4.5⭐

Perfect for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures and Backman's other work, My Friends is a story about friendships, teenagers, trauma, and life.

Multiple stories and timelines intertwine and weave together to create a book you will laugh out loud reading in one moment, and wipe away tears in another. It will leave you guessing what's going to happen next and also not really sure you want to know, kind of like Louisa. (A teenage artist and one of our main characters.)

You will feel like you are right there with Joar, Ted, and the artist, and as Ted tells the story, you will eagerly await what's next between them all. The dynamic between Ted and Louisa was so enjoyable and I loved how they instantly became familiar with each other and were fully themselves.

Without giving too much away, if you like character driven novels and appreciate witty humor, this is for you!

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy!

Huge thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for this ARC. This is a story about nothing, but that nothing is the result of everything. Every sentence, paragraph and chapter is so beautifully written that you forget you’re following an actual story. This book will make you not only feel like you’re there, but that you are traveling through time with the characters and watching everything unfold at once. Great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for independent and honest review.
I'm not sure anyone can create characters like Fredrik Bakman. In every one of his books he brings them to life and they're the most lovable, captivating people. His ability to do so is carried on through this one, too.

My Friends is a beautiful story of loss, hope, friendships, and the events that shape relationships for a lifetime.
The odd, but perfect friendship that Ted and Louisa are thrust into is heartwarming. Their banter is priceless and made me smile on several occasions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am honored to have gotten a copy of this book early!

I am trying not to let recency bias get in the way, but this might be his best work yet.

I’m convinced Fredrik Backman is the best writer in the world, truly. My heart ached this entire time reading it. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I gasped. This made me feel so many emotions I couldn’t even handle it.

Usually, I save the crying for later at the end of his books, but I was crying throughout the whole entire thing. I sobbed at the end of it. I couldn’t even tell if it was happy or sad tears. I just know I loved it and these characters so much.

Most of the time his stories are relatively happy throughout with hard topics or sad things thrown in throughout, then horribly sad at the end, but this seemed to be the opposite for me. It was so sad throughout but had a happier/bittersweet ending.

He talked about loss and love so effortlessly. It made you feel exactly how all these characters felt.

I loved the core group of friends and how much they loved each other as well. They truly had such an incredible bond not everyone can find. It took me a while to warm up to Louisa but I enjoyed her as a character. She wasn’t my favorite main characters from his novels, but it wasn’t like I disliked her.

I really liked her and Ted’s dynamic. So many moments they had me laughing out loud at their banter.

The artist was my favorite character by far. I loved him so deeply and my heart ached for him the most. One of my favorite scenes was with him and the janitor, even though right before that my heart was breaking. I also really liked Joar. He too was a tragic character, but such a selfless and caring man. Ted was hilarious. The storyline with him and his brother touched my heart, even though it was a small plot line. He was another good main character to follow. His personality traits were so goofy and funny.

I love how the story was told in chronological order, but also not. It flowed so well!

The only issues I had with this book was there were too many fart jokes, but that’s just me.

Overall this was a fantastic novel. I knew I would love it, but he really blew it out of the park with this one. I could not recommend it more! I cannot wait until this is in everyone else’s hands so others can read how wonderfully tragic this book was.

Thank you to Atria Books & Netgalley for this ARC! It’s very difficult for me to be patient with getting my hands on a Backman book. This review is crosslisted on Goodreads.

This is really just utter perfection. I wouldn’t expect anything less, since every time I finish one of Backman’s stories I just want to scream about it from the rooftops. This is my favorite stand alone novel of his, and I think it’s really going to be a hit when it is finally published. I will definitely be running to get my hands on a physical copy.

My favorite part about this book (and all of Backman’s writing) is the character development. It is so strong without being too blatant or boring. The way Louisa, Ted, Joar, Kimkim, and Ali’s personalities unravel throughout the storytelling is GORGEOUS. The natural use of dialogue helps set the tone while avoiding outright spoilers or unseen connections between characters. I don’t like to give pieces of the plot away, but even when I thought I knew where some of this story was going, we would jut in a new direction while still staying true to the main plot. It was engaging and dynamic!

I was crying for the last 60 pages of this book and spend most of the rest of it laughing out loud. The use of artist quotes throughout was really thoughtful without being too repetitive or cliché. I truly believe Backman has a unique, superstar quality in his ability to make such deep & feel good stories without turning them into a lesson learned or a sob fest. He really hits that perfect balance of “this book has changed my life” without ever feeling preachy.

Will forever be giving my praises to this book & can confirm that my friends will be receiving this as a gift this year, as it is a warm hug disguised as a hardcover.

