novels, but it certainly has that familiar, warm-hearted charm. I absolutely recommend it to anyone who needs a short break from a heavy reading schedule, or anyone who loves Backman's witty take on life's quirks.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

Thank you so much to both NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am currently reading "A Man Called Ove" by the same author and while I do love it, I started reading as I was in a bit of an emotional state, so I am a bit hesitant to go back into reading it, which is why I decided to push myself back into Backman's works and read this short story beforehand.
If there is one contemporary author I believe can get to literally every reader, I think it's Fredrik Backman and this is yet another proof of this. This is a story about a person who isolates himself to a seemingly perfect little cosy bubble and would like to not be interrupted, thank you very much. However, nosy, tired and a tad bit weird people as well as even a Residential Board three-headed animal find themselves ringing the bell as if that was their job and his happy bubble is pretty close to bursting. The main themes are empathy, the importance of connection, and intentions. I am not sure whether this sort of ambiguous ending works for Fredrick Backman's writing style, it kinda put me off, if I'm being truly honest, but overall I think the short story is very good and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants an impactful yet funny and cosy read.

As always, Fredrik Backman’s writing manages to entertain with quirky characters while including some wonderful insights into human nature and relationships - without lecturing. Everything he publishes is beautifully written and timeless.

This book was so funny. I really loved the writing style and how the author decided to take on some themes. It is such a good quick read to relax after a long week. I think that the problem that out character is facing is so small but I think that's exactly how society works. We take a small problem and turn it into a serious issue to resolve. I totally recommend this short story.

A bit all over the place, but I did like the message it was trying to transmit. Not my favorite text by Backman, I feel like he started this with an ending in mind and then while writing it he changed his mind and went another way. Lost its sense of cohesion.