"Adults always think they can protect children by stopping them from going to dangerous places, but every teenager knows that's pointless, because the most dangerous place on earth is inside us. Fragile hearts break in palaces and dark alleys alike. "

This book was something special; heartwarming despite so much tragedy just like real life can be. This story is about friendship and found family written in the most beautiful way, with art at its core. Louisa is a budding artist, and by chance meets the artist who has inspired her in an alley. He sees something in her, and with his dying wish gives her the painting through his friend Ted. We get to hear more about the artist's life and the fateful summer where the painting was created through stories Ted tells Louisa on a long train ride.

From the very first pages, My Friends establishes itself as something special. The story of a painting—what it means to Louisa and the way it ties past and present together—immediately signals Backman’s signature blend of heartache and hope. At its core, this is a novel about friendship in all its messy, beautiful, complicated forms. Through Louisa, an 18-year-old who has aged out of the foster care system and is grappling with profound loss, and Ted, a man carrying the weight of a decades-old bond, Backman crafts a narrative that is once more "all the feels". Their journey, both in words and events and emotions, is one of healing, connection, and the power of creativity, of art and expression to heal and to offer hope. The novel’s quiet simplicity allows its depth to unfold gradually, a pacing that works as the story continues to expand.

Backman’s storytelling is as masterful as ever, weaving humor with heartbreak, wisdom with wit. His writing, deceptively simple, carries an emotional confidence, phrasing that makes me go back and wonder at how words are also feelings. The novel explores grief, love, and the courage it takes to truly embrace living, even when things are hard, while offering moments of levity that contrast meaningfully with the grief. The dual timeline, which I often approach with hesitation as I tend to get lost in one POV and feel disconnected from the other, works seamlessly here: instead of feeling I was going back and forth I felt more that I was seeing how the past and present story were clearly all one bigger story, I I felt the chapters were paired effectively and seamlessly, My Friends is not just a book—it’s a testament once more to human connection, a reminder of the beauty in friendship and how relationships, art, and the simplicity of finding moments of being understood all matter deeply. Classic Backman emotionally resonant, uniquely insightful, and timeless

This book was definitely not what I thought it would be. Thoroughly implausible, tons of flashback, a lot of yelling. Even though implausible plots normally drive me wild, this one did not. I wish that things like this really could happen. That an 18 year old aging out of the foster system could find a welcoming family. That she would have a practically priceless painting given to her by the artist who recognized a kindred spirit. I wonder what the author was feeling as he wrote this? Was he focused on showing that a harsh world really has kindness moments? If so, goal accomplished.

At this point, it should probably be assumed that a new Backman novel will make you cry. Fredrik really outdid himself with My Friends because this had me pretty much sobbing in public at 10% in.

This is the story of a painting. It's about how the painting came to be, the person who painted it, and the friendships that made it possible. It's also about art and belonging and so many beautiful ideas in what can often be an ugly life.

I really loved this one and know that it is a book I will have to read again. I can't recommend it enough for both fans of Backman's work and those who haven't given this author a try yet.

I love Fredrick Blackman and this fabulous book gives me one more reason to-it’s a gem! Well written, with his trademark multi-dimensional characters; don’t miss it.

WOW. Wowwowowow.

The story centers around a young protagonist who, despite feeling somewhat out of place in the world, finds solace and meaning in the relationships that shape their life. Backman uses a minimalist approach, focusing on the protagonist's relationships with a group of friends and the nuanced, sometimes difficult dynamics that unfold between them. These friendships are not perfect, and they come with complexities and misunderstandings, but they are also a testament to the beauty and necessity of human connection.

Backman’s writing is as tender and insightful as ever. His ability to craft characters who feel fully realized, even in brief moments, is one of his greatest strengths. The dialogue is sharp, often layered with humor, yet it never loses sight of the emotional depth that underpins the story. As always, Backman knows how to balance the light and the heavy, finding the delicate equilibrium between joy and sorrow, laughter and tears.

While My Friends is a short read, it packs an emotional punch that lingers long after the final page. The themes of vulnerability, empathy, and the subtle ways in which we support each other will resonate with anyone who has ever been moved by the quiet strength of friendship. Whether you're familiar with Backman’s work or new to his storytelling, My Friends is a beautifully crafted tale that will remind you of the importance of human connection in its simplest, most profound form.

Backman proves once again that he is a master of finding beauty in the ordinary and in the moments that shape our relationships.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Backman has mastered the story of the damaged and lost misfit. As we learned about Louisa and Fish and Joar and Ali and Ted and the artist, I found myself going back to those same feelings I had for Benji in the Beartown series. I just want to scoop them up and protect them and love them. Louisa’s chaotic energy and non-stop talking make her jump off the page. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it at first, because she is A LOT! But then it just becomes so endearing. And Ted’s stories of his childhood adventures with his friends makes me wish I had friends like that growing up. I question a lot of things in life, but never that Fredrik Backman is an amazing storyteller!

This is the story of four friends, a teenage girl, and a painting.
Or we could also say that it is the story of a man telling a girl he just met (Louisa would insist she’s an adult) about an intense period from his childhood.
And maybe it’s also a story about how powerful art can be.

But in reality, these descriptions don’t do the book justice, because it is so much more.

It’s a story about friendship and family. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s about grief and love. It’s sad and funny. It’s about being sensitive and artistic. It’s about being scared and full of hope. It’s about being yourself and being different. It’s about dogs and train rides, lasagna and the ocean. And it’s about farts (yes, I’ve never heard the word “fart” so many times in any other book).

My Friends is not just a story; it is an experience.

I don’t know how Backman does it, but his books are pure magic to me. No one else manages to make his protagonists and their experiences feel so real, that I not only feel like I know them inside and out, but as if I am standing right beside them.

I know that Backman’s writing style and storytelling might not be for everyone. But I love everything about it. I love his humor, I love all the little hints he drops and how they all come together in the end. I love that you can see a bit of Backman himself in his protagonists. I love how he manages to make me both laugh and cry with his words.

This book was my most anticipated book of the year and it might end up being my favorite book of the year.

I’ve been a fan of Fredrik Backman’s ever since I stumbled upon Anxious People, which is still one of my all-time favorite books. The way he fully develops all of his characters and his smooth, effortless writing gets me every single time. You get everything with this story…love, heartache, tragedy, friendship, nostalgia - just to name a few. It’s a beautiful story about the strong bond between long time friends. The dual timelines and flashbacks were a bit confusing at times, but that wouldn’t stop me from recommending this book. I can’t wait for his next one!

I finished this book a few days ago, but every time I sit down to write a review, I can’t seem to come up with just the right words to express how much I love this book. It has been a very long time since I have read a book so slowly, savoring each day I spent with it, and wanting it to never end. By the time I hit the 20% mark, I had already fallen so head over heels in love with it that I raced to my computer to pre-order a signed hardback copy for my bookshelf.

It’s also been a long time since I have highlighted SO MANY passages in a book, but Fredrik Backman has such an incredible way of describing the human experience that it’s impossible not to want to save those words forever.

This story was incredibly raw, honest, and moving, and I am sure that the story of Louisa, Ted, Joar, Ali, and the artist known as C. Jat is going to stick with me for a long time. Two thumbs up, highly recommended!

A handful of Backman’s books (Beartown series, Ove) rank among my favorite books of all time. I had high hopes for My Friends, but it lacked the poignant punch I was hoping for. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Can Fredrik Blackman do any wrong? I love this book - it made me have the feels. Will be recommending!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review time here’s what I’ve got: preorder this book like yesterday. It’s the greatest Backman yet, which is definitely saying something (because have we not enjoyed every single story this man gives us?!) I just felt like the entire book was full of quotable moments and phrases that will stay with me long after I set the book back on the shelf. Such a beautiful found family of friends and what it means to be a young person figuring out who they want to be. There were also a lot of strong mother / son duos in this book, which obviously tugged at my heart strings! A huge thanks to @atriabooks for the privilege of reading this one before it comes out in May ❤️

Fredrik Backman has such a unique writing style, with an ability to tap into the human existence with just the right phrase or two. I can always count on many laughs and quite a few tears whenever I read one of his books. When I read his books I know I’m going to be highlighting multiple sections. This was no exception.
This one does get off to a slower start than some of his other books. Louisa is an 18 year old who has just lost her best friend. Having just reached the age when she’s passed out of the foster care system, she literally has no one she can turn to or rely on. One night she meets a well known artist and in a fluke, he ends up bequeathing her his most famous painting, created twenty five years earlier. He created the painting when he was 15 and it covers his best friends from that time, one of whom has seen him through his final illness. Louisa and that friend, Ted, will embark on a cross country trip returning to the town where it all began.
The book is deeply philosophical and thought provoking. It covers creating art, grief, love, obviously friendship, but mostly the willingness to live life to the fullest. This work shows us the best and worst of humans. Backman’s writing is so realistic it made me want to hug some characters and throttle others.
I’m often not a fan of dual timelines, but here, the method worked perfectly. And that was down to caring just as much for Louisa as the earlier friends. Not to mention, getting to see how Ted had turned out. The ending was perfect and wasn’t at all what I was expecting.
I highly recommend this as a perfect choice for book clubs.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

Like everything Backman writes, this gave me all the feels. I was holding onto the ARC to read it just when I needed it. What a treat! It was devastating in so many ways but still managed to restore my faith in humanity.

This book was just perfect! I love every book I've read by Fredrik Backman, but this is my absolute favorite. I love how the author tells the story in two different timelines, and how he weaves them together throughout the book. The writing is brilliant. I loved all the characters and felt really connected to them throughout the story. This book dives into some very sensitive topics including grief and was done so thoughtfully. I cannot say enough good things about this book! This book will be one of my top reads for the year for sure!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

'My Friends' is one of the most heart wrenchingly beautiful books that I have and probably will ever read in my life.
This is a story about friendship and love, about art and stories and grief, about laughter, about being young and getting older and about what it can mean to truly live.
It will break your heart countless times and then try it's best to put it back together again. It will make you weep and laugh all in the span of a single page, it will make you feel so so much but most of all this story will stay with you forever.

There is so much love in this book, so much of it that it was almost unbearable to read at times.
I don't think I'll ever get over these characters, they mean so much to me and will live in my heart forever. This wonderful group of best friends and all the lives they have touched with their love for one another.

I refuse to believe that they don't actually exist.

When it comes to Fredrik Backman's books I always expect the most gut wrenching and soul shattering writing, so consider me beyond devasted and sobbing my eyes out when this book exceeded even those expectations. ✋🏼 When I tell you there are lines in this that made me cry so hard that I had to pause reading for several HOURS..
I honestly don't know how it is possible for a person to write like this, not even just the writing style itself but also how the story was structured and the way it was told....I loved it so so much.

Stories like 'My Friends' are the reason I fell in love with reading and I am so incredibly thankful that I got to read this wonderful book early. 🫶🏼

This novel had all the makings of a great read: in-depth backstory, tragic characters, first love, art, friendship, courageous young people, etc. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it, mostly due to the writing style. I got tired early on of the author teasing with later plot points and with the repetitious reflections of the narrator. I liked the narrator, Ted, but felt the 'present day' storyline in which he recounts his past to a young, orphaned artist to be tedious. I was much more interested in the story of Ted and his friends in the past.

Frederick Backman’s newest book moves along, with the main characters interacting easily -- albeit quite strangely. I anticipated a generational progression as an ending, but the final resolution was a bit surprising. Backman’s writing, as always, flows smoothly, and the characters -- though certainly strange -- do come alive.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Something about Backman’s writing that I love is that you can feel the season of the book. Like this one feels like summer. Sticky popsicles, sunscreen and salty air.

Too hard to rank his books but it’s a favorite like everything else I’ve read from Backman.
Sensational writing.
Characterization is magical. I truly don’t know how he writes people to be absolutely fully formed in my head.

Loved.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for an eARC