Look, no one is more surprised than me at this rating. I am an avid fan of Fredrik Backman’s work. I even read his Instagram captions and chuckle occasionally. All the same, I have ambivalent feelings about this one.

My Friends is a story about art and belonging. It's about a young girl, Louisa, and her adoration of a famous painting. The story of this famous painting, and its famous painter, are told in this book, along with Louisa's experiences in the present. The stream-of-consciousness prose is immersive and easy to read, and the plot unfolds slowly and intentionally. Sadly, I couldn't deeply connect with any of these characters, nor the plot, so the book fell a little flat for me.

Backman's typical life-affirming style is present throughout this novel, but this is him at his most verbose, meandering, and saccharine. Some chapters, some characters, and some ideas were beautiful, so I did enjoy those. This novel hinges on the nostalgia of childhood friendships, and that does feel like a warm hug in this form of words. I chuckled at some jokes and cringed at others.

2.5 stars rounded up. That said, I would still recommend this to Fredrik Backman fans, and literary fiction enthusiasts. I suspect this will end up being an outlier review.

<s>The book gods over at Netgalley (and Atria Books, of course) have blessed me with an ARC 😭

I cannot overstate my excitement and I am going to find it very hard to be objective about a new Fredrik Backman book!!</s>

“My Friends” by Fredrick Backman is a literary fiction novel that centers around an orphan named Louisa who lost her best friend Fish and becomes obsessed with a painting that shows a group of teens near water. The book starts with Louisa sneaking into an event where the art piece is being shown. She gets chased out and runs into a man who she thinks is homeless, but it is actually the artist of her favorite painting named “C. Jat”, whose real name is revealed later on to be Kim. The name “C. Jat” is actually his artist name, which has all the initials for his friends who are: Christian, Joar, Ali, and Ted. Louisa wants to discover the true story behind the piece, and we learn about the group of friends throughout the book.

Now, do not let the happy summer cover fool you into thinking this book is a fun light read. Absolutely not! This is a dark, tense, triggering book with lots of traumatic events being mentioned. Please be warned that there are talks of self-harm, drug usage, abuse (physical and mental), etc. Please be wary of this when you read the book because I went into this book completely blind and found it very difficult to read... because I was literally sobbing during multiple points reading this. I cried a total of 6 times, by the way. Rude of you, Freddy...I was so excited to read your work, and you traumatized me.

I am not usually a big fan of literary fiction novels, but I wanted to read this book because I have heard nothing but good things about Fredrick Backman’s writing. Sad to say that I own five of his books that have been left unread on my shelves. Not for long, though, because I am absolutely obsessed with his writing and now would read anything he writes... even his grocery list.

I was impressed with some of the quotes that I read in this book. One quote that made me laugh was, “rich people love tiny food. Everything else should be big, except for taxes and sandwiches.” We love a quote dragging the rich….right? Of course we do.

Even though this is not a genre that I normally love to read, I have to say that I was sucked into the story immediately just based on how good the writing was. I found myself invested in Louisa and her struggles. I felt the power the painting had over her and wanted to know the real story of the group of friends as well. This book was powerful in showing the struggles of friendships, how you have to believe in yourself to accomplish your goals, and how you’re never really alone as long as you have love in your heart.

When the artist C. Jat dies he leaves Louisa the painting as his final wish, which made me cry immediately. He knew that Louisa would love having that painting, and selling it would change her life. It was a beautiful act of love for someone he just met, and it really touched me to read about it. Ted, one of C. Jat’s oldest friends help Louisa with the painting by telling her how the painting came to be and bringing her to his hometown.

I don’t want to spoil the end of this book because you really should read it for yourself, but just know that this book will touch you in ways that make you feel vulnerable and seen. I have sadly related to some of the events that happened in this book, so those moments felt very precious to me. I also was scared to death when they left the painting on the train and when Ted got robbed! Might as well call yourself a thriller writer, Freddy. My heart was racing! To end my review, I would just like to say Fredrick, after reading your writing, “I love you, and I trust you.”

Thank you to Netgalley + Simon and Schuster for the eARC of this novel!

This book was so beautiful! Fredrick Backman’s writing is my favorite. I loved the storyline and the characters. He has so many lines in this book that were so impactful. Absolutely loved this book.

In a famous painting, three tiny figures sit at the end of a pier, unnoticed by most. However, Louisa, a young artist, is determined to uncover their story. The painting's origins date back 25 years to a group of teenagers who found solace in each other on a pier, escaping their difficult home lives. The painting, created by the artist, has been left in Louisa's care, and as she embarks on a journey to learn its story, she discovers the transformative power of friendship.

Fredrik Backman is one of my absolute favorite authors, so I couldn't believe it when I was approved for this eARC from NetGalley! I absolutely loved this story of friendship, trust, and perseverance. Backman has a way of taking character driven stories to the next level. He knows how to masterfully weave the story elements in a non-sequential way, but yet it still makes sense as the layers are revealed. This book was full of dynamic characters who I cared deeply for. There was plenty of heartbreak in this story, but each character still had so many moments of joy and connection, and it felt perfectly balanced. The core of life changing friendships was explored throughout this entire book, and it made me laugh, cry, gasp, and scream.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

I have no tears left to cry or laughs left to laugh. I've read my favorite book of 2025 and it's only Jan 4th- where do I go from here?!
On the surface this is a tale about art and friendship, but in the manner only Backman can craft a story, it's about so much more- grief, hope, loss, love- all the things that make us human. Beautifully written in a way that makes your heart swell and ache at the same time. A masterpiece. Incredibly huge thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC from one of my very favorite authors. I'll be shouting from the rooftops about this one all year, maybe even forever!

MY FRIENDS is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Backman has a keen understanding of the human condition and reveals universal truths in language that is both simple and profound: “loyalty is a super power”, or” the most dangerous place on earth is inside us”. The greatest compliment I can give is to say that I highlighted more passages in this novel than any other I have read.

MY FRIENDS centers on a group of interconnected people, all “broken” in unfathomably painful ways. They are all linked to a now world famous painting called “The One of the Sea”. As the story unfolds, the reader learns about the artist, his childhood friends, and one young woman whose life is transformed by the painting.

MY FRIENDS is about the enduring power of both art and friendship, and how important it is to find “your people” in this world. If you feel “broken”, you will see yourself in these characters. If you don’t, you’ll come away with a better understanding of someone you know that is.

Okay, Fredrik Backman, so you just decided to shred my heart into pieces? So much so that I had to stop reading from time to time because otherwise, I’d be a sobbing mess. Well, thanks a lot. Also, for this masterpiece, by the way.

I knew beforehand that I was an idiot for picking up Fredrick Backman’s new gem as the first book of 2025. How am I supposed to get through the rest of the year now that I’ve already found my favorite?

Listen, Beartown fans. I know Benji is your favorite (mine, too). That you all love Maya. And Amat. And all the other ones. (I do, too). But here’s a book that’s, without a doubt, Fredrik Backman’s best so far. And for those who don’t like his writing much, I understand. I know he ignores all those writing rules. But you know what? His writing is pure. It comes from his heart. The things he says are so true. And therefore, I’m addicted to his writing. And to his characters.

The artist, oh, how I longed to be with him a little longer, seen as strange, not enough for a boy at all, but with a heart so big that he only sees beauty in other people even though he doesn’t see beauty in himself. And Louisa, a tall, big girl, the foster kid, who recognizes so much more in the artist’s painting than all those other people. Because she’s an artist, too. And she’s so much like Jaer, the one who protects the people he loves, no matter what, and Ali, the witty daredevil, rough, and full of ideas. Last but definitely not least, there’s Ted. Neurotic, bookish, old-soul Ted, who wanted to stop the time at fourteen and only falls in love with geniuses. Oh, Ted, how I wanted to hug you at times. And your genius friends, including Louisa.

I can’t put into words what this book did to me. Tears shone in my eyes when I was only a few pages in, and then I burst out laughing, followed by hot water dripping on the floor. No, not from the shower. From my eyes. Goosebumps crawled over my skin, and that lump in my throat never seemed to be far away. That is until another smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, and I was suppressing the laughter erupting from my stomach.

This story is about friendship. About people who nestle themselves in your heart and refuse to leave, wherever you are and whatever happens. This story is about love, so much love. KimKim, Louisa, Jaer, Ally, and Ted will always have a piece of my heart. And, of course, Christian, because without you, this painting probably wouldn’t exist, and I don’t want to think about what that fourteen-year-old would have done instead.

Now, I have one wish left: a movie. I desperately need one so I can cry again. And laugh so incredibly hard. And everything in between.

Thank you so much, Atria Books, NetGalley, and, of course, Fredrik Backman, for the best book I’ll probably read in 2025!

Fredrik Backman has been a favorite for a long time, and it's great to see him back in his groove. He has described himself as a storyteller, and here he weaves an intricate web with four complex individuals at the center and one who learns the mystery of their lives at 14 two decades later, stories that transform her life. The underlying themes include the indelible connection of friendships and the part art plays in the value of life. There is some magnificent writing here and a truly original structure -- highly recommend.

Once again Fredrik Backman writes a story that encapsulates the human experience so expertly it makes you cry.

Louisa belongs to no one and nothing belongs to her - except an old postcard of one of the most famous paintings in the world. The painting is called 'The One of the Sea' but Louisa knows it is not; it is the one of three teenagers, miniscule, but there, painted in the corner. Thrown head first into a journey where she discovers the story behind the painting, we meet a cast of memorable characters that - 25 years earlier - experience the type of friendship that changes your world.

My Friends is reflective and tells a perfectly fragmented story by diving into the lives of teenagers. You have no choice but to fall completely in love with Fredrik Backman's characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing the arc of my favourite author's new book with me as a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Frederick Backman is an author I trust completely with my heart. Like his other novels, "My Friends" is an emotionally charged yet hopeful story of the importance of human connection.

Louisa is an 18 year old aspiring artist with a dark past and a larger than life personality. The two things holding her together for much of her young life are her friend Fish and a postcard with a depiction of a world-famous painting titled, "Of the Sea." When she least expects it, Louisa finds herself responsible for the original painting that most people recognize for it's breathtaking depiction of the ocean. Louisa, however, takes a keen interest in the three almost indistinguishable teenagers depicted in the background.

In an effort to uncover the history of the painting and the kids within it, Louisa embarks on a journey with Ted, a worrisome 39 year old who she believes can help put together some of the pieces.

This is a remarkable story of the transcendent power of art and friendship. It is also funny in a young spirited kind of way. In this book you will find found family, complicated familial relationships, and heart-warming moments of human kindness.

Like any piece of translated work, there were definitely moments where my English speaking brain may have missed the punchline, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the experience. Backman's writing style is very unique and toes the line of literary fiction, which I think is important to know going into any of his work. I for one am a huge fan.

Definitely give "My Friends" a try!

I will be posting a video review on TikTok and Instagram closer to the publication date, unless approved by the publisher sooner.

Books make us laugh and cry, but the spectacular ones give me chills. I think what made me fall so hard for this book was experiencing validation for the hopeful and the heartbroken. Backman is a genius when it comes to human nature and understanding what it takes to move through the unfairness that life challenges some people with.

Beauty in unexpected places is one of my favorite elements ever. I taught art for a few years, and the way artists are portrayed here is going to make many feel seen. Of course, the same can be said of the way friendship is portrayed.

A story within a story “My Friends” brings the past and present together in an honest vulnerable tone. A teen in foster care carries a postcard for years and endeavors to stand before the actual painting featured. She's promptly tossed out by security. In the alley outside the auction, she meets a man and a cat she assumes are homeless. Pure magic happens when the pair begin spray painting the alley walls together.

The teen later meets Ted, and he tells her the story of the summer when he was fourteen. She becomes invested in this tale of friendship. The two understand each other although they are from different worlds. Like recognizes like. His story gives her unique insights about her favorite painting and the world beyond. I'm being rather vague on purpose this is a story best jumped into.

I knew within a few pages that this would be a five-star book for me. Sometimes the very best in people goes unseen, but if you're fortunate enough to notice it changes everything.

All the Stars and Chills

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an Advance Readers Copy for review! These are my unbiased opinions.

—Abstract and extremely verbose writing, but the reward is sweet

The beginning of this story is about foster children, art and farting…and how that turned in to a poignant story about friendship and belonging is beyond me. But that’s the charm of Fredrik Backman.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc that I was ecstatic to receive.

My first five star of 2025… are we surprised?

My Friends follows four teenagers who form an unbreakable bond while spending their summer days on a pier, escaping difficult home lives through laughter and storytelling. Over twenty years later, Louisa, an artist, inherits a painting that includes a mysterious trio of figures —part of the group’s story. As Louisa embarks on a journey to uncover the painting's origins, she discovers how their friendship and art changed their lives. Along the way, Louisa is inspired to unleash her own creativity, realizing that the power of art and friendship can shape unexpected futures.

Fredrick Backman might have written the most stunning depiction of humanity to ever exist. Beartown will always be one of my favorite books, but this book hit right when I needed it most, My Friends is a story of multitudes — spanning friendship, anxiety, loneliness, grief, abuse, addiction, how art can heal, love, & every emotion one might experience.

Like all of his novels, these characters — Joar, Ted, Ali, Louisa, & the artist — are rich and have so much depth that I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Backman releases so much beauty, humor & pain in this story — I had to stop reading multiple times to think about his words.

By the end, I was fighting for breath from crying so much!!!

Thank you always Atria Books for the advanced copy! I will be thinking about My Friends for a long time.

My favorite of Backman’s works. I am so excited that everyone gets to read this. Thanks for the arc, I feel honored that I got to read it. I read this at just the right time.

The coming of age story many authors wish they could write.
You'll laugh, cry, get angry, and make connections.
And when it ends you will be fulfilled.
Recommended.