Clearly I’m well past being fashionably late to this party. I feel like I’ve just stumbled upon my first fictional world – one in which I’ve lived ten lifetimes, shared a hundred heartbreaks, and laughed a thousand times – with this introduction to Backman's work. It's like a kid at Christmas, receiving his or her first book and then spending the next day embarked on a grand, epic adventure with new life-long friends.

In this story we meet Louisa, a seventeen-year-old runaway foster child who sleeps in cars for safety at night. The one possession she's managed to keep through continuous upheaval and numerous homes is a postcard of a painting. Not one to follow the rules, Louisa infiltrates society's affluent to view the original painting in person when it goes up for auction.

A serendipitous encounter afterwards involving a homeless man, cans of spray paint, and a white cat puts the painting in Louisa's possession. As a nascent artist, she's intrigued and compelled to know more about “The One and the Sea.” She embarks on a journey through foreign countries and new worlds to discover the stories behind the painting, one of three childhood friends who sit on a pier by the ocean.

For those of you familiar with this gifted storyteller’s work, you already know what you’re in for. For the rest of us? Buckle up, hold on tight, and let this tsunami of emotions consume you. With the ebb and flow of the story’s ever-present sea, this saga is a heartbreaking joy and devastating delight.

Told through two timelines – Louisa's present and the three boys from the painting, twenty-five years ago – a story of long summers, innocent unruliness, giggles and laughter, and lifelong bonds is shared with a young girl whose life experiences have taught her far more than any seventeen-year-old should ever know.

Through hardship, desperation, and neglect we see that love can repair cracks in a heart, laughter can soothe wounds of the soul, and the bonds of friendship are far more steadfast and indestructible than those of blood. Through death and loss we find that Heaven listens and a loved one who’s passed may be just around the corner.

The human condition is equally fragile and formidable. Art is a gift that fills our holes and adds awe and beauty to the living, as does finding your people. People who choose you and cherish you and encourage you. People who continue to cheer you on even when they’re no longer in your day-to-day.

Your heart is in no way safe with Louisa and her journey, but it is absolutely in compassionate, benevolent, and capable hands. With misdirects, blindsides, and wonderments, the narrative engages the reader throughout this breathtaking, poignant adventure. Full of quirky wit, charming turn of phrase, and evocative imagery, this brilliantly masterful story is certain to leave its indelible mark on every heart it encounters

All the stars!! Fredrik Backman is my all time favorite author, and receiving an ARC of this book the day before Christmas felt like an amazing gift. I read as much as a could while still being present for Christmas Eve and Christmas, but had difficulty separating myself from this brilliant story about the power of friendship and art! I knew it was going to be another winner when I started laughing out loud and crying within the first 15% of the book. I immediately loved the characters and their relationships. Every word is so perfectly chosen and translated. I wanted to find out how the story ended, but also didn’t want it to end. A reminder of what a perfect book experience can be like as they don’t come around often enough for me. Highly recommend!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A truly fantastic read from beginning to end. After reading this novel, I'm heartbroken and need a hug, but I loved every second of it.

<blocknote>She becomes someone else's postcard.</blocknote>
i just have to say, december has treated me so well, in terms of books. it's been banger after banger after banger, and this one couldn't be anything other than a masterpiece.

my friends explores childhood friendships, grief and, most importantly, the art of it all. the novel follows two timelines, the past, where we meet out trio (joar, ted and c.jat — better known as the artist-). it's set during the summer, one filled with both laughter and hopes and dreams, and violence and the aformentioned grief, and the present, where louisa encounters the artist when she sneaks into an auction to see The One of the Sea— a painting that captured that summer feeling the trio felt back in the past, in the form of three small figures no one but her seems to notice. louisa's journey is one of healing and love.

every single one of the characters we meet througout the book is nothing but extraordinary in their own way, and the all have the power to reflect on your own life and make you feel different emotions.

if i have to give a small critique, i'd say the double timeline sometimes left me high and dry when it changed so abruptly, but it wasn't bothersome in the grand scheme of things.

i fell in love with backman's work when i read And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, and i told myself i had to read beartown, because everyone was raving about it, but didn't. so i'm going to take this book as a wake up call to start reading this man's entire work.

thank you to every single person working at ATRIA for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece, and thank you fredrik backman for writing it.

Backman is a must-read author in my book! It doesn't matter the topic, I'm going to check it out. This story was interesting and had me invested in the first few pages. I hope it becomes a Book Club title because there's much to discuss. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Who doesn’t love Fredrik Backman’s books? I sure do. His latest My Friends was remarkable, just as I expected.

First book I read by this author and AHHH. It was so interesting and I liked the storyline. My friends is a book that is fun, interesting, and one of and would recommend

This author never disappoints. This very nostalgic book written about our first friends the ones who know our truths. Just beautiful. And hopeful. This is my favorite book of his yet! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher

Ahhhh Fredrick Backman does it again. I am sobbing and smiling and throwing this book from my hands and then running to pick it back up again to read more. This book is a work of art - I never wanted it to end. I adored each character & the heartwrenchingly sad stories that soaked through the pages. You can’t help but root for all the characters, even knowing where they end up. I really appreciated Backman’s ability to continue to hit on the hard points of life and evoke empathy from the reader as you follow along with the story. I am just so happy and thankful to have an advanced copy of this & can’t wait for it to come out.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. If you’re a fan of this author, you will definitely enjoy this book. I absolutely recommend this book to others